(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
😳 Oops. My bad. After the insane week I’ve had, I had a hard time reading my own shorthand yesterday and attributed Nelle and Brook’s final words backward. Sorry about that. I did question myself at the time, and should have known Brook would never back down to Nelle. The correct version is in today’s post. Moving forward…
Lucy welcomes us back, and says, once again, the 2020 General Hospital Nurses Ball telethon, a spectacular event to raise money for frontline workers’ special safety equipment. It’s a great honor to introduce everyone’s favorite nurse at GH, EpiphanyJohnson. Epiphany comes out, and explains that hospitals are a collaboration. They aren’t made up of just doctors and nurses, but orderlies, lab technicians, cleaners and other workers.Together they provide essential services. These are incredibly stressful jobs, and take their toll on service providers and their families. The viewer donations let them know that the community they support, supports them back. Lucy says the telethon is a way to say thank you to all the medical personnel and first responders, who are heroes, along with their families, and who do so much for them. While the viewers are making donations, they’ll be entertained with amazing acts still to come.
In the bathroom, Ava tells Nina, the Cassadine men do have a way of getting under their skin. Nina says, which brings her back to Nikolas. Is he trying to make Ava jealous by making a fuss over Elizabeth? Even if they’re married in name only, flirting, especially with a married woman, is just tacky. Ava says, and also profitable. If Nikolas sleeps with another woman, he’ll break the infidelity clause, and she’ll wind up with 90% of the Cassadine estate. Nikolas can shower tributes on Elizabeth to his heart’s content, and if he woos her into bed, Ava gets the payoff she deserves. Inside one of the stalls, Elizabeth listens.
Carly tells Jax that Josslyn called. He wonders if there’s something wrong, but she says she thinks Josslyn was just checking in. She might be looking for a congratulatory present. Jax asks if Carly knows Josslyn has been angling for a car, and Carly says she does. She’ll let him handle that. Before he leaves, Jax tells Nikolas, the scholarship for the nursing students in Elizabeth’s name was generous, but maybe he should have thought about it a little more. Franco says, Jax has a point. Next time a wave of generosity washes over him, he may want to shower it onto his wife.
Michael explains the Quartermaine relationships to Willow, telling her, Tracy married Luke. Michael thought it was a fraudulent marriage, but he can’t keep track. They definitely turned out to be life partners though. She asks if unconventional marriages are a thing for the Quartermaines, and he says they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Monica sits back down on the couch, and says, still sleeping; disaster averted. Julian comes up behind her, and chloroforms her, knocking her out. Wiley sleeps peacefully with Mr. Hopsicle.
Brook tells Nelle that she can’t wait until Nelle is hauled off in handcuffs in front of everyone there, and all the people viewing at home. Nelle says the police won’t believe Brook; they’ll say she’s harassing Nelle. Brook says, she’ll call Michael, and he can call the police, but Nelle smacks the phone out of Brook’s hand. Brook says, no worries. Mac is there; he can arrest her himself. Brook heads for the door, and Nelle says she’s sorry. She picks up the shears, and asks Brook to pretend that she didn’t see or hear anything. Brook turns around, and stupidly walks back to Nelle, and says she messed with her last Quartermaine. Nelle slashes at Brook, and we see blood on the shears. Why? Why do they always do that? Like Tuco said in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, if you’re going to shoot, shoot; don’t talk.
Michael sees that Brook called, but didn’t leave a message. Willow says maybe Brook wanted to make peace with him, but he say she doesn’t need to. He didn’t like the idea that she sold her shares, but so did other members of his family. At least she didn’t know she sold them to Valentin. She says he’s less worried than Ned seems to be, and he says he hates the idea of Valentin being in charge, and intends to force him out eventually, but in the short term, Valentin is a smart businessman. He doesn’t think ELQ will suffer. Willow says he doesn’t think of it as a betrayal, so maybe he should tell Brook. He tries calling.
Nelle stands over an unconscious Brook, and says she should have been nicer, more sympathetic. Her mistake. Now Nelle’s plan to have Wiley vanish has gone south. She needs to go. Brook lies on the floor in a pool of blood, next to her ringing phone. Nelle slips out.
Monica is knocked out, and Julian says, sorry. He turns off the TV, and his phone dings. He sees a text from Nelle that says, the timetable has been moved up. We need to move now. Is it done? He closes the doors to the living room, and trots up the stairs.
Michael gives Willow a bottle of water, and raises his own, saying, to Wiley, and his amazing new life. He’s safe from Nelle because of her. Willow says, because of us, and Diane. He says, to Wiley and Diane. Carly watches, and smiles. Michael smiles at Willow, and little hearts start to pop out of his eyes.
Lucy asks Amy if she’s found Jordan. Maybe she’s warming up, since she’s the next act. Amy says she couldn’t find Jordan, so she asked Curtis, who said she was called away on a case. Lucy says, no; that doesn’t work. Jordan is the Police Commissioner. She doesn’t have to solve every case. She can delegate to other police people. Lucy can’t delegate an act. Amy says she called the PCPD and the hospital, but no one has seen her. Lucy will have to cut her number. Lucy says it can’t just be her out there; she needs acts. Acts and asking for money. They need alternate activities. It’s like the NFL draft, but she doesn’t have an act to draft. Amy tells Lucy not to panic; she can panic later. She asks if Lucy wants to shut the Ball down, and Lucy asks if Amy is losing her mind. She tells Amy to find Epiphany and Deanna, and warm up. She’ll stall. She’ll do a tap dance. She doesn’t know how to tap dance. She hates tap dancing. She’ll just stall.
Anna tells Valentin that his song was beautiful, and he says, at least someone appreciates it. She says false modesty doesn’t look good on him. It was wonderful, and he knows it, as was his pledge. He asks if she’s going to chastise him for burnishing his public image. She says, isn’t he? and he says, that’s part of it. He hears congratulations are in order. She must be thrilled for Peter and Maxie. Being a parent changes everything. It makes you better. It did with him and Charlotte, and her and Robin. Maybe it will with Peter. She says, of course (🍷) it will. He hopes so, and says, some mistakes are impossible to fix.
Nina tells Ava, Franco is her friend. She hopes Ava isn’t playing with his marriage. Ava says she’s doing no such thing. She’s heard rumors that under that angelic façade, Elizabeth is chronically unfaithful. If she chooses to break her vows to her husband, Franco should know the truth. Nina sees one flaw in Ava’s big plan. The way she and Nikolas were looking at each other, either she’s getting good at pretending to love him, or something changed in the last few days. Ava says Nina is projecting her issues with Valentin onto her. They leave, and Elizabeth comes out.
Michael tells Willow, they’re supposed to take a tally, and give Lucy the paperwork. What if after that, they sneak out? She says, abandon their post? He says they’ve done more than enough. They can go home, and check on Wiley. She says he’s making her an offer she can’t refuse. She glances at Sonny, and says, did she really just say that? They leave to finish up.
Lucy says hello to all their gorgeous, generous, amazing donors. They’re doing a great job, and she hopes they realize how important it is to the frontline workers who help them every day. When they work together, they do something more than raising money. They’re building a community, and showing the medical personnel and first responders that they support them. Any amount is great. Keep pitching in, and they’ll keep entertaining. They’re in for a special treat.
Nelle dashes through the corridors in the MetroCourt, and around runs outside. Julian sends a text that says, it’s done.
As Monica sleeps, Julian comes downstairs with Wiley, and leaves with him.
Michael and Willow arrive home, and Michael says, sorry the evening crashed and burned. She says, it didn’t. She had a good time. He says, until Chase and Sasha. She says, they were fantastic (I guess we don’t get to see that), and he says, someday it won’t hurt so much. Until then, they can make some popcorn, and watch the funniest movie ever made. She says he doesn’t have to cheer her up, and he says he’s cheering himself up. They sit on the stairs.
Sonny says, Michael and Willow aren’t coming back? and Carly says, they probably went to check on Wiley; they’re such good parents. Sonny says he’s glad it wasn’t her idea; Chase and Sasha pretending to be involved so Michael and Willow would get married. Face it. It’s exactly the kind of plan that’s up her alley. She says, back in the day, 100%. She’d be seeing all of their hearts breaking and feel guilty. Instead, she’s grateful Michael and Willow got custody of Wiley, and Wiley got the best stepmother on the planet. Sonny says he knows there’s too much going on, and Carly asks if he wants to check in with Turning Woods, but he says, no. They’ll call if there’s any change. The best thing he can do for his dad is to stay and support the people who have given him such amazing care.
Olivia tells Ned, she’s trying to call Brook, but there’s no answer. He says, his problem daughter? No surprise. He tells Olivia to save the lecture for now, but she says she’s just expressing her opinion. He says, on this topic, they’re one and the same, and she says he’s scaring the hell of her. She’s heard stories about his grandfather, and his intentions were good, but his methods were toxic. She says this with love, but he’s turning more into Edward every day. He says, that’s not true, and she says, prove it. Find his daughter, and talk to her.
We see Brook lying on the floor, unconscious.
Ned asks if Dustin and Lulu have seen Brook, but Dusting says, not for a while. She might be warming up. They’ll go check. Ned thanks them.
Robert asks Olivia if she’s got a minute, and she asks if he’s okay. He says he has good news. The commissioner at the Bureau said he can get her in to see Dante. Olivia gets super excited, and asks, when? Where is he? Robert says, he’s at a facility in Geneva. No civilians are allowed, so he’ll go with her. The supervisor is waiting for his boss to return, and there’s a narrow window. They have to hurry. He’d like to leave now if they could. She throws her arms around him, and thanks him. Ned watches.
Willow says, popcorn and the funniest movie ever? and Michael says, if only to cheer him up. Feel free not be cheered, since it’s only about him. He asks what she’d like to see, and she asks him, promise not to laugh, but he says, that’s the point. She says it’s a kid movie, with silly humor, and he tells her, cue it up, and he’ll check on Wiley. They go into the living room, and see Monica asleep. Michael tries to wake her, but she stays out.
Julian waits at the pier, and says, sorry, Wiley; you deserve better than this. Unfortunately, your crazy birth mother has other plans. Why is he going along with it? He’s the world’s biggest coward. He should have told Sonny that he knew all along, but Sonny can kill someone. He’s run out of options. He flashes back to telling Ava, go ahead. Tell him what an idiot he is for getting mixed up with Nelle. Ava asks what on earth was he thinking, and why hasn’t he killed her yet? He says he wouldn’t be there if she didn’t have him over a barrel. Ava says if he thinks Nelle will release him when it’s over, he’s a damn fool. On the pier, Julian says, maybe not.
Lulu says, if she’s not backstage, Brook probably bailed, but Dustin says, she might have stage fright, but she wouldn’t run away. They go into the makeshift dressing room, and see Brook on the floor. Dustin runs to check her pulse, and Lulu says, oh my God. Dustin tells her, call 911, and tells Brook to wake up.
Lucy tells the viewers that the Nurses Ball is still so passionately committed to HIV and AIDS. Sonny and Nikolas’s generous donations will be going to those charities. She wants to introduce a woman committed to both causes, and welcomes Anna. Anna thanks the viewers for their donations. She’s been answering the phones, and got to speak to some of them; they’ve been lovely. She’s grateful for their generosity. The Nurses Ball has a special place in her heart, and not just because she received a lovely marriage proposal on this very stage a year ago from Dr. Hamilton Finn (I always forget he has a first name). She says, it’s special because so many lives have been touched by HIV and AIDS. She’s the mother of an HIV survivor. She was diagnosed at a time when the prognosis wasn’t as optimistic; a time when prejudice and fear were more rampant. Her daughter Robin, and countless others, are alive today because of medical research. Perhaps that’s why Robin became a doctor herself. This leads her to tell them how important the telethon is. She served as Police Commissioner, and saw how closely first responders and medical staff work together. Their work is vitally important. The police, doctors, the ambulance crew, the hospital cleaners; no one does their job alone. They need each other, and we desperately need them. So give what you can. Any donation, whatever size. I have a friend who was diagnosed with HIV many years ago, like Robin, and he’s doing fine today.
Elizabeth tells Franco, Nikolas isn’t the problem, Ava is. She’s playing emotional chess with Nikolas, and they’re the pawns.
Robert tells Olivia he has to go back inside. Anna is going to have a fit because he wasn’t there during her speech. Olivia says, tell her the truth. He found a way for her to see her son; Anna will understand. He says he’ll be waiting, and she says she doesn’t know how to thank him. He leaves, and Ned comes out. He says, amazing. They have a fight and she runs to Robert because he says the right things. Olivia says it has nothing to do with their marriage. Robert found a way for her to see Dante. Ned says, that’s great news, and Olivia says, he’s at a facility in Geneva. Robert knows the guy in charge. Ned says he’ll change his schedule, and they’ll go, but Olivia says Robert has to sneak her in as it is. Only one person can go. Ned says, okay, and Lulu comes running in. She says, Brook has been attacked.
Michael begs Monica to please wake up. Monica opens her eyes, and asks if everything is all right. He says she scared him half to death. Is she okay? She says she must have dozed off, and Michael says she was sleeping pretty heavily. Where’s Wiley? She says she doesn’t remember. The phone rang, and she’d left it in the foyer. She came back in, and heard Wiley. Michael asks if Wiley was downstairs or did she hear him on the monitor? Willow says she’ll check the nursery.
Nelle goes to meet Julian, and asks where Wiley is. He says Wiley is safe in his car, and she asks if he’s saying he’s giving her a set of wheels. That’s totally nice, but unnecessary. Just put Wiley in her car, and they can get going.
Elizabeth tells Franco, Ava is encouraging Nikolas to cheat, so she can get the Cassadine fortune. Franco says she has it backward. Nikolas is the one who’s playing them.
Lucy thanks everyone, saying the Nurses Ball was a resounding success; just amazing. She’d like to thank the volunteers who jumped in at the last minute, and gave generously of their time, and the amazing performers backstage who pitched in and made this happen. She thanks her rack of gowns on stage with her, and goes behind the rack, coming out in a volunteer T-shirt and jeans. She says the most deserving of all is their amazing audience. It’s her great pleasure to introduce the intrepid nurses of GH. Epiphany, Amy, Deanna, and an unidentified flying nurse sing. I’ve had zero luck with finding the titles of songs I don’t recognize, but if I can find a list, I’ll post them. They sing in front of a grid with candles everywhere on it, and I think, that’s impressive for something done on the fly.
Backstage, Lucy smiles at her success.
Brook is taken out on a stretcher, while Mac gathers evidence. He asks if Dustin and Lulu saw anybody. Did anyone look like they were fleeing the scene? Lulu says, they didn’t see anyone. Ned tells Brook to hang in there. He won’t leave her side. He’ll be right there. They leave, and Finn goes with them. Mac tells Lulu and Dustin, if they remember any detail, no matter how small, call him.
Michael asks what Monica was doing before she fell sleep. Was Wiley downstairs, or in the nursery? She says she doesn’t remember, and Willow runs down the stairs. She tells them, Wiley’s not in his room, and Monica says, what?
Nelle says, all right, hubby; it’s been fun, but it’s time go. Julian says, sorry, but she’s not going anywhere. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says she pushed him too far. Now he’s pushing back. He takes out a gun.
To be continued…
On Monday, Portia has an update on Brook, Nina tells Jax not to hate her for what she’s going to say, Julian tells Nelle that someone has to stop her, and Sonny says someone is going to tell him right now.
Sunday August 30th, starting at 6 pm, AMC will also be showing the first episode of each season of The Walking Dead. I still think the very first episode was the best one. Rick’s WTF? face can’t be topped.
I didn’t know you could scream that loud after smoking cigarettes. – Cynthia Decker, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé, referring to Angela screaming at Michael
Tough times never last. Tough people do. – Robert Schuller
Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. – Kent Nerburn
How to sell books in 2020: Put them near the toilet paper. – NY Times
An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. May you be open to each thread that comes into your life – the golden ones and the coarse ones – and may you weave them into a brilliant and beautiful life. – Unknown
We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day. – Brad Meltzer
Do one thing every day that scares you. – Eleanor Roosevelt
The noisiest thing in the world is someone trying to be quiet. – me
People tend to be generous when sharing their nonsense, fear, and ignorance. And while they seem quite eager to feed you their negativity, please remember that sometimes the diet we need to be on is a spiritual and emotional one. Be cautious with what you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you into positive action. – Steve Maraboli
Luckily for me, I have all my best ideas drunk. – Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Birds of Prey
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
Immature love says: ‘I love you because I need you.’ Mature love says ‘I need you because I love you.’ – Erich Fromm
Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying. – Roy T. Bennett
🏍 Moving Forward…
Next week has to be better, right? Right? Enjoy your weekend, or pretend it’s the weekend, depending. Until Monday, stay safe, stay supportive of the front line, and stay away from psychopaths with fabric shears.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Lucy welcomes us back to the Nurses Ball Telethon, and says, this year, the Ball became a telethon, but as always, they’ll be donating to AIDS/HIV related charities. The donations will be matched by a generous donation from Sonny Corinthos. This year, it’s a special event to benefit frontline workers and their families, giving back to the people who’ve given so much to them. It wasn’t how the volunteers were planning on spending their evening, but they jumped in to help. She’s hoping the viewers open their hearts and wallets, and while they’re doing that, the Ball will entertain them with an amazing act. Stay tuned, and keep the donations coming.
Elizabeth asks Nikolas what he thinks about the telethon, and he says he’s nervous; working phones isn’t exactly in his skill set. She says he’s charming and good with people. Now he can put those talents to work. Ava comes out, and says she’s getting water for Franco. He’s answered so many calls, he’s parched.
Finn is late, and looks in on Willow and Michael answering phones.
Nelle fixes her makeup, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it, and Julian says, she summoned him. She says it took him long enough. He asks, what’s the rush? Everyone despises her, so whatever she’s planning, it’s not going to work. She says, tonight, she’s going to give her greatest performance yet. Call it a disappearing act, if you will.
Monica hopes she didn’t miss too much of the Ball, and turns on the TV. Upstairs, Wiley sleeps blissfully alongside Mr. Hopsicle.
Julian asks if Nelle is going somewhere, and she tells him, don’t worry about the details. He asks, what’s happening? and she says, let’s just say, nothing and no one is going to get in her way tonight. He says she’s more delusional than he feared, and she says if he’s not more supportive, she’ll have a chat with Sonny. She’ll tell him that Julian knew his grandson was alive, and kept the secret. He says, it sounds like a threat, and she says, only if he disappoints her. She promises she and her son will be together. He says if she thinks her song and dance is going to convince the judge to believe she’s a changed woman, face it; she lost custody. She didn’t even get supervised visitation. She says, the judge was in Michael’s pocket even before the hearing. The verdict just confirmed what she already knew. She picks up the fabric shears (I would never go against Maxie’s correction, and call them scissors), and says she’s not getting Wiley back by playing by the rules; the rules were rigged against her. She’s doing it her way, and Julian is going to help her.
Martin is looking for the phone bank, and Valentin is surprised he volunteered. Martin says, he admires he frontline workers. Most people aspire to be selfless and courageous, but they really are. Valentin says, a lawyer with scruples, and Martin says he’s not the only one. Valentin is matching the donations. He knows Lucy doesn’t have that kind of money, but Valentin does, now that he has controlling interest in ELQ. Valentin says he’s going to make a profitable company more profitable, and Martin says it looks like Valentin is getting everything he wanted. Valentin says, not everything, no.
Jax notices Nina is wearing the half-heart necklace. She says, maybe it’s superstitious, but it’s the only thing attracting her child, so she’s keeping it close.
Lulu asks Dustin if everything is okay, and he says, sorry about what happened with Brook. Lulu says, it wasn’t his fault. Brook lives to push boundaries, especially when… He asks what she was going to say, and she says, he said it first. When Brook is causing trouble, it usually means she’s hurting.
Brook looks in the mirror, and says, you got this. Get up on stage, and show everyone you’re a winner. Dad, Dusty, and high and mighty Lulu are all a bunch of haters. Let them hate. You’re a star. Get out there and bring in donations.
Backstage, Olivia tells Ned, they’re next, and he asks if she’s still mad. She wonders if he really wants to talk about this right now, and he says, whatever it is, tell him. She says it’s about the way he treated Brook. He threw her out, called her a traitor, and turned his back on his own child. He says, she sabotaged ELQ, and Olivia says, she made a mistake. She was desperate to save her singing career, and was impulsive. It wasn’t corporate espionage. He says, she betrayed ELQ, and betrayed the family, but Olivia says, it’s not the same thing. Ned says, there’s no difference, and she tells him, it might be time for him to choose one over the other.
Lucy says, now is the perfect time to make a donation. They’re raising funds for safety equipment – Finn answers phones, and Martin sits down to put his headset on – for the doctors, nurses, fireman, police, technical workers, orderlies, and support staff. They’re out there on the frontlines, risking everything to do the necessary, essential work. It’s just a small way of saying thank you. She asks everyone, please call and donate, and while the viewers are doing that, they’ll do their best to entertain. Now it’s her great pleasure to introduce a dynamic duo that never fails to enthrall – Ned and Olivia Quartermaine. Ned plays guitar and Olivia sings with him. I’m batting 1000 on song titles this year, and have no clue. Something about finding thetrail that leads back to you. They come closer together as they sing, at the end, touch their heads together.
Finn answers phones, and in between calls, tells Anna that he’s so sorry he was late. She says it’s okay, but he missed Maxie’s announcement that she’s pregnant. Maxie and Peter are both over the moon, obviously. Finn says, what about her? and she says she thinks it’s the best possible news. Peter can stop regretting his past, and look to the future.
Martin says now that Valentin has controlling interest in ELQ, he assumes Valentin will be making changes. He asks if he’ll be corporate counsel. Valentin tells him, don’t think what he’s done has gone unnoticed. He thinks of Martin as a friend. Martin says, that’s touching, but doesn’t get him out of paying his bill. Michael and Willow come by, and Valentin says they were just discussing ELQ, and he’s impressed with Michael’s endeavors with green technology. He wants to employ a more traditional structure, but would like Michael to be VP of their green initiative. Michael says he thought the point was to take the company away from him, but Valentin says, the point was to take a profitable company and make it more profitable. Although he admits the slight bit of payback wasn’t entirely unsatisfying. Willow says imagine if Valentin had been an ally instead of staging a takeover, and he says he respects her as a teacher, but wonders if she understands the concept of staying in your lane. Michael tells him, the war is never-ending for ELQ, and Valentin says, it’s a new day. Michael would be wise to join him in creating the success of ELQ.
Jax tells Nina, he hates watching Valentin ride off with control of ELQ. He has affection for the Quartermaines, and Michael is his stepson and Josslyn’s brother. Nina says he didn’t ask for her advice, but she’s giving it. Stay out of it. He says, easier said than done, and she says she’s not talking about his corporate skills or helping Michael. She knows Valentin better than anyone, and if Jax gets involved, Valentin will feel more pressure to prove himself
Julian takes the shears from Nelle, and says her plan is literally the definition of insane. She’s on parole, and if she gets caught… She says she’s not going to get caught. If he thinks she’s just going to hand over her son to Michael and Willow, it’s practically like giving him to Carly. It’s not happening. He’ll do his part, and she’ll do her part. He says, that’s where she’s wrong. This wasn’t part of the deal. She says, the deal changed. It’s his choice; play ball, or face the wrath of Sonny. She says she’s not a mind reader, and will need a verbal response. He says he’s in, and she says she had a feeling he’d see it her way.
Lucy says she’s grateful and excited to announce the next performance. Their next performer has generously arranged for Deception to match every dollar. Please call and donate, and please welcome Valentin Cassadine. Valentin says his song is dedicated to anyone who can’t be with the person they love. Jax looks at Nina, as Valentin sits at the piano, and sings. No luck with this song title either, but it’s bluesy, pretty, and about feelings. Everyone behind-the-scenes smiles or ponders. A band appears out of nowhere, and there’s a nice sax accompaniment. Nina tears up.
Lulu asks if Dustin minds extending their break. She just managed to avoid Valentin’s number, and she’d like to do the same with Brook. He asks if she doesn’t even want to see it, and she says, God no. Especially if she’s fantastic. She’ll have to paste a smile on her face and be supportive, when she hates Brook’s guts. He asks if she didn’t say something supportive just before, and she says she has a right to be pissed. Between Brook’s digs about Dante, and her non-stop hitting on Dustin, she deserves what she gets. Dustin says, okay, but Brook was stuck in her contract and felt alone. She even reached out to her dad. Lulu says, Ned thought it was time Brook dealt with the situation she’d created on her own. It’s not a bad parenting idea in theory, but she understands why Brook felt abandoned. He says she almost sounds sympathetic, and she says, almost.
On the phone, Nelle says, all clear on her end. Is he in position? Julian says, he’s at the Quartermaines now, and she says there are several access points; just pick one, let himself in, and find Wiley. Brook listens outside the door. Nelle says, Wiley is in his room already, so the only person Julian will have to deal with is Monica. I can see inside Brook’s head, and she’s like, dammit. My number is coming up and now I have to deal with this.
On the phone, Nelle tells Julian, don’t get cold feet; remember the consequences. Julian says, if this goes wrong, Nelle will lose Wiley forever. Why doesn’t she do it right, and follow the rules? She tells him, bring the kangaroo with him. It has the GPS in it, and the second he leaves, she’s going to track him on the app. Get going.
Martin tells Valentin, bravo, and Valentin asks how the fundraising is going. Martin says, donations have been pouring in. He’s not surprised Valentin’s performance got quite a response, given the emotions on display. Valentin says, I beg your pardon? and Martin says, normally Valentin is guarded, but it definitely looked like he was wearing his heart on his sleeve. He hopes Nina appreciates his effort. Valentin says, Nina is with Jax now – until she realizes he’s just a shiny object. Martin says, in the meantime, Valentin sits alone, but Valentin says he has plenty of interests to take up his time.
Nikolas gets some water, and Ava says he’s fortunate to have a built-in excuse to take a break. She couldn’t take Elizabeth sulking one more moment. He says Elizabeth is busy answering phones, and Ava says, and shooting her death stares. He says she’s exaggerating, but she says she knows insecurity when she sees it. Elizabeth has the wrong idea about Franco; they’re just friends. He tells her, if she says so, and she says she does. Franco isn’t doing much to set the record straight, but she wishes Elizabeth knew what it felt like to have the shoe on the other foot.
Lucy tells us that Nikolas Cassadine miraculously returned to Port Charles this year. Backstage, Ava tells him, break a leg, and she means that sincerely. She hopes he does. Nikolas comes out, and thanks Lucy. He says it’s been a few years since he attended the Nurses Ball, but he’s thrilled to be back, especially when there’s a telethon for frontline workers and their families, but they have to continue their original mission, to support HIV and AIDS charities. That’s why he and his wife are going to donate a million dollars to further research, and another million to the telethon. In the wings, Ava nearly chokes on the can of soda she’s drinking. He asks Ava to join him; it’s her moment too. Ava comes out, and says he’s very generous, and he says he’s not done. Where would they be without the frontline workers and their courage, selflessness, and compassion? One of the finest people he knows is a nurse. She’s his oldest friend; they met in high school – Elizabeth Webber. He’s seen first-hand how she embodies the virtue of a healer, and tonight, he’s announcing that he’s endowing a scholarship for future nursing students in her name – the Elizabeth Webber School. Elizabeth smiles, and Franco looks like he has a headache.
Nina sees Valentin, and he approaches her. They look at each other, and she says, it was a beautiful song. He thanks her, and says he’s glad she enjoyed it. She says she should get going, but he slides in front of her, and asks if that’s the necklace from her mother. She says, yes; it’s supposed to mend a broken heart. He says, everything he did, the lies he told, it was because he wanted her to be happy. She says she’s always known that, but he needs to understand the end doesn’t justify the means. He says he’s sorry, and she says she knows that, and knows he means it, but some mistakes and heartbreaks can’t be undone with an apology. She walks away, and he looks like he might cry. I actually say, aww, out loud.
Brook walks into the room where Nelle is, and asks where she’s going. Nelle picks up her bag, and says she has to be backstage, but Brook says she’s not going backstage or anywhere else. Not until the cops get there. Nelle asks what she’s talking about, and Brook says, Nelle is conspiring to abduct Wiley. She’s talking about Nelle finally going back to prison where she belongs.
Monica says she doesn’t need to hear Lucy’s pitch again, and mutes the TV. Julian peeks in from outside, and puts a ski mask on, because he’s subtle that way. Monica’s phone rings, and she says she must have left it in the foyer. She goes to find it, and comes in the patio door all stealthy, and moves to the hallway.
Elizabeth tells Nikolas, she doesn’t know what to say; she’s so honored. He says the honor is his, and takes her hands. Franco jumps up, and asks what the hell is going on. Elizabeth says, stop, but he says, first of all, hands off his wife. Secondly, her name is Elizabeth Baldwin. Nikolas says he’s being absurd. He dedicated the scholarship to an old friend. He thought Franco would appreciate it. Elizabeth says she does. It will benefit deserving nursing students, and she’s touched that it’s in her name. She’s sorry Franco isn’t more gracious. She leaves, Franco glares at Nikolas, Nikolas acts like, what? and Ava watches.
Sonny’s phone dings, and Carly asks if it’s a text from Turning Woods. Sonny says there’s been no change in his dad’s condition; at least not tonight. She asks if he wants to go, but he says, cut out early? Wasn’t it her idea? She says he’s done enough matching the donations, and he asks if she wants to leave. She says she wants to do what feels right for him, and he thinks they should stay. He’s thinking about the medical personal who have helped his dad. The doctors and orderlies who have treated Mike with dignity and respect. It’s a way for them to say thank you. Isn’t that why Carly came up with the idea? She says, that’s exactly why.
Elizabeth goes into the bathroom, then into a stall, which is humongous. She leans against the wall.
Jax tells Nikolas, it was quite a generous donation, and Nikolas says, the Cassadines have always supported the Nurses Ball; the telethon makes it even more important. Ava joins them, and Jax says it looked like Ava was caught off guard. He wonders if she knew about it. Nina comes by, and says she needs to go to the powder room. She asks if Ava wants to join her, and Ava says she’d be happy to. When they’re gone, Jax says, a power couple, but Nikolas says, Ava’s words, not his. Franco comes out, and Nikolas says sorry Franco objected to the donation. Elizabeth certainly didn’t. Franco calls Nikolas a spoiled entitled boy, and tells him, it’s time to grow up. He gets whatever he wants, and Elizabeth seems blind to his faults. Jax tells them to put their differences aside and play nice.
Nina asks Ava, what happened? Nikolas seemed intense. Ava says, Jax didn’t, but Nina didn’t drag her in there to talk about Nikolas. Nina says she needs a reality check after hearing Valentin’s song. Ava says she didn’t fall for him, did she? Nina says he has many flaws. He always has a strategy and plan, and hates being vulnerable, but he sang with such honesty, it got to her; she couldn’t help it. Ava understands, and says the Cassadine men seem to have a way of getting under their skin. Nina says, speaking of which, what’s going on with Nikolas? Is she jealous about him fussing over Elizabeth? Ava says, even if they’re married in name only, just flirting, especially with a married woman, is tacky. But it may also be profitable. If Nikolas sleeps with another woman, it triggers the infidelity clause, and she gets 90% of the estate. Still in the stall, Elizabeth hears everything.
Julian skulks around, and Monica goes back to the television. She hears Wiley on the monitor, and hopes he’s not waking up. Even though she was told not to, if he’s crying, she’s going to get him.
Nelle says Brook didn’t hear what she thinks she did. She was practicing her number from Chicago. Brook says she knows Nelle is a pathological liar, and sent someone to snatch Wiley. Nelle says Brook sounds crazy, and Brook says, Nelle is crazy, thinking she can steal Wiley from his family. Nelle says she’s Wiley’s mother; she is his family. Brook says, what she is, is a kidnapper caught in the act.
The monitor is quiet, and Monica says, still sleeping; disaster averted. Julian puts chloroform on a cloth, and I hope he didn’t chloroform the baby. He sneaks up behind Monica, and puts the cloth over her nose and mouth. We see Wiley still sleeping peacefully.
Brook says she can’t wait for Nelle to be hauled off in front of the volunteers and the viewers. Nelle says they’ll say she was being harassed, and Brook says she’ll call Michael first, and he can call the police. Dammit. I thought she’d already called someone. Why do they always do that? Nelle knocks the phone out of her hand, and Brook says, no worries. Mac is there. He can arrest her himself. Nelle picks up the shears, and Brook says, sorry. She’ll pretend she didn’t see or hear anything. Nelle says, save it, bitch, and slashes at Brook.
To be continued…
Tomorrow, Olivia tells Jax that he scared the hell out of her, Willow says it’s offer that can’t be refused, Julian tells Monica he’s sorry, but had no choice, and Nelle tells Brook that she should have been nicer.
The Real Housewives of New York City
Ramona tells Sonja that she googled what causes anger. Dorinda got mad at her the first night, then went off on LuAnn. Sonja asks why she sent it in a group text to everyone, and Ramona says they never know when she’s going to blow up. LuAnn comes in, and says she can’t believe Ramona sent a group text. Did she do it on purpose? Ramona says she had to do something, and LuAnn says she can’t believe Ramona did it on purpose. Ramona says she wants Dorinda to see that she’s serious. Articles painting Ramona in a bad light start coming in on the women’s phones. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, Ramona just lit the fuse, and this firecracker is a big one. Ramona asks how she should have handled it, and LuAnn says, talk to Dorinda nicely at dinner. Now she’s on a rampage. She’s going to be fuming. Ramona says, she’s already fuming. She thought Dorinda would be introspective, and LuAnn says, not on a group text. She doesn’t think Ramona understands, and Ramona says she doesn’t. Dorinda needs to work on her issues instead of attacking them. It’s obvious Dorinda has an anger problem; she’s not making it up. LuAnn wishes she’d done it personally. Now Dorinda is defending herself with the group. Ramona asks why LuAnn didn’t help, and LuAnn says she was packing; she has to leave early. Ramona says she’ll think about it, and LuAnn says she will too. Ramona says she’ll follow LuAnn’s lead, and in her interview, LuAnn says, Ramona’s job is done, and she’s free and clear. No dustpan is big enough for this mess. She sees Dorinda on the stairs, and tells her goodbye.
Dorinda goes to Ramona and Sonja’s room, and says, great article. Keep it going. Dorinda double-dares her. In her interview, Dorinda says, rats come out at night. If you want to say something, say it. Don’t send it in a group text. Ramona says Dorinda needs to deal with her anger, and Sonja says, here we go. Ramona says Dorinda attacked LuAnn, and made her cry; she was traumatized. Dorinda says Ramona uses the word traumatized too freely, and Ramona says Dorinda is worse than her father. Dorinda says Ramona should have been an actress. Don’t be jealous of her life. LuAnn listens, but then decides to keep going on her way. Dorinda leaves, and Ramona tells Sonja, Dorinda has lost her mind. In Sonja’s interview, she wonders what Ramona expected. Dorinda is defensive now. Sonja says she could have stopped it from happening, but wanted to see the reaction. Ramona says maybe Dorinda is jealous of her life. She goes on dates, and has guy and girl friends. Sonja asks why Ramona is going down this avenue, and Ramona says she’s just trying to help. She also says she pooped he robe, which is a whole other issue.
The women are meeting for drinks in a patio area, and LuAnn and Dorinda show up first. LuAnn tells Dorinda that she wants to have a conversation, but Dorinda says they had it the other day. We flash back to LuAnn saying Dorinda attacked her. LuAnn tells Dorinda that she wants her to listen because she loves her, and she wants it to be cool with the girls. Dorinda says she doesn’t care about being cool with the girls. All she does is give, and they want to focus on one thing. She thinks it’s wrong. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she’s not comfortable with the conversation. It’s only about her, with no history of LuAnn. LuAnn just landed from Mars in a beautiful cabaret Jovani gown. It doesn’t work like that. She watches CNN. LuAnn says, don’t do this, but Dorinda thinks it’s ridiculous after everything she’s done for LuAnn. LuAnn says Dorinda won’t listen. She’s forgiven Dorinda because she loves her, but it’s about people’s feelings. Hers have been hurt, but they got through it because they love each other. Dorinda says they can’t live in the past, and LuAnn says she doesn’t like it when Dorinda is angry. Dorinda thanks her, and says she wants to be LuAnn’s friend, but it’s okay if she doesn’t want to. LuAnn says she does. Leah joins them, and says the place is amazing, and Dorinda says, wait see what they have coming. LuAnn say she wants to talk about one thing – for her. Leah was there when Ramona said something about Dorinda. Dorinda says, they’re going backward again, but get it out. LuAnn says she didn’t talk about Dorinda’s drinking; Ramona did. Dorinda thanks her, and LuAnn asks why she’s not listening. Leah says, she thinks that night Ramona said something very rude, and it spilled over. LuAnn says Dorinda made it like she was the one who said something, and it hurt her. Dorinda says she’s sorry – again. In Leah’s interview, she agrees Dorinda came for LuAnn, but LuAnn is dragging it out. Even if Dorinda’s apology isn’t truthful, just move on. Dorinda says she could go on, and bring back stuff, and LuAnn says what’s important to her is Dorinda. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she can’t help Dorinda; she has to help herself first. So it’s frustrating. She wants to fix Dorinda, and make it right. Everyone sits down to dinner.
Chef Daniela describes the Mexican fiesta she made for them, and all kinds of food is brought out. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, Ramona is all talk behind closed doors, but shine the light on her, and she’s on a thank you tour just to avoid it. Sonja says a busy week is coming up, with her launch and the party. Dorinda asks Leah about her fashion line, while Ramona gripes to the server that the wine is old. She does know it’s supposed to be, right? That it gets better with age? Leah tells Dorinda that she doesn’t have a fashion background, but decided to start her own brand. Ramona tastes the wine and says, it’s bad. In Sonja’s interview, she says she’ll have the 1969 Petrus, and Ramona can have the 2020 pinot. Ramona grumbles that she likes her wine at room temperature. LuAnn says, there’s so much bullsh*t going around the table, she can’t see. Leah says, Ramona does like to complain, and Dorinda says Leah wasn’t on the group text. Ramona asks if Leah wants to know, and Leah says, hell yeah. What did Ramona do? LuAnn says, let’s just get through it because it’s bullsh*t. Dorinda tells Ramona, you don’t leave people out; it’s mean to do that, and she does it to Leah a lot. Leah asks if she can see the text already, and Sonja hands Leah her phone. Leah starts laughing, and says if she’d known she wasn’t in a group text, she would have thought it was about her. In Leah’s interview, she says, leaving her out says I don’t give a sh*t about you, and don’t care if you’re offended. Dorinda says, just google Ramona, and Leah asks if Ramona thinks Dorinda has anger issues. Ramona says Dorinda helped her through her darkest moments, and she loves her. Dorinda laughs, and says, here we go. Ramona says Dorinda gets so angry, she doesn’t know what to do. In Ramona’s interview, she says they all feel the same, but the others don’t have the balls to help. Why her? Because she has the guts. LuAnn says this is freaking her out. They rip each other a new one, and come to dinner like nothing happened. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she can’t deal. Ramona just dropped a bomb, the fire is still smoldering, and they’re sitting there like they don’t see it. Ramona asks what LuAnn wants her to do, and LuAnn says, be real. Ramona says she is real. In her interview, Dorinda asks how many times Ramona needs to say she’s angry. Does she have to pile it on? Did she do that to Ramona? Good job. In Ramona’s interview, she says she loves Dorinda, but doesn’t love it when she’s angry. Right now, she hates who Dorinda is, but Dorinda doesn’t want to get it. She gives up. Dorinda tells Ramona, she says she’s okay, but is she really okay? She never wants Ramona to feel abandoned. I’m not positive if she’s genuinely concerned or being sarcastic. Sonja says, Dorinda puts on a brave face, and of course she’s going to have a short fuse. She has to let them know how she’s feeling too. In Sonja’s interview, she says she’s been on the receiving end of Dorinda’s wrath, and we flash back to that. She says she’s always understood that Dorinda is going through pain, and rather than feel it herself, she’s projecting. If you don’t get that, you’re an imbecile. Sonja tells Dorinda, don’t be so brave. It makes her frustrated. Dorinda says they’ve all been there for each other. LuAnn toasts to the good, the bad, and… Dorinda finishes, the article.
Everyone packs. I’ll miss Mexico. Ramona tells Sonja that LuAnn left. She’s glad she brought up Dorinda’s anger, and they discussed it in a diplomatic way. Ramona admits she gets hysterical and her delivery sucks. Sonja says she thought LuAnn could pull it off, but Ramona says LuAnn wants the clothes and perks Dorinda can give her.
Leah meets with her Married to the Mob team. They talk about the new pieces coming in, and how Jerzees wants to collaborate with them. In Leah’s interview, she says she may not have an MBA, but she’s a smart effing cookie. We flash back to Leah telling LuAnn that she started a business with the money she won in a lawsuit. Leah tells us that she thought she’d have a private jet, and be doing a billion dollars in business, but she had to adjust her expectations. She tells her team that it needs to be perfect. It’s the 15 year collection, and indicative of where she is in life. It’s going to be sold online only. They’re beginning a new chapter. In her interview, Leah says, people don’t understand how hard it is to keep a company in business and relevant. It’s about expanding. The sky’s the limit for the Mob.
In her interview, Ramona says, after they came back, she felt unsettled, so she went back to therapy. Something wasn’t sitting right in her heart and soul. We flash back to Ramona wailing about not finding a man. She tells the therapist, good news; she’s come full circle. The last time she was there, she wasn’t in her right mojo. He’d told her if she couldn’t connect, maybe she didn’t want to, and was sabotaging her relationships since she was hurt by her ex. She took time to reflect, and even took notes. She wondered why she would cancel dates, and a girlfriend pointed out that when Ramona is with a guy, she even sits different; coquettish and flirty. We flash back to several times she’s flirted, and the therapist asks if it’s a different version of herself, or is it genuine? She says she thinks it’s genuine. She’s sensual, but there’s more to her. She’s self-made, a giver, and has a warm heart, but it’s not coming through. She wants to be liked for herself, not her game. She’s finding she’s more successful on dates, and had a blind date. He’s never been married, has no kids, and they had a great time. He asks what made her go, and she says a woman who knows her suggested him. We see a clip of her and date Enrique at dinner. She tells the therapist that she acted differently with her girlfriends, than with men, where she was trying to be liked. She has a different attitude now, and wants to continue working on her friendships. She doesn’t need a man, but wants a man who really loves her for herself. The therapist tells her, keep doing what she’s doing. It seems like she’s in a good spot.
LuAnn meets with her cabaret team for a rehearsal workshop, but can’t find Sonja. In her interview, she says she loves traveling with the girls, but it’s great to be back in New York, and her show. It’s grounding and feeds her soul. She goes over the show structure with production manager Andy. She finally calls Sonja, who answers wearing a bathrobe. LuAnn tells her to get her ass over there, but Sonja says it’s her launch tonight. LuAnn didn’t say they were meeting the day of her party. LuAnn says they have a rehearsal, but Sonja insists she was never told. In Sonja’s interview, she says she doesn’t know what she missed except for the memo. She has her Century 21 launch tonight. It’s the biggest event of her career. She tells LuAnn that she doesn’t need a rehearsal, and LuAnn said she was distracting when she comes there. LuAnn says, it’s not an impromptu visit, and in her interview, she says, Sonja wants to be paid more, but doesn’t want to come to rehearsal for free. Sonja says cabaret director Ben should come to her launch, but he has his Fire Island house winter reunion. Sonja tells him to light her fire.
Bunny comes by Leah’s apartment, and in her interview, Leah says her mom teaches religion class to Kiki, and sleeps over on Tuesday nights. She thinks Kiki fulfills what she didn’t for Bunny. Bunny brings food, and they spread everything out. In Leah’s interview, she says she and Kiki have a relationship where she knows she’ll like her daughter. We flash back to Sarah telling Leah that their mother doesn’t like them. Leah says she’s still pissed off. They talk about Leah’s fashion line, Married to the Mob, and Leah tells Bunny about going to the bathhouse with Sarah. She’d told Sarah that she thought her relationship with Bunny had improved, but Sarah was discouraging. Sarah told her that Bunny didn’t like her. Bunny says she might have said that, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love Leah. One thing she doesn’t like is Leah’s drinking. If Leah wants her to change her thoughts about that, it’s not happening. Leah say she still carries guilt for what happened when she was a teenager. She starts to cry, and says she can’t let it go, but doesn’t feel that’s who she is. Bunny says Leah got sober, had a baby, and has a business. She did fine. Bunny thinks when Leah believes she’s judging her, it’s just that she doesn’t want to see Leah lose what she worked hard for. It doesn’t enhance her life. Leah says, it’s not effecting anything, and in her interview, she says her mom is an Irish Catholic therapist, and she’s her mom’s worst nightmare. She hasn’t had a drink in 40 years, and feels like she has authority. Leah says she just needs to hear Bunny say… Bunny says Leah is wonderful, and she loves her. Leah asks if Bunny is proud of her, and Bunny says she always has been, but Leah wants her to say it every minute. Leah say she needs that, and Bunny says Leah needs to hear it more than she thinks to say it. In her interview, she says her daughter told her, perfect doesn’t exist. Her relationship with Bunny is challenging, but things won’t be the way she wants them, and she has to accept that.
Leah arrives at the Century 21 launch wearing a Sonja by Sonja dress. In her interview, she says she’s wanted to rep Sonja properly, but was sent pajamas and a pimp hat the first time. Now she’s doing it properly in a dress that’s more her. Ramona shows up in the lace number we’ve seen before. Sonja comes in with intern Matthew, and in her interview, she says, if anyone doubted her before, when she was talking perfume, jewelry, fashion, and a toaster oven – we flash back to Sonja saying it’s a lifestyle brand, and Bethenny explaining that Tipsy Girl would be considered a cheater brand – she doesn’t have to be right. She’d never say I told you so, but it feels good. She’s delivering what she promised. Dorinda says she’s wearing Sonja too, and Sonja says they look amazing. LuAnn arrives, and poses for a picture with Sonja and marketing director Heather. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, two wrongs don’t make a right. She’s wasn’t not going to show up. That’s not the kind of girl she is. Dorinda say she heard Sonja didn’t show up for rehearsal, and in her interview, LuAnn says it makes her wondering if Sonja will show up for the real show. If she doesn’t, it will be an issue. Dorinda says Sonja claimed she didn’t know, and LuAnn says, maybe Sonja didn’t remember, but she knew. It worked out well though; they got a lot done. Ramona breaks out her own straw for her wine. LuAnn says she’s going to be sending out invites for the new show, but Dorinda says she can’t make it since she’s having wrist surgery. LuAnn says, it’s not a big deal.
The Century 21 guy, whose name I can’t remember, says they’re proud to do a collaboration with Sonja. They love her styling and fashion, and love Sonja. Sonja takes the mic, and say she never thought she’d say it, but she actually feels humble. Ramona’s phone rings, and Ramona doesn’t seem to know how to turn it off. Sonja says Ramona doesn’t know how to work her own phone. She knows Ramona has a hot date. She tells everyone that it’s been a long haul, but they believed in her. She gives a shout out to her Wives crew, and says if she could poop out the toaster oven, she would. In Leah’s interview, she says, Sonja is glowing. There’s something different in Sonja that she’s never seen before; a twinkle in her eye. Leah is happy for her. Sonja introduces Leah as her new girlfriend, and Dorinda says they’ve come a long way since the fashion shoot. In her interview, Leah says she hopes Sonja’s line gets bigger and better, and she hopes now Sonja focuses on bringing it to fruition. That means money, and a paycheck. The women toast to Sonja’s success.
Next time, LuAnn sings Happy Birthday, John comes to Dorinda’s party, and Ramona says Elyse isn’t a good person.
🥯 From Toaster Oven To Fashion Maven…
I’ve looked at her website, and Sonja does have some beautiful, and affordable, clothes.
It says everything in their lives has to be fair game, but I don’t believe that for a second. There have been plenty of times when kids and husbands were off limits. On the other hand, alcohol being always available and free makes perfect sense.
A day of a computer mess equals a week of catching up. Teatime tomorrow, but for today, stay safe, stay finding joy in the little things, and stay hopeful that one day we’ll be less than six feet from one another.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Lucy welcomes us back to the Nurses Ball Telethon. She’s proud to be the mistress of ceremonies, and says the audience may have noticed that things are different. They wanted to make sure frontline workers get what they need. When those who usually attend the Ball were asked to pitch in, they didn’t hesitate, because it’s a way to thank the essential workers and their families. She tells us not to think too much has changed. It’s still all about entertainment, and the most talented Port Charles residents are waiting to entertain us. Don’t go away.
Brook tells herself, she can do this, and then says, she can’t do this. Dustin comes in, and asks if she has stage fright.
Franco thanks Elizabeth for coming, and she says since they’re raising money for the frontline workers, she’d feel selfish staying away. He asks if she’s mad at him, and she says, should she be? Ava joins them, and says she didn’t realize Elizabeth was coming. Elizabeth says, clearly not, and Ava says she’s glad Elizabeth decided to pitch in, but the phones aren’t going to answer themselves. She tells them to get back to it, and Elizabeth shoots Franco a look.
Lucy finds Maxie backstage talking to Lulu, and says, there she is. She needs to put on her mic. Lulu says she’ll help, and Lucy says, the plan is for Maxie to make a short speech. Hit the stage, be warm and winsome, and pitch her heart out. Be adorable, and introduce Brook. Lucy adds, throw in some humor. Make them laugh, and they’ll throw money at her. Brook’s song will be over-the-top. When Lucy is gone, Maxie says, no pressure or anything.
Anna asks if Peter is okay, and he says he’s proud of Maxie, and wants the night to go right. Anna is sure Maxie will be her spectacular, charming, effervescent self. Anna knows Peter truly cares for Maxie, and when she looks out, he’ll be there cheering her on.
Spinelli tells Robert, tonight, Peter’s castle of lies will crash around him. Robert says, Nelle’s baseless information is interesting, but there’s no proof, and Spinelli shouldn’t be talking about it. Spinelli says, it’s imperative that Maxie know the truth tonight.
Curtis asks Portia what she thinks about the Ball, and Portia wonders why Jordan held a press conference, singing the praises of the man responsible for her husband’s death.
A man approaches Jordan on the pier, and she says he’s looking pretty good for a dead man. She thought they’d agreed he’d stay far away from Port Charles. We see it’s Taggert, and he says it turns out he has unfinished business.
Trina, Josslyn, and Cameron run backstage, and Trina says sorry she wasn’t on time. Cameron says, they’re not late. They have plenty of time. Portia says they’re cutting it close, and Curtis tells them, break a leg. He tells Trina that she’ll make her father proud, but she says she doesn’t need him to tell her that. She tells her friends, come on guys; the show must go on.
Jordan says Taggert is taking a risk. If Cyrus or his men see him, he’ll really be dead, and if her men see him, he’ll be arrested for fabricating his death. He says, there’s no warrant out for his arrest. He’s a dead man.
Lucy introduces Epiphany, Felix, and Amy, and Felix says, it’s because of people like the viewers that they’ve raised funds for HIV/AIDS over the years. Now they’re extending that to the frontline workers. Amy says they can’t do their jobs alone, and Epiphany says, there are also firefighters, police, EMTs, and ambulance crews. They all take risks on the frontline, and are there when they’re needed. The telethon is a chance to do something in return. Lucy asks everyone to please call or donate online. It’s up to the viewers to thank them.
Brook asks Dustin why this always happens; she loves performing. He says she’ll be fine once she gets in front of the lights, but she says, what if nothing comes out? He reminds her of a performance at the bar, where he had to block the door to keep her from running away, and asks, what happened next? She says she blew the roof off, and did seven encores. He says, the same thing will happen tonight.
Sam tells TJ and Molly, Jason is going to make a full recovery, but the bad news is, he could bolt the hospital at any time. Molly says she doesn’t believe he’d do that. TJ sees Brando, and calls him over. TJ says he guesses when Brando heard about the Nurses Ball, he was never told he’d be picking up phones. Brando says if he has a choice between the phones or sitting around in a tux, he’ll go with the phones.
Jax comes into the phone bank, and tells Nina, sorry he’s late. She asks if he knows what to say, and he says, Nurses Ball Telethon; thank you for calling.
Sasha’s picture is on a big screen on stage, and Lucy says if everyone is wondering who the absolutely gorgeous woman is behind her, it’s Sasha Gilmore, the face of Deception Cosmetics. She’s proud of the image, but prouder that Deception will match every single donation given to this wonderful cause. They can do that because of the generosity of one of their partners, Valentin Cassadine. Full disclosure, she’s also a partner, but tonight isn’t about one person or a company. It’s about coming together to honor others. Lulu puts the microphone on Maxie backstage, and Lucy continues. She says she wants to welcome Deception’s own Maxie Jones. Maxie tells Lulu, that’s her cue. Lucy is going to kill her. Lulu continues hooking Maxie’s microphone up, and Maxie says, at least she’s not in a ball gown. She won’t be wearing one of those anytime soon. Lulu asks if she’s had a chance to talk to Peter, and doesn’t realize the mic is on. Everyone can hear what Maxie is saying. She says, it’s delicate and she has to find the right moment to tell Peter that she’s pregnant. Since everyone in the place hears, including Peter, I say, not anymore
Maxie says, it’s not like they planned it. On stage, Lucy says, no, no, no. Technical difficulties. Excusez-moi. Maxie says she doesn’t know how Peter feels. They’ve never even tiptoed around the subject. Lucy flies backstage, and says, Maxie… and Maxie says she knows; she missed her cue. Maxie runs out, and says she’s sorry she’s a little late. Hi, Port Charles. She tells everyone that she’s the VP and creative director of Deception, and it’s a privilege to be there. Lucy comes back out, and tells her that her mic pack is on. Maxie says, yes, it is. So everyone can hear her. Lucy says, they can, they did, and they have heard every word. Maxie says, oh no, and Lucy says, oh yeah. Her whole conversation with Lulu was broadcast through the MetroCourt and all the viewers in town. Maxie walks quickly off the stage.
Anna looks at Peter, and he dashes out. Lulu asks if Maxie is okay, and Maxie says she can handle it, but keeps walking.
Dustin says Brook is a great singer, a potential legend. If he didn’t know the first night he heard her, he definitely knew in the bar. She says whenever she got knocked down or discouraged, he was the first to pick her up, and he’s doing it again, like no time has passed. As corny as it sounds, he’s a knight in shining armor. She’s an idiot for letting him get away. She kisses him, as Lulu walks in.
Lulu says, excuse me. Would anybody care to explain? Brook says, this is awkward, and Lulu says that’s not the word she’d use. Brook suggests she not be there next time, and Dustin says, there’s not going to be a next time. He’s sorry if he gave Brook the wrong idea, but she can’t avoid her problems by using him as a crutch. It was a long time ago, and she ended it. He’s glad they’re writing together again, but he’s moved on. She says, got it; no problem, and she leaves.
Lucy says, in keeping with tradition, there are always surprises. Maxie’s was a doozy. She stole the spotlight, but they’ll hear more about Deception soon. Felix comes out, and tells Lucy, Cyrus would like to say a few words. She says, absolutely not. Tonight is about heroes, and he’s not a hero. Felix says, he’s waiting in the wings, and Lucy says, first, a bit of an announcement. She’s sure everyone is aware of the upheaval at GH lately. They’re fine, and stronger than ever, thanks to the new Chairman of the Board. She introduces Cyrus, and he thanks her. He thanks Port Charles for the warm welcome, and says he’s not much for speeches, so he’ll be brief. He came to the city with a bad rap, and a worse reputation. The community understands the importance of overcoming adversity, and has given him the opportunity to show who he really is. He’s deeply moved and grateful, and hopes it’s just the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership with the city of Port Charles.
Epiphany tells Felix and Amy, this is the start of a dire time at the hospital. Mark my words.
Alone in one of the offices, Maxie asks, why did this have to happen at the Nurses Ball? Peter finds her, and says, is it true? She says this isn’t how she wanted him to find out. On a list of all the ways, it’s all the way at the bottom. He asks if she’s really pregnant, and she nods. He asks why she didn’t tell him, and she says she’s not sure what to make of all of this. Having a baby with him is a dream she always wanted to happen… someday. But Deception is a dream she’s making happen now, and the thing about dreams is, you have to sacrifice. She’s scared she can’t sacrifice enough to do right by both dreams. He asks, who said she’s the only one who has to sacrifice? Say the word, and he’ll sell the paper tomorrow. She doesn’t have to sacrifice any dream. He’ll be there 24/7. They’re in this together 1000%. If that’s what she wants. She says, it’s their baby; of course (🍷) it’s what she wants. He says he loves her, and they hug.
Portia tells Curtis, Jordan must be working, since she’s not performing with Chase. Cyrus approaches, and says, the Commissioner performing is something he’d pay good money to see. He congratulates Portia on her new position as Chief of Internal Medicine, and says, funny how things turn out in a way that works for him. She says, lucky her, and he says, the luck is all his, and the hospital’s. He’ll see her around. She leaves, and he smiles at Curtis, who follows her.
Jordan tells Taggert that she called in every favor to get him a new ID, and had to convince Epiphany to go along with it. Evidently, they slowed his heart rate so much, even his daughter thought he died. He says he hates that Trina is grieving, and Jordan says, it was the only way to keep her safe. If Cyrus finds out he’s alive, Trina will be a target again. Is that what he wants? He says, of course (🍷) not, and she tells him, explain why he’s showing his face in Port Charles.
Lucy says, tonight, we’re seeing the best and brightest in Port Charles. What they lack in years, they make up for in talent. The kids get ready to go on, and Trina looks at a picture of Taggert on her phone. She says, this one is for you, dad. Lucy introduces Josslyn, Trina, and Cameron. Cameron plays guitar, and they sing. I have no idea what the name of the song was, but it was good, about being able to go anywhere if they just believed it.
Taggert says Jordan is acting high and mighty, after dragging his name through the mud. She says, with his blessing, and he says, that’s a strong word, She says, the only way to bring TJ home and eventually expose Cyrus, was to sacrifice Taggert’s reputation. He says she was supposed to be gathering evidence to put Cyrus away for real, and she says, that’s still the plan. He says, the last time he heard her, she was praising Cyrus in a press conference, and she says she had to convince Cyrus that she’s under his thumb. Taggert says, from where he’s sitting, Cyrus isn’t the only one convinced. She asks if he has a better plan, and he says he does. The reason he’s there is so he can kill Cyrus himself.
Jax tells the kids, they were fantastic – all of them – and they thank him.
Brook swipes everything off a desk, and says, screw you, Dustin. She doesn’t need him. She doesn’t need anyone. She looks in the mirror, and says she’s BLQ.
Portia tells Curtis, Cyrus makes her skin crawl, and Curtis says, Taggert is the reason Cyrus spent time in prison. Taggert is gone, so he’s taunting her instead. She says, son of a bitch, and he says she’s putting it kindly, She says, more than that, he made her miss Trina’s performance. He says she can catch it online; Trina will never know. Portia says, she’ll know. Trina can smell a lie just like her father. She wishes Taggert could be there to see Trina on stage. He deserved better than what she did to him.
Jax finds Nina, and says he was put to work so fast, he barely had a chance to say hello. How is she feeling about Maxie’s big moment? She says she’s happy for Maxie. Peter too. She guesses she can’t help wondering about her own child. Is she a doctor? A paramedic? In prison, or dead? Jax says his jeweler thought she had a lead, and he’ll follow up. Valentin joins them, and asks how Nina is holding up. Jax says Nina is no longer Valentin’s business, and Valentin asks if that’s how Nina feels. Nina says she has to get ready, and she and Jax leave.
Anna and Mac find Maxie with Peter. Anna says she was just checking, and Maxie says she can come in. Anna says she doesn’t mean to pry, and Maxie says, she’s a spy; all she does is pry. Mac asks if it’s true, and Maxie says it is. Anna asks if it’s good news, and she says, the best. Mac says, just when he thought he was through with dirty diapers… but he loves grandkids and dirty diapers. He leaves to call Maxie’s mom, and Anna tells Peter that she’s happy. He says, thanks, grandma. She leaves to catch up with Mac, and flashes back to Robert asking if it’s ever occurred to her that Peter is Alex’s son, not hers.
TJ asks if Brando boxes, and Brando says he started in the service. It’s a great way to stay in shape. TJ suggests they get in the ring sometime, but Molly says TJ is a doctor. He shouldn’t even be hitting the heavy bag. Sam says, working out is one thing, but sparring is a bit much. And Brando had that baseball injury. TJ says, he plays baseball? and Brando says, yes. Sam says they’re going to be late; they’d better get back. She steers Brando away, and he asks, what’s the problem? He was just making conversation. TJ is a friendly dude. She says, act unfriendly, and he says he’s not trying to bring trouble. How many times does he have to say it? She tells him that he can say it as many times as he wants to. She still won’t believe it.
Portia tells Curtis that she goes back and forth. Loving Taggert for saving Trina, and cursing him for making her a target. But she misses him. It’s been years, but she misses him every day. Curtis says he’s learned that you don’t stop caring just because you grow apart. She says the marriage didn’t end because they grew apart. Something came between them. Curtis asks, what? and she says, him. He says he thought she’d said she never told Taggert. She says she didn’t, but she might as well have. After Taggert came back, there was a distance between them; something unspoken. She thought she couldn’t get past the months Taggert had been gone while he was undercover, but what she couldn’t get over was Curtis.
Jordan says Taggert must be joking. She’s not going to let him commit murder. He says, it’s not murder, it’s justice. He’ll get away with it, since no one will suspect a dead man.
Portia tells Curtis, it was years ago; ancient history at this point. She should probably get back. She walks away, and he ponders.
Jordan tells Taggert, not cold-blooded murder. That’s not the man she knows. He says, the man she knew didn’t have someone trying to kill his daughter. She says, his daughter wasn’t in danger until he came back, and backed Cyrus into a corner. She has a plan. She’s going to let Cyrus get complacent, and do a legitimate bust. He says that’s not a plan; it’s an idea. She says, if he takes Cyrus’s life now, that’s it. He’ll lose all hope of coming home. When Cyrus begins to trust her, she’ll bring Curtis on board. He laughs, and says she hasn’t told Curtis he’s alive, has she?
Lucy says, the next couple has wowed the Nurses Ball crowd before, but with other people. She introduces a dashing corporate raider, and the stylish editor-in-chief of Crimson. If there was ever a couple totally in sync, it’s these two, a duo with scintillating and soulful moves, Jax and Nina. Nina dances to She by herself for a few measures, then Jax joins her.
Valentin broods. Peter comes by, and Valentin says he gathers congratulations are in order. Peter thanks him, and Valentin says he was a bad mentor. He failed Peter in a lot of ways, and hopes Peter allows him opportunity to make it up with his hard won advice. Whatever Peter is keeping from Maxie, tell her now. A child changes everything, so if there’s something he’s keeping to himself, tell her. Before he knows what happened, it will be too late.
Jordan tells Taggert not to make it worse. Go back to where he was relocated before someone sees him. He says he’ll stay gone for now, but don’t think he’s going to stop checking up on her. She says she wouldn’t have it any other way. He tells her, be safe, and take care of his daughter. She promises to finish this soon, and leaves.
Dustin congratulates Peter, and Peter says, they intended on staying, but this has tired them out. Lulu says, goodbye, but Maxie is hesitant, saying she doesn’t know if Lucy will appreciate it. Lulu says she’ll handle Lucy. Go home and put her feet up.
Robert tells Spinelli, he’s still going to keep his trap shut, and Spinelli says, it’s not the night Maxie will learn the inconvenient truth. Robert says, they agree on something, but Spinelli can’t tell anyone until there’s proof. Spinelli says, then find it they must, before Maxie and Peter start raising a baby. He goes over to Maxie and Peter, and says, congratulations to them both. Whatever their endeavors, he’ll embrace them without hesitation. Maxie says that means the world to her, and to Peter. They leave, and Spinelli tells Robert, they must act in haste. The child will tie Maxie to Peter more than ever.
To be continued…
Tomorrow, Anna tells Finn it’s the best possible news, Nina tells Jax to stay out of it, and Nelle tells Julian tonight will be her greatest performance yet.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
After the day I’ve had, I so wish I could slap one of these self-righteous nitwits into next week.
Back in Beverly Hills, Denise visits Garcelle, whose house is all done up for Christmas. In Denise’s interview, she says, the day she got back from Rome, she was literally in the airport the next day, going to Montana for Thanksgiving. After Rome, she needed to decompress, and she could bring as many pairs of sweatpants as she wanted. They have some tequila, and Denise tells Garcelle that she couldn’t have done it without her. Just being her friend says everything. In her interview, Denise says she loves Garcelle. At least she felt like she had a friend there who had her back. Garcelle asks if Denise told Aaron, and Denise says, yeah. Garcelle asks what he said, and Denise tells her that he couldn’t believe how the women are – and he’s seen it. He feels bad about some of the things that were said. In her interview, Denise says she and Aaron don’t have secrets. If she told him that she slept with Brandi, he’d ask how come he wasn’t invited. Garcelle asks if Aaron is going to address it with the women, and Denise says, when he sees them, he probably will. She admits to not liking Teddi. In her interview, Garcelle says she’s known LisaR for 20 years, but in the last few months, she’s seemed harsher and relentless. Garcelle doesn’t know who this person is. Denise says something is different between her and LisaR. She feels like it will take a lot for them to get back to the way they were. In Garcelle’s interview, she says LisaR is aggressive, and wants everyone to own it. She doesn’t want to own it all the time. It’s exhausting to own it all the time. Garcelle tells Denise, girl, you were fierce that last night. She came out and had sh*t to say. She stood up for herself. Denise says she can handle that.
Dorit goes over the shower logistics at Buca di Beppo with Kyle. In her interview, Dorit says she loves baby showers, pregnant women, and babies. It’s the perfect opportunity for her to have control over the room and throw a nice party. In Kyle’s interview, she says she was planning the shower, but when they were in Italy, Dorit said she wanted to join in. We flash back to Dorit saying the restaurant room is ready, and she’s thinking about having a shower there. Dorit tells Kyle that Teddi thinks she’s coming for the room reveal. Kyle asks if Teddi knows it’s a party, so she doesn’t show up in sweats, and Dorit says she told Teddi that she’s hosting a nice dinner, and showing them what she designed. In Dorit’s interview, she says it’s the first time she’s designed a room in a restaurant; it’s a big deal. She says it like all rich people do this. We see clips from two weeks earlier, where Dorit shows the room to PK and the kids, and says, it’s a work in progress. We see before and after pictures, and Kyle says it has beauty and allure. The colors make her feel like she’s stepping into a restaurant in Capri. I’d describe it as, there’s lots of yellow and lemons everywhere. Kyle says she feels like she’s been transported, and they go over seating. Dorit puts Denise next to herself and Garcelle. In her interview, Kyle says, they tried to patch things up and have fun the last night in Rome, but she hasn’t spoken to Denise since. She asks if Dorit thinks Denise will come, and Dorit says, Denise didn’t say she’s not coming. In Dorit’s interview, she says she’s found Denise to be a stand-up girl. She’s a tough cookie, and there’s no way she wouldn’t show up to avoid a conversation. Kyle says, Kim and Brandi are coming, and Dorit asks if she thinks that’s a good idea. Kyle says she’d been planning something already, and they were invited. We flash back to Kim asking Teddi if she’s invited, and Teddi inviting her and Brandi. Dorit says she thinks everyone is an adult. Apparently, she’s on a different show than the one we’re watching. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Denise doesn’t care; she knows Denise isn’t coming. Dorit asks what she’s supposed to do. She doesn’t want to get involved.
LisaR rifles through daughter Amelia’s night table drawer. In her interview, she says Amelia is moving in a week. She’ll be in L.A., but not under LisaR’s roof. We see a clip of LisaR telling Amelia that she’ll help her out a little bit. In LisaR’s interview, she says her work is to not be a helicopter parent, and let it go. She asks Amelia about her therapist, and Amelia says she’s on anti-depressants, and feels that her mood is more balanced. LisaR says she’s noticed. In her interview, LisaR says, a lot has happened in the last few months, and we flash back to Amelia telling LisaR about her anxiety, and saying she was in a bad place, but she’s been serious about getting her mental health on the right track. Amelia says it’s the one year anniversary of her being recovered 100%, and LisaR says Garcelle was wondering if her posting on Instagram had anything to do with Amelia’s eating disorder. We flash back to Garcelle asking if LisaR thinks there’s any correlation. Amelia tells LisaR that she’d tell Garcelle as nicely as possibly to f*** off. Um… I don’t think there’s a nice way to say that, and I can’t imagine it doesn’t affect the kids in some way. It also wasn’t like Garcelle was being mean. She was genuinely concerned. Amelia says she talked to her therapist, and it seems like women get shamed no matter what size they are. At one point she did blame LisaR because she was thin, but that wasn’t fair. She did everything on her own; sitting there crying, and looking up diets. She did it herself, and LisaR isn’t a part of her stuff. LisaR says, it’s easier to lay blame. In her interview, LisaR says she pushed a button in Garcelle. She says Amelia is smarter than anyone she knows. No comment, since she knows some really stupid people.
Guests start coming, and Dorit introduces herself to Teddi’s friends. LisaR brings a gift basket, and Kim asks if Teddi gets a bunny. LisaR says, of course, and in her interview, she says, not in a million years did she think she and Kim would be laughing and talking about a bunny. We flash back to Kim bringing the stuffed bunny LisaR gave to her to the reunion, and giving it back, saying that she didn’t give it to her grandson since it had bad energy. Then the single tear rolling down LisaR’s cheek. Breaking out my violin. LisaR says Kim spent Thanksgiving with her daughter, and she didn’t. In her interview, LisaR explains that Amelia is dating a guy whose brother is married to Kim’s daughter. Maybe they’ll be related by marriage. It could happen. She tells us to picture her and Kim in the kitchen basting a turkey together. LisaR asks if everyone is coming, and in her interview, she says she vowed to be a better friend to Denise before they left Rome. She’s looking to keep the good will moving forward.
Garcelle arrives with a massive stuffed pink flamingo. Denise calls Dorit, and Garcelle asks if she’s calling to say she can’t make it. Denise says she’s been sick all night and all day. She’s sure Teddi and Erika wouldn’t appreciate it if she showed up sick. In her interview, Denise says she’s not sad about it. She didn’t want to show up anyway, so it was a blessing in disguise. In Garcelle’s interview, she says she’s not sure if Denise is really sick, or sick of these women. Actually, she does seem sick, but I’m sure she’s also sick of this group. I know I am. Dorit tells everyone to scream, surprise! when Teddi walks in. Again, I don’t know how wise it is to scare a pregnant woman. Kyle and Teddi arrive, everyone yells, surprise! and Dorit tells Teddi, welcome to her baby shower. It’s from her and Kyle. Teddi thanks them, and Dorit leads them to the Capri room. In Dorit’s interview, she says she and Teddi have come a long way. Before, they couldn’t go ten minutes without an argument. Sutton says, the room is beautiful; lemons everywhere. In her interview, she says, so far, the shower has been about Dorit. Dorit says, Denise called, and she’s not feeling well, so she’s not coming. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Denise isn’t sick, because she’s a doctor who saw Denise that afternoon. She wishes Denise would be honest and says she doesn’t feel like coming around now. That’s what creates distrust. I wonder who the blip cares. Even if she wasn’t sick, it’s called being polite. Oh that’s right, this group doesn’t know how to be that.
Erika shows up with pink hair, and says she’s wearing the baby gender on her head. Kyle says she can’t wait for the Buca di baby. She thinks Teddi is an amazing mom, and loves her. I gag, and Teddi thanks them for coming. LisaR says she and Kyle always have a good time at baby showers, and we see photos of them at Andy’s baby shower. LisaR says, the next time they see Erika will be on stage, and Erika says it’s the last time she’ll see them before she sees them in New York. They toast to that, and LisaR says she’s so excited that Erika is doing something she loved so much. In her interview, Garcelle says, let Erika have the spotlight. She tells LisaR that she’s been supportive, but at the same time, whenever Erika’s debut was brought up, she chimed in that she’d done it 18 years ago.
Dorit acts all shocked, and LisaR says if that’s what she believed Garcelle thought about her, she’d be sad. Garcelle says that’s not how she meant it, and LisaR knows her better than that. LisaR swears she hasn’t tried to take Erika’s thunder. In her interview, she wonders why Garcelle needs to be sh*tting on her. It’s almost like a backhand. I know I’d like give LisaR a backhand. LisaR says it’s not about her, and that’s on Garcelle, implying Garcelle needs to own it. Garcelle and Sutton decide it’s time for them to go, and Garcelle says she’s always been there for LisaR. LisaR says she appreciates it. Kim says Brandi just texted that she’s in the neighborhood, and wonders if she can come by, and Teddi says she was invited anyway. Erika wonders where Denise is, and Dorit tells her that Denise said she was sick. Teddi says she’d have more respect if Denise just said it was awkward being around her right now. She’s also a doctor who diagnosis people by telepathy. It looks like they’re going to gang up on Denise without Denise being there, which isn’t too much of a surprise. Kyle says, it’s not honest, and Dorit asks how she knows Denise isn’t sick. Teddi says Kim was sitting there when Brandi spilled her guts. Kyle says she’s never known Brandi to be a liar, and in Dorit’s interview, she says Kyle is quick to believe Brandi, but she’s had an issue with Denise. If it was someone else, would she believe it so quickly? Dorit doesn’t think so.
Bitch Brandi arrives, wearing a dress way too youthful for her, and a face so squinty and tight, you could bounce a quarter off her forehead. Brandi says she almost wasn’t coming, and Dorit says, if Brandi plays her cards right, she can come more often. Brandi says she used to bring her boys there to eat in the kitchen because she was screwing the chef, and Kyle says Brandi is an amazing mom. Brandi says their dad said they could come for desert on Thanksgiving. Dorit asks if honesty is important to Brandi, and Brandi says, 100%. Dorit asks if she prides herself on honesty, and Brandi says, 1000%. Dorit asks if Brandi is always honest, and Brandi says, 99% of the time. What’s happening? Kyla says they had a conversation regarding what Brandi said about her friendship with Denise. We flash back to that, and Teddi says she had major anxiety about it, but when she asked Denise about what she’d said, she couldn’t make eye contact. LisaR says she’s uncomfortable because Denise isn’t there, and they’re talking about it. She had a breakdown in Rome, because Denise said she didn’t have her back. She also points out there are strangers at the table, and if it’s true, it’s a side of Denise she doesn’t know. Brandi says she doesn’t know 95% of the people at the table, and Dorit thinks it’s not fair. Teddi says maybe it’s time for her friends to go, so they can talk smack about Denise, since the conversation is about to be not baby shower friendly. Her friends wisely leave while they still have their sanity.
Teddi says the first night at dinner, they confronted Denise about the things she said about her and Erika. She immediately distanced herself from Brandi and said they were never that close. Dorit tells Brandi, Denise said none of it is true. LisaR says she told them Brandi was a liar, and never to be believed. Erika says she asked point blank if Brandi was a liar, and Denise said she was. Brandi says she’s not trying to hurt Denise in any way, she just wants back on the show. In April, Denise did her podcast, and invited her to a movie set. Keep in mind, Denise said Brandi really wanted her on the podcast, and asked to come out there. Teddi asks if Aaron was there, and Brandi says Denise told her they had an open thing, but just with girls. Brandi says, they were making out, then Brandi bit Denise, leaving marks. There’s a lot of chatter at the table about this biting thing, and Brandi says, the next day Brandi told her Aaron could never know; he’d kill her. She was going to tell him it was from the corset she’d been wearing on set. Brandi thought, now she’ll have to keep a secret. In Brandi’s interview, she says she hates cheaters, and would never be one. Dorit says, it’s confusing. Teddi says that Denise claimed she and Brandi didn’t have a relationship, and Erika says, even then Denise was distancing herself from Brandi. Teddi says, until Brandi came back in the group, then she fed Brandi information to make it seem like they were close, so Brandi wouldn’t out her. Erika asks if Denise said things about them, and Brandi says she only mentioned two things. In her interview, she says, Denise went to Rome knowing she’d said things about them, and hoped Brandi would back her up. Dorit says, sorry, she believes Denise. In her interview, Dorit says her exchanges with Brandi haven’t been pleasant. Brandi behaves a certain way, and isn’t easy to believe. Brandi hands over her phone, and Erika scrolls through the texts supposedly from Denise. In her interview, she says, it’s pages. Brandi says she’s not an effing liar, and in Teddi’s interview, she says it clearly shows there was a relationship. Dorit is still skeptical, saying she doesn’t know Brandi, but knows Denise. Teddi says if Denise wasn’t distancing herself, she wouldn’t have said there was no relationship. Another thing, when Denise and Brandi met that time on camera for drinks, it sounded like they hadn’t seen each other too many times before that. Dorit says she’s not saying that, and Brandi says she had her bleepity-bleep-bleep in Denise’s bleepity-bleep. She’s not an effing liar. Everyone looks shocked at Brandi’s sailor mouth, except for Erika, who never changes her expression anyway. In Kyle’s interview, she says she hates when Brandi talks like that. LisaR reads a text from a year ago that says, even if they went a year without speaking, they could pick up where they left off. Loyalty doesn’t change, and Denise loves her. I also have to mention, besides the fact that Brandi has definitely been known to be a liar (although maybe with all the drinking and drugs she does, she believes her own stories), the texts don’t sound like how Denise talks. In LisaR’s interview, she says, you don’t say that you love someone; this is an intimate friendship. Again, is she kidding me? While I don’t think these are really texts from Denise, I always end conversations with friends by telling them I love them, and I don’t bleepity-bleep with any of them. It can always be the last time you talk to someone, and I don’t want that regret. LisaR says, it’s personal; a relationship. Brandi says she thought Denise was her friend, until she wasn’t. She thinks Denise is a people pleasure, and more of a master manipulator (I hate that phrase) than LVP. In her interview, LisaR says, why lie about a friendship – unless you’re hiding something. She tells Brandi, she thinks the two of them need to get together and figure this out. Why, when they have this whole group to figure it out for them? LisaR says, now they’re all involved, whether they want to be or not. Omg, I can’t. But I will. They involved their effing selves, so they wanted to be.
Erika and her assistant Laia load up the car with luggage. Tom tells Laia to take care of his buddy. In her interview, Erika says she’s excited and nervous, but you only get this opportunity once in a lifetime, and dammit, she’s taking it. She left once before to go to New York, 30 years ago, and was go-go dancing. She watched private jets go by, but never envisioned herself on one. Now she’s the girl on the private jet, starring in a Broadway musical. She’s using one of those halo lights in her interview, and it makes her look really odd. I know people like them, but it doesn’t always look attractive.
LisaR visits Kyle, and says her Christmas decorations are cute. She asks how Kyle is, but Kyle doesn’t know. It was a lot last night. She says Teddi’s friends probably think they’re crazy. LisaR says, it was a fun baby shower, until wasn’t. In Kyle’s interview, she says, at her baby shower, no one talked about anyone sucking anyone’s anything. LisaR says she really believed Denise when she said Brandi was a liar. Brandi was convincing, and her heart sunk. In her interview, she says there’s sadness in Denise not telling the truth. What else has she lied about over the years? She tells Kyle, she wants to stick up for her friend, but she can’t do that. In Kyle’s interview, she says she’s been in that position, when you want to believe so badly, but the information makes it impossible. We flash back to LVP telling her to show herself out. If Denise and Brandi did sleep together, it’s none of their business, but Brandi told them, so regardless, Denise has to deal with it now. She feels bad that LisaR is upset, and LisaR says she had a breakdown in Rome about not being a good friend. She’s said this like five times now. We flash back to Denise saying she was hurt, and LisaR displaying some crocodile tears, since apparently she doesn’t know what the word breakdown means. She wonders if it was part of Denise’s plan, and says she sounds like a conspiracy theorist. In her interview, she says she feels like Denise weaponized their friendship. (Huh?) She used everything to make LisaR feel bad. What if she’s being manipulated too? She doesn’t know, and feels duped. Maybe she’s a big, fat fool, and doesn’t like the feeling. Well, she’s not fat.
Next time, the Finale (thank God), the women go to NYC, Denise talks to Camille and blocks Garcelle, Brandi shows up in NYC, Denise tells LisaR that she didn’t go because she thought Brandi would create a Jerry Springer moment, and LisaR says it was a lie that there was a family emergency.
I am so over this bunch.
📱 She Says They’re Fake…
It’s possible, since it can be done. And considering Brandi’s face, among other body parts, is fake, why not?
I was trying to find out what the deal is with Brandi’s ex in regard to the kids, and found this gem. Brandi got pissed because it wasn’t her week to have them when the pandemic hit, and this poor big baby was all alone. Maybe there’s a reason for that. She also whined that her ex and his wife wouldn’t let her stay in their guest house. Really?
Ugh, ugh, and more ugh. Windows decided it was time for an update, and it wreaked havoc with my computer. It took all day to deal with, and I still didn’t get back to a semblance of normalcy until HP (never again) had to update because of the update. As usual, it was no improvement. Until next time, stay safe, stay proficient in what you do, and stay not fixing what ain’t broke.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
On the Nurses Ball red carpet, Carly tells us that they have a spectacular show, and they’ve planned on doing something different this year. Nina says, in addition to the usual donation for HIV/AIDS research, the money they usually use for food, drink, and promotional materials is going to the protection and safety of our frontline workers. Carly says, this year, viewers can call in or go online, and give to those who selflessly and heroically give to us. The usual attendees will be manning the phones. Lucy arrives, and Carly introduces her as queen of the Nurses Ball, the incomparable, unstoppable, Lucy Coe. Carly asks Lucy to explain how the Ball is different tonight, and Lucy says they’re changing things up. The Nurses Ball will still be the spectacular, fabulous, amazing, and wonderful event, but this year, it’s also a telethon.
At the hospital, Sam twirls around, showing Jason her volunteer shirt. He says he thinks she looks beautiful, and she tells him that he always says that. He says, because it’s true. It’s not her usual look for the Ball, but she’s still beautiful. She says she’s glad to be helping out, but wanted to check in, and make sure he’s still there. He wonders where else he’d be, and she says he might make a great escape, and the Nurses Ball is a good distraction for him to do it. She asks him to promise he won’t.
Michael is cleaning up Wiley’s toys, when Willow comes downstairs. She says she was going to do that, and he says, it’s the least he could do. Willow says, by the time Wiley closes his eyes, she’s more worn out than he is. He asks if she thinks she can rally for the Nurses Ball, and she says she lost track of time. Give her five minutes. He says she can go, or she can stay there.
On the pier, Nelle looks at the tracking device on her phone. She says, this will be a night Michael and his family will never forget.
Nina says, as mistress of the Nurses Ball, Lucy is tireless in working to organize it. She asks Lucy, why a telethon this year? Lucy says, the Nurses Ball has always been about celebrating the hard-working and amazing nurses, but this year, they wanted to help out the essential frontline workers by raising money for equipment to keep them safe. Carly came to them with the idea, and they loved it, got behind it, and here they are. Nina asks if Carly has anything to add, and Carly says, it’s a small way to say thank you to the frontline workers and their families for their courage and compassion, and being there during the hardest times. Tonight is about giving something back.
Nina says they’re going to meet some of the generous people who have donated their time and talent to support the frontline workers. Valentin comes in first (everyone is wearing the same T-shirt that said Volunteer), and Nina says he’s the newly appointed CEO of ELQ. He tells Nina and Carly, they both look spectacular, and Carly says, him too. Nina says, the T-shirt is a must have wardrobe piece for tonight. Carly asks him to talk about Deception. Word on the street is that he’s sponsoring the relaunch of the company. He says Deception is going to match donations, and Nina says, it’s generous of him to rise to the occasion. He says, everyone wants to do their part.
Michael tells Willow, it was his mom’s idea to turn the Ball into a telethon. He definitely has to be there. He knows Willow was there last year, and Chase pulled her on stage. It’s understandable if she wants to skip this year. There will be plenty of volunteers. She asks if he’s kidding, and says, it’s doubly important. She’s excited to make her debut as Mrs. Michael Corinthos, and thinks it will be pretty fun. He asks if she’s just saying that, and she asks if she strikes him as a person who just says things. He says, not really, and she says she’ll get changed. He says Wiley is lucky to have her as a mom. He hit the jackpot.
Nina introduces Sonny, mob boss CEO of Corinthos Coffee, and Carly’s handsome husband. Carly says, welcome, Mr. Corinthos, and he says, thanks, Mrs. Corinthos. Nina says they know the charity is near and dear to his heart, and he says it’s in memory of his Stone Cates, and his friend Robin. They’ve made progress in the area of HIV and Aids, but there’s more work to be done. Nina says, because of him, they have a chance to do it, and tells him, have a wonderful time.
Sam tells Jason not to look at her like she’s crazy. It would be like him to make a break for it. He promises he won’t go anywhere… unless it’s a big emergency. She asks what a big emergency is, and he says, if the people he loves are in trouble. Jason and Sam’s theme music plays, and he tells her, good luck. He’s sorry he’s missing it. She hugs him.
Nina introduces Franco, saying, he just had a major unveiling. He says, it didn’t go exactly as planned, and she says, what Franco painting is without controversy? Carly says she has a point, and Nina says there’s been a resurgence in his old work. He says he hopes his new work sells as well, but they’re not there to talk about his work. She says, what’s the telethon without one of GH’s star nurses? and asks where his wife is. He flashes back to telling Elizabeth that he gets to be the guy married to her, and that’s all that matters; and Elizabeth saying, tonight is about everything except the man she loves. Nikolas comes in with Ava, and asks, where’s Elizabeth?
Nina thanks Nikolas for coming, and he says, it supports two worthy causes. Carly asks Ava how being Franco’s patron is working out. Was the portrait worth what she paid? She says, absolutely. Being Franco’s subject was an honor, and it came out beautifully, if she says so herself. Nina asks what Nikolas thinks, and he says, if his wife is happy, he’s happy. Nikolas goes on ahead, and Franco says, it was an honor to have Ava sit for him. She knows more about the art world than anyone. She’s beautiful, witty, and charming, and there’s no stopping her. He dares anyone to try. Nina says, this night is getting more and more interesting.
Maxie sits backstage, and Lucy runs in, saying, hand me the scissors. Maxie says, they’re called fabric shears, but okay, and gives them to Lucy. Lucy says she thinks she should show more leg, and is about to attack her dress, when Maxie says she’s not letting Lucy destroy couture. Not on her watch. Hand them over. Lucy gives the shears back, and Maxie says if she wants to show more leg, check out her other twenty dresses. Lucy asks what Maxie is doing in there, and Maxie says, getting ready for the Deception launch. Lucy says she should be out there, making an entrance, and getting people excited with anticipation. Maxie says, what if she’s not in the mood? She’s not feeling bright and bubbly. Lucy says she still has to make an entrance. They’re thanking those who go above and beyond by going above and beyond. Think bubbles. She pushes Maxie out the door, and goes through her dresses, saying, leg… leg… leg… She grabs one, but says, too leggy.
Brook enters, and Nina asks her to tell the audience about her performance. Brook says she’s debuting a song for the Deception promo campaign tonight, and to support the telethon. Carly asks how she likes being back in Port Charles, and Brook says, the city hasn’t always been home, but has a special place in her heart. Nina tells her, break a leg, and Brook blows a kiss to the camera.
Curtis tells Jordan, let’s go, and she comes out in a robe, her hair still wrapped in a towel. He says, the show is starting soon, and she’s not dressed. She says she will be. Her phone rings, and he says, unknown caller. She tells him not to answer; it’s probably a telemarketer. He answers anyway, but there’s no response. She asks who it was, and he says he has no clue. They hung up.
Michael asks Monica if she’s sure she doesn’t want to come; the nanny will be there. She says she gave the nanny the night off. She’s responsible for Nelle’s malpractice suit, and the best way for her to serve the hospital’s interests is to keep her distance. Michael says, it’s not fair, but she says she has no regrets. She’d do it again in a heartbeat. Willow comes down, and says she’s ready. She asks Monica to look in on Wiley, and Monica says she will. Michael says, a perk of staying home, and she tells them to go and have fun. It’s not often parents get a night out.
Olivia tells Ned, when he sees Brook, remember she’s his daughter and he loves her very much. He says, of course (🍷) he’ll be nice, and he does love her. The Quartermaines don’t air their dirty laundry in public. She says, that’s not the answer she was looking for. Carly says she was wondering where the rest of the Quartermaines were, and Ned says they have to be fashionably late. Carly welcomes the former first couple, and Ned says it’s an honor and a privilege to be there. Carly thanks Olivia, saying, as co-owner of the MetroCourt, Olivia was he first to get behind the idea of the telethon, and worked like crazy to make it happen. Olivia says she knew it was a spectacular (WOTD) idea, and what’s more important than supporting the frontline workers? Robert joins them, and says he couldn’t agree more. Carly introduces Robert, and Ned says he looks radiant. Robert says, Ned too, and Nina says, no date? Robert says he’s keeping his options open. Carly says, hear that, ladies? He’ll be answering the phones tonight. She asks what the Ball means to him, and he says, the medical community went a long way in helping his daughter lead a productive life. So much so, she’s become a part of the community. Nina says, she’s a doctor; he must be proud. He says, they spoke not ten minutes ago, and Robin thinks it’s a great idea to help the first responders and their families. After everything they’ve done, it’s time to give back to them.
Sam and Spinelli come in, and Carly welcomes them to the Nurses Ball. She says Spinelli has given them invaluable technical support for their phone bank. Nina says, it’s nice to have him back in the Port Charles area. He says it’s wonderful to be there, and she asks if he misses Oregon. He says the landscape is beautiful, but nothing compares to being around friends and family. She asks if he’s solved any mysteries lately, and he says he’s hot on the trail of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In fact… Sam stomps on his foot, and says, sorry. Did she get him? He says, just a tad, obviously in pain, and she says, she’s nervous. She can’t wait to get inside. Nina tells him, good luck with his wolf, and they go in.
Franco calls Elizabeth, saying he was just checking in. He misses her. She says, according to some people who saw him on the red carpet, he has plenty of admirers to keep him company. He says, oh come on, and she says she’s on duty. She has to go. Elizabeth is working my last nerve.
Nina introduces Lulu as a journalist, and says Dustin is a teacher. She says, Dustin must be excited, and Lulu says Dustin co-wrote the song for Deception. Nina says Brook was just talking about it, and Lulu says, I’ll bet.
Elizabeth babbles to Jason about Franco and Ava, and says, Franco can’t be reminded of his genius, and not be reminded of his past. Jason asks if she’s saying Franco is going back to who he was.
Carly welcomes Michael and his lovely bride. Willow says they wouldn’t miss it, and Nina asks what it’s like to be married into the Corinthos/Quartermaine clan. Carly tells her, be kind, and Willow says, everyone has been kind and welcoming; she’s lucky. Michael says, they’re the lucky ones.
Nina says they’re in for a treat. It’s her favorite Port Charles couple, the Police Commissioner and her P.I. husband. Nina thanks them for volunteering, and Jordan says she loves the opportunity to support the frontline workers who do so much. Carly asks if it’s also a nice night out, and Curtis says he’s with a beautiful woman. You know it is. Backstage, Sam tells Sonny that she’s been thinking about Sasha, and asks how Michael is doing. She didn’t think Chase was the cheater type, and Sonny says he thinks they’re faking it. He doesn’t know the details, but doesn’t think they should take it at face value.
Willow tells Michael that she made a crucial mistake. She started with Goodnight Moon. Michael says, that’s just the warm up, and she says, tonight felt like the War and Peace of children’s books.
Backstage, Nelle looks at the tracking device, and Spinelli asks if he’s interrupting. She says, yes. She was texting her husband with instructions to go over for tonight. He asks, for what? and she says, her number. She’s performing. He says, what a treat, and she asks what he’s doing back there. He says, setting up something, and she asks if that’s code for sniffing out Maxie. It must make his skin crawl that she’s with Peter. She doesn’t blame him. He says, why, pray tell? and she says Shiloh told her some sketchy stuff about that guy.
Maxie makes an entrance with Peter, and Nina introduces Maxie as a newly-minted partner in Deception, and Peter as the owner of The Invader. She thanks them for volunteering, and Peter says he’s working the phones, while Maxie will be on stage introducing the songs. Maxie says, they need to keep the frontline workers safe, and need to donate, giving back to those who gave to them. Nina says she’s amazing. Who could resist her?
Jason tells Elizabeth, that’s a lot coming from her. Elizabeth says she wants Franco to feel good about who he is now. No, he’s not regressing, but he’s nostalgic for the fame he had when he was, and Ava is using it. She has to go, and Jason asks if she’s going to the telethon. She says she wasn’t going, but she needs to for Franco, and in solidarity with the frontline workers, to support their families.
Michael tells Sonny, he and Willow made their big deal debut as Mr. and Mrs. Sonny asks how Willow feels, and she says, good, actually. He asks how Wiley is and Willow says, asleep. Michael says they can thank their expert story reader. Willow says she doesn’t want to brag, but she’s got it down.
Lulu tells Nikolas they have to talk about this game he’s playing with Spencer. Nikolas says, it’s over, and she says, thank God he came to his senses. He says he didn’t. Ava overheard them talking about his plan, and busted him.
Jordan asks if Curtis is ready to turn on the charm and work the phones to get generous donations. He says he’s a fan of frontline workers; he’s married to the Commissioner. Jordan’s phone dings, and she says she’s got to go; work emergency. He says he’ll drive her, but she tells him, stay and work the phones; get donations. They’ll meet up tonight.
Franco and Ava go into the phone room, and he wonders where everyone is. Ava is sure they’ll be there soon. She sees Julian in the hallway, and says she didn’t know he was coming. He says he’d give anything not to be there, but Nelle gave him no choice. She asks, where is his poisonous bride? and he says, lurking around planning something. God knows what.
Nelle tells Spinelli that she was married to Shiloh, and he says, who could forget her true love? She says, Peter orchestrated Drew’s kidnapping, and Shiloh used it as leverage. Spinelli says, to break him out of prison? and she says, no, summer camp. He would have given up anyone to get out. Spinelli asks why he should believe her, and she says she doesn’t care; there’s nothing in it for her. Shiloh was overseas with Peter, and she learned an awful lot about Peter during that time. Spinelli runs upstairs.
Sam sees Brando come into the phone room, and asks if she can help him with something. He says she’s pissed because of something that happened with him and her sister, but it’s their business not hers. He can’t make her like him, but he can try to stay out of her way. Sam says, that would be great. She closes her laptop, and walks out. Franco says he appreciates Ava’s support. He doesn’t know what’s going on with her and Nikolas, but after watching Nikolas go after her using Kiki’s memory, she should give him hell. Ava flashes back to telling Nikolas that she considered letting it go, but he doesn’t deserve the money; not a single penny. Even though she hates him, she’s not going anywhere. Nikolas asks how long she’s going to torture him. Ava tells Franco, she intends to, and Elizabeth overhears.
Michael asks Willow if she’s okay, and she says she’s great. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, they’re here together, and at the end of the night, they’ll go home to Wiley. What could be better?
Monica sees Mr. Hopsicle on the floor, and says he shouldn’t be down there. What if Wiley wakes up and misses him? She takes the stuffed kangaroo upstairs. At the Nurses Ball, Nelle looks at the tracking device.
Julian asks Nelle why she made him come back there. Why the hell are they there? Nelle says he’s there to support her. Robert tells Olivia that Robin gave her seal of approval, when Spinelli runs up to him, and says, excuse the interruption, but he needs to talk to Robert, post haste. Robert says he’s in mid-conversation, and Spinelli apologizes, but says it can’t wait. Robert excuses himself, and asks if the phone lines are working. Spinelli says they’re in perfect working order, and Robert asks, what’s going on? Spinelli says they’ve got him – Peter. Nelle spilled the tea and connected Shiloh to Peter. Robert says, with what? and Spinelli tells him, according to Nelle, Peter was behind Drew’s original abduction. Peter helped Shiloh escape. That’s why he was on the docks with the money. They can finally take him down.
Maxie tells Lulu, it’s embarrassing for a fashionista, but she’s loving the casual look. Lulu says, Maxie is glowing. Has she told Peter? Maxie says, told him what? That she’s pregnant and having his child, when they haven’t even discussed having children? Lulu says she might want to figure that out. Dustin walks up with Peter, and asks why he has the feeling he’s always walking in on something with the two of them. What’s the big secret?
Carly says they’re wrapping up the red carpet. They hope the audience has had as much fun as they’ve had. Don’t go anywhere. The General Hospital Nurses Ball is about to begin.
At the pier, Jordan says, she knows she’s not supposed to call, but she wouldn’t if it wasn’t important. Of course (🍷) she’s on the burner phone. She needs to do something. She’s not sure if she can go through with it. A man approaches, and she says he’s looking pretty good for a dead man. (Drew, perhaps?)
The director says, quiet on the set; they’re live. Nina introduces Curtis to Brook, and everyone sits down to man the phones. Valentin walks in, and puts his headset on, and everyone gets ready. Spinelli sits across from Robert, and gives a sidelong glance to Peter. Peter and Maxie smile at each other. (I thought Maxie was introducing songs.) Franco smiles at Elizabeth, but she gives no smile back. Carly and Sonny join the group.
The director says, in 5… 4… 3… 2… Lucy says, good evening, and welcome to the 2020 General Hospital Nurses Ball telethon. Some of them may have heard they’re changing things up just a little bit. In addition to donations given to HIV/AIDS, they’re raising money for new tools for frontline workers. They’ll take any amount. They’re thanking those workers and their much appreciated families, who sacrifice so much – all of them – each and every day. While volunteers will be taking donations, it’s their job to entertain. There will be a lot of surprises, so stay where you are, and get ready to donate. They’re just getting started. The phones start ringing.
To be continued…
Tomorrow, Trina and Cameron join the volunteers, Jordan tells someone to trust her to take care of it, Dustin says there’s not going to be a next time, and Maxie tells Peter that she’s not sure what to make of all of this.
Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
Josh Altman was glad the Altman Brothers office was finally finished. He and brother Matt drove to Beverly Ridge, a gated community that has the most coveted properties in Beverly Hills. There are only eleven mansions within it, and Josh said it had the feel of luxury. They met with the sellers, another pair of brothers, David and Rich Gebbia. David had been married to Carlton, who had spent a season on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where she freaked Kyle out because she’s Wiccan, and we flashed back to her showing off her burlesque room. She called it, mommy and daddy’s playroom, and said it was still a work in progress. In her interview, she’d said, when she was little, she imagined she would live in a castle, and brought it to life. Purchased at $1.8 million, David had put $8 million of construction into it. My mouth literally fell open during the tour. The five bedroom, six bathroom house castle was 15,200 square feet, with 36 foot cathedral ceilings in some rooms, and gilded ceilings in others. Along with gothic mosaic work, there were a lot of custom wood carved extras, like a bar, and a 200 year old fireplace that had cost $10,000. The master bedroom was so big, they’d had two king beds put together in it, plus it had his and hers bathrooms. Josh said it was gothic/medieval cool, but still technologically advanced. David also showed him the bonus room, which had been Carlton’s burlesque room. Sitting on a 74,523 square foot lot, the property also had a cross pool with a Baja shelf. In his interview, Josh said he knew it would be a tough sell, but thought when clients saw the acreage, it would put itself in escrow. It had already been on the market, the last price being $19.995 million. David didn’t want to give it away, but wanted it to sell. Matt thought it should be staged, but the Gebbia brothers weren’t keen on that. Josh also said he thought there should be a significant price drop to $16.5 million, and believed it would move within two months.
James and David were still trying to find a buyer for Sunset View, which was developer Zach’s personal home. Priced at $15.495 million, their showings had gone well, but there was still no offer. They discussed Fredrik showing up, and David James said he’d had an effing attitude. In James’s interview, he said Fredrik had done his share of selling on the east coast, which gave them more pressure to get Sunset View sold, since Zach would offer it to Fredrik if they didn’t get an offer soon. Broker Justin had a buyer who offered $13.5 million. David and James balked, but Justin said the buyer had a business manager who was an influence. He told them that he’d try to do his magic and make it happen.
Josh Flagg was working to sell the Thrush house for Lana, who had known his grandmother Edith. The drawback was the 1990 décor, and to make things worse, there had been a power outage before the broker’s open house. James had tipped him off that Fredrik had a buyer on the east coast interested in an L. A. property. Josh thought Fredrik could bring fresh, new eyes to the situation. Fredrik met him at the property, and said he was getting emotionally and spiritually acclimated to Los Angeles, even speaking and walking slower. He saw the price of the house had been reduced to $3.995 million, and Josh explained the seller had another property already, and wanted to downsize. He still thought it was a lot of bang for the buck. He told Fredrik, the nearby construction would raise the comps over time. In Josh’s interview, he said Fredrik was like the love child of a Labrador Retriever and a peacock. He was excitable, and had a lot of flair. Fredrik was downplaying the house, which was counter to his personality, and Josh said he saw through it. It might be good sign.
JoshA cut the ribbon, and the brothers had their grand opening celebration. While they’d already been open for a few weeks, they were rolling out the red carpet to let the neighborhood know they were here to stay. Tracy showed up; I’d been wondering what happened to her. Josh told the guests about the huge brokers open he was having in Beverly Ridge. Tracy said he never stopped working, and he said even though it was a party, he was going to pitch his latest and greatest property. In his interview, Josh said, since the house had a medieval vibe, it lent itself to them dressing medieval. He couldn’t throw a middle-of-the-road brokers open with a charcuterie board. A giant cake with sparklers on it was brought out for the celebration, and there was much applause.
David and James met with Justin about Sunset View, even though he’d given them what they deemed a sh*t offer, $13.9 million, including furniture. In his interview, James said, $14.5 million was Zach’s bottom line. If they couldn’t get that price, Zach was going to put Fredrik on it. Justin said the business manager had done the comps in depth, but James and David gave a counter of $15.2, James saying the business manager had no emotional investment or understanding. In James’s interview, he said, while Zach wasn’t willing to give it away, at least he came down to show he was serious. James pointed out that it was the only house in that location with a view. He told Justin $14.9, and said they were willing to risk the buyer pulling the plug. In His interview, he said if they couldn’t get the deal done, the bottom line was that they would not only lose this deal, but ran the risk of future business with Zach. It was a fight they couldn’t lose. They had a deal at $14.750 million, and I got excited along with them. I’m not sure why, since I won’t be seeing a dime of their $361,250 commission. In his interview, James said, it was effing fantastic. Sorry, Fredrik. They were still the kings of L.A.
Since the Gebbias didn’t want to stage the Beverly Ridge property, JoshA said he was embracing the vibe, and having a medieval castle themed brokers open, fit for a king and queen. In his interview, he says he went all out, and hired professionally trained sword fighters (I love sword fighting!), went to a Hollywood prop shop for decorations, and got an awesome costume Heather said he’d better never wear again, unless it was his birthday. The spread was amazing, and included a roasted pig with an apple in its mouth, which is kind of disgusting, yet appropriate. He was bringing the medieval castle into this century, blasting the event everywhere. Heather dressed up as well, and he introduced them as Sir Josh and Lady Heather. In his interview, he said the goal was getting buyers to see potential. If he got a buyer, it would be like getting his Holy Grail.
JoshF met Fredrik at a coffee shop/juice bar to talk about the Thrush house. In his interview, he said Fredrik was loud, boisterous, and emotional, the kiss of death in negotiations. He wanted to get into Fredrik’s head, since Fredrik didn’t understand Josh’s subdued approach. It went against everything in his body. Fredrik brought Josh an offer of $3.3 million, due to the house being tired and the surrounding construction, but Josh wasn’t having it, repeating that the construction would only increase the value of the comps. In his interview, Josh said the more negative Fredrik was, the better he realized how much Fredrik’s buyer wanted the house. He countered at $3.8 million, even though Lana’s best and final offer was at $3.5 million. Fredrik countered at $3.6 million, and Josh asked Fredrik to meet him in the middle at $3.7 million. In Josh’s interview, he said he knew Lana was willing to take less, but Fredrik didn’t need to know. They had a deal at $3.65 million.
JoshA met with agent Sam, whose client saw the castle on social media. He loved dragons, and was a legit buyer. Sam started at $13.1 million, and Josh countered with $14.5 million. In Josh’s interview, he said he was training Sam the Altman way, which meant he’d become one of the best agents in the city. Sam went to $13.5 million, emphasizing that not many people were looking for a castle. He asked if Josh could get it under $14 million, and see if the seller would take $13.8 million. In his interview, Josh said he’d explain that the only other offer the Gebbias might get would be less, and come from a developer who would bulldoze the property, when it was a piece art that could be preserved. After discussing it with the sellers, Josh told Sam they’d go down to $14.1 million. When Sam came back with $13.9 million, Josh told him that if he could get it up to $14 million, he’d close on the biggest deal of his career. They had a deal, and although Josh’s commission came out to $347,500, he told Sam to pay for the coffee.
Next time, a glass elevator that goes to the rooftop, wildfires hit California, and James and David’s client’s home burns down.
👵🏻 His Other Grandmother…
While Edith died in 2014, sadly, Josh Flagg’s other grandmother passed away recently of the coronavirus.
My first job in NYC was on the office floor of the Statler Hilton. Mohammad Ali was staying there, and I saw him getting in the elevator. Our eyes locked, and he smiled at me. A small moment in time, but I’ll never forget it.
Muhammad Ali: I’m defeating America’s so-called threats and enemies. And the flag is going dun-dun-dun-dun. I’m standing so proud. And I’d have whooped the world for America. I took my gold medal, thought I’d invented something. I said, “Man, I know I’m going to get my people freedom. I’m the champion of the whole world. Olympic champion. I know I can eat downtown now.” And I went downtown that day, had my big gold medal on, and went in a restaurant. And at that time, things weren’t integrated. Black folks couldn’t eat downtown. And I went downtown, I sat down, and I said, “A cup of coffee, a hotdog.” The lady said, “We don’t serve Negroes.” I was so mad, I said, “I don’t eat them either, just give me a cup of coffee and a hamburger.”
Although you’re probably safely tucked in by now, don’t forget to stay safe, stay charitable, and stay focused on getting the best price on the castle you were born to live in.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Ava calls to Nikolas, telling him, the guests are starting to arrive. She’s wearing a black sequined number and he says, quite the outfit. He’s only wearing a towel, and she says, him too, trying not to look. She tells him, you should probably get chest… dressed. He says, don’t worry, and she says they need to sizzle tonight. If he ruins the night for her, he’ll regret it for a looooong time.
Franco thinks about Elizabeth saying he’s about money like everyone else. He took Ava’s commission for it, and he’s playing into her hands. Scotty comes in and says, the man of the hour, and Franco thanks him for coming. Scotty says he wouldn’t take the ferry if not for Franco. He’s sure Franco would like to see some nice friendly faces for his big comeback. Franco says, Ava calls it a revival, and Scotty says, a lucrative reboot. Franco’s got to get work, make money, and pay the bills. Where’s his wife?
At the hospital, Terry sees Elizabeth, and says, just the person she needs. Enlighten her; rumors are flying. Elizabeth says, the rumors are true. Unfortunately, Cyrus is on the board. Terry asks why it’s unfortunate. Now they have enough money to run the hospital. Elizabeth says, money is all they care about. Cyrus is involved in the drug trade, and now he’s right in the heart of the hospital.
Lucy walks up to the door at Windymere with Maxie and Peter, but says she’s afraid she’s not up for a party. The Nurses Ball is tomorrow, and she has a million things to do. Maxie says she thought Lucy would want to be there for Deception. They need to see and be seen, and talk up the company. Lucy says Maxie is more than capable of doing that by herself. Go schmooze. She’ll see Maxie later. Ta-ta! Maxie grabs her arm, and says she’s staying. They go inside, and Lucy says she’ll be right there, and pretends to look at the artwork in another room. Maxie tells Peter that she thinks Lucy is hiding something, and Peter thinks she’s right. Maxie hopes it’s not too terrible.
Lulu thanks Dustin for letting her drag him there, and he tells her to stop acting like he’s doing her a favor. Talent is talent, despite the subject matter.
Franco tells Scotty that Elizabeth isn’t coming. She’s upset that Ava is dredging up his past. It’s the ten year anniversary of Francophenia. Scotty says he can see why she’d be upset, but there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Franco says he tried to explain that, and Scotty says, but she’s not buying it? Franco says, not at all. Even worse, he thinks Elizabeth would prefer to pretend his past never happened at all.
Anna and Finn go over their wedding list at The Floating Rib. Anna says, Chase and Sasha? but Finn isn’t sure of their status. Anna says, just Chase then. He suggests she add Robin and Patrick, but she says they’re not finished with his family yet. He says, Violet? and she asks if he isn’t going to invite his father.
Peter goes to get drinks, and Lulu says, Maxie didn’t tell him she was pregnant? Maxie says, shhh. Nina comes in with Jax, and he says, it can’t be easy, being back. She says this big, drafty house is part of the gloomy past that she’s glad to forget. She’d rather focus on her bright, handsome future.
Ava says, shall we, darling? And tells Nikolas to smile. It’s going to be a night to remember. I think, so was the sinking of the Titanic.
Lucy tells Ava, some people would think it was tasteless to have a private function just before the biggest, brightest charity event of the year. Ava says, you’d think Lucy would be at home before the one night of the year when she’s actually socially relevant.
Nina tells Franco that she’s glad he’s painting again. She’ll make sure he and Ava are in their Out and About page. He thanks her for her support. Lulu tells Maxie, she hates to point out the obvious, but Peter is the dad, and the longer she keeps the secret, the worse it will be. Maxie says, it’s not a secret. She just hasn’t found the time to tell him. Lulu says, really? and Maxie amends that to, the right time. Lulu asks what time will be right, but Maxie says she doesn’t know. Like she said, she and Peter have never even discussed having a child; not once. She’s not sure how Peter feels about it. Lulu says she knows how to find out, and Maxie says, how? Lulu says, by telling him.
Terry tells Elizabeth that Lucy almost single-handedly organizes the Nurses Ball. You’d think she’d vote with the Quartermaines. Elizabeth says, apparently Valentin backed the relaunch of Deception, and Lucy couldn’t jeopardize it. Terry asks if there was no one except the Quartermaines who could help, and Elizabeth tells her, Nikolas stepped up, but it was too late. At least he was willing to do it. It’s too bad he won’t get rid of Ava. He’s going to be at her side when her portrait is unveiled. Ava made tonight about resurrecting the old Franco, who couldn’t tell the difference between good and evil, because he had a brain tumor. He became famous for the wrong reasons, and that’s not her husband. She’s not supporting or celebrating him.
Ava tells Franco, sorry. He deserves better, especially from his wife. Nikolas says Ava is all about being a supportive spouse, and she tells him, not now. Nikolas says, sorry. He’s out of sorts since Spencer said he wants nothing to do with him unless he has the Cassadine money. Franco says, it’s got to be rough, being rejected by a kid he lied to for three years. Ava says she’s sorry Spencer took a hard line with Nikolas, and Nikolas says, they both lost a child. As much as they’d love to be celebrating with Kiki and Spencer, it’s not meant to be. Ava says they’ve all made their choices, haven’t they? She says she needs some air, and leaves. Franco says, what the hell? Spencer thinks Nikolas is an ass, but Kiki is dead. There’s no comparison. Nikolas says, Ava barely bated an eyelash, but Franco says, she finds any mention of Kiki devastating. Anyone who cares about her knows that.
Lulu and Maxie go outside, and Lulu asks if that’s the only reason Maxie hasn’t told Peter. Or is she on the fence about having a baby? Maxie says, the timing is all wrong. She thinks about how incredible it would be, having a child with Peter, but she’s not sure Peter feels the same way. Lulu asks if they don’t get along, and Maxie says, growing up with Faison caused Peter to doubt himself. What if he’s made the choice not to be a father? Well, I’m guessing Peter knows how babies are made, so wouldn’t he have thought about that before?
Finn says he hasn’t seen his father since he diagnosed him with Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, and Anna asks if Finn isn’t happy about that. He says, he is, but they mostly communicate through Chase. She says, what about Violet? Doesn’t she deserve to have a relationship with her grandfather?
Nina asks how well Jax knows Lucy, and he says, not that well, but he’s known her forever. She asks if he has any idea why she voted for Valentin to be in charge of ELQ. He says, of course (🍷) he does, and so does she. He bought into Lucy’s company to have leverage. He has no respect for Valentin, but admits it was a good business move. Elizabeth shows up, and Nikolas says he thought she wasn’t coming. She says she changed her mind, and needs to find Franco. He thinks Franco is out on the parapet, and says he’ll take her.
Franco finds Ava in the stables, and tells her that Nikolas is out of line, but she says he can’t get to her. He asks what she’s doing out there then, and she tells him, like she said, she just needed some air. Franco says, if she was looking for fresh air, it’s probably better in the stables, and she laughs. She sits, and wonders if she’ll ever be able to hear Kiki’s name without it breaking her heart. Franco says Nikolas was deliberately trying to wound her, and she says, maybe with cause. She thinks she’s gone too far.
Lulu says Maxie has to figure out what to do. Peter is a father, and needs to know. Nikolas and Elizabeth come out, looking for Franco, and Maxie grabs Lulu, saying they’re going to start their own search party. Nikolas tells Elizabeth, sorry. He thought Franco was there, but since they are, they might as well enjoy the view. He can have a nice moment where he can pretend his life is fantastic. She says, Spencer will come around, and he says he hopes so. He tells him that he did the right thing, offering to help the hospital financially. He says, if only Cyrus hadn’t gotten there first. He can’t believe the hospital is taking money from him. She says, it gets better. Cyrus is the new chairman.
Dustin shows Peter a little toy car that Rocco gave him as a present. He wanted to come, but Dustin asked if he really wanted to listen to grown-up conversation while looking at a painting, and Rocco decided video games and pizza were better. Peter says, kids never stop surprising you. James and Georgie keep him on his toes. Dustin asks if Peter didn’t ever want kids, and Peter says he’d never thought about it until Maxie came into his life. Maxie and Lulu come out, and he says, there she is; the love of his life.
Scotty tells Lucy, with all the problems Monica has caused, maybe the family can finally earn some money now. Lucy says, the most important thing is that GH was saved, no matter where the money came from. He says, that’s crazy talk. They don’t want a new benefactor coming in, and changing the policies and the staff. They could change what makes the hospital special. Lucy says, no more hospital talk, and suggests they focus on Deception. It was no walk in the park, reviving a company from the 90s, but she did it. She had help, but it was her vision and inspiration that made it happen. Finances don’t fall from the sky. Entrepreneurs make compromises sometimes. He says, Lucy… What have you done?
Nikolas tells Elizabeth, sorry he was too late, but she says, at least he was willing to provide the funding. That’s the Nikolas she remembers. He says he’s trying to get back to who he was. She tells him, hurry up; she misses him. He says he misses her too. He hates the distance between them. She says she needs to find Franco. There are some things between them she needs to clear up.
Lucy tells Scotty, Valentin was adamant about ELQ not bailing out the hospital, and she voted with him. Scotty says, what? She repeats that she voted with Valentin. She knew there was someone else who was going to help. He says, that Cyrus guy. He’s a threat to the community. Lucy tells him, the Commissioner said he’d been framed, wrongly jailed, and was focused on doing good for the community. So she voted with Valentin. Scotty says, she owed him, and knew the day would come when he’d need her tie-breaking vote. She says, it’s not her fault he got controlling interest. It’s on the shoulders of the family members who sold him their shares. The hospital will be fine. ELQ couldn’t do it, so Cyrus did. He says, you can’t trust him; especially since he’s a guy with a ponytail, for cryin’ out loud. She says she doesn’t know anything about that, and Maxie asks for a word with her. Scotty leaves, and Lucy says she knew this would happen, and one day she’d be the town pariah again. Maxie asks if that’s why she didn’t want to come, and Lucy wonders why no one can understand why she did it. She had no choice. She knew if she didn’t, Valentin would pull his money out. There would be no Deception, no launch; they’d have nothing. Jax asks if Lucy minds if he talks to her for a second. She says, that depends. Is he going to harp on her betraying the Quartermaines too?
Anna says she knows for a fact Chase told Finn’s father about Violet. He asks if his father has made any effort to get to know Violet, and Anna says he’s respecting Finn’s boundaries, and waiting for an invitation. Finn says he’s uncomfortable with his father and his father’s wife, and thinks Violet will pick up on it. Say he does let his father in, they don’t get past it, and it gets more uncomfortable. It’s the last thing Violet needs; someone being there, and suddenly gone. Anna thinks there’s another obstacle, and it’s not just because his father remarried.
Ava tells Franco that she’s ashamed to admit it, but she turned Spencer against his father. He says, if there’s anyone to blame, it’s Nikolas, but she says Spencer sees her as a traitor, and gave Nikolas an ultimatum. He’ll be in Nikolas’s life if she’s out. He says, then why not walk away? and she says, money. According to their post-nup, if Nikolas divorces her, she gets 90% of everything. Franco asks if she’s serious, and she says, the remaining 10% would be put in a trust for Spencer, but the kid wants to inherit the entire estate. So if she stays married to Nikolas, Spencer stays on the other side of the world. Franco says, it’s not her responsibility. The person to blame is Nikolas. Ava says she contributed to the problem and can solve it. If she ends the marriage, and doesn’t take the money, Spencer will take his father back. He asks if she can do it, and she says, just imagine if Kiki was still out there. If there was a possibility of Ava seeing her face again, it would be worth anything. What if she could do that? Give Spencer and Nikolas the healing and closure she and Kiki never had. Elizabeth listens in.
Elizabeth says hi to Ava, who says they weren’t expecting her. Elizabeth says, surprise, surprise, and Ava says, it’s good to see her. She has to get back to her guests, but she’s glad Elizabeth made it. She goes inside, and Franco thanks Elizabeth for changing her mind. She says she came to stand by her man and see his masterpiece unveiled. He says she’s made him happy. She’s made his whole night.
Anna says Finn’s father has been married for a decade. She understands, but thinks Finn’s estrangement from his father is going to affect Violet. Finn disagrees. He thinks Violet should know her grandfather, but he lives in California. It’s not like he has a presence in her life. Anna says she lives the same distance from Robin, but they stay in touch. Kids live half their lives on a screen, and it’s made long distance relationships easier. Although she does wish she lived closer. There’s nothing she loves more than giving her grandchildren a hug.
Maxie stumbles, and Peter asks if she’s okay. She says she just slipped on her heel.
Lucy thanks Jax for being a gentleman, and not berating her. He says he’s a businessman, and understands the deal she made, but Cyrus is another story. She says, that’s not her fault, and he says, that may be true, but she defended him earlier. She needs to understand, Jax’s daughter was almost caught in the crossfire when Cyrus went after Sonny’s family. She could have been killed; Laura too. She says, that was Cyrus? and he says, there’s no official proof, but Sonny is convinced, and on this subject, he trusts Sonny. Lucy tells him, butJordan said… and he says he doesn’t pretend to understand why Jordan did that, but technically, it’s true. Cyrus was wrongfully imprisoned, but he’s still a dangerous criminal. If he were her, he’d be careful.
Ava sees Nina on the parapet, and asks if Nina was looking for her. Nina says she wondered where Ava disappeared to, but came out for a breath of fresh air. She loved coming out there when she lived at Windymere. Ava asks if she misses it, and Nina says, parts of it. She misses family time with Charlotte, but she’s accepted the fact that a relationship based on lies and secrets can’t last. Ava says she’s starting to think a relationship based on extortion can’t last. They laugh, and Ava says, trapping Nikolas into a loveless marriage seemed like a good idea at the time, but now she sees it’s not only hurting Nikolas, but Spencer too.
Lulu tells Nikolas, she wanted to check in with him about Spencer. Nikolas hopes their relationship is improving, and Lulu asks, how? He says Spencer told him that he wanted to be his son again if he divorced Ava. She says, clearly, that’s not happening, and he says he’d rather not go into detail. She asks, why? He’s her brother, and she knows he loves his son. It makes zero sense, accepting what’s going on. He says he’s not accepting it, and she asks if keeping one secret is more important than their relationship. Is it more important than regaining her trust? He says, no; it isn’t.
Maxie says she takes full responsibility for dragging Lucy there, but she neglected to inform Maxie that she totally sold out the Quartermaines. Lucy says she did it to save Deception, their bread and butter. Maxie says, no judgement, but Lucy needs to leave. She’s not the best brand ambassador right now. Lucy says, sorry, and Maxie says, this too shall pass. Go rest, so she can be her dazzling self at the Nurses Ball. Lucy suggests Maxie also call it an early night; she’s looking peaked. They need to knock them dead, and be on point tomorrow. Scotty says he got a new convertible; let’s go. Lucy leaves with Scotty, and Peter says, Lucy is right. Maxie looks pale. Is she sure she’s okay? Maxie says she just wants to schmooze the artist, and get it over with. She asks Franco, how long until the great unveiling? How much did Ava pay him to glorify her, and make himself relevant again? Franco says, hostile, and she says she remembers him, but he proved he’s a changed man. He convinced a judge he was a changed man, and now he’s free to be living his best life. Instead, he’s reliving his bad boy genius. The whole thing makes her nauseous. Elizabeth says Maxie has a point. He says the only important thing is, he’s the guy who gets to be married to her, but she wonders where that guy is. The only important things seem to be about everything except the man she loves.
Lulu says Nikolas recruited Spencer to be involved in his power struggle with Ava, but Nikolas says, Spencer jumped at the chance. She says he’s not understanding. He needs to have faith in Spencer that he’ll choose his father over money, not recruit him to be his accomplice. Nikolas says, Spencer is fighting for his inheritance, but Lulu says he’s bonding with Spencer by making his son his partner in crime.
Ava tells Nina, she never had the opportunity to see Spencer and Nikolas together, but she did see how Spencer mourned his father. They had a special bond, and seeing how upset Spencer was when he found out Nikolas was alive spoke volumes. She sees how Nikolas is taking their estrangement. Nina says, it’s one thing to help them reconcile, but the question is, can Ava give up her revenge? Ava doesn’t know. Nikolas made her think she was crazy, and that she saw his ghost. He used Kiki against her, and said they were in hell together. Although she wasn’t much better. The only thing stopping a reconciliation is the stupid post-nup she forced Nikolas to sign. Nina says, revenge is not all it’s cracked up to be. At least for her it wasn’t. Even if you hurt the person, it just ties you more closely to them. She exposed Valentin’s lies at the altar, and got zero satisfaction. It was only when she turned away from the bitterness and ugliness that she found peace. Ava knows what she has to do.
Franco says he thought Elizabeth was there to support him. She says she was, but she’s not comfortable with any of it. She can’t stay. He says he’ll try not to be late, then wonders if she wants him to come with her.
Maxie tells Peter, Franco and Ava are in there all smug and satisfied. She couldn’t help herself. Franco was dishonest. Elizabeth married him and brought him in as a stepfather, but he’s loving his first chance in the spotlight. Franco isn’t like Peter. Peter put in hard work to turn his life around. He says he hopes he never disappoints her, and she says he won’t, as long as he’s honest. She thinks her water smells weird, and he asks, what’s going on with her? She says this is working her last nerve, and he says she’s been dizzy and lightheaded recently. He’s seen her navigate a playground in stilettos. Is she okay?
Jax asks if Nina found Ava. She says she did, and dared to give Ava advice. He says, giving advice can be tricky, but she says she was willing to risk it. It was because of him. He’s proof she can make smart life decisions. Ava comes out wondering where her husband disappeared to.
Lulu says, so Nikolas and Spencer are working together, and he says he has his son back. She asks if she should be happy about him dragging Spencer into the game he’s playing with Ava. He asks, what’s the alternative? Let Ava walk away with 90%? It’s unacceptable to Spencer and him. She asks if it ever occurred to him that Spencer just wants to please him. Spencer isn’t going along for the money, but for his father. Nikolas is missing his moment to turn this around, and stop manipulating. Choose his son, and let Ava decide if she’s going to keep the money. He says he can’t take that risk. Ava has to give up before the marriage ends. She says, he’s pulling Spencer into a lie, and he says, Ava forced his hand. He has to get back out by manipulating the situation. Lulu says, wow. He’s as set on revenge as much as he was when he first came back, and refuses to see what it’s costing.
Anna says she and Finn have been telling Violet that the wedding is about family. Having his father there will show her that he’s part of the family. Finn says maybe he would like them to get to know each other, but that’s not the only problem. He’ll leave it at that. She says, she’s not leaving it at that; it’s about his stepmother. He says he can’t imagine her at their wedding. It will take away from the day – for him anyway. If he invites his father, he can’t exclude her. It’s too complicated. She says she hates to break it to him, but families are complicated. His father is still family, so can’t he put their differences aside for one day? For Violet’s sake?
Dustin says Lulu looks pissed, and she says, once again, her brother has gone below her worst expectations. Ava tells Nikolas, it’s showtime. Franco tells Elizabeth that Ava can take over after the unveiling, but she says she has to leave. Is he coming or not?
Ava tells her guests, on behalf of herself and Nikolas, she thanks them for coming to this celebration of revival and redemption. She teased the return of a talented artist for some time, and would like him to come join her next to her portrait. Franco looks at Elizabeth, but she doesn’t look at him. He goes up front, and Ava says she was going to make a speech, but she realized what she had planned doesn’t seem important anymore. So she’s just going to say she was so happy when Franco agreed to paint her portrait. She’s proud to share it with them tonight. So without further ado… Franco unveils the portrait, and everyone looks shocked. Elizabeth shakes her head, and Franco and Ava look at each other.
Is she naked maybe?
On Monday, Maxie says she has something to tell Peter, Elizabeth tells Nikolas that Ava will destroy what good is left in him if he’s not careful, and Ava says she plans to remedy the situation perfectly.
Every time I hear Clare Crawley, I think they’re talking about Downton Abbey. I’m not a huge fan of The Bachelor franchise, only because I can smell the desperation, and become embarrassed for the contestants, but no judgement.
MEN: Can she steal you for a sec? According to Glamour, Bachelorette Clare Crawley “will have extra men on hand, just in case” anyone gets coronavirus during taping. Meanwhile, we will have extra men on hand, just in case we can’t reach the Tate’s cookies we forgot were on the top shelf of the pantry… – Newsette
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. – Oscar Wilde
It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. – Lewis Carroll
What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming. – Muhammad Ali
Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. – Dennis P. Kimbro
A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. – Mark Twain
If you can’t laugh at yourself, at least let me do it. – Charlie (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men
People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion. – Steve Maraboli
Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done. – Lucille Ball
🌃 Hey, It’s Still Dark Out…
Long story short, the new site editor causes difficulty for some links. So until I have a minute to figure out a way around it, I switched back to the classic version, an upscale word for the way it was done before. Thank God it’s Friday. We still call it that, right? Keep that weekend sacred, and change your environment for a moment. But while you’re doing that, stay safe, stay authentic, and stay like Bill Murray in Meatballs, telling yourself, it just doesn’t matter.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly sees Jason sitting up and using his tablet, and tells him Epiphany is going to be upset if she sees him. He says, Epiphany isn’t on duty; he already checked. He asks if she’s okay, and she hands him a gift bag, telling him, take it.
Sam asks how Sonny’s dad is, and he says they’re setting up his room at Turning Woods today. Why did she want to see him? She says she wants to talk about Brando.
Ava asks Nikolas if he forget they’re entertaining tonight, and he says she’s entertaining. He couldn’t care less. She suggests he adjust his attitude. Their guests will be arriving soon. He needs to get ready. He says he’s as ready as he’s going to be, and she says he’ll be significantly underdressed. He says, oh well, and she says, it’s an important night for them. He says it’s an important night for her ego. She forced him to marry her; now she wants to trot him out like a circus pony. The doorbell rings, and Ava answers. Lulu asks if Nikolas is at home. Nikolas asks what brings her there. He doesn’t imagine she wants a preview of the portrait. She says she’s there to ask a huge favor.
Franco goes to the hospital, and asks Elizabeth how Jason is. She says, he’s awake, and expected to make a full recovery. He says he’ll tell Jake; he’s going to be thrilled. He says, since Jason is out of the woods now, she’s free to come to the unveiling.
On the phone with Tracy, Ned says, Valentin is now the CEO. The vote was 50/50, plus Lucy, who was the tie breaker… Who sold? The list is long, but there’s only one name he cares about – Brook.
Michael and Willow tuck Wiley in for his nap, and Michael says, it’s official. Wiley is home. Willow says she understands how Wiley feels. He’s been a nomad, and been shuffled from one place to another. She understands the funny feeling when you have to adjust to a new place when you’re a kid. Michael says, not anymore. Wiley is there to stay, and the three of them will be staying together.
At The Floating Rib, Sasha says Chase can call someone, but Chase says he doesn’t want to put any of his contacts on the spot. She says, it’s not like it’s a violation of privacy, but he says, that depends on what the judge had sealed. Brook walks in, and asks if this is where the losers commiserate.
Carly tells Jason, it’s a helmet, like he doesn’t know what one looks like. She wants him to wear is when he’s riding. No excuses; no arguments. She wants him to promise, and he does. She says the last thing she needs is to think she’s going to lose him. She didn’t realize when she signed the power of attorney, she’d be signing a consent for exploratory surgery because he might be brain dead, and she’d just promised that she’d let him die. He says, he didn’t, and she tells him that she’s saying she’d better not need to. The deal only continues if he commits to wearing it.
Sam says, Jason is an expert on the bike, and Sonny asks if she talked to him. She says she couldn’t; she’d been distracted. He says they don’t know what happened. Jason could have swerved to avoid an animal. She says, the stabilizer failed because Brando sabotaged it. He’s a con.
Brook asks Chase and Sasha, who’s worse? A traitor to the family, or two cheating cheaters who cheated and got caught stepping out on the kindest people in the universe? Sasha steps away, and Chase says Brook can judge him all she wants. He’s earned her hostility, but Sasha hasn’t. She didn’t even press charges when Brook hit her. Brook says, it was an accident, and Chase says, that’s how Sasha treated it. She cut Brook some slack; maybe Brook could return the favor.
A girl comes up to Sasha, and says, the face of Deception. She saw the proofs. She introduces herself as Sienna, and says she works with the photographer. He said Sasha was amazing. Sasha says she was a little rocky at first, and Vienna says Suzette told her. Sasha says, told her what?
Ned tells Olivia that someone had been making a play for ELQ for months. He spent all that time trying to figure out who it was, and they were in front of him the whole time. Olivia says, the problem isn’t how Valentin took over. The problem is how Ned is treating his daughter.
Franco tells Elizabeth that he has the opportunity to show the art world he’s survived tonight. She says, tonight is also about exploiting his past. He says, it’s good business, but she says he worked hard to distance himself from it. Now he seems to be erasing that.
Lulu tells Nikolas about the lawsuit against the hospital, and says, if Nelle wins, the insurance might not cover the damage. Meanwhile, the board is being courted by Cyrus. Ava says, he killed Trina’s father, and Nikolas says, he’s a drug trafficker, but Lulu says, there’s no proof. Cyrus is legitimately a free man, and he’s offering his financial support in exchange for a spot on the board. Nikolas says, that’s unacceptable, and Lulu says, her mom reached out to ELQ, but there’s been a shake-up with the company. Nikolas says, tell her mom that he knows what’s at stake, but Lulu says Laura will feel it’s hypocritical, and won’t be comfortable asking him for money. So she’s asking for her mom. He says, whatever the hospital needs, he’ll cover it. She thanks him, and says that makes a big difference. She tells Ava, congratulations on her portrait. If all goes well, she and Dustin will be at the unveiling. Ava says they’ll be happy to have her; won’t we, darling? Nikolas agrees, and Lulu leaves. Ava says his sister has softened toward their marriage. If only he’d follow her lead.
Ned tells Olivia, Brook knew beforehand, and should have warned him. It would have given him a chance to block Valentin. Olivia says Valentin was obviously moving behind-the-scenes for months, and Ned says he would have reached out to Sam, and she would have realized her children were being robbed of their legacy. Olivia says, let Sam worry about her kids. He needs to worry about his own.
Brook asks Chase if it isn’t late in the game to be acting chivalrous. He asks what she said about a traitor in the family.
Sasha drags Sienna into the bathroom, and asks what Suzanne told her. Sienna says that Sasha needed a pick-me-up. A lot of models do. Sasha asks if Suzanne told her it was just one time, and Sienna says, sure. But just in case, it never hurts to have one. She gives Sasha a tiny resealable plastic bag of coke.
Carly tells Jason, no more stupid risks and taking chances with his life for an adrenaline rush. He says he doesn’t do that… much. She says he has to meet her halfway. No risks, and wear a helmet. He says, anything else? and she says he needs some color in his wardrobe. She was going to buy him some T-shirts… but she can table it. She needs someone she can count on. He asks, what happened? Is Mike okay? Did Nelle win custody of Wiley? She says, no. Michael and Willow won sole custody; Nelle wasn’t even grated visitation. He says, that’s great, and she says Michael and Willow are over the moon, but she just knows Nelle is going to retaliate.
Lulu sees one of the board members, and says, Mr. Erickson… He says, the board doesn’t talk to the press, but she says she’s not working on a story. Her brother Nikolas is willing to step in and be the hospital’s benefactor. He’ll supply any funding they need. Mr. Erickson says he appreciates her family’s commitment to the hospital, but the problem has been solved. He just came from a productive meeting, where they voted on a single benefactor, Cyrus Renault. Her mother had misgivings, but they were impressed, and voted to accept his offer.
Franco tells Elizabeth, he wishes he could take his past back, but his career just played a small part. She asks, why capitalize on what he regrets? and he says he used to be really good.
Ava tells Nikolas, if he chooses to divorce her, she promises to follow up and support the hospital. He says, sorry to disappoint her, but he’s not divorcing her. Unless and until she cheats on him. She says, so he made his decision. He chose money over his son. He says, Spencer made the decision. His son doesn’t want him without his money.
Carly says, after the judge made his ruling, Nelle asked to speak to her alone (didn’t she ask to speak to Nelle?), and Jason says that was like asking to be set up. Why do it? She says Nelle had it worse than she did growing up. Virginia drove her crazy, but also nurtured her. All Nelle had was Frank, who was a wreck emotionally. Jason tells her not to feel sorry for Nelle, but she says she doesn’t. Nelle is a heartless bitch, who tortured her family, but Nelle wasn’t born that way. She thought Nelle’s life could be different if she could make her understand that now Wiley’s life will be different. He tells her, stay out of it, and don’t forget Nelle is a threat to her family, and everyone she loves.
Sonny tells Sam, Brando has been stand-up. He did everything Sonny asked. Sam says, that’s how cons work, and Sonny says he’s going to ask Jason what happened, and take it from there. Lulu comes by, and says she heard about Jason. Sam says Jason is awake, and expected to fully recover. Lulu asks Sonny for a word, and tells him, Cyrus has been given a foothold at the hospital.
Nikolas tells Ava that he called Spencer, and Spencer finally picked up. It felt good to hear his voice. She asks, what happened? and he says he told Spencer about the post-nup, and how if they divorced, she’d get 90% of the estate, and the remaining 10% would be put in trust for him. Spencer didn’t even hesitate; he wants his legacy intact, and said they should stay married. He said it’s what Nikolas deserves. Ava says, teenagers can be terribly self-righteous, and Nikolas says Spencer can’t forgive her for lying, and wants nothing to do with her. As long as they remain a couple, Spencer will stay in boarding school, and out of his life. Ava says she’s sorry, and he says, if she means it, prove it.
Franco tells Elizabeth, the subject of his work was vile, but it got people engaged, and made them feel things. He’s worried his best work is behind him. She asks why he’s reminding everyone of who he was instead of the man he is now, and he says, no one cares about the man he is now. He’s an art therapist. He can’t afford a canvas; what is he going to do when it’s time to contribute to college tuition? She tells him, don’t use the boys or her as an excuse.
Michael knows he keeps saying it, but Willow is the real version of what Nelle is pretending to be. She says, she knows; sugar and saccharine. He says Nelle knows how bad she looks next to Willow, and once they were married, it sent her scrambling. Willow says when Nelle melted down in court, that’s how she was when she shoved her way into the apartment to take Wiley. A fanatic, like nothing and no one was going to stop her. Willow fought as hard as she could If Michael and Chase hadn’t… She says, there’s no point in dwelling on it. They should focus on happy things, like Wiley. He says, it’s okay if she misses Chase. He misses Sasha too.
Brook tells Chase, what did her father expect? Music is her life. Her mother played music for her in utero. Her father couldn’t or wouldn’t help her out, and she had to do it herself. Linc wanted her ELQ shares, but he was just a front. Valentin was really after them. The man who pulled Cassadine Industries from the brink of ruin. She thought, what harm could it do? It turns out, he did a lot of damage, but did her father blame anyone else who sold? No, only her. She got thrown out. Sasha sends a text.
Olivia tells Ned, he was too harsh, but he says Brook betrayed the family. She says, so what? Brook is his daughter. How many times has she heard him say, it’s all about family; family is the most important thing.This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s easy to love their children when their children please them and make them proud, but they’re still their children when they disappoint them, especially when they do. They’re not disposable. He thinks she’s sensitive because of Dante, and she says, damn right. She’d give anything to have her son back, and he threw his daughter away like yesterday’s garbage. He says, it seems unfeeling to outsiders, but Brook knows what it means to be a Quartermaine. You don’t sell your stock; you keep it in the family’s hands. Olivia’s phone dings. She sees a text from Sasha that says, w/ Brook Lyn at the Rib. She’s hurting. She heads out the door, and Ned asks where she’s going. They’re in the middle of a crisis. She asks what he’s going to do? Throw her out for violating Quartermaine bylaws?
Carly says, Nelle gave her one good thing; a grandson. Wiley is the best thing ever. She thinks Michael will do better with Wiley than she did with him, and Jason says, she did fine. She says she made mistakes, but she knows Michael is good. Now he married Willow. Nice people usually drive her crazy, but Willow is a genuinely kind and gracious person. She loves Wiley, and Carly thinks one day she’ll love Michael. She feels bad that Sasha gave up so much. Jason says he thought Sasha and Michael broke up because she’d cheated on him. Carly says, she did… never mind. Jason wonders what she’s not saying, and she says he looks tired. He needs his rest. He tells her to stay out of it, and she says she’s leaving – and staying out of it.
Brando arrives at the hospital, and Sam asks what he’s doing there. He says he was checking on Jason, and she says, Jason is awake and fine, despite Brando’s best efforts.
Sonny asks Lulu why the hospital board would take a dime of Cyrus’s drug money, and she says, after Jordan’s press conference, they put aside their misgivings. He says, what about the Quartermaines? and she says, they were blocked by an inconvenient raid. He says, by who? and she says, Valentin.
Ava tells Nikolas, she has nothing to prove. He says if they stay married, it will cost him his son, and she tells him, don’t put it on her. He dug a hole for himself by pretending to be dead, and playing mind games to get his hands on the codicil. She asks if it ever occurred to him, that if he’d been honest and come to her, she might have willingly helped him? He says, it never occurred to him once.
Franco tells Elizabeth, they need money like everyone else. That’s why he took Ava’s commission. She says, that’s why she’s not going to this Windymere farce. It’s feeding his ego, and he’s playing into Ava’s hands. He says, either that, or Ava is someone who believes in him. Elizabeth says she believes in the man she married. She’s going to keep believing, and hope he justifies her faith in him.
Brook says why should she care? Her father threw her out, and she doesn’t need him or ELQ, like Sasha doesn’t need Michael. Sasha has her fabulous career, and a partnership in Deception. Who cares? She’ll be famous. Olivia comes in, and says, okay, girlfriend. You and me. Brook says she’s no longer Olivia’s problem, and Olivia says, not another sip. Brook says, all right; don’t make a scene, and goes to a booth with Olivia. Chase tells Sasha that he’s sorry. Brook isn’t as obnoxious as she seems; she’s just drunk and hurting. Sasha says, she knows. She just needs a minute to freshen up. She goes to the bathroom, and Chase says, I still love you, Willow, to no one in particular.
Michael tells Willow, whatever happens, going forward, he wants them to be honest with each other, whatever they’re feeling. The mistake Chase and Sasha made was hiding things from them. Maybe they thought it was for their own good, at least at the beginning, but he doesn’t want that with them. Willow says, right. Start with the truth and the rest will follow. The truth is, as much as she misses Chase, she’s so happy she married Michael. He says so is he.
Sasha checks to make sure there’s nobody in the stalls, and takes out the bag of coke. Since evidently she’s too stupid to go where she won’t be seen. She does know it’s illegal, right?
Sonny visits Jason, who shows him the helmet. Jason says, it’s a present from Carly. He told her that he’d wear one from now on. Sonny asks, what happened? but Jason says he doesn’t know. The bike was riding fine, then the steering went out. The part was brand new, so either it was a bad part or there was a problem with the installation. Sonny says, Brando told him that he did it right, and checked the part; it wasn’t defective. Jason says, either Brando made a mistake or he’s lying, and Sonny says he’ll keep an eye on Brando. In the meantime, something else came up. Cyrus is now a member of the hospital board, and bailing them out of financial trouble. Sonny laughs, and Jason asks why the hospital didn’t go to the Quartermaines. Sonny says, that’s what he asked. There was a problem with ELQ involving Sam.
Brando says if Sam is implying that he tried to kill Jason, he didn’t. Why would he be there if he had? She says to see if he needed to finish the job. He says he must not be much of an assassin, since he worked on Jason’s bike, and he’s chatting with her. If she’s looking for an enemy, it isn’t him. Brando says, tell Jason he’s glad he made it, and leaves.
Olivia gives Brook a room key for the MetroCourt, saying, it has a beautiful harbor view. Brook asks if her dad knows Olivia is doing this, and Olivia says, no. Brook says, then she probably shouldn’t, but Olivia says she loves Brook’s father, but he doesn’t tell her what to do. It’s a very nice room in a very nice hotel. She strongly suggests Brook take it.
Sasha comes back out, and tells Chase, they’re not doing this. Sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. They’re heroes, even if no one knows. They’re like Sydney Carton. Chase says, Sydney got his head chopped off. She says, they didn’t. Carly comes in, and says she wants to thank them. Michael and Willow got full custody of Wiley.
Michael asks how Willow feels about powerboats. She says she hasn’t given it much thought; why? He says there’s one tied up at the boathouse. He’s a fantastic driver, and Wiley is knocked out. They could take it out, and cruise to Sawyer, where there’s a nice restaurant on the water. They can get dinner there. Ned joins them, and says he heard the judge ruled in their favor. Michael says Wiley is officially theirs, and asks how the shareholders meeting ended. Did Lucy vote to save the hospital?
Nikolas says Ava sold Spencer out to Valentin. Why shouldn’t he assume she’d do the same to him? He had no choice but to trick her. She says, by making her believe she was losing her mind? That Kiki was trapped in hell and blamed Ava for putting her there? He says she blamed herself. As much as she loved Kiki, she hated her. She was jealous of Kiki’s kindness, and set her up. Ava tells him not to judge her, and he says he’s a convenient scapegoat where she can place her guilt and anger. But she has a brand new portrait to hang on the wall. She tells him, go to hell. He says he’s already there.
Franco arrives at Windymere, and Ava asks if he came early to help her place the portrait. She’s sorry. She’s been dealing with so many details, it’s where he left it in the solarium. She hasn’t peeked. She wants to see it for the first time with everyone else. He hopes she’s not disappointed, and she says he seems to be. He says, Elizabeth isn’t coming, and she says, it’s their night, and they’re going to enjoy it.
On the phone, Nikolas tells Spencer, Ava believed every word. She thinks he turned his back on his father, and has no idea they’re working together. He’s going to keep playing on her guilt until she voluntarily ends the marriage, and walks away.
Cyrus tells Lulu, always a pleasure, and she says, not for her. He’s surprised she hasn’t asked him for a comment. He’s sure she heard. She says she did. Now he’s a member of the board. She promises once her mother finds out, she’ll do everything in her power to make sure it’s the briefest tenure ever. He says, that might prove difficult. Given his generous support of the hospital, he’s not just a member; he’s the chairman. He tells her to relay that to her mom. He looks forward to everything his hospital will bring to Port Charles. He walks away, leaving Lulu stunned.
Michael asks, what about Lucy? and Michael says, she voted with Valentin. There will be no hospital funding, and there’s no easy way to tell him, but Valentin is now the CEO. Willow says, Lucy married them, and wonders why she voted against Michael. Michael says Valentin was Lucy’s angel investor for Deception, and probably reached out to her. Ned says, more than likely, Valentin went to her when he needed a tie breaker. Lucy will land on her feet; she always does. Willow asks, what happens now? and Ned says he’s sorry. Michael trusted him, and he let Michael down. Michael says, it’s not Ned’s fault, but Ned says, yes it is. It happened on his watch. Willow asks if Michael is okay, and he says He’s not happy Valentin is in charge of ELQ, but for now, that’s just another problem that has to be solved. Losing his job is nothing compared to winning custody of Wiley. Willow says, that’s what matters. Michael says, it’s a day to celebrate. How does she feel about going out to dinner? Willow says she’s right with him.
Brook asks why Olivia is doing this. Most of the time, Olivia hates her. Olivia says she never hated Brook. Okay, maybe once for a little while, but Brook is family now, and she couldn’t hate a member of her family. Brook says her father hates her, but Olivia says, no. He’s disappointed.His pride and ego are crushed, and now Valentin got the best of him. He loves Brook, but doesn’t know how to show it. The Quartermaines will get through this. They stick together.
Carly says Sasha and Chase gave up their happiness for Wiley’s sake. She has some idea of what it cost them, but now Michael, Willow, and Wiley can be a real family. It’s the best thing for all three of them. She thanks them again.
Sam goes to Jason’s room, and Sonny says he was just filling Jason in. She says she doesn’t want to push, but the doctors said Jason needs rest. Jason says, he’s okay, but Sonny says she’s right. He’s going to go. Do what Sam tells him. He leaves, and Jason sighs, because we no longer have Griff to do that job. Sam sits next to the bed, and he takes her hand. She asks what they were talking about, and he says, just ELQ and the hospital. She asks, why the hospital? and he says they’re in financial trouble. ELQ was supposed to bail them out, but Valentin voted against it. He controls 51% of the stock. Sam asks, how? Danny and Scout only have 10%. He says, Valentin has been buying other family member’s shares, and with Danny and Scout’s proxy, he got put in control of ELQ.
Tomorrow, Maxie thinks Lucy is hiding something, Scotty asks Lucy what she’s done, Ava says it will be a night to remember, and Anna suggests Finn invite his father to the wedding.
The Real Housewives of New York City
It’s morning at Villa Casa del Mar. Dorinda sees two trainers out on the patio. She asks if it’s a hangover, or is it real. Is it tequila? One of them says, it’s not tequila. She says she’ll get the girls before it’s too hot, and she’s going to change. The trainers agree, there’s going to be a lot of energy. Dorinda proceeds to wake everyone up, opening blinds, and saying hot trainers are there. She knows everyone had quite a day, and she can’t get them out of bed. LuAnn says she can’t deal with lunges, and Dorinda says she’s got them all alone. She’s going to do what any good woman would do. They’ll teach her, and she’ll teach them aerobics. We flash back to her retro 80s aerobics whatever-that-was, and she puts the trainers through their paces. LuAnn comes out, and says she heard aerobics. The trainers do a cha-cha-cha step, and the women follow. LuAnn holds her coffee as she dances. Trainer Raul does side lunges. Dorinda goes inside, and in LuAnn’s interview, she says she’ll just take on the two trainers on her own. She’s fine with that. Dorinda says she’s not letting them sleep – wakey, wakey! The session done, Raul tells LuAnn to let her girlfriends know they were missing them. LuAnn gets more coffee.
LuAnn finds Dorinda in Leah’s room. Leah asks if they worked out already. LuAnn says they’re old school. They bounce back quick. The best way is to start moving. Dorinda says, she has sisterly love today, and a new bunch of flowers today. LuAnn says her mother described her hoo-ha as a flower.
Sonja chats with Isaac, co-owner of Century 21. She tells him about celebrating her birthday, and he asks how old is she? Twenty-four? In her interview, she says she has to be prepared for her event. She’s having a huge launch party, and it must be a success. Everyone has heard about her fashion, perfume, jewelry, and toaster oven. Everything she talked about on the show is coming to fruition. Sonja works on her laptop at an outside table, and Leah asks if this is the office, sitting down with her own laptop. Sonja says she has to send out invites to her Century 21 party. Leah says, no one gets how hard it is. Sales were low, but she just had some new things land, and they’re doing well. In Leah’s interview, she says, having your own business is truly 24/7.No one cares the way you do. Ramona says she’s celebrating a glorious day, and LuAnn suggests they sit outside. Sonja says she couldn’t be happier. Last night was special . LuAnn asks if she was surprised, and Sonja says she has to stop talking and send out invites. Dorinda joins them, and says, Sonja has to do her thing. In Sonja’s interview, she says, part of Dorinda is sweet and nice; the Dorinda she adores. Then there’s like… She makes a noise. LuAnn suggests taking a half hour break for breakfast. They all chatter, and Sonja says, it was a beautiful evening, but the whole night, she was worried about this; it has to go out. In her interview, Sonja says, Dorinda can vent all she needs; it’s her vacation too. Sonja gets up to go inside, saying she needs to work. She can’t let the invites go wrong; no way. She babbles at the kitchen staff, and wonders where she put her glasses.
LuAnn says, it’s rude to be working at the table. They’re having a meal together, and it’s not what they do. Leah is still working, and Dorinda tells her to sit elsewhere. Leah says she just closed everything, and Dorinda says if she wants to work, don’t sit at the table. Ramona quietly tells Leah, just let it pass. Tell her she’s right. In Leah’s interview, she says she understands where Dorinda is coming from, but it’s a vacation. They don’t need to be rigid and have breakfast at 7 am, no elbows on the table. LuAnn confirms, just say, you’re right. I think, wait a second. Leah and Sonja were working at the table before the others got there.
Dorinda says, the view is classically beautiful. Ramona tells Sonja, Dorinda snaps, and goes on for twenty minutes. In her interview, Ramona says she misses the light Dorinda. She doesn’t recognize this Dorinda. She doesn’t know her, and doesn’t want to know this one. Dorinda floats in the pool on a swan floatie. Sonja says when they used to burn witches, she thinks it was just menopause. It’s unclear whether she means because the so-called witches were going through menopause, or the people doing the burning were cranky because they were going through menopause.
LuAnn and Leah walk on the beach, and see two guys coming toward them. Leah says, they might be a couple, but LuAnn says, those aren’t gay men’s shorts. Leah says, good point. LuAnn asks where the guys are going, and they say, to the resort. It’s determined the guys aren’t gay or married, and are from Montreal. LuAnn asks if they want to come and hang out, and one asks, for a visit? LuAnn says, they’re not kidnapping them. In Leah’s interview, she says, men enter at their own risk. Inside the villa are very horny, insatiable women – Ramona and Sonja. LuAnn brings them over to the bar, and everyone has a drink. Leah says she’s brushed her teeth ten times, and still tastes tequila. Ramona comes out, and asks, is this a mirage? In Ramona’s interview, she says it’s not noon yet, and they picked up two boys. LuAnn asks where Sonja is, and Ramona explains that Sonja is having a big party; she designs a clothing line. One of them shows a tattoo he got in honor of his daughter, and the women are all, aww! LuAnn says, you never know when you’ll find a gem on the beach. They invite the guys to meet them at a bar later. Ramona toasts to being flexible. Not sure how she means that. As in schedule, or…
The women get ready for dinner. Dorinda says she’s not going; she has horrible diarrhea. She can’t even get off the toilet. Sonja suggests a diaper, and says she’s done it; she had to. I don’t want to know. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, since Cartagena, her intestines have never been the same, It’s ruined some great occasions for her. Leah asks, what’s going on? and I love how everyone is congregating in Dorinda’s room when she just got done saying she has horrible diarrhea. Dorinda says, it’s every ten minutes, and LuAnn says she can smell it. She’s getting the Chanel all-over body spray. She sprays the room, and Dorinda says, clear the runway, and dashes into the bathroom. In Ramona’s interview, she says she feels bad that Dorinda can’t join them. Then again, she’s been testy, and they can see how it is without her.
They go to the restaurant, and toast, to girlfriends. The guys, who finally introduce themselves as Phillip and Pascal, arrive, and LuAnn asks them to join the table. In Sonja’s interview, she says, of course Ramona is acting like she’s in heat. She’s always in heat. Sonja tells her, it’s company, not a tug-of-war. Sonja tells Phillip that she’s kissing him later. He asks what the relationship between them is, and Leah takes the floor. She says she has a love/hate relationship with Ramona. Ramona judges her more harshly than the others. She thinks it’s because Ramona loves her, but she’s confused. She thought Sonja was a bitch at first – we flash back to, 1985 is over! – but they had a breakthrough, and Sonja is the kindest, most loving soul ever. She points to LuAnn, and says, this bitch is a legend. They locked eyes, and have been friends forever. I think Phillip was just looking for something like, we’re all friends, or we’re at a family reunion. In her interview, Leah says, they like to act like nice society women, but they’re really regular chicks. A line of waiters comes out, some with bottles that have sparklers attached, some of them carrying sparklers sans bottles. It’s some kind of shot presentation that I’m sure involves tequila. Ramona and LuAnn dance, then Pascal, who we’ve found out is engaged, joins in. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, diarrhea shows up when you need it the most. Dorinda needed to chill, and they needed a good time. Pascal thinks Ramona is 44, and she says she’s 63. Leah makes out with Phillip, and Sonja says, she’s a lot younger, so she’s quick on the draw.
Ramona brings Dorinda coffee, and tells her that the restaurant was beautiful. Leah was getting feisty. She shows Dorinda a video of Leah and Phillip intertwined. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, the one who got away. Ramona didn’t get that one in her little clutches. Ramona says, Leah is like an untamed horse. She doesn’t always have the best decorum. Leah comes in, saying her ears were ringing. LuAnn follows, and Sonja asks if the guys stayed. LuAnn says she was exhausted. Dorinda asks if she’s ready for the blessing, and LuAnn say she needs a shaman today. Dorinda explains that afterwards, they’ll go in the water, and then have a beautiful lunch. Leah says she makes fun of the women being old, but she peed the bed. In her interview, she says they’re rubbing off on her, and not in a good way. Leah tells the women, she told Phillip that she hasn’t had sex in a while, and she wasn’t having it with him. He was a great kisser, but too bossy. Sonja suggests Leah have some electrolytes. Leah says she needs something.
Leah says she feels like hell, but if she wants to have any self-respect left, she needs to keep up with women twice her age. Sonja tells her, don’t do green juice; it makes you poop. Good to know. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she wants to get the women out every day. They’re like toddlers. Get them exhausted, and they stay out of trouble. She’s curious to see what they get out of this. LuAnn flips through some pictures she’s collected of various dudes, including someone she says won American Idol. They realize Ramona, LuAnn, and Tinsley all went out with him. (See below for speculation on who it is.) Dorinda says, it’s like duck-that-goose with men. LuAnn says he’s been in her shows. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t take any of her guys around this group.
Shaman Julian (not a name you’d associate with such an exotic profession) and guide Rebeca meet the women at… the shaman place. Okay, I wasn’t paying attention. It looks something like a nature preserve, and Julian says he’s going to ask the trees, animals, and birds to take care of them. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she’s a spiritual person, but now she’s scared. Every bird started to go crazy. He burns some sage, or whatever they burn, and it’s over pretty quickly. Leah says, hopefully, it helps hangovers. Rebeca tells them to get on their bathing suits, and they’re given lifejackets for propelling. Apparently, this is dropping down into a hole, where there’s water underneath. A guy named JJ puts harnesses on them, and goes down first. Sonja wonders why she should throw herself into that, and in her interview, says she skis on the bunny hill, and puts on a helmet. LuAnn goes next. Leah asks if she’s scared, but LuAnn says, no. It sure looks scary. She lands in the pool below, and Dorinda goes next, and goes fast. In Dorinda’s interview, she says the thing people don’t know about her is that she’s athletic. She’s quite agile – ask John. Leah starts to freak out, and Ramona is shocked at her reaction. She tells Leah that she looks hot, like this will fix it. Sonja and Ramona take a pass, and the others come out in a cave, and swim through to the outside. Leah tells JJ that it’s one of the best things she’s done in her life. It’s incredibly beautiful, with dolomites all over the place, and some bats; little, pretty ones. I would definitely do this if it didn’t involve dropping down that hole. Ramona and Sonja meet them at the end. In Ramona’s interview, she says she feels bouncy, buoyant, and happy. Even Dorinda liked it. Leah is amazed at how beautiful and magical it is, and swears it has healing powers. She’s feeling so much better. She says they’re her hangover shaman.
The women move on to lunch. Sonja says she sees herself in Mexico, living in a grass hut on the beach, gardening all day. Hmmm… somehow I don’t see that. Leah talks about saging her last boyfriend’s negative energy out of her vagina. In her interview, she says, better a crystal in her vajayjay than a stick up her ass. They sit down for lunch, and Hannah calls Dorinda, telling her something about being paid to help put together a catalog. In LuAnn’s interview, she thinks Dorinda is a hypocrite, since she yelled at Sonja and Leah about using their computers at breakfast. Sonja says Dorinda yelled at them when they did that, and Dorinda says, it’s her daughter. Dorinda goes on and on, as always, and Ramona asks, where’s this anger coming from? Dorinda makes a show of telling Hannah they don’t want her to talk to her daughter. Ramona says she hates when Dorinda does this, and LuAnn says Dorinda has done it to her; she’s blown up on all of them. In Leah’s interview, she agrees Dorinda’s temper is too much, but this isn’t the way to go about it. Dorinda says she needs to wish her daughter success, but can’t do it in front of them. She thanks Ramona for the advice, and Ramona says they just want to help her. Dorinda says there’s nothing they can help her with, as she jets away from the table. Ramona says Dorinda needs help about getting angry, and starts to cry, saying, it’s upsetting. Why is Dorinda doing this? LuAnn says, Dorinda turns it around. In Sonja’s interview, she says she can’t believe Ramona’s crocodile tears; they’re distracting from their cause, and giving Dorinda the perfect excuse to run off. Sonja tells Ramona, it’s not about that. Why does she have to be right? Dorinda comes back, and asks if they’re good; Ramona was getting hysterical. She sarcastically adds that she realizes it was traumatizing. In her interview, Ramona says, maybe she should give up. She’s seen Dorinda do it to Leah, and wonders why Leah didn’t jump in. Leah asks why Ramona is mad at her. She agrees with them, but she’s not mad at Dorinda. Ramona says she’s upset, and Leah says, the three of them were talking. Why should she join in? In her interview, she says Ramona has consistently said nasty things to her, while Dorinda’s had her back. Why would she turn on Dorinda? Sonja says, it’s going to be a long ride back together
Next time, LuAnn wants Ramona to be real, Sonja has her Century 21 lanch, and Sonja misses cabaret rehearsal
👩🏼💻 Quick news flash. Sonja was a guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and Andy asked if she believed the pirate when he said he and LuAnn hadn’t hooked up. Sonja said that’s not what the pirate told her. So mystery unsolved. She was also very astute when she talked about the reunion. She must be cleansing – i.e. staying away from alcohol.
🎤 And the Idol Is…
Speculation has it that Constantine Maroulis is the Idol who Tinsley, LuAnn, and Ramona dated. Although the only thing anyone is going by is the fact he dated Tinsley. Whether or not Constantine is the new Harry Dubin has yet to be confirmed.
Are there any women left on Southern Charm? I’m sad to see most of them go. It’s always been one of my favorites, and it’s like the family broke apart.
And typing, and reading, and… As I always say, that’s okay, I’ll sleep in the next life. But in this life, stay safe, stay unruffled, and stay fixing your thoughts on what is true, right, and admirable.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Ned asks if Lucy is voting with the family to save the hospital she loves so much. Lucy asks if she can have a moment in private with Valentin, but Ned says, no one is leaving until the matter is settled. If she has something to say, they all want to hear it.
Jason opens his eyes, and says, Sam.
Nina looks at the latest issue of Crimson, and a post-it note from Nelle that says, the issue is awesome, boss! Jax asks if it’s a bad time, but Nina says it’s just the normal chaos. He tells her she gave him that excuse last night, and he knows she can handle a deadline. Does she want tell him what’s really going on? She hands him the note, and says, a reminder of the brief moment she thought Nelle might be decent. Jax crumples it up, and says now she doesn’t have to think about it. She says she can’t get rid of her thoughts as easy as that note.
Outside the courtroom, Michael tells Willow, whatever the judge decides, they’re in this together, and they’ll make it okay for Wiley. Inside, Nelle looks at the passports for her and Wiley, then at the tracking device on her phone. Michael and Willow walk in, and they face each other. Nelle tells them, spending time together won’t fool the judge. He knows their marriage is a sham. Willow says, after Nina’s testimony, the judge knows Nelle blackmailed Julian into marrying her. Michael asks where Julian is, and Nelle says he’ll be there. Carly walks in, and says, good. Nelle won’t be alone when the judge makes his decision.
Sam says she’ll get the doctor, and Jason asks how long he’s been there. She says a day, but it feels like forever. He asks why he’s there, and she says he had an accident on his bike; he crashed. Jason says, his motorcycle… How? She suggests the doctor examine him first, then they can fill each other in. They don’t need to rush. They have all the time in the world now.
Lucy says she’d like to speak to Valentin alone, if they may, but Valentin says, no. If anybody has something they’d like to say to him, go ahead. He’s all about transparency. Olivia asks if he was about transparency when he was buying up the shares. He says he was so transparent, he was invisible. That’s really a good one, and I laugh. Ned tells Lucy, GH needs ELQ’s backing to stay solvent; she knows what’s at stake. Valentin says he agrees with Ned. She knows what’s at stake. She says she’s breaking the tie by voting with… Valentin Cassadine. Everyone is like, whaaat?
Sonny tells Mike, he told him that he can let go. He knows how much Sonny loves him. He doesn’t have to stick around if he doesn’t want to. Mike says he’s ready to go home, and Sonny asks what that means. Felix comes to the door, and Mike says, baseball… music… and friends. Sonny says, Brooklyn? and Felix says, sorry to interrupt, but since he’s been taking care of Mike, he senses how Mike communicates. He thinks Mike is saying he wants to go back to where he feels at home. Mike says, home.
Nina tells Jax, Nelle was on a tear. She accused Nina of betraying her and siding with Carly. She believed every single person had let her down, stabbed her in the back, and double-crossed her. Nina finally said, if every single person double-crossed her and stabbed her in the back, maybe they’re not the problem. Maybe the problem is Nelle. Jax says she was just being honest, but Nina says Nelle believes she double-crossed her because Nelle was counting on her to be a character witness. Nelle thought Nina would go in the courtroom and tell the judge what a great mother she’d be, and how she deserved to get custody of Wiley. Instead, she went in and told the judge how Nelle blackmailed Julian into marriage. Jax says she did, but she didn’t make it up. She says, maybe she should have stayed out of it. Michael didn’t need her help, and she made Nelle feel more alone. He tells her, don’t take the blame. It was Nelle’s choice to manipulate Julian. Don’t let Nelle make her doubt herself.
Diane comes into the courtroom, and says she tried calling Nelle’s lawyer, but he’s not picking up. Nelle says, that’s because she fired him, and Diane asks if she’s proceeding without the benefit of counsel. Nelle says Martin wasn’t benefiting her, he was sabotaging her case. She wouldn’t be surprised to find out Carly was paying him off. That’s why she requested a closed hearing, so Carly can’t be there. Carly says, the hell she can’t, but Diane says, Nelle is correct. The judge agreed the only people who can be in the room are Michael, Nelle, their respective spouses, and counsel. Carly tells Diane to appeal, but Diane asks if she wants to risk annoying the judge, and snatch the verdict from the jaws of victory. Carly says all right, she’ll go. She tells Michael they’ve more than proved they’re the best parents for Wiley, and tells Nelle to enjoy her last act of spite. When this is over, Wiley will be safe with people who know and love him, and the only thing he’ll know about her is what they tell him.
The doctor says Jason’s overall prognosis is excellent, but he needs to rest. She’ll check in on him later. When she’s gone, Jason says, he had exploratory surgery for what? Sam says, the doctors thought he might have a traumatic brain injury. Carly gave her consent. He says, that must have been rough on Sam; sorry for scaring her. She asks if he can tell her what happened, and he says he just remembers picking his bike up from Brando’s garage, and driving off. She asks if he doesn’t remember the accident or where he was going. He says, when he crashed, he was looking out for Jordan. She was meeting Cyrus, and he was on his way just in case. He asks if Sam isn’t supposed to be there. She needs to go or she’ll get in trouble. She says, no; she doesn’t have to leave. She can be there as long as she likes.
Valentin says, it’s settled. GH won’t receive a bailout from ELQ. Ned says, ELQ is known for its philanthropy, and Valentin says, then the board can vote on causes as they come up. GH needs to get its own house in order.They can find another white knight. Olivia says, white knights don’t just gallop through Port Charles all the time. Lucy says one has shown his face – Cyrus Renault. Maybe he’ll do it. Ned says, he’s no white knight. Cyrus is a known drug trafficker. He’ll hook Port Charles on opiates, and keep the hospital busy with ODs. Lucy says she didn’t know. He gave her a large donation for the Nurses Ball, so maybe they should give him a chance. Ned says he’s glad Alan isn’t there to see what she did with the one share he shouldn’t have given her. Lucy says he doesn’t get to go there. It’s Monica’s fault. If she’d followed proper procedure, maybe none of this would have happened. Ned says, there’s plenty of blame to go around. Isn’t there, Brook? Lucy says she’s going to take her check and go, but Valentin says, there’s one more vote he wants them to take. Ned asks if he wants to vote on a caterer for the shareholders’ lunch, or maybe he wants to change the music. Valentin says, he wants to vote in a new CEO, and smiles. He’s been doing a lot of that lately.
Nina tells Jax that Nelle brought out a strong point about her not being able to find the child she can’t remember giving birth to. She feels like her child is out there. Jax tells her, trust her feelings. Don’t listen to Nelle. She doesn’t know the first thing about being a mother, and doesn’t love Wiley. Everything is just a means to an end. What she wanted was to hurt Carly, and everything else was collateral damage. Nina says, he’s right. She doesn’t know why she let Nelle get to her so easy. He says her mom taught her not to trust herself. He has the feeling that’s why her mother left a clue for her to find the baby she gave away. Nina says, or left it so she could torture her. Jax says she can believe that and get on with her life, or search for the other half of the necklace that might lead to her missing child. She says she already did that, and the jeweler told her there was no lead. He says, just because one jeweler couldn’t help her, doesn’t mean another can’t. She says, it’s the only expert she knew at the time, and doesn’t have… unless he does. He says he has purchased precious gems on one or two occasions. She says, or three, or four, or five. He tells her, don’t get carried away. He makes a call to an Evelyn, and says he knows it’s short notice, but he needs her expertise… for a special friend.
Michael says, Carly must be climbing the walls, and Willow says, she’ll keep Carly company. If the judge asks, tell him the truth. She didn’t want Wiley’s grandma to be alone, since she was forced to leave. Julian arrives, and Diane says she’s surprised. He has a penchant for saving his own skin. Out of curiosity, how long does he predict he’ll stay married to Nelle? Nelle protests, and he tells her, give it up. She can thank Nina that the judge knows how she got him to the altar. Diane says Nelle petitioned the court to have a closed hearing. That means he can be there, but can sit in the gallery if he wants. Nelle says she’s making it up, and Diane laughs. Julian says, fine by him, and sits in the back.
Carly says Willow is kind and considerate, but this is wrong. She should get back inside, so the judge sees she’s at Michael’s side rather than stay there. Willow says she’s afraid she’ll lose it if he grants joint custody. She has to be the kind, calm alternative to Nelle. Carly is sure they’ll leave with a verdict in their favor.
Judge Lowe tells everyone to be seated, and reads the details of the case. He said he’s read the documents presented, and listened to their arguments. He asks where Nelle’s attorney is, and Nelle says she fired him. She’ll be representing herself, since she seems to think the case is still going on. He says, since he’s already made his decision, any request for continuance will be denied. Nelle remembers what Nina said, that maybe she’s the problem.
Sam tells Jason, just like that, Delores was gone for good. She’s been replaced with a new parole officer. He’s a kind man, and has no intention of keeping them apart.
Olivia asks what Valentin is thinking, and Ned says he’ll call the lawyers. This can’t be legal. Valentin says they work for him now, and he made that call already. He needs all of the passwords, and a list of all the employees. He grabs Lucy’s arm, and tells her, let’s go. He doesn’t want to overstay his welcome. Brook says she’s going to, but Ned says she’s staying right there, and looking him in the eye – if she can.
Sonny says Felix could be right. Mike’s old room is where he got married, played checkers with Josslyn and Dev, and heard Brook singing. He asks Mike if Turning Woods is home. Felix says he’d be happy to arrange it; it would be his pleasure. Mike is the best, and Sonny should cherish every minute they have left. I feel the burden lift from me, and Sonny tells Mike, guess what? He’ll be going to Turning Woods real soon. Sonny says they should watch baseball, but he checked, and there isn’t a day game scheduled. Mike says, until next season, and Sonny repeats, until next season.
Jax, Nina, and Evelyn sit at a table in the MetroCourt. Evelyn uses a jeweler’s loupe to look at Nina’s necklace. She says she can trace it back to its origin; she thinks she knows the craftsman. She’ll do her research, and get back to them. She’s gone before Nina can say anything, and Nina tells Jax, she’s a woman of few words. Jax says, but every word counts. Evelyn picked up on something. Chin up. It could be the break Nina has been hoping for.
Carly tells Willow, pace herself. Court rarely goes quickly. Willow says she’s better off not being in there. She has no idea how Michael stays calm.
The judge says, the court’s primary concern is the health, safety, and welfare of the child. To be clear, there are no angels in this courtroom. Both parents have served time in prison on serious charges, and have paid for their crimes, being released and on parole. He’s looked at the current situations. They both married quickly, saying they desired to provide a loving family for Wiley. Michael and Willow have made it clear to the court that they have a deep and abiding love for the child, even before it was realized that Wiley really was Michael’s child. At the same time, the birth mother also married. Her witness claimed there was devious and ill-intent. Although there was n no evidence provided to support it, he can’t help but feel Nelle showing up in her wedding dress was a stunt performed to upstage Michael and Willow’s marriage. He’s seen the records of Nelle’s selfish, cynical, maniacal behavior, and considering the way she conducts her life, the court believes she’d treat her child the same way. Sole custody is granted to Michael and Willow. Diane hugs Michael, and I wonder why Nelle looks shocked.
Carly says she’s thrilled, and Willow says, Michael did it. He says, we did it. Diane was amazing. Diane says it wasn’t too difficult to prove they’re perfect parents. She congratulates Carly on no outbursts in court; she’s improving. Nelle’s visitation with Wiley has also been terminated, effective immediately.
Nelle tells the judge, she’s Wiley’s mother; she gave birth to her son. They can’t pretend she doesn’t matter. Judge Lowe says, it’s because she matters that he’s denying visitation. She failed as a mother when she accused an innocent woman of pushing her down the stairs, and confessed to the murder of her fiancé. Nelle says she’s made mistakes, but she’s grown and moved on. The judge says if she’s learned from her mistakes, and puts Wiley above her own selfish interests, she can appeal. Her case will be revisited, and if she’s found fit, she’ll get limited visitation. Nelle sees everyone all happy in the hallway, and says, it’s not fair. They start to leave, and she stomps out, asking where they’re going. She’s not done yet.
Jason asks how Sam got rid of Delores. She says she reached out to someone who could deal with it. He asks, who? and she says, Valentin.
Ned asks what Brook was thinking, and she says she was thinking of getting out of her contract. The only way Linc would let her was for her to sell him her shares. By the time she figured out that he was a front, there was nothing she could do. He asks why she didn’t warn him. She knew how serious it was, and she chose to do nothing; to say nothing. Never mind the family – they’ll survive – but the hospital… She says she didn’t know they were going to vote about GH, and he says she doesn’t know anything. She just takes what she wants, regardless of the consequences. Olivia think he should take a step back, and Brook tells him, look in the mirror. He had a million chances to help her, but he wouldn’t or couldn’t. She had to help herself.
Nelle tells Michael, congratulations. The judge made his decision, so she had no choice but to accept it. Diane says she’s leaving it at that. She’s got other clients, and is sure they want to spread the good news. Nelle says she’s not finished. They may have won this round, but she’s still Wiley’s mother, and will always have a part in his life. Michael says, good; she’s taking the high road. Willow says she could have had her son, a loving little boy with a great smile and endless curiosity. A boy whose happy, and makes everyone around him happy. Instead, she chose to hurt Michael for an insane reason. She thought revenge would be more rewarding than loving her baby. Willow feels sorry for her. Michael and Willow leave, and Julian says he’s heading home. Nelle says, wait. They have things to discuss. He tells her, whatever you say, dearest. Carly says she’d like to talk to Nelle alone. Diane says, they’re consenting adults. As long as there’s no bloodshed. She leaves, and Carly says the judge made the right decision. Nelle doesn’t know how to parent. It’s not entirely her fault; she learned from Frank. She didn’t have one moment of genuine love, and he used her. She won’t do any good for Wiley, so she should be happy that her son will have a chance at a life she never did. A home where two people love him. Nelle says, it was never her intention to take Wiley away from Michael. A spot in her son’s life was all she wanted, and she’ll have it.
Jason asks Sam what Valentin wanted in exchange, and she tells him Danny and Scout’s ELQ proxy to vote their shares. He asks when it happened, and she says he made the offer before Jason’s accident, in exchange for solving her Delores problem. She didn’t take the offer, but when Delores showed up, Sam called him and took the deal. He asks why she trusted Valentin.
Lucy says, how dare Valentin make her choose between Deception and GH? He’s truly heartless. He says he’s a business man, and wants to focus on reinvesting and increasing profits. They’re not losing money on a hopeless hospital. She’d said Cyrus was willing to save them from their mismanagement. Lucy says, it’s also about the Quartermaines. She cares about them, despite their differences and checkered past. Now they resent her. He says he has no ax to grind with the family. They’ll come around when ELQ is stronger and more profitable. She says, whatever. He can go on and have a celebratory drink with himself. He says, first, she’s coming with him, and he drags her over to Nina and Jax’s table. He says he’s giving them the inside scoop, and Jax can give it to his people at Aurora Media. ELQ has a new CEO. Nina asks, what happened to Michael? and he says, Michael was busy learning a new skill set, and Ned wasn’t focused. Jax asks, who’s calling the shots? and Valentin says, him.
Ned says, when they needed Brook most, she chose Valentin over the family. Olivia says, that’s an exaggeration, and Brook says, at least Valentin believes in and encourages her talent. He’s going to boost her career. Ned asks if he’s renting a stadium, and Brook says when she tried to get Ned to buy out her contract, he told her to grow up; he was going to stop coming to her rescue. She’s all grown up, and came to her own rescue, like a good Quartermaine would. He tells her, get out. She’s no longer welcome in this house. She goes upstairs.
Sonny tells Mike that he has visitors. Mike says he’s tired; tell them to wait. Michael says he and Willow couldn’t wait. They wanted to share the good news. Michael won full custody of Wiley. He’s there now and forever. Sonny says, congratulations to all three of them, and Willow says, it was a group effort. Sonny says, what matters is Wiley will stay with the people who love him.
Carly says she might feel differently if Nelle had been a mother to Wiley. She can’t change Nelle’s past actions, but they can give Wiley what he needs in life – a family that doesn’t include her. Nelle asks how Carly would feel if someone took everything she wanted, but Carly says, only Michael didn’t take her child. She gave him away the night she passed him off as Willow’s baby. She did all this, and if she doesn’t like what’s going on, too damn bad.
Ned holds the door open, and Brook walks out. He says he’ll send the rest of her things when she gets a place. He slams the door in her face, and she walks away.
Sam tells Jason, she has everything in writing. The voting proxy reverts back to Danny and Scout when they’re 18. Jason says, that’s years from now. If Valentin gets a foothold in ELQ, mistakes can happen. Michael stepped away from the business, but Ned is doing okay without him. Valentin could be a lot of trouble. Sam doesn’t think he’d harm the company, and Jason says, it’s not about harm. He’s never cared about ELQ, but his great-grandfather built the company for the family, and wanted it to stay in the family. And the family doesn’t want Valentin near it.
Nina says, Valentin is the new CEO? How did that happen? Jax says he didn’t realize Valentin had a connection with the Quartermaines, and Valentin says there’s a lot he doesn’t know. When Nikolas took over Cassadine Industries, he had to find a new situation. He consolidated his resources, and made new friends. Jax says, Lucy is the tie breaker. What does Valentin have on her? Lucy says she hopes Jax continues to finance and support a very worthy cause, and he says she can always count on his support for the Nurses Ball. He’s sure the Quartermaines are thrilled with her loyalty. She leaves, and Valentin says Lucy can be very productive. When she’s not promoting the Nurses Ball or running Deception, she’s consolidating real estate. Nina says, congratulations. She hopes he’s finally found what he wanted. He says, not quite.
Michael asks if Mike remembers Wiley, and shows him pictures. He says Mike knew right away Wiley was his son, and the judge made it official. Wiley is staying with him and Willow. No one can take him from his home. Mike says, home, and Sonny smiles at him.
Julian tells Nelle, he’s played the part of the doting husband long enough. Now he wants to make up for lost time, face his mistakes, and get the marriage annulled. There’s nothing more he can do for her. She says, isn’t there? She’ll be in touch. Julian leaves, and she looks at her phone.
Carly joins everyone in Mike’s room, and Sonny says, it’s finally over. Wiley is staying with the family where he belongs. Michael shows Mike a picture of Mr. Hopsicle. Willow says, Mr. Hopsicle brings good luck, and Michael says, maybe she’s right. They were definitely lucky today.
Nelle says, the tracking device is still working. Hang on to that kangaroo. Mom’s coming.
Tomorrow, Olivia yells at Ned, Ava tells Nikolas to prove it, Carly tells Jax to meet her halfway, and Sonny hears about Cyrus’s involvement with the hospital.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Kyle says she’s struggling. Teddi doesn’t believe Brandi said that (that she’d had sex with someone in the group). LisaR says she doesn’t think Brandi ever said that. Don’t even put that out there. Denise says Brandi said it the first time she met her. In Denise’s interview, she says she’s not naming names. She doesn’t know if it’s true, and doesn’t care. Teddi asks, when are these conversations happening if Denise doesn’t talk to Brandi? Denise says Brandi called her, and Teddi says, she answered; it’s friendly enough. Do these idiots ever hear themselves? In Dorit’s interview, she says, Teddi’s not fond of Denise. Maybe she believes the worst? Dorit asks what the issue is, and Teddi says, it doesn’t add up. Denise had Brandi come to her work set, and said negative things about them. Denise says Brandi was doing an interview; that’s a different situation. Dorit says, they weren’t getting plastered, and LisaR says, they still got together. Denise says, she and Brandi have a mutual agent. I hope not anymore. Teddi says, there was a friendship, and Dorit tells, Denise didn’t say there was no communication. Even if Brandi said those things first, they had dinner, and were on good terms. Brandi had a podcast, and came to Denise. Teddi says, if they can’t get the full story, then she shouldn’t go there. Denise says Brandi said this about them. In Garcelle’s interview, she thinks Denise should stand up for herself. Now’s the time to set the record straight. Garcelle doesn’t feel like this is going the right way. LisaR says, it feels dirty, like someone isn’t being honest. In her interview, LisaR says that it’s frustrating watching Denise dance around this, deny, and blame. She tells Denise, if she’s chosen to sit there, she needs to own it. Denise says, she has, but that’s not good enough. Now they know why she gets up and leaves. LisaR says if Denise doesn’t want to be there, then go. I call her a nasty effing bitch. Garcelle asks why they’re choosing to believe Brandi over Denise, who they have a relationship with. She doesn’t know Brandi, except for what she’s heard in the press, but why are they taking her side? Kyle says she’s not taking a side (I’m not sure what she calls it then), and in Garcelle’s interview, she says she doesn’t know why they’re making what Brandi says like the Bible. Kyle says, it’s not about believing one over the other. Only they know the truth. Garcelle wonders how they move forward, and Teddi says, she can move forward, but her guard is up. She’s proceeding with caution. In Teddi’s interview, she says when there’s a pattern, she’s not hoping it’s going to change. She’d love to be proven wrong, but that hasn’t happened. LisaR says the restaurant has to open up as a club, and they move to the couches.
Erika says Denise didn’t tell Brandi that she was an icy bitch? Denise swears on her mother’s grave that Brandi is lying. Brandi said that; she would never say that. In Denise’s interview, she says Brandi told her that she heard Erika had been cold to her, and Denise confirmed that she had. She didn’t lie, but she did agree with what Brandi brought up. Erika asks if Brandi said that Teddi is desperate to be in the group, and was tired of riding on her father’s coattails. Teddi asks why Denise didn’t say anything last night, and she says she did. We flash back to Denise telling them Brandi was the one who called Teddi pathetic, and she was desperate to get into the group because she was tired of living in her father’s shadow. In her interview, Denise tells us, she’s said worse things about Teddi. That’s why she’s confused. Denise says she’s been totally honest, and LisaR says, okay, in that way you know it’s not really okay. In Erika’s interview, she says she likes Denise. She thinks Denise is a good time. We flash back to some fun times, and she says, but if Denise is calling her a cold-hearted bitch when she’s being nice to her face, it leaves them in a strange place. Garcelle says, she and LisaR took a dance class, and she’d asked if LisaR thought her body image affected her daughter. LisaR is like, f***, and in Kyle’s interview, she says LisaR opened up the Pandora’s Box. She said she wanted honest. We see a clip of Garcelle asking if LisaR is worried her image hurts her daughter. Garcelle says she doesn’t have a daughter, so she can’t say, but thinks she wouldn’t dance nearly naked on Instagram. Dorit doesn’t understand, and Garcelle says LisaR doesn’t have to be dancing in in bathing suit or underwear. LisaR says she doesn’t think that’s what caused Amelia’s eating disorder, and Garcelle tells her, she’s not saying that, but wonders if Amelia sees it and feels bad. LisaR says people are going to judge them, and Garcelle says, she’s not judging LisaR, but the situation. LisaR says, of course she’s judging, because she doesn’t understand what Garcelle just said since she’s so focused on being right. Garcelle says she’s just being honest. Teddi says, you can’t nail it on one thing, and LisaR says she’s proud of her daughter for coming out and talking about it. Garcelle says, 100%. She’s proud as a mom of all of them. Denise dabs at her eyes. In Dorit’s interview, she says, another night in Rome, and there’s still no result. There’s tears, anger, and frustration, and a dark cloud is now over them. It’s not going away unless they have a real, honest conversation. How is that going to happen? She has no idea.
The next morning, Teddi calls Erika, and asks if she wants to go to the spa. Garcelle calls Sutton, and Sutton asks if Garcelle wants to join her for mass at St. Peter’s. Garcelle says, absolutely. LisaR – who I happily notice again looks like sh*t in the morning – calls Kyle, and says she heard Kyle had fun last night. She’s sorry she missed it. We flash back to Kyle and Dorit out drinking and being kooky. LisaR asks if Kyle is going out on a Vespa, or is she still drunk? Kyle says she loves nothing more than driving a Vespa in the rain, drunk. She’s going to have some coffee and attempt to be human. Erika and Teddi go to the spa, and Erika says, the pregnant lady feels better than she does. Dorinda asks why Kyle kept her up so late. In Kyle’s interview, she says she cares about Dorit being happy, and they’re in a good place. She tells Dorit, it feels like Vegas on a Sunday morning. I have no idea what that means.
In her interview, LisaR says she texted Denise, but didn’t hear back. She thinks Denise is mad at her, and it’s a friendship worth fighting for. In the car, Kyle tells Dorit that she was a hot mess last night. LisaR finds Denise in the lobby, and sits with her. She says, she’s sorry, and Denise says the energy LisaR is projecting comes off like attacking; like interrogating. It’s happened at several big dinners, and she comes off as a mean friend. She wonders why she was invited. LisaR says she loves Denise, and she’s her friend. Denise says, itdoesn’t come off that way. If she saw LisaR crying and everyone coming after her, she would tell them to stop. It’s hurtful, and not okay. LisaR says Denise claimed Brandi said she’d had sex with someone at the table, and they don’t need tit for tat. Denise does that with her sometimes; don’t do it anymore. Denise says she defended LisaR at Kyle’s house when Kyle told her, f*** off and f*** you. We flash back to that, and Denise says, for the last 20 years, when people were coming at LisaR, she told them to stop. LisaR hasn’t been a friend to her. LisaR says she was trying to clear the air, and did it in a terrible way. Denise asks, is that a friend? She’s never experienced this with LisaR, and she’s known her a long time. She’s not mad; she’s hurt. LisaR says she doesn’t want to hurt Denise, and starts sobbing – making it about her. Nice move. LisaR says she’s just trying to make it so they can move on, and she doesn’t know what to do. Denise says, just be herself. She’s strong and does stand up for what’s right. That’s the LisaR she loves. LisaR wails that she should have warned Denise; sent a text, but she didn’t. She feels bad now, and knows Denise would have warned her. Denise says she would have. LisaR was mean and angry, and it’s not like her. She doesn’t know what’s going on. She’s sorry. Denise says, it’s not her; it’s the rest of them. She doesn’t know why they want her around and then try to destroy her family. For what? She hates to see LisaR like this, and suggests LisaR come to church. She loves her. They hug, and LisaR vows to be a better friend.
Dorit and Kyle go to where the Vespas are. Dorit doesn’t want to wear a helmet, but the guide says it’s the law. He tells Kyle, she’s the only one in a sidecar. He puts caps on them to go under the helmets, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, it’s the fashion capital of the world. Kyle takes a picture. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Dorit looks great in a hairnet. They laugh, and Dorit says she’ll see Kyle when she sees her. At the spa, Erika asks Teddi what she’s got going on when they get home. Teddi says they’re going right into Thanksgiving, and Erika says she’s going to Laguna, to Tom’s daughter’s house. She’s a chef. In her interview, Erika says she’s lucky Tom has nice kids. She’s their age. Sutton, Garcelle, LisaR, and Denise leave in a taxi. LisaR says, everything happens for a reason, and Denise says, at least they got to something. In Dorit’s interview, she says, finally. The part of the friendship with Kyle that she loves so much. It almost compensates for the sh*tty things she does. LisaR is glad they worked it out, and says she needs church more than anyone. Garcelle asks, why? and LisaR says she hasn’t been back to her true self for a while. In Sutton’s interview, she says, there’s a better side to LisaR? In their interviews, each woman talks about the religion they grew up in, and where they’re at now. LisaR says she went to different churches every time she changed best friends. Hmmm… I say out loud. Her church hopping, depending on who she was hanging out with, speaks to her character now.
They pass LisaR’s house. She says Harry lived there with Ursula Andress. She explains that Ursula and Harry met during Clash of the Titans, and had a child. Sutton says she loves that movie so much. I do too. LisaR says Ursula was the movie star you would imagine, and she lived there. She got pregnant the first time she and Harry hooked up, and it was her first pregnancy at age 44. Kyle and Dorit finish riding, and Kyle can’t get the hairnet off. The others go to St. Peter Square. In her interview, Sutton says, who knew the line would be around the block? She did. It’s a two-hour wait, but she’s not worrying about it, since it’s not her trip. If anyone had asked, she would have told them to get a ticket. It might have been nice if she’d volunteered that information. On Instagram, LisaR says it’s the closest they could get, and takes video of them in the Square.
Kyle and Dorit go to lunch, and Dorit says she’ll never get the hairnet visual out of her head. Where does Kyle think LisaR went? Kyle hopes she’s okay. LisaR runs in, and says she’s so sorry. She had a bit of a breakdown. She saw Denise in the lobby, and it was tough for her last night. LisaR insists she tries to fix things when it’s a group situation. She feels responsible for getting to the truth. They talked, and Denise was pretty upset with her; they’ve been friends a long time, and Denise said she’s not being a good friend. She had to take a look at that. In Kyle’s interview, she says she feels for Denise, but thinks LisaR is just trying to get to the truth. Of course she does. LisaR says she cried a lot, and Kyle asks if Denise cried. Who asks something like that? LisaR says, she did. She thinks Denise is reeling, and hurt because of the accusations. She’s afraid for her children; it’s a lot. In LisaR’s interview, she says they need to have empathy for Denise. She’s in pain. Kyle says she understands, but it started with them hearing things. It didn’t come out of the blue. LisaR says, in the end, she felt badly. She’s a better friend than that. She hasn’t been good friend. Dorit says, maybe Denise feels they shouldn’t be vocal, but it’s not personal. Huh? How is it not personal? LisaR says she’s glad she and Denise had the conversation. She thinks she was probably too harsh, and Dorit says, it was intense; she doesn’t want Denise to shut down. Kyle says, the thing is, to be honest. LisaR says she can’t force someone to be honest, and needs to take a breath and allow it to come out, whatever it is.
The women get ready for their pizza party. Mikey puts Erika’s coat on her, and Sutton has her hair done. Dorit calls home, and Phoenix asks if she can have her cake pop. Dorit tells her, after lunch, and Phoenix says, breakfast is lunch. Dorit tells her that she should be a lawyer. In the taxi, Dorit says the restaurant room she’s designing is gutted and demoed. We flash back to her conversation with the restaurant owner. In Sutton’s interview, she struggles with the name of the restaurant, and the producer says, Buca di Beppo. She asks if it’s like Olive Garden. She’s not being disrespectful, but she’s never heard of it. I usually like Sutton, but that is disrespectful, comparing it to Olive Garden. Come on. Dorit says she’s thinking about putting together Teddi’s baby shower there, but they have to keep it a secret. Why do people always think startling a pregnant woman is a good idea? Kyle says Teddi was firm on not wanting to open gifts in front of everyone. In Kyle’s interview, she says, thank God she has Dorit. She’s been busy, and by the time she gets the shower organized, the baby will be attending it. In Denise’s interview, she says she’s taking control tonight. She’s had it. She’s going to say her peace, and at least they’ll know how she feels.
At the restaurant, Denise says she doesn’t think she’s had a vegetable there except for tomatoes. Erika says she had a ham and cheese sandwich from the kid’s menu at the hotel. In Denise’s interview, she says she’s listening to them now, but she has something to say. She asks when the others are getting there, and Garcelle asks why she cares. She says she wants to prepare herself, and they laugh. The others arrive, and Kyle shows them a video of her in the sidecar. Dorit tells them about the helmets, and says she laughed so hard, it was like she did a thousand sit-ups. She points out it’s their last night together, and Denise says she wants to make a toast and then she’d love to talk about something. She thanks LisaR for bringing them on the trip, the clink glasses, and she smiles. I see the wheels turn in her head.
She says she’s glad she and LisaR got to talk. LisaR is an advocate for being your authentic self, so she’s going to be brutally honest. There’s so much judgement in this group. Every single effing dinner she’s been on the receiving end of being attacked as soon as she sits down. It’s not effing cool. In her interview, Garcelle says Denise never told her, tonight’s the night. She didn’t see this coming. Denise says her husband didn’t want her to go on this trip. He had a feeling, and he was right. Kyle says, when things are out in the open, they have to be addressed. Denise says, do not. In Teddi’s interview, she says, Denise said she was done talking about it, then prepared a speech. What else is she going to do to make them look bad, and make herself look like the victim? I don’t think Denise has to do anything. They’re making themselves look bad just fine on their own, and Teddi is pissed because Denise isn’t being a victim. Denise says, it’s okay when they’re having fun, and Kyle tries interrupting, but Denise continues, saying, it’s the worst trip she’s ever been on. She doesn’t deserve this, and Kyle knows it. Kyle says they just want her to be honest, and Denise says, when she is, no one believes her. Kyle dragged Brandi into it, and it’s not cool. It’s gotten to the point where it’s mean girls. In Erika’s interview, the ice queen she says, if being a mean girl means standing up for yourself and not backing down, then she’s a mean girl. Again, WTF? Do these dolts not hear what comes out of their own mouths? Teddi says she’s glad Denise is sharing, but when she says she’s not judgmental and calls them mean girls, that’s f***ed up. Denise says, that’s her experience, and her observation. They want her to be brutally honest, and they’ve been bombarding her. It’s not effing cool. In LisaR’s interview, she says, are they afraid to face each other and go at it? Absolutely not. But they were bullied and called mean girls last year – we see some articles online – and it’s a cop out. It wasn’t easy, and Denise knows it’s not cool. Dorit says she doesn’t think anyone tried to deliberately hurt Denise, but Denise disagrees. Dorit says she’s been on the receiving end of some barbs, and it’s not a comfortable moment. Garcelle says she wants to hear them out, but has to excuse herself for a moment. She leaves the table, saying she’ll be back. If I were her, I’d be getting a stiff drink. Kyle says, what’s up with the dramatic exit? once again totally exaggerating, since Garcelle just quietly excused herself and left. Denise says she’s going to go; she’s had enough. She’s done. She walks out, and Sutton says, she likes to leave. In Erika’s interview, she says she doesn’t think Denise would be in this situation if she didn’t leave all the time. No. She wouldn’t be in this situation if these MEAN GIRLS didn’t jump all over her all the time.
Denise sees Garcelle outside, and says she’s leaving. She asks if Garcelle is okay, and Garcelle says she’s just tired, and she misses her family. She’d rather be home with her kids. I’d rather be home with her kids. At the table, Erika says, it’s easy to point a finger and leave, leaving them to pick up the pieces. Denise tells Garcelle, they crossed the line. It’s evil, and detrimental, and not cool. In her interview, Garcelle says, Denise is finally speaking up. She doesn’t deserve this, and it’s not okay. She’s proud of Denise, but thinks if there isn’t full closure, it will be brewing underneath. Garcelle says she’s going back. She sits back down at the table, and tells the group that she’s tired and misses her kids.
Outside, Denise says she wants her car, and a producer says, going back is a big mistake. I say, f*** you, and there’s a commercial, so everyone thinks he’s going to threaten her with being fired. When they come back, Denise says, they’re a-holes, and he says, you can’t make a big speech, and then not hear everyone’s opinion. She says, she’s done, but he says they need to figure out how to move past this, like he cares about anyone’s feelings and not his paycheck. She says, fine. She’s not interested – she’s been hearing what these bitches have to say for months – but she has a friend in there. Teddi says she was willing to be cool about it, and they were called mean girls. Teddi, cool is something you will never be, daddy’s coattails or not. Dorit says they have to listen too; it’s not easy. Denise comes back, and Erika thanks her. Denise says she wants to move past this, and doesn’t want to leave. Kyle says she’d like to resolve it, move on, and have more laughing and having fun. They do have fun. Denise says she knows; she’s experienced it. Kyle says she doesn’t want anyone to be hurt, but Denise says it doesn’t feel that way. LisaR says she thinks it’s best if they don’t label each other or call each other names. Denise tells her, she’s not saying they do that; she said it feels like that. LisaR says she’s asking if, as a group, they can do that. She understands and accepts how Denise feels. Denise appreciates that, and the pizza comes. It looks amazing, with the cheese all the way to the edge of the crust. In Kyle’s interview, she says she’d love it if they could have a nice dinner, wrap this up, and move forward. They do love each other, and can put the bullsh*t aside, and have a good time.
LisaR says, going back to the first night they were there… We flash back to them talking about the worst trouble they got in as teenagers. LisaR asks Denise the same question, and Denise says when she was 15, they moved to San Diego. The drinking age in Tijuana was 18, so she snuck out with her boyfriend and some friends, and they went there, but she got caught. Garcelle asks what’s the craziest place the women have had sex? Sutton says she’d rather talk about the most romantic place, and tells them about a campground in France. Erika talks about doing it with her boyfriend when she was in the hospital, and LisaR says she and a good friend had sex next to each other in a station wagon. Kyle says, they are family cars. Ew. Garcelle tells them to brace themselves – Denise? Denise says, it was in a church parking lot, and Kyle says no wonder they couldn’t get into the Vatican. Everyone laughs, and I sort of identify, since early on in my dating life, a dude wanted to make out in a church parking lot, but I was like, are you kidding?
In Denise’s interview, she says, she knows the issue is still open, but she doesn’t give sh*t. In Kyle’s interview, she says, after everything that’s gone on, this proves they can get along, have fun together, and forgive. Garcelle says she wants them to drop everything that’s negative right now, and move forward, and they toast to that. They order more wine, and laugh. Yeah, this will last all of five minutes.
Next time, Teddi’s shower, the women (minus Denise) confront Brandi, Brandi says she has texts to back it up, and a lot of the conversation is bleeped. It’s my understanding that the only thing the texts prove is that they stayed together, and Denise asked Brandi not to say anything because her kids were there and Brandi doesn’t have the best reputation. So…
How does it get to be such an hour without my knowledge? At least we’re on the other side and moving toward the weekend, whatever that means to you. Until next time, stay safe, stay empathic, and stay being honest, but not brutal.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sam sits by Jason’s bedside, and sees she’s missed three calls form Michael. She tells Jason, the doctors tell her that he’s right on track. His vitals are excellent. He can open his eyes at any time, and when he does, she’ll be there waiting.
Michael says, good news. Jason hasn’t regained consciousness, but that’s normal at this stage, and he’s expected to make a full recovery. He’s hoping they get good news in court as well. Brook asks if there are still testimonies to be given, and Willow says, everyone has said what they have to say. Michael says, the judge’s decision is all that’s left.
At the MetroCourt, Nelle tells Martin that he’s late. He says if she wants him to be on time, she needs to show up on time. He needs to get his coffee, and she says they have to think of an excuse for her not to be in court. There’s no way she’s going into the courtroom today.
On the phone, Jordan says she knows she should have given Laura a heads up. It’s within Laura’s purview to ask her to resign. When she’s done, she sees TJ, and says she didn’t know he was working. He says he got to observe a surgery, and she says she hopes he’s not skipping PT. He says he’s been going, and his leg is almost as good as new. She says, as a mom, she gets to worry about her son, and he says, as a son, he gets to worry about his mom. He heard her on the phone with the mayor. Does she think she’s going to be fired for endorsing Cyrus?
Lucy sees Cyrus at the MetroCourt bar, and congratulates him, not just on being exonerated, but for the amazingly enthusiastic stamp of approval from the Commissioner. She introduces herself, and he says he thought she looked familiar. He’s been pouring over her book. It’s helping him get acclimated to his new home town. The photo on the jacket doesn’t do her justice. She thanks him, and says, as someone who’s been wrongly accused a number of times, it’s heartening how he’s getting through the wake of inaccurate accusation. He says, it’s good to meet a kindred spirit, and she says she hopes they’ll have more in common. She’s the chairperson for the biggest, brightest, most awesome event in Port Charles – the Nurses Ball. She hopes she can count on his contribution. Frankly, I’d love to see him perform.
Brook tells Michael and Willow that she’ll do anything to help, and Willow says maybe they’ll take her up on it. Olivia and Ned join them, and Brook asks if they kissed and made up. Ned says they’re fine. He’s glad they’re all there. They have to pull together as a family. Brook asks, for what? and Michael says he’d like to know too. Ned says, it shouldn’t take long. He’s holding an emergency meeting of the ELQ shareholders. They’re officially voting on bailing GH out of their financial troubles.
On the phone, Valentin tells Skye that he’ll be there.
Sam tells Jason, Epiphany saved them again. Her parole officer was about to barge in, and would have slapped her with a parole violation, but it won’t be a problem for them anymore. Valentin comes in, and asks how Jason is doing. She says, his prognosis is good, and he says she was able to stay. He guesses she had no trouble with her parole officer. She says, thanks to him, and he says, it was a temporary fix, but he can make it permanent as soon as she signs. He has a succinct strategy. She agrees to delegate Danny and Scout’s ELQ voting power to him until their respective 18th birthdays, and if her parole officer shows up again, it will be the last time. He tells her that she doesn’t have to trust him. He has other places he has to be, so is she going to sign or not. She looks at an unconscious Jason.
Cyrus tells Lucy, the Nurses Ball was a favorite part of the book, but it was all fascinating. She thanks him, and says, the history of Port Charles practically wrote itself. He says the Nurses Ball is a colorful part, and she says, since he’s interested, now would be the perfect time… He says to give a contribution to the Nurses Ball? He’ll even underwrite it. She says, Sonny traditionally underwrites it, but Cyrus says he doesn’t see why they both can’t shoulder the burden. It’s a worthy charity, and he wants to support the hospital as an institution. She says his timing couldn’t be more perfect. The hospital is being maligned by that nasty piece of baggage, Nelle Benson. He says he’s heard, but she says she’s sure the Quartermaines have it covered.
Jordan tells TJ, she’s still employed, and he says not everybody is happy that she told the world Cyrus is a great guy. He’s not happy either. She’s despised Cyrus since his name came up. She says she doesn’t have to like someone to apply the law to their circumstance. When she learned he was framed, she had to come forward with what she knew. TJ says, that would have been enough. Why go the extra mile and vouch for him publicly?
Ned tells the group that Cyrus is making a play for the hospital. They need to act fast. Michael says they need to vote within an hour; he’s due in court. Ned says, it’s a technicality. He can’t imagine anyone voting against it, although he invited Lucy as a tie breaker. Willow is puzzled, and Michael tells her that Lucy has one share in case there’s a tie. Ned says he needs to call Monica and Skye, so she can vote for herself and Lila Raye. Sam is probably staying with Jason today, and he needs to get Danny and Scouts proxy, but it can be done after the meeting. Michael says he can vote for Brook, but Ned says Brook can vote herself. She’s always saying she wants to feel like more of a part of the family, so she can stay and vote.
Martin tells Nelle, no. It’s too late to delay. He understands she’s reluctant. The one character witness she had turned against her. She says she needs one doctor to write her a note that she can’t appear in court. Martin says, it’s not grade school where you bring in a doctor’s note. What could she possibly hope to gain? She says, the judge will have no choice to delay his decision, but he says if the judge has decided in her favor, her frivolous absence could change his mind. Why does she need a doctor’s note? She says so she can prove she’s too ill to appear, and he suggests she’ll appear too frail to be a mother. She says, okay, genius. If that won’t work, what will?
Sam hesitates, then signs. Valentin smiles.
Nelle says she needs a stall tactic, and Martin says, so she has time to do what? She tells him that he needs to get Josslyn to admit she’d be dead without Nelle’s kidney. Or have Jax admit he forced her to be an organ donor. He says the only party who forced anything was her father; he’s responsible. She tells him to get someone to testify about her terrible childhood, but he says, it’s too late. The judge will see through any tricks she pulls, like her sham of a marriage. Sorry. It’s over. She says, so there’s nothing he can do to help her be with her son. He says he didn’t say that. There is one thing.
Ned says, Monica recused herself from the vote. She thought it was inappropriate, given the hospital’s financial troubles are, in part, due to her. Michael says, she did nothing wrong. As far as she knew, Nelle signed the consent form. Willow says as long as Wiley got the help he needed, she’s grateful. Ned says, unfortunately, Nelle’s vindictiveness pushed the hospital into a corner. Ned makes a call, and says, ELQ may not be in a position to help. Skye, Maya, and Lila Ray all sold their shares. Olivia says, so Ned was right about a hostile takeover, and Michael asks, what the hell is going on?
Sam tells Jason that she should have gone over it with him first, but she knows he doesn’t care about the family business. It’s the family he loves.
Ned says he didn’t want to trouble Michael. Michael was focused on other priorities, and he thought he could handle it himself. Michael says it wasn’t Ned’s decision to make, but they’ll deal with it later. Who bought the shares? Ned says he doesn’t know, and neither do they. It was done through a mediator under the condition of their silence. Olivia says, all that matters is that they focus on saving GH. The mysterious purchaser still doesn’t have 50%. Ned says they’re still the majority shareholders; it’s a done deal. He asks if Sam gave Danny and Scout’s proxy to Michael, but Michael says he didn’t want to bother her. Ned says he’ll call her, and Valentin walks in, saying, there’s no need. Sam signed over her children’s right to vote their shares to him.
Sam tells Jason to come back to her. It’s all she wants; for him to be him, and the freedom to be with their kids. Delores is at the door, and says Sam doesn’t have that kind freedom. She needs to leave now, or Delores will send her back to Pentenville.
TJ tells Jordan, the rumor is, her press conference could have swayed the board to accept money from Cyrus. That’s the last thing they want to happen. She says, obviously, she needs to make amends in some measure, and he says, it’s none of his business. She’s doing what she thinks is right. He apologizes for being insensitive. No matter what Taggert did, he was still her friend, and she’s still grieving.
Cyrus thanks Lucy, saying she’s the first stranger in Port Charles he’s met who treated him like a friend. He looks forward to getting to know her better. She looks at the check, and says, the feeling is mutual. Ta! When she’s gone, Curtis comes over to the bar, and sits next to Cyrus. Cyrus asks to what does he owe the pleasure? Curtis says, my wife. Cyrus is to have no more private meetings with her. Cyrus says Curtis doesn’t have a say in the business he conducts with the Commissioner, but Curtis says he might want to reconsider that, in light of a certain person who resides at 1257 Wilson Avenue.
Martin tells Nelle, all he has to do is make a phone call to Michael. He’ll explain that she’s willing to share custody, and she’ll drop the sole custody suit. To sweeten the offer, she’ll drop the suit against the hospital. He’s fairly certain that Michael will give her a generous visitation schedule in return. How about giving it a try? She says, how about giving this a try? You’re fired. I saw that coming for sure.
Ned wonders why Sam would give Valentin the proxy, and Valentin says he has it in writing. Along with several other key shareholders, including Nelle. Michael wanted her out; he’s welcome. He used an intermediary, and no one knew they were selling to him. Olivia asks, why? When has the family ever gotten in his way? He says, ask your CEO, and Michael asks if it’s because he supported Sasha. Valentin says, no, but that’s when he was introduced to ELQ. Olivia asks why why Sam give up her shares, and Valentin says, she didn’t; he has the voting proxy. He’d never ask her to give up her children’s inheritance. Olivia says Sam would never do that willingly. What did he coerce her with? He says he’s reciprocating the discretion. Brook says, interesting, but she’s booked studio time, and has to go. Ned says she needs to stay and vote, but she says, actually, she doesn’t.
Sam tells Delores, Jason had an accident, and almost died. Delores says she’s sorry to hear that, but the law is still the law. Sam says, these are extraordinary circumstances. What’s wrong with her? Delores says Sam has been flouting the law, and she’s in the wrong to uphold it? Sam says Delores is wrong to follow her around. She’s supposed to report to Delores once a week, not have Delores stalking her. Delores wonders what Sam would be up to while she was waiting around, when a guy wearing a badge walks in. He says the Deputy Chief sent him, and he wants a word with Delores.
Jordan say she feels terrible for Trina. She was hurt so badly having her father’s reputation tarnished after losing him. She wishes she could do more to help, but Trina wants nothing to do with her. She’s just grateful the people she loves are still with her, and TJ is at the top of the list. TJ says, what he’s learned in medicine is that there are no perfect answers. They just do their best, and hope their best is enough. Her work is similar. Upholding the law is her duty, but she can’t control the outcome. She asks how he got so wise, and he says, watching her.
Cyrus wonders how many Wilson Avenues there must be, and Curtis says Cyrus may recall he’s a P.I.. He’s been one for a long time, and there’s only one Wilson Avenue there. It’s an arts and crafts home, and someone Cyrus cares about lives in it; someone he cares enough about to send money every week. Sure, he can move them again and again, but Curtis will find them again and again. If he has an interest in keeping them safe, he’ll do what Curtis asked. Cyrus says he’s not sure he’s hearing correctly, but Curtis says he hears fine. He just doesn’t like what’s being said. He’s used to blackmailing and bribing to get what he wants, but justice is coming for him. Before Cyrus that Curtis can be threatened or bribed, he’s not for sale. There’s nothing Cyrus can use. Cyrus isn’t too sure about that, and Curtis says Cyrus barely has a foothold in Port Charles. His luck has run out, and he knows what he stands to lose if he comes for Curtis’s family or threatens his wife. Curtis will fight back. From here on out, they play by his rules, and he knows Cyrus hears him.
Martin strongly suggests Nelle not fire him. She needs him in her corner; he’s all she’s got. Nelle says she sees how that’s working. The case was a slam dunk, and he lost it. He says, if anyone lost it, it was her. She’s her own wrecking ball. In time, he can petition for the judge to reexamine the case, and if she stays on the straight and narrow, he might reconsider. She says he let Diane run circles around him. She portrayed Willow like Cinderella, when Willow was in a cult. He says, a cult whose leader Nelle chose to marry. She says he should have brought up how Michael’s father is a crime lord, his mother is a terrible person, Jason is a killer, and his grandma used to be a prostitute. She would have had a better chance representing herself. He says he’d love to see that, and she says she’ll find someone else to take on the GH suit; he’s fired. He says, fine. He has more reasonable and lucrative clients to attend to. Honestly, he’s glad to be done with all this – and her. She says, the feeling is mutual, and he says she’ll be receiving his bill afternoon. She says, what bill? and he says his service was not pro bono. She says they lost; she doesn’t owe him anything. He says he’s not a bargain basement ambulance chaser who she doesn’t have to pay if she gets no money. She says, no Wiley, no money, and he says let him give her some free legal advice. Don’t ever screw over a lawyer. They know a thousand ways to affect your life. She’ll pay his fee and the court costs. She says she has no spare cash, but he says he thinks she does. She says she needs it to get as far away as possible, and he says, really? Is she planning on leaving town?
Willow says she knows how important this is, but they need to leave. Michael says it will be better if they don’t have this hanging over their heads, and Ned tells Michael to give him his proxy; he thinks he knows how Michael would vote. Michael says Ned has made a lot of assumptions on behalf of him. Let’s get it over with; they’re still the majority shareholders. Ned says they’ll start with Valentin, and Valentin says he votes no. ELQ is strong and healthy. He doesn’t want to waste their assets on supporting a failing institution. Olivia starts yelling at him, and he says despite her emotional appeal, he’s not changing his mind. She says she doesn’t give a damn about his mind. She’s trying to change his heart. It was her mistake thinking he had one. Ned says the actual family members will vote. He’ll start. He votes yes to giving GH the funds to protect itself from the lawsuit and stay afloat. Michael says, yes, and Ned says, he also has Dillon’s proxy; Brook is next. Brook says she would vote yes, and Ned says, that settles it. Michael says, Brook said she would vote yes, and Brook says, that’s right. If she had a vote. She no longer owns the shares; Valentin does. Everyone looks at Valentin, and he smiles. He did a lot of that during this episode.
Delores comes back, and tells Sam, congratulations; she’s off the case. Sam asks, how? but Delores doesn’t have a clue. The order is from the big boss. She doesn’t suppose Sam know anything about that. The guy says he’s Owen Anderson, Sam’s new parole officer, and thanks Delores, telling her she can go. Delores says, for the record, she meant no ill. She was just doing her job and upholding the law, but Sam got what she wanted after all. She leaves, and Sam asks Owen how this works. Does she have to leave? He says, of course (🍷) not. She can stay as long as she wants. Family first. He leaves, closing the door behind him.
Jordan goes to the MetroCourt, and says she got Cyrus’s text. What does he want? She just had to go on TV, and tell the city that the most evil, vile, dangerous man she knows is someone they can trust. It didn’t feel great, so stop wasting her time, and tell her what the hell it is he wants now. He tells her, call off her husband. She asks what Curtis did, and Cyrus says Curtis explained to him, that should he make a move to threaten those he loves, there will be dire consequences. She says, really? What did he threaten Cyrus with? What did he use as leverage? What could Curtis possibly know that’s bad enough to ruffle Cyrus’s feathers?
TJ tells Curtis, he told his mom that their work isn’t all that different. He guesses that goes for P.I.s too. He walked in mid phone call when Laura was chewing out Jordan about the press conference. Curtis says, she didn’t have much choice with the pressure from the DEA and the Feds to offset the damage caused by Taggert. TJ says, that’s not how she explained it to him.
Nelle says she’s ignoring any bill. Martin is worse than useless. She promises, if she loses her son, someday she’ll make him pay. Martin says he thinks she does need a doctor. Maybe Mrs. Corinthos can recommend one from her stay in Ferncliff. She’s clearly losing it. Nelle says she’s not losing anything; not anymore. Wiley is hers. Not Michael’s, not Carly’s – hers. She’s going into court to win her case; the one he gave up on. And when she does, she’s taking her baby as far away as possible.
Ned asks what Brook did, and she says the only way Linc would let her out of her contract was in exchange for her shares. He was holding her music career hostage. She had no way out, and took the deal. Ned says Valentin pointed that sexual predator at his daughter? Valentin says, Linc is a vial human being, and stuck Brook with her contract. He offered her a way out. Ned asks Brook why she didn’t come to him, and she says she did. He said he didn’t want to help, and then said there was nothing he could do, so she had to help herself. He says, by handing her shares over to that sleaze? She says, it’s just a company; it’s not the family. Valentin says he hates to interrupt, but this is supposed be a business meeting. He has voting proxy, and legally owns shares, which gives him 50% of the company. Olivia tells Ned, Lucy will cast her vote, and all will be well. Michael says he and Willow need to go, and Olivia says he was right to vote to save GH. Brook should have told them. Michael says they’ve all made questionable calls, but they’re still family. They should all remember that. Olivia tells him, good luck, and they leave.
Michael opens the door, and Lucy falls in. She says she’s sorry she’s late, but she’s sure it doesn’t matter. They don’t need her vote. Michael says they do; to save GH.
Nelle paces in the empty courtroom, and looks at her half-heart necklace. In the hallway, Michael says Willow got a full-on taste of the Quartermaine family, and she tells him, she can’t say she wasn’t warned, but nothing prepared her for that. He hopes it wasn’t too much, and she says she doesn’t know what’s going on with ELQ, but even when they’re at odds and fighting, they do what’s best for the family. He says good to know it didn’t scare her off. She says, far from it. This scares her. What if they lose? Michael thinks they’re in good shape, but no matter what, they’re in this together. They’ll find a way to make it okay for Wiley.
Nelle looks at the passports, and puts them in her purse. She looks at the tracking device on her phone. Michael and Willow walk in, and they face each other.
Jordan says there’s something she knows about her husband that Cyrus doesn’t. Curtis doesn’t bluff. If he’s pressuring Cyrus to put a leash on himself, Curtis must have something good, something important on him. Cyrus says Jordan’s husband is a brave man. Foolhardy, perhaps, but brave. He respects Curtis for taking a stand, but he’s become a tiny, irksome thorn in Cyrus’s side. If the thorn becomes any sharper or bigger, he’ll have no choice but to prune it.
Curtis tells TJ that his mom has a number of reasons for advocating for Cyrus. If she didn’t give him details, it’s because she’s conflicted. It’s not just pressure from the outside. She has loyalty to her friends, and it’s sometimes at war with her loyalty to the law. TJ says, it makes sense. If it was something bigger, Curtis would tell him, right? Curtis says he’ll always do right by TJ and his mom.
Lucy finds out the mystery interloper is Valentin. Ned says he snatched 50% of the voting shares, and refuses to bail the hospital out. Lucy asks if it isn’t the same hospital that helped his daughter when she jumped into the harbor in the dead of winter, and Valentin says he’s grateful, but that doesn’t obligate him to help them out of the consequences of their poor actions. Ned says he needs to make it official, and asks if Lucy is voting with Valentin or the family to save the hospital she loves so much. Lucy looks at Valentin.
Sam tells Jason, it worked. She just got a new parole officer, and he not only let her stay, he didn’t stick around. She took a chance on Valentin, and he came through. If it’s any indication of how the rest of her parole is going to go, they’ll finally be free. They’ll finally be a family again. Jason squeezes her hand, and she asks if he can hear her. She needs for him to wake up. He opens his eyes.
Tomorrow, Jason asks Sam why he’s there, Lucy is going to break the tie, the judge hands down his ruling, and Mike tells Sonny that he’s ready to go home. Since he seems pretty lucid, I’m wondering if he means heaven or Turning Woods. I’m hanging on as bad as Sonny is.
😵 And while we’re on the GH subject, it’s tough not typing Curtis for Cyrus, and vice versa. Especially when they’re in the same scene. Even worse when they’re talking to each other.
Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
Josh Altman’s client, RD, was in the business of exotic cars and private jets. He came to pick up Josh in a $3 million Ferrari, and was looking for a place he could house his 20 car collection. RD was moving from Arizona to be closer to his client base. He and Josh had met at Haynes, a mid-century, modern that had belonged to Howard Hughes’s girlfriend. Josh took him to Sunset Place, a prime location that attracted young money. He figured the one snag would be the space for the cars. The house was new, just finished, and priced at $7.390 million. In his interview, Josh said out-of-towners thought they had to spend a lot, but that wasn’t always the case. Because, you know, $7.390 million isn’t a lot. RD’s cap was $16 million, but Josh wanted to save him as much money as possible, so he would return the favor when Josh was ready to buy a car. The house had pocket doors, and infinity pool (heaving huge sigh), an entertainer’s kitchen with a stove that had a retractable vent – never saw that before, and loved it. I actually have no idea what the difference between an entertainer’s kitchen, a chef’s kitchen, or any other kind of kitchen is. All I know is, I’m doomed to a kitchen the size of a postage stamp. If by some miracle, I bought one of these houses, there would be a fluke, and the kitchen would be minuscule. RD was impressed with the home office, saying it was dope. He didn’t look like someone who would call something dope, but in Josh’s interview, he said RD was easy to read – which was dope. The one thing RD was skeptical about was, not enough parking.
Meanwhile, Josh Flagg went to Thrush, whose owner Lana had met Josh’s grandmother Edith, ten years ago. Josh felt it meant Edith was still looking out for him. He was met by Lana, and French bulldogs, Bella and Lala. Lana told Josh how she and his grandmother met at a restaurant, where his grandmother had complimented her. Built in 1990, the house had three floors, and was 4,554 square feet. In Josh’s interview, he says his grandmother never gave compliments that were unwarranted, and we flashed back to Edith being feisty. She passed away during the course of the show, and I miss her. There were city/canyon views, a Bulthaup kitchen (don’t know jack about high-end appliances either), an outside Zen oasis, and an owl. That’s right, this house came complete with its own owl in a tree in the backyard. There were outside stairs going to the master bedroom, which had a huge master bath, and automatic blinds. In his interview, Josh said that contemporary architecture was difficult to keep from looking dated, and most houses of that design needed a cosmetic update. But what didn’t need work in L.A.? In L.A. it was all about constant maintenance. Lana, who no longer lived in the house, was looking for around $5 million, but Josh thought $3.995 million was more realistic, since there was so much inventory in the area that wasn’t moving. Lana appreciated his honesty, and gave him the listing.
James and David looked at the Sunset View house, owned by developer Zach, who had a New York relationship with Fredrik, but had done business with James and David in L.A. They were glad he’d reached out to them. The house was 10,000 square feet, and featured indoor/outdoor living. It had a panoramic view, custom furniture, and Gaggenau appliances in an entertainer’s kitchen (shrugging). It had been designed by Tim Campbell, known for his sophisticated textures. There were five bedrooms, the master having dual walk-in closets, a private movie theater, a basement that had full daylight, and a home gym. Sitting on an 18,000 square foot lot, it also had a vanishing edge pool. Near Sunset Strip, the area attracted a younger demographic in the entertainment industry. While David James thought it should be priced at $14.995 million, Zach was stuck on $15.5, but didn’t want it to stay on the market. In James’s interview, he says Zach had a history with Fredrik, and if they weren’t transparent, and the house didn’t sell, Zach would go to him. They settled on $15.495 million. This was one of those L.A. houses that’s all squares and angles, so not for me. Like I might ever have to make that decision.
RD let JoshA drive his car to a Marilyn Drive house. Just having been listed, they were the first people in, and met by agent Griffin. Listed at $13.9 million, the house was 6,190 square feet, had six bedrooms and seven baths, something Griffin called a wine rack that was really a room with a glass wall, a humongous master suite that comfortably house a double king bed (that’s quite big in case you hadn’t guessed), and a sauna. The lot was an impressive 15,253 square feet, and showcased the home’s two story glass wall. RD said he loved the parking and the master bedroom, but the driveway was cracked, and he didn’t want to be driving his cars over it. In his interview, Josh said it was going to be tougher than he thought, but it was part of the job ft find a needle in a haystack. RD said he wanted a combination of both houses.
JoshF found out there was no power at the Thrush house before the broker’s open, and the caterer was freaking out. His assistant asked if they should cancel, but Josh said he didn’t care if they had to have fondue. He’d hired a charcuterie expert, which I would have never guessed was a real job. Edith had stressed good food and drink. It didn’t make someone buy a property, but it made them stay and not run away. Josh wanted them to stay so he had time to explain why potential buyers would want an older house. In his interview, he said, contemporary goes out of style quickly. People want something shinier and newer.
Heather had reminded JoshA of a property on the Bird Streets, owned by a developer who was desperate to sell. It parked ten cars, and was going to list at $22.995 million when it went on the market. Josh told RD to see if he loved the house first; there was a deal to be made. It was 9,050 square feet, with floor to ceiling bookcases, and a chef’s kitchen. It was unfinished, broker Larissa said the buyer could pick out the finishings. It had a jetliner view, and sat on a 48,351 square foot lot. RD liked that he could put the finishing touches on it and personalize it. Josh said it was an 8, and RD could take it to a 12. I was impressed with the wine station, that dispensed several different wines like a soda fountain. The library was out of this world, and the master bedroom was the size of an apartment. It had eight baths, and a garage with a lift. RD loved the privacy, and got so excited, it made me laugh.
Fredrik showed up at the Sunset View house, and James and David showed him around. Fredrik mentioned that he’d done selling for Zach on the East Coast, but David James said L.A. was their turf. Fredrik whined that the master was small, and JamesDavid James said it was bigger than a New York penthouse. In James’s interview, he said he saw through Fredrik’s BS. This is their client in L.A., so this is how he behaves. Fredrik made a point of saying he wasn’t there to take the listing, and assured them not to be worried. James said they had the listing, but Fredrik said there would be an issue when there were more listings, and said he thought it was weird that he wasn’t on this one too, along with them. James David said Fredrik should have brought a buyer, and in his interview, Fredrik said there was a new sheriff in town.
RD loved the Bird Street house, and JoshA told Larissa that RD was the right buyer. Nothing in the area had been traded in the $20 million range in 14 months. He made an offer of $14 million, plus finishing costs. Larissa said it would relieve the developer of the burden of finishing, and they countered at $18 million. While RD’s cap was $16 million, Josh offered $15 million, as is. A deal was made at $15.750. The buyer would finish it on his own, but Larissa promised he’d have all the plans, permits, and reports. Josh walked away with a $315K commission.
Next time, a house designed like an English castle by RHOBH’s ex-Housewife Carlton, the Altman brothers dress like knights, and Zack threatens to bring Fredrik in on the listing.
🧙🏻♀️ Yes, That Carlton…
I thought she was kind of interesting, and wish she would have stuck around for another season. No surprise she scared Kyle, even though she was more normal than the rest of them.
Some very impressive ice cosplay photos from 2019 though. One guy is dressed up like a Rick Astley YouTube video. I love conventions, and this photo gallery made my pulse quicken.
It’s a shame we have to do that pesky eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. I’d get so much more done in a day if we didn’t. I’ll figure this new blog editor out yet. While I’m doing that, stay safe, stay inquisitive, and stay flexible to change, which seems to happen every five seconds now.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Maxie waits in an exam room. The nurse says the doctor will be a while, and Maxie says maybe she doesn’t need one. She needs a time machine, or a boyfriend who shoots blanks.
Peter meets Anna at the MetroCourt. He says he has a big favor to ask. She tells him not to worry; Finn isn’t a bachelor party type of guy, but Peter says, it’s the seating chart. Please tell him that he’s not sitting next to Robert.
At the hospital Finn shows Portia something he got from Violet on his phone, and says, kids are funny. She tells him, cherish the time. Kids fall out of love with their parents in the preteen years. Trina seems to be the exception.
Chase asks if Curtis found Jordan, but he says he asked her assistant, and she has no scheduled appointments. Is Chase sure she didn’t say anything else? Chase says Jordan wanted to talk to Jason, and sent him on his way.
Jordan asks Cyrus why she’s there, and he says to show he can count on her, for everyone’s sake. She says she arranged for his release, and he’s walking free. He says she got the job done, but needs to step up her performance and dazzle him. She says she has to be careful; there’s only so much she can do. He suggests she take the initiative, and show him how far she’s willing to go. He doesn’t lack problems, so pick one and solve it. Ha-ha! That sounds like me talking to my husband.
Sonny goes to the garage, and asks if Brando is working late. Brando says he’s just finishing up, and Sonny asks if business is good. Brando flashes back to Cyrus saying his car is fine; he’s there to discuss another matter. He tells Sonny that he just missed Jason.
Sam sees Peter and Anna, and asks Carly how Peter gets a free pass. He’s the guy who kept Drew and Jason prisoner for five years. Carly gathers he’s not Sam’s favorite guy.
Jason lies unconscious on the road, his motorcycle laying next to him.
Carly tells Sam, there are two reasons Peter gets a free pass – his mother and his girlfriend. Anna and Maxie believe in him, and nothing or no one is going to change their minds. Sam says Carly realizes Peter was exonerated, right? He’s responsible for Drew’s death, and it doesn’t make sense. He framed her when he broke Shiloh out of prison, and there he sits, basking in Anna’s appreciation. Carly agrees the hypocrisy is staggering. Robert approaches Anna and Peter’s table, and Anna wonders why he’s there. He says, it’s a work day, but she says she doesn’t think people would mind if he took time off. He supposes she’s referring to Holly. It would be nice if his closest friends would tell him what actually happened to her. Peter wants to leave them to their conversation, but Robert says, sit. He has questions, and he’ll start with this one. He shows Peter a tablet with an article on Holly; Holly Sutton: Death is Her Last Great Adventure. He asks why Peter is exploiting Holly’s death in this rag of his.
Maxie tells the nurse that she needs a pregnancy test. The nurse asks how late she is, and Maxie says, late. Speaking of late, she has a meeting she needs to get to for Deception. She says the nurse may have heard of it. It was huge in the 90s, and now it’s back. She should try their new moisturizer. It’s going to be a major seller once she locks down the distributor, which is what she should do now. She can do this later. She starts to leave, and says she knows it goes without saying, but the nurse isn’t going to talk to anyone about it, right? She can’t have this getting around. She runs into Lulu, who says, she can’t have what going around?
Sonny says, Jason is a customer? and Brando says Jason needed a stabilizer for his bike. Sonny says, Jason is family. Speaking of family, he’s there about a family matter. Brando asks if it’s Mike, and Sonny says he wanted Brando to know they’re getting close to the end.
Curtis asks Chase to run through what happened again. Chase says he stopped by the courthouse, and saw Jason, who said he was there to get permits. They suspect Jason was involved with a warehouse explosion on February 19th, but have zero evidence. He wanted to talk to Jason, but Jordan saw them, and said Jason could sue them for harassment, and sent him back to the station, while she stayed to chat with Jason. Curtis asks if he has any idea what they were talking about, and Chase says, maybe Cyrus. They have reason to believe Cyrus was behind the attacks on Sonny’s family, and Jason blew up the warehouse in retaliation. Maybe she was trying to Jason to finger Cyrus. Curtis thanks Chase for the information.
Jordan says she doesn’t want to climb the ranks of Cyrus’s rancid organization, and he says, like she once did? He tells her that she hates admitting it, but she enjoyed the power, prestige, and influence. She still does. That’s why she’s Commissioner. Jordan says she’s going along with him to keep people safe, but he says she’s not going along; she’s taking orders. She says she’ll do what she must, but she’s not part of his organization, and never has been. He appreciates her candor and says maybe she’ll appreciate some in return. The safety of those close to her is in direct proportion to him, and grows with each success. She says just tell what he needs now, and he says his philanthropic endeavors are being blocked; he needs a clear path. She says blocked by who, and he says their esteemed mayor. Take care of her.
Finn asks Portia if her daughter is a mommy’s girl, but Portia says, no; she’s a daddy’s girl through and through.Her father could do no wrong. She’s sure Violet will be the same way, and idolize her dad. Trina had difficulty with the revelation that Taggert framed Cyrus. She wishes she could do more to help, but Trina is shutting her out. Finn says, it’s tough, and she says she doesn’t mean to scare him. She doesn’t think he’ll have the same challenges with Violet, but Violet might have an issue with his fiancé. Finn says, Violet and Anna get along well, and Portia says, that’s good. She’s just saying the day may come when Violet resents Anna for not being her real mom. Finn says, that’s not Anna’s fault, and Portia says, no, but it’s something kids go through in their tween years. They need to blame someone for the missing parent, and mythologize the absent one. He says he knows about that, and hopes history doesn’t repeat itself.
Anna asks Robert if the article is inaccurate, and he says, it’s a hatchet job. He reads: Holly Sutton was known for her colorful past, and proclivity for wit, her ability to get in and out of Dodge, and being comfortable in dangerous situations. Anna says, it sounds like her, and Robert says, it sounds like an article about a woman they’re better off without. Peter apologizes for not consulting Robert, and says he’ll confer with the editor and they can revise the article. He leaves, and Robert asks what Anna thinks Peter is getting out of asking him to contribute. She calls him an idiot, and says Peter is trying to be his friend.
Maxie has a bandage on her arm, and the nurse says she’ll have the results soon. Lulu says they’ll both wait. Maxie wonders if she should call Peter, and let him know his star reporter is trolling the hospital instead of doing her job. Lulu says she’s researching a story on the hospitals finances, but maybe she should call Peter and tell him why she’s all up in Maxie’s business. Maxie tells her to go uncover some facts to report, but Lulu says, not until Maxie tells her something. If she thought she was pregnant, why not take a home test? Maxie says she took three, and Lulu asks if she got different results, but Maxie says they were all positive. Lulu asks if Maxie thought there was inconsistency in that. Maxie says the tests can be unreliable. It can happen, especially to her. She says, she’s totally pregnant, isn’t she?
Carly tells Sam, she understands Maxie is grieving. Peter was there, and only showed her what he wanted her to see. She’s a civilian, but Anna knows better. Sam says Carly is missing the point. Anna doesn’t want to know.She wants to think her son is a good man. Carly says she can empathize; Anna isn’t the first mom to convince herself her kid has changed. She hates that Peter kept Jason prisoner, but he was under Faison’s thumb, and that’s over. If Jason is willing to let it go, and Anna has hope that the bad stuff is behind him, what about Sam? Sam says, after what happened to Drew, Peter is still a threat. Why is Anna still protecting him?
Sonny tells Brando, his dad stopped eating. He’s at the point where he can’t even swallow anymore. Brando says he didn’t know that could happen with Alzheimer’s patients; he thought it was just a memory thing. Sonny says, so did he, at first. Brando asks what the options are, and Sonny says, a feeding tube. Brando says, that’s rough, and Sonny says, he considered it, but then he reconsidered. That’s not living, it’s existing, and he knows his dad wouldn’t want that. Brando asks if they talked about it, and Sonny says they didn’t get the chance, or maybe he didn’t want to go there. When he wanted to, it was too late, so he made the choice for his dad. He’s praying it’s the right one.
Jordan says Cyrus isn’t asking her to kill Laura, is he? He laughs, and asks what he’d do with a murdered mayor. Port Charles needs her, and he’s fond of her, but she’s getting in the way of him acquiring GH. Jordan says Laura is lobbying for Federal funding, and he says her daughter has a public platform. She asks why he doesn’t drop it, but he says, it’s too rich a prize to pass up, and they may never be this vulnerable again. Nelle is suing for unauthorized surgery on her son, and the insurance doesn’t want to cover it. If she wins, the hospital will be even more vulnerable, and it will be the perfect opening for him. Jordan says, Monica rallied the Quartermaines to give the hospital resources. The board will refuse him if they’re told he’s a known drug trafficker. There’s nothing she can do. He says he needs a champion to vouch for his character.
Curtis finds Jason, and asks if Jason can hear him. Jason doesn’t respond, so he calls 911, saying he needs paramedics on Harborview Drive at the Greenville turnoff. There’s a motorcycle rider down, and he’s completely unresponsive.
Jordan tells Curtis that she can’t offer her endorsement. How would it look? She has no business stepping outside her role. He says, but she can speak out for a man wrongly convicted. She discovered the miscarriage of justice, so who better to vouch for him? When she talks, Port Charles listens. She says Laura isn’t staying away indefinitely, and will wonder why she’s advocating for a man she despises. What good will it do for her to lose Laura’s trust and get fired? He says, good question. Make sure it doesn’t happen.
Portia says she hopes she didn’t offend Finn with her amateur psychology, and he says, no offense taken. She says she’s just projecting. She thinks Violet will be fine. She’s growing up with two attentive parents, and will be happy and well-adjusted. Finn says, in his humble opinion, he thinks Trina will be fine too. She has a loving, caring mother. Elizabeth joins them, and says a patient has been brought in who had an accident. He was unresponsive on arrival, and a head injury is possible. Finn asks if she’s okay, and Elizabeth says, it’s Jason.
Anna tells Robert that Peter tried. He knows how Robert feels about him. Does he think anything will change? He’s never given Peter a fair shake, and likes to look for excuses to hate him. Now he’s using Holly’s death. It’s pathetic. Robert says the only reason Peter wrote the article was to get under his skin. Anna says, which is looking thin. If Peter wanted to sensationalize or exploit Holly, he would have highlighted her past deeds. Robert says he’s not arguing, but a lot was left open to interpretation. She says, another reporter might have skewed the story, but Peter wrote it himself. Robert says Peter spun the story, and threw it in his face, and she says she guesses it’s easier to take his anger out on Peter, rather than deal with his feelings. Robert says, what feelings? and she says, grief, loss, anger, regret, pain. She could go on; she’s got all day.
Carly sees Peter at the bar, and asks how he’s enjoying his day. He says, it’s been trying, and she asks if there’s a problem with the service. He says, no, it’s fine, and she tells him to let her know if it’s otherwise. The Invader is an important tenant and she wants to give them her full attention. Peter says she’s thoughtful, and she says she prides herself in troubleshooting and avoiding problems. Sonny is the same way, but his way is more inflexible. Sam gets a call from Curtis, who tells her, Jason was in an accident; he’s on his way to GH. Carly really needs to stop making veiled threats to people about Sonny.
Brando says he doesn’t know about right or wrong decisions in situations like this, but he knows a bit about Mike. Things he learned the summer Mike spent in Connecticut. Sonny says he’d like to hear it, and Brando says, he was ten and crazy about horses. Mike would pick him up and take him to the track. The thoroughbreds were too valuable to have a kid around them, but there were working horses, and he spent his time with one horse in particular, Smoky. Smoky would see him coming, and come over. He knew Brando had an apple or carrot. One day at the end of summer, Mike picked him up and he knew something wasn’t right. Mike told him Smoky got hurt and wouldn’t recover. They went to say goodbye, and Brando tried, but he started crying and said he was ready to leave. Mike asked if he loved Smoky. He said he did, and Mike said, if you love something, you love it all the way to the end. (Yep. Here come the waterworks.) So he stayed, and the last thing Smoky heard before he was put down, was Brando saying he wasn’t going to hurt anymore. Lesson learned. Whatever choice Sonny makes for Mike, Mike will understand. Sonny says he appreciates Brando telling him, and Brando says, Mike is no stranger to making tough decisions. Sonny’s phone rings, and it’s Carly. She tells him that he needs to meet her at GH. Jason was in an accident. He says he’ll be right there, and tells Brando that he’s got to go. Brando says, Mike? but Sonny says, Jason. He leaves, and Brando looks stunned. I really appreciate them stomping on my heart about Mike and a horse.
Lulu says she takes it Maxie and Peter weren’t planning on this. Maxie says they haven’t been living together that long. They’ve never even had a conversation about having kids, and the only time marriage came up was when they were arguing with Spinelli. Lulu says, that’s a lot to unpack in one statement, and Maxie says she has no idea how she feels. Before they moved in together, Peter had a total crisis. He was confused, and afraid to be happy, but he moved in anyway, and lived through the fear. Lulu bets he would love to be married to Maxie and have kids. The family would be over the moon. Maxie says, Spinelli and Robert not so much. Lulu asks if she really cares what Spinelli thinks, and Maxie says, of course (🍷). Spinelli is Georgie’s father, but she doesn’t have to clear her decisions with him. Her feelings are complicated. Lulu asks if it’s because of Nathan, and Maxie says, she’s always thinking about Nathan, but this has nothing do with him. Lulu says, she and Peter are okay, right? Maxie says she loves him, and he loves her, and James and Georgie. They’re building a life. Lulu asks, what is it? Maxie can tell her. Maxie says, the timing couldn’t be worse. She feels selfish, but what if she’s not ready? What about her career?
Robert says he hates when Anna tells him what’s in his soul, and she say he does it to her, and she hates it more. Too bad. He’s bellyaching now because he knows she’s right. He’s afraid of his feelings, and he’s ashamed about not ending things properly with Holly. He says, rubbish, and she says she heard there’s a memorial service in England. Has he made plans to attend? He says, no, and she says she didn’t think so. He should go. It will give him a chance to say a proper goodbye, mourn Holly, and pay his respects. Robert asks why should he mourn an empty grave?
Jordan tells Cyrus. ELQ is capable of pulling GH back from the brink, but he says, they’re prone to infighting. The board will be open to an alternative donor, providing it’s someone in good standing with the community who they can trust. Build that trust. Chase calls, and asks if she’s okay; he’s had a hard time reaching her. She says she’s in the middle of something. Is there a problem? Chase says, Jason was in a motorcycle accident, and was just brought into GH. Jordan says she’s going back to the office, and tells Chase to head out to the accident site and get a full report. Cyrus says he knows she has to keep up appearances, but don’t misplace her priorities. She says she knows what her priorities are.
Carly and Sam run into the hospital, and Sam tells the reception nurse that they’re looking for Jason. The nurse says, he’s being treated now, and Sam says she wants to see him. The nurse says Sam can’t, but she’ll relay the new information as soon as they have it, and Sam and Carly sit in the waiting area. Curtis arrives, and Sam asks, what happened? He says he spotted a rider down, but didn’t know it was Jason. He called 911, and waited until the paramedics got there. Sam thanks him, and he says he’ll go to the station and find out what he can. Elizabeth comes out, and says she was there when they brought Jason in; he was unconscious. There don’t seem to be any internal injuries, but they’re running a battery of tests to see if he’s had a traumatic brain injury.
Carly calls Diane, and tells her, they don’t know anything yet, but they’re running tests. She asks if Diane is sure the paperwork was filed, and asks her to put it in a PDF file and email it. She doesn’t want any problems. Elizabeth tells Sam that she can’t go in while the doctors are working on Jason. The best thing is to just wait. She’ll let them know if she hears anything. Peter comes by, and tries to say something to Sam, but Sam says, back off. Brando has joined them, and tells Peter, listen, but Carly says Jason wouldn’t want them going at each other. She tells Peter that he shouldn’t be there, and Peter says he didn’t mean to intrude; sorry. Elizabeth leaves to get an update, and Sonny gets off the elevator. He asks, what’s going on? How’s Jason? Carly says they don’t know, and no one is telling them anything.
Maxie says she’s sure this isn’t the first baby who’s misdirected a career move someone has been waiting forever to happen. There’s a lot at stake at the moment that she has to evaluate; it’s a big deal. She knows Nina would kill to be in her situation, and Lulu says, if Maxie has a baby, it should be because she wants to. It’s her body, and her priorities are her own. The nurse comes back holding a paper, and Maxie asks if those are the results.
Anna says, now they get to the real issue; Robert’s fixation that Holly is still alive. He tells her that he didn’t say that, and she says, but he’s thinking it. He says he’s thinking a lot of things. What was Holly doing working for the WSB, why the ship went down, who was on the ship, and what happened to Holly’s body? Anna suggests he go get answers rather than feeling empty, and directing his pain at Peter. It’s not doing Holly or her memory any good.
Cyrus’s main dude asks how the meeting with the Commissioner went. Cyrus says he gave her clarification of their respective positions. She wasn’t happy, but she’s going to comply. Dude asks if she should be on the guest list, and Cyrus says he’d be disappointed if she wasn’t. Dude asks how he should handle it, but Cyrus says he has confidence that Jordan will do what she’s asked – for the time being. He has a bigger target in mind. With Jason out of the way, there’s nothing left between Sonny and a bullet between the eyes.
Sonny says Brando told him Jason was just in the garage, and Brando says, Jason was there to pick up his bike. He’d just finished working on it.
Robert says Anna is insufferable, and she says, thank you. He always says that when she’s right. Who else would call him on it? He says, Holly, and Anna says, she’s not there; sorry. She thinks Holly would be appalled at his behavior. He needs to find another way of dealing with the pain before it eats him up. He’s going to RSVP to her wedding, and no is unacceptable. She leaves, and he looks at the article again.
Peter sees Lulu and Maxie, and tells them, Jason was in a motorcycle accident. Maxie says, poor Sam. He says he came to look for Lulu because he thought she could write the story. She says she doesn’t think she could be objective, and he says he’ll call the desk to send someone else. Maxie wants to check on Sam, but he tells her that they want to be left alone. What’s she doing there? Maxie doesn’t know what to say, and Lulu says, Nurses Ball stuff for Deception, and Maxie repeats, for Deception, leaving us with a double entendre.
On the phone, Chase says he wants pictures right away. He wants to review them before he leaves. He also wants the site kept secure. He tells them not to let CSI touch anything until he gets there. The Commissioner wants him to deal with it personally. He receives a picture the road, with Jason’s overturned bike at the end of a skid mark. He says, none of this makes sense.
Curtis is waiting for Jordan outside her office, and she says, before he starts, she saw he called, but she was wrapping up something and couldn’t pick up. He says she has a lot of irons in the fire, and she says, now isn’t a good time either. He says, because of Jason? and she says, he heard? He tells her that he was the one who found Jason when he was out looking for her. Does she mind telling him where she’s been hiding?
Cyrus asks Dude, what’s in the bag? Dude says he thought Cyrus would like to celebrate, and pulls out a bottle of Jack. Cyrus says, the demise of Jason, and Sonny’s loss of his human fireball is cause for celebration.
Portia says, the news is good. Nothing is broken, there’s no indication that Jason has internal injuries, and his vitals are strong. Sam asks if he’s still unconscious, and Finn says his pupils are good, but they need to rule out a possible TBI. He consulted with someone in neurology, and they recommended an immediate exploratory procedure. If Jason is hemorrhaging, the worst case is that he’s brain dad. Sonny says, that can’t happen, and Finn says Sam has to sign a consent form. Sam says, it’s not up to her, and Carly says she has power of attorney, and pulls out the confirmation. Elizabeth gives her the form, and she signs it, saying they’d better damn well save him. Everyone looks at each other, but Sonny looks hard at Brando.
For what it’s worth (as they would say on GH), I don’t think it’s Brando. Way too easy.
On Monday, Franco says Elizabeth is planning on not going, Ava asks Nelle how she’s blackmailing Julian, and Sonny asks if Brando has something else to tell him.
I kind of thought it was Hannah, and that it was her prescription, but the way this was handled was appalling. I checked out Malia’s Instagram, and fans are not happy. Apparently, she removed the text on the post in question, and disabled the comments. That didn’t stop anyone from commenting on the post. Malia’s excuse for outing Hannah was baloney, since when Captain Lee found out Kat was taking a prescription, there was none of this. Very disappointed in CaptainSandy and Malia.
I don’t even know what to say anymore. Whether or not Denise and Brandi hooked up, only they know, but, next to Jax, Brandi is the worst human being in the world. As Judge Milian from People’s Court says, I wouldn’t believe her if her tongue came notarized.
It takes 30 seconds to make an impression that last 30 years. – Loren Brovarnik quoting her father, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé
Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’! – Audrey Hepburn
A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. – Elbert Hubbard
Be the change that you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi
Without music, life would be a mistake. – Friedrich Nietzsche
I call her BF, which doesn’t stand for best friend. It stands for bitch face. – woman whose sister slept with her boyfriend on Dr. Phil
When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong. – Richard Dawkins
The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. – Henri-Frédéric Amiel
I learned…that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness. – Brenda Ueland (I’m all for solitude & idleness.)
Path-walker, your footprints and nothing else are the path; Path-walker, there is no path, the path is formed as you move. – Antonio Machado, Caminante, no hay Comino
😱 Drag Me To Hell…
Is it A) the name of a horror film, or B) the title for my week. It’s Friday, so moving on. I hope. For now, stay safe, stay diverse, and stay enjoying life no matter what the circumstances.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At the WSB facility in Geneva, Dante does push-ups while remembering his mission. Complete the mission plays in his head.
Lulu tells Brando to text her when her car is ready, but he says it was just a flat, and it’s finished. She tells him that she got a lead on a story, and didn’t even realize she had a flat. She’s glad his garage is there. Cyrus walks in and says, that makes two of them.
Lucy looks over Sasha’s photos, and loves them. She asks what Maxie’s secret is, and Maxie says, fear of failure and a good photographer. She asks which photo Lucy is going with, and Lucy pulls one out. Sasha asks if it’s weird to like her own picture. Maxie and Lucy both say, no! and Sasha says she likes it too. Valentin asks if he gets a vote.
Curtis goes to the hospital to take TJ to lunch, and TJ apologizes, saying he should have texted; they have to postpone. Curtis asks if TJ is supposed to live at the hospital, and TJ tells him it’s an unwritten rule for med students. Curtis says it’s the only place he gets to see TJ, and TJ says it’s the only place Molly gets to see him too. He did take off last night so they could be together though.
At the MetroCourt, Sam wants to talk to Carly about Jason’s power of attorney. Carly says Jason is her best friend, so of course (🍷) she said yes, but she doesn’t want to get in the middle of them. Sam says she wants to thank Carly.
Chase finds Jason outside the courtroom, and asks why he’s there. Jason says he’s picking up some permits, and Chase asks if he doesn’t have an assistant for that, but Jason says he wanted to follow-up in person. Chase says Jason saved him a call. He doesn’t have to answer, but at the risk of repeating himself, where was Jason on the night of February 19th when the warehouse exploded? Jason says he’s not saying anything without his attorney present, which is never a surprise to anyone. Chase says, he’s not asking in an official capacity, but he can. Jordan walks in, and asks what Chase is doing.
Dante looks at the pencil and paper. He gets up from the floor, picks up pencil, and puts it down again. A doctor comes in, and asks if Dante doesn’t take a day off, and Dante says, it’s something to do. The doctor says they have activities if he’s bored, but Dante says he’s good. He likes it. The doctor says he’s concerned about Dante. What does Dante think the WSB will say when they find out he refuses to engage in therapy? Dante says, nothing good, and the doctor says, they’re patient, but not indulgent. They’ll decide Dante is a lost cause, and consign him to the doctor’s care for the rest of his life. Dante says he’s fine with that.
TJ tells Curtis, last night was about putting Molly first, and reconnecting. Curtis says TJ has had a lot to deal with. TJ says, first, he was abducted, his abduction was never solved, and now he’s at the hospital full time. Curtis asks if he has to be, and TJ admits he doesn’t. Curtis says TJ didn’t just get abducted, he was injured; he’s still doing physical therapy. TJ says the hospital offered to accommodate him, but he turned them down.
Brando tells Cyrus, he’ll just be a minute, and Cyrus says, of course (🍷); the mayor’s daughter takes precedence. Lulu tells Brando, this is Cyrus Renault. He may have heard of Cyrus. He just came out of doing hard time. Cyrus says, for a crime he didn’t commit. Lulu says he was involved with the shooting where Brando and her mom got hurt. Cyrus says his connection is unfounded; he was in prison. He hopes the needless violence is a thing of the past, with Laura and the Commissioner at the helm. If anyone can keep the peace, they can.
Lucy says Valentin’s opinion is welcome, and Maxie asks, since when? Lucy says they couldn’t have relaunched Deception if Valentin hadn’t invested, but Maxie thinks that’s a stretch. Valentin says he doesn’t need gratitude; he needs collaboration. Maxie says she thought he was a silent partner, and he says he may not know about beauty and skincare, but he knows a good business move. The face of Deception needs a voice, and he’s found the perfect one. Lucy says, do tell, and he says he’s introducing Deception’s new voice. Brook comes in.
Carly asks if Sam is sure she’s okay with this, and she says she is, but when Jason told her, she was surprised. Carly imagines she must have been angry too, but Jason did it to spare her from being the one responsible, if the day came when he was unable to make his own decisions. He made it clear, he’d want to die, but didn’t want Sam to have to make that choice. Sam says she went home and did some thinking. She thought about the children, and what happened when she thought Jason died before. It would be worse for them to lose her. They love him, but she’s the parent they know and live with. They need their mom.
Jordan says she needs a word with Chase, but asks Jason to stick around. She takes Chase aside, and tells him that she’s doing him an enormous favor, before Jason’s barracuda of a lawyer barges in. Chase says they have reason to believe Cyrus was linked to the warehouse, and Jason blew it up in retaliation. She says there’s no evidence, and he’s becoming carelessly close to losing objectivity. She’ll take it from here. The last thing they want is a lawsuit. Chase leaves, and Jordan says she’d appreciate it if Jason didn’t unleash Diane; Chase was just doing his job. Jason says he knows. They’re on the same side on this, and he’d like to keep it that way.
Dante tells the doctor, he turned himself in because he can’t control his actions. When and if he picks up a weapon, who will be his target? It makes him dangerous. The doctor says Dante was traumatized by his indoctrination, and suffered a near-crippling physical injury. Dante says, the doctor read his file. The last time he had a visitor, he freaked out, and hurt a guard. It’s better to safeguard him in this facility. The doctor says it’s not the staff he’s worried about.
Cyrus tells Lulu to give her mother his regards. The hospital is fortunate to have her support. Lulu says, not just hers. The Quartermaines have supported GH for years to help it remain independent, and they’ll continue to support it. Cyrus says, that’s wonderful news. He wants to make sure the hospital is financially sound, and patients remain confident. That’s why he’s having a conversation with the board later. She says, he’s meeting with the board? and Cyrus says he’s sure they’ll find another use for his good intentions. Lulu thanks Brando, and leaves. Brando asks what’s the problem with Cyrus’s car? but Cyrus says his car is fine. He’s there to discuss another matter.
Valentin says Brook is going to write and perform a tune synonymous with the brand, and Maxie says, like a jingle? Valentin says, if she wants to call it that, and Maxie says she doesn’t like jingles. Brook says she doesn’t either, but Sasha says, it’s not a bad idea. Lucy says she would have preferred someone like Lady Gaga, but this is the next best thing. Maxie says ELQ is having nothing to do with the company.
Sam says, holding the family together is Carly’s top propriety, and the children. Carly says, it wasn’t always that way. When Michael was a baby, she never stayed out of anything, but as time went on, she saw that her kids needed to depend on her. She stands by Sonny, but only to a point. There’s nothing more important than being a mom. She can’t afford the luxury of being arrested or shot at; she’s working on the second one. The kids suffer when she’s not around, and she has to put them first. She had to take a step back against her instincts. Sam says, she wanted to go in swinging? and Carly says, when Donna was born, she knew this little baby was 100% dependent on her, and had every right to expect all her time and devotion. There was no option of running headfirst into danger. Sam says she wishes they’d had this conversation before she decided to go after Shiloh.
Jordan tells Jason that she threw her partners under the bus for Cyrus, but he says she did it for TJ. She says Cyrus’s sentence was vacated, and now, he not only operates with impunity, he has leverage; threatening her loved ones, and having knowledge of the crap she’s already done. She sees no way of getting out from under his thumb. Jason says, it will happen, and she asks, when? She doesn’t know how much more she can take. How much more damage she can stand by and let this man cause.
TJ tells Curtis that he wants no special treatment. If he can’t handle adversity, he’s not much of a doctor. Curtis says, if TJ burns out, he’ll be no good to anyone. He’s been there. TJ says he’s driven to be the best, passionate about his job, and loves helping people, and Curtis says, that’s how he was when he was a cop. He lived and breathed his job until it consumed him. He’s trying to prevent that happening to TJ.
Lucy tells Maxie not to be hasty, and Maxie says she’s not hasty. She doesn’t think it’s a smart business move. Brook says Maxie is predictable. Maxie knows it’s a smart decision because she’s a smart businesswoman. Having music synonymous with the brand makes sense. She’s just hesitating because of her BFF Lulu, who judges them from her lofty pedestal, since they’re not up to her standards. The simple fact is, Brook sees through Lulu, and Lulu can’t stand it. Maxie admits Lulu is less than perfect, but Lulu is still her friend. Brook says, that’s her choice, if she likes constant judgement, but don’t stand in the way of the rest of them. Maxie says Brook has one thing right – Lulu is her friend.
Sam tells Carly, she was focused on taking out Shiloh, and saving Kristina. Carly says, Kristina is her sister; her intention were admirable, but Sam says if she’s being honest, she was getting back to herself, if that makes sense. Carly says, who she was before she had kids? Sam says, she ran con after con then, and she wanted to do the things she did well. She got so caught up in it, she didn’t think about the consequences, and how she could make things worse for her kids.
Jason tells Jordan, the question she needs to ask is, what good it would do to fight back without leverage? She says, so they wait while the drugs pile up? Jason says, Cyrus can’t afford to break his truce with Sonny. He’s going to pretend to be an upstanding citizen while laying the groundwork to push Sonny out. As long as she plays along, she’ll have the option to bring Cyrus down.
Maxie says Valentin and Brook are acting righteous, and like Lulu is the problem, when Brook’s been flirting with Lulu’s boyfriend, using her old pet nickname for him. While they’re off collaborating, and bringing up the good old days, didn’t Brook think it would trigger Lulu after what she tried to do with Dante? Brook says, the husband Lulu dropped like a hot rock when he got sick? Lucy says Lulu has flaws; they all do. Maxie says, some more than others. She refuses to apologize for being considerate of her best friend. Lucy drags Maxie out into the hall, and Sasha says, that went well. Lucy asks Maxie, what on earth is wrong with her, reacting without thinking; why? Maxie says, Deception is her baby, and Lucy says, excuse me? Maxie says, yes, it was Lucy’s first, but Lucy brought her in and gave her a piece of the action. She’s never had that. She loved Crimson, but it wasn’t hers. She brought her talent and creativity, but the editor had the final say, and the publisher reaped the rewards. Deception is theirs about to be a reality, and she feels something momentous is going to happen. Lucy says she understands, but Maxie has to get ahold of herself or Deception will be over before it starts.
Sam tells Carly, the worst part was the kids missing her when she was in prison. Danny was trying to be brave, but underneath, he was scared, and Scout was just confused. She didn’t get why Sam was staying away. Carly says, thank God for Jason, and Sam says, it was a huge comfort. He was there for them, and the Quartermaines, and Carly. Carly says, it’s no substitute for a mother, and Sam says she was supposed to be there, but she wasn’t; she was on parole. It’s been frustrating, and a huge obstacle in her life, but not like she’s used to. She feels like she’s in quicksand. Carly understands, but since Sam brought it up, what happened with her parole officer?
Curtis tells TJ, not to be all Zen master, but life is about balance. You need to make a place for yourself and your loved ones first. If you don’t, they could slip away one dark night. You’ll look in the mirror, and your job is all you have. TJ says Curtis needs to have that conversation with his mom; she’s out of balance with work. Feel free to play the mom guilt card. Curtis asks, how? and TJ says he just called to check in. Jordan didn’t answer, but no call back and no text. Six months ago, that never would have happened, but it’s happening more and more lately. Curtis says he thinks he can use that – for Jordan’s own good. He thanks TJ for the ammo, and leaves.
Jordan says, so Jason is suggesting she go undercover as a corrupt Police Commissioner, which is true, but he wants her to use it to her advantage. Jason says, the more Cyrus thinks he has control, the more likely he is to make a mistake. Eventually, he’ll make one that gets him eliminated, but she won’t be involved. Jordan’s phone rings. It’s Cyrus, reminding her of her appointment to meet him at his new residence. Don’t be late. Jason asks if everything is okay, and Jordan says Cyrus wants her to meet him at his new home. Jason asks if she’s going, and she says he just made an excellent case as to why she has to. Jason says maybe he’ll take a ride out there, and she says, if he does, that would be his prerogative. She’s done her research, and has a good idea of how he came to work for Sonny. He survived an accident, and had cognitive issues. He was looking for a mentor, Sonny was there, and it worked well for him. Too bad. He’d make an excellent cop. Jason says he’ll try not be offended.
The doctor asks if Dante had the dream again, and Dante says he has it every night. Sometimes, he has it when he’s awake. He thinks about what he’s done to his wife – his ex-wife. He could hurt her, and if he stayed in Port Charles, she’d never stop thinking that one day he could recover, unless she faced what happened. The alternative is living there.
Lucy comes back with Maxie, and says, after a spirited conversation with her wonderful partner, she has something to tell them. Maxie says, fine. She’ll work with the two of them, but not while Brook has that smug smile and makes snarky comments about Lulu. Brook tells Maxie, she has nothing bad to say about Lulu; Lulu speaks for herself. Valentin asks if they’re back in business, and Maxie says, yes. Lucy welcomes Brook to the Deception family, and Brook says she’s super excited to be there. Lucy says, on that note, she’s going to skedaddle out of there. The Nurses Ball isn’t going to organize itself. Ta! Maxie follows her out, saying she wants a word with Lucy. Valentin tells Brook, they did it, and she says, they sure did. Does he want to have a celebratory drink? He says he’ll meet her upstairs. After she leaves, Valentin thanks Sasha for her support. Sasha says she didn’t say much, and he says she didn’t say no. How is she? She says she’s trying to throw herself into the life she has left, and he says, her work? He does that. Unfortunately, no amount of success will fill the void Nina left. Maybe she’ll have more luck.
Sam tells Carly that she was trying get leverage over her parole officer; something she could use to get Delores to back away. So Spinelli tailed her. They good news was, she was having an affair; the bad news was, she caught Spinelli getting blackmail photos. Delores told Spinelli if anyone found out about the affair, she’d throw him in jail. Now Delores hates her more than ever, and Delores controls her more than ever. She can’t believe she took that kind of risk. She says Carly can laugh if she wants, but Carly asks if anyone ever told Sam how she and Sonny got married the first time. Sam doesn’t think so, and Carly says she wanted to help Sonny, so she disguised herself, wore a wire, and went after an enemy of Sonny’s. Sonny busted in where she was, and wanted a meeting. She was the only material witness in a racketeering charge, and the only way to stop them calling her to testify… Sam says, was to marry him. Carly says, wives can’t be forced to testify against their husbands. She helped, but not in the way she thought she would. Sonny married her five times, so she must have done something right. The marriage was the best thing to happen to her. Sam says, some things work out for the best in ways they never anticipated.
Jason goes to the garage, and asks Brando if the stabilizer came in. Brando knows Jason wanted to put it in himself, and says he hopes he didn’t overstep, but he enjoys working on Harleys, and did the installation. Jason asks what he owes Brando, and Brando says, nothing. Jason already paid for the stabilizer, and the work is free. Jason says he won’t stay in business long that way, and Brando says, it’s a nice bike. He was glad to work on it. Jason says, you’re welcome. Brando says he had two visitors today. Lulu had a flat tire, and Cyrus showed up. He made a point to mention Lulu’s mother to her, and there was a weird vibe. Jason asks, who left first? and Brando says, Lulu. Jason says, if Cyrus comes back, he wants to know. Brando says, he will.
Curtis goes to the PCPD, and asks Chase if Jordan is back. Chase says, no. The last time he saw her she was at the courthouse, talking to Jason. He’d been questioning Jason about a case, and she stepped in. She asked Jason to wait, but he’s not sure what that was about. Curtis says he’ll track her down, and thanks Chase. Chase leaves, and Curtis takes out his phone.
Cyrus wanders around his new place. Jordan arrives, and he says, right on time; he’s pleased. Jordan says his guard frisked her, and he says, that’s the way of the world now. If only it was like when they first met, but then it wasn’t the way it seemed then either. She tells him to make it quick. He wants her help to get control of GH. He says he hasn’t told her how, and she says, he didn’t say why either. What does a man like him want with the hospital?
At the hospital, Maxie tells the reception nurse that she doesn’t have an appointment, but she’d like to see her OB/GYN. Lucy runs into Lulu, who says she’s there to interview some board members about GH’s finances. Lucy says she hopes Lulu realizes what an amazing, loyal friend Maxie is. Lulu says, Maxie is the best, and Lucy says, Maxie nearly jeopardized the launch of Deception defending Lulu against some admittedly snarky remarks. Lulu says, by who? Don’t tell her. Brook said something about Dante. Lucy says, his name was brought up, and Lulu says, unbelievable. Brook is constantly throwing Dante in her face, when she knows nothing about the end of their marriage. Obviously, it gets to her more than she’d care to admit. Lucy says, if it helps, Maxie had her back, and Lulu says, it does help. Lucy says she didn’t know Dante all that well, but she can say with confidence, he’d want Lulu to be happy – whatever that means to her.
The doctor says he can help Dante get better, but he has to trust the process. Dante says he can’t risk it. He has a ticking time bomb in his head. The doctor has seen it go off, and Dante never wants anyone to see it again. This way, they’ll be safer. The doctor refuses to give up hope, and says Dante hasn’t given up on himself. Why else would he keep a pad and pencil. There must be someone he wishes to reach out to after all. Dante flashes back to Lulu telling him that she’ll wait forever; it’s no life without him there. He remembers saying goodbye, telling her that he loves her, and walking out. Dante says if the pencil and pad is causing the doctor to have false expectations, take it out of there. The doctor says he’s leaving it. He sincerely hopes Dante changes his mind before it’s too late.
Chase sees Sasha outside the courtroom. She says she was hoping to run into him. Has he heard anything? He says he hasn’t, and Sasha says imagine if they broke their hearts for nothing. Chase says, as crappy as it sounds, it helps on some level to know she’s as miserable as he is. They really did this for the right reason, but it’s easy to forget. Sasha agrees, and Chase says he knows Michael and Willow are the best parents for Wiley. Sasha says, if they found a way to prove it to the judge, it will have worked, so it will be worth it. I’m thinking, Sasha is high. She just has that vibe.
Curtis calls Jordan, but she doesn’t pick up.
Cyrus tells Jordan, he’s demonstrated that he’s a good person. Jordan says, he’s not; he’s a drug trafficker. He says the board will learn that he deserves grace, and the best insurance policy was a friend in law enforcement. That’s why they’re going to spend time together. Jordan tells him, he finally said it. He called because he can, and she showed up. He says she has a gift of seeing to the heart of the matter.
Brook and Valentin sit at a table in the MetroCourt. She says, if they’re going to work together, she needs to know one thing. Will he be as good for ELQ as he is for her? He says, even better.
Sam tells Carly that she doesn’t want to ever struggle with those questions. God forbid the worst happens, she doesn’t want to tell Danny she chose to let his dad die. Carly is glad Sam sees it that way, and Sam says she’s glad Jason chose Carly. Carly says, don’t worry, and Sam says, there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to happen to Jason.
Jason lies on the road, unconscious, his bike laying next to him.
Tomorrow, Robert is sure he’ll find an empty grave, Carly wants Peter’s full attention, Sonny knows Mike is close to the end, and Cyrus tells Jordan to make sure something doesn’t happen.
🎤 Filling In…
For a while, Brook will be a different Brook. Who’s next? Carly? What’s Tamara Braun doing these days? Might as well make it totally confusing.
LuAnn says Leah can’t do this in front of other people, and Leah asks if LuAnn means lifting her skirt up so they could see her bodysuit. In Leah’s interview, she can’t believe anyone would think she’d purposely show her vagina to Ramona’s friends. It’s disgusting. She says, Ramona needs to keep my vagina out of her mouth. LuAnn wonders what Sonja’s drink tastes like, and takes a sip. She makes a face, and says she has no idea what it is, but it’s disgusting. Dorinda tells them that she got Sonja to bed. Now she’s going to see where Ramona is. LuAnn says, okay, Mama Dee.
Dorinda finds Ramona on an outside lounge chair, and asks if she’s okay. Ramona says, Sonja is a mess. Dorinda has been a mess. Dorinda says she hasn’t, but Ramona has, and she’s put Ramona to bed. Ramona tells her not to scream (she wasn’t). She can’t be around them anymore. She gets up, and tells Dorinda, drink some water. In Ramona’s interview, she says whenever Dorinda hears something she doesn’t like, she deflects. She’s full of sh*t. Ramona says Leah, Dorinda, and Sonja should go to AA. Dorinda says Ramona should be ashamed. She came to talk as a friend. She goes back to the table, and tells LuAnn and Leah that Ramona told her that she was drunk, when strangely, she’s not. She told Dorinda to go to AA. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, there’s a difference between being concerned, and telling someone to go to AA. It’s totally patronizing, and to say that to Dorinda is a low blow. Dorinda says Ramona also accused her of being drunk at the Halloween party. We flash back to that, and Dorinda tells them, you don’t say that to a friend. LuAnn says she’s been to AA, and she wouldn’t say that. She’s known Dorinda for twenty years, and would never say she’s a drunk. Dorinda says, not tonight. In her interview, LuAnn says she’s not touching that with a ten-foot pole. Ramona should know if you play with fire, you’ll get burned. Dorinda asks for another drink.
LuAnn finds Ramona, still lounging, and drinking water. Ramona says she’s the only one who’s straight, and LuAnn says she knows how Dorinda gets, and told her to go to AA. Ramona says she thinks Dorinda drinks too much. In LuAnn’s interview, she says, stop name calling. Tell Sonja that she has a problem, and Dorinda had to put her to bed. Back at the table, Dorinda starts to cry, and says Ramona hurt her feelings. Leah says, don’t let her; it’s not worth it. LuAnn tells Ramona, they’re serving tequila. Ramona says Dorinda has a problem, and doesn’t want to admit it, but Sonja has a problem too. And Leah. Ramona says she doesn’t want to drink anymore. LuAnn says Ramona claimed Leah was on medication, and she’s fine. Ramona says Leah had a problem before, and Dorinda plays holier than thou. Ramona admits she’s not perfect, but Dorinda is bitter and angry. LuAnn says they’ve seen it before, and Ramona says the two of them are normal in comparison to everyone there; it’s scary. In her interview, LuAnn says, normal is not a word that comes to mind when she thinks of Ramona. Ramona says she’s going to bed. At the table, Leah says she wants to enjoy the trip, and Dorinda says she’s afraid to be judged. Leah says Ramona crossed the line, saying she was on medication. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she wants to tell Leah not to pay attention, but at the same time she’d be pissed. LuAnn comes back, and asks, what’s happening? and Dorinda says her feelings are hurt. LuAnn says, it’s been a long day, and they can’t be trying to make it right. Leah asks, what happened? and Dorinda wonders if LuAnn asked Ramona about judging her on her drinking. LuAnn went to jail. Ramona doesn’t judge her, and LuAnn almost went back to jail again when she broke parole. In her interview, LuAnn says, it was literally fifteen minutes ago when Dorinda said you don’t shame a friend. It’s hypocritical. We flash back to Dorinda shaming LuAnn a few times, and LuAnn says, since she’s locked up with Dorinda, she’s going to make it nice. For the moment. Dorinda says Ramona accused her under false pretenses. She didn’t go to jail or break probation, and LuAnn tells her, this isn’t nice. Why is Dorinda getting angry at her? Don’t kill the messenger. In her interview, Dorinda says she can’t have a conversation with Ramona. She deflects, and it’s your fault; you’re the problem. She doesn’t need this bitch to tell her where she is on her journey. Dorinda says, Ramona is the one who comes home at 4 am, and LuAnn tells her, like her mother said, nothing good happens after midnight.
Leah uses a roller on her face, and calls her sister Sarah. Dorinda comes into Leah’s room, and Leah asks if Dorinda remembers what she said to LuAnn. Dorinda says LuAnn was the one who went to jail, so don’t be endorsing what Ramona said. Leah says LuAnn was just the messenger, and just telling her what Ramona said. Dorinda tells her, LuAnn has said it in the past. She wasn’t drunk then, and she wasn’t drunk last night. She only had three spritzers. That’s like when the defendant says they only had a couple of beers on People’s Court, and you know they had a whole case. In Leah’s interview, she says she was the most sober last night, and LuAnn said nothing like that. Dorinda can’t be wrong ever, but she’s wrong. Dorinda says she’s not letting this turn into something about her; it’s deflection. Ramona was saying she should go to AA. Leah says she doesn’t want to talk about AA on this trip. She actually went there.
Sonja tosses her shoes into a pile. Ramona comes in, saying, it’s a gorgeous day. Sonja says she went to take one of her water pills, and she googled it. It’s also called a drunken sailor pill. It dehydrates you, and if you drink, makes it worse. Ramona says she doesn’t care what medication someone is on. If you take alcohol with it, the medication makes it worse. In her interview, she wonders what Sonja was thinking, and tells Sonja that she doesn’t need them. In Sonja’s interview, she says, of course she was walking like a drunken sailor. It said the pill was a diarrhetic. Ramona says, atdinner, it got uncomfortable. She wants a one-on-one with Leah. Sonja says, Leah didn’t do anything, and Ramona says she needed to feel out her feelings. What?
LuAnn works out on a treadmill, while Leah does free weights. She asks Leah how it went, and Leah says she told Dorinda that LuAnn was just relaying what Ramona said. Ramona is deflecting from the real situation. LuAnn says it’s not about Ramona; it’s about her. Dorinda can be mad at Ramona, but don’t it take out on her. Leah says, it needs to be nipped in the bud. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she wants Dorinda to understand she’s hurt. It’s a sore subject, and she’s got to get to Dorinda at the right time, in the right place. When she’s not drinking. They talk about their upcoming camel ride. In LuAnn’s She hasn’t been on a camel since the hiccup in Marrakech. She’s scared, but she’s getting back on that hump. Leah doesn’t want to be in the sun LuAnn sees Ramona and Sonja in the kitchen, and Ramona says, it’s a new day; it’s like nothing happened. The chef is making omelets, and LuAnn says, they’re in Mexico, and have to have huevos rancheros. LuAnn tells Ramona let thing with Leah go; there’s another issue with Dorinda. After Ramona left, Dorinda called LuAnn out, saying she’s the one who went to jail, and tried to make her ashamed of herself, like she didn’t suffer enough. She doesn’t think Dorinda remembers. She knows it’s not about her, but it’s still hurtful. Ramona says, it’s an anger management problem, and in her interview, she says, Dorinda doesn’t realize how much she’s hurting her friends. We flash back to Dorinda’s nastier moments. Ramona says, when Dorinda drinks, her anger accelerates; anger plus drinking equals a really mean Dorinda.
Leah joins them, and Ramona eyeballs her. She sidles over, and says when Leah’s ready, she’d love to have a conversation. Leah suggests they do it now, and they go outside to sit. In Ramona’s interview, she says she’s not going to change Leah, and doesn’t want to harbor anger. It’s time they moved on. Ramona says she thinks she holds Leah to a higher bar. She believes in Leah as a person, and sees she has potential. There’s a side she adores, but one there’s one she doesn’t. She talked to Leah about the party, and had asked her to put her 30 year old self away, and be more demure, so she was hurt and disappointed. Those are her feelings. Leah says, feelings aren’t facts. She wants to know what she did. Ramona must have been angry to talk about mental health issues. Ramona apologizes (yawn), saying she’s sorry she made Leah uncomfortable, and that she let her feelings and expectations color things. Leah suggests they go forward, and says when it comes to the perception of Ramona’s friends, who gives a sh*t? Ramona says she let her own head get in the way. In Leah’s interview, she says Ramona knows she’s wrong deep down, and won’t admit it, but she’s not wasting her energy and time dragging it out of her. She’s letting it go. Leah says, let’s eat, have fun, and enjoy the day. Ramona admits she made a mountain out of a molehill.
Ramona says, it’s a new day; they should all celebrate. Dorinda says, she doesn’t care about last night. She wants to put it behind her and have fun. Sonja threw out pill explains that her water pills are also called drunken syndrome sailor because they exacerbate the effects of drinking. In her interview, Dorinda says she just wants Sonja to be happy, and have no more of these episodes. It worries her. Leah says they’re doing a reset, and LuAnn is thrilled with her attitude. In her interview, LuAnn says Dorinda can try to sweep things under the rug, but they’re still there. They’re not under the rug .Leah goes to take a shower. LuAnn asks if they’re wearing bathing suits under their clothes for the camel ride. Dorinda says they have a cabana on the beach for afterward. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, today is about Mexico, not about what happened yesterday. She doesn’t care. LuAnn tells Dorinda that she talked to Ramona, and Dorinda says she’s over it. LuAnn says, Ramona should let it go, and Dorinda says Ramona listens to LuAnn. Leah is a nice girl. They’re all different, and that’s what makes it good.
They get in limo, and Sonja says her stomach is sloshing. Ramona is worried that Sonja has gas, but Sonja says, it’s a different thing. Dorinda is excited about tonight. She heard the food at the restaurant is delish. It’s a nice place, and they can dress up. Ramona says, they can be festive. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Sonja doesn’t realize, they’re not going on a local outing. They’re celebrating Sonja’s birthday. Drinking, dancing, and laughter; she deserves it. The limo stops at Moroma Beach, and they get out. In her interview, Leah says she’s had a camel ride before, and didn’t feel the need to do it again, but since the others want to, let’s do it. LuAnn says she’s having flashbacks, and we see a flashback of LuAnn being bounced around by a camel. Dorinda wants the one that’s lying down. Leah says she has a camel toe right now, and it’s killing her. Dorinda tells the guide, it’s not Leah’s first time, and asks if they have to date them a little first. When Sonja sees Ramona’s shorts, she tells Ramona, no more macramé. They get on the camels, and the guide tells them to hold on and lean back. Leah says, Dorinda is a natural, and Dorinda says she’s ridden a camel or two in her day. In Dorinda’s interview, she says this is nothing compared to the beasts she’s ridden. She even married a few. Ramona refuses to ride. After she saw LuAnn in Morocco, she said never again. Ramona takes pictures, and Sonja says, she doesn’t want the feisty one. In Sonja’s interview, she says, she and camels just don’t go together. She’s getting on a camel that doesn’t seem to want to know her. Sonja calls for someone to take her down. She’s sweating, nervous, and going to fall. Leah warns her that the camel senses her energy. Dorinda is proud of LuAnn for getting back on the hump. LuAnn says, it feels good.
Sonja screams she’s getting off. Dorinda is happy, and likes it. Leah says, time to get off, and jumps down. Even though these are very tall camels, and at least six feet. She says she’s not screwing around. LuAnn says they’ve lost a couple. In her interview, Leah says she thought camel riding was something you do in Dubai, not Mexico. Never again. Ramona, Sonja, and Leah head for the beach. Leah says she’s all about getting out of situations; she’s not waiting for help. Dorinda is camel proud, and says Ramona is being snobbish. Sonja tells Ramona, they got ones the others didn’t want to be on. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she got back the on hump, and lived to tell the story. She fist bumps the camera. Dorinda suggests they go to the cabana.
The cabana is beautiful; sort of like a round wooden birdcage. Inside, there’s an exquisitely set table waiting for them. Sonja says the camels are behind her. Look at the gorgeous table, flowers, and view. That’s what she’s here for. She says LuAnn looks like a Bond girl, and she does. They have lunch, and the salad is served in bottles that have been halved. LuAnn wants to talk to Dorinda, and in her interview, she says the camel ride was a good bonding experience for her and Dorinda. It’s a good moment for them to talk. She’s nervous, but needs to do it, and Dorinda is open to it. LuAnn says she doesn’t know if Dorinda remembers what she said last night. You can see by Dorinda’s body language that she’s immediately defensive, and she tells LuAnn, stop. She had three spritzers. Honestly, I always wonder if these women know they’re being recorded. She might have had three spritzers, but that was in addition to tequila and God knows what else. They’re not talking about her drinking. LuAnn says Dorinda brought it up. Ramona is still upset about Halloween. Dorinda says LuAnn made a comment that she’d gotten drunk in the past. Come on now. Is she saying she’s never been drunk? Again, does she know we’re watching her life on TV? In LuAnn’s interview, she says, that never happened. Dorinda is making sh*t up to make herself feel better, and putting it on her. She tells Dorinda that she didn’t bring up drinking. Dorinda asked her, what happened? she told Dorinda what Ramona said, and Dorinda attacked her. Dorinda says, that’s LuAnn’s truth. See? That’s exactly why I don’t like that your/my truth business. While it can be colored by perspective, there’s the truth, and there isn’t. LuAnn tells Dorinda that what she said was hurtful. Dorinda says, don’t talk about her drinking. LuAnn went to jail, and said it could happen to anybody. Is Dorinda drunk now? Because she’s not making any sense. LuAnn says, then why does Dorinda keep throwing it in her face? They agree not talk about each other’s drinking. Dorinda says she always supports LuAnn, and LuAnn says she supports Dorinda too. She doesn’t want to keep thinking about going to jail. She’s suffered enough. In her interview, LuAnn say she just wants Dorinda to give her a little something, but she won’t budge. It’s hard to have a relationship with someone like that. LuAnn asks if the women want to skedaddle, and that’s the second time I’ve heard that word today.
LuAnn and Ramona check out a bunch of dudes playing a volleyball game. LuAnn wants to play, but Ramona says she’ll just watch. LuAnn says she’s good at volleyball, and then proceeds to stink. When she hits the net the second time the ball bounces back and hits her, knocking her down. Everyone laughs. She finally gets one over the net, and Ramona says she got him flustered. LuAnn says, it’s the bikini.
The women go back to Vila casa del mar, and get dressed for dinner. Leah shows everyone the pictures she took. Dorinda is excited, saying Sonja usually stays in the background, but tonight she’s going to be recognized, and know that they see her and love her. When they get to the restaurant, Dorinda tells Sonja, if she thought today was fun, it’s her birthday! In her interview, Sonja says she’s blown away. Being with the girls means more than a big party. They dance around, and Sonja says it comes from the heart and she’s feeling it. A guy comes out balancing a bottle of tequila on his head, while carrying a tray of shots. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she’s been served tequila in some strange places, but never off a man’s head. She dances with him, and he comes up to about boob height on her. Sonja says, LuAnn is going to swoop him up like King Kong, and take him home.
Dorinda announces, it’s a special night for a special girl. They love Sonja, and 2020 is going to be her year. Ha! That’s what we all thought. They toast to happiness and freedom. In Sonja’s interview, she says it’s nice of Dorinda to plan this. She doesn’t need 50 girlfriends. Ramona, take notes for next year. Leah says LuAnn’s dancing partner is the size of a puppy. He takes their orders, and brings back a stack of Margaritas on his head. Leah wonders how they get them off, and he squats down so they can take them one at a time. LuAnn says she’s never had a Margarita off a man’s head, and Dorinda asks if she’s sure about that. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, these women have been all over the world, but this restaurant holds joy. Sonja is smiling ear to ear, and this is what life’s about. Leah says a guy at the bar is giving her Pablo Escobar vibes, and Dorinda tells her not to assume he’s a criminal. Ramona and Leah discuss online dating. Ramona says she tried it a year ago, but it didn’t work. Dorinda says, it shouldn’t be so complicated, and Leah says she’s the same way. She and Ramona shake hands. Leah says they can’t meet their equals; they’re too unique and different. Ramona says they all have emotional insecurities. Leah wonders how Ramona could have forgiven Mario, and Ramona says she thought of her daughter, and realized the worst thing would be to harbor hate. Leah says Ramona loved her daughter more than herself, and knew it was the best thing. It’s still hard, and a lot of people can’t do it. In Leah’s interview, she says, a lot of women who’ve been cheated on, never want to look at the guy again, and rightly so. She says she respects Ramona. She was willing to forgive Mario for the betterment of the family. Ramona wonders what’s next for her; she doesn’t know. Leah says it’s an exciting time for Ramona. She has all the money she needs, and can do what she wants. In Dorinda’s interview, she says, everybody thought the guy with the five drinks on his head was the highlight of the evening, but just wait. She and Dorinda slip off to the bathroom. Leah tells Ramona, there’s something powerful about being a mother. Ramona says she’s always been a caregiver. Sonja says, she’s not. LuAnn comes out, wearing a jacket that lights up, and a sombrero. She says Sonjarita is her friend, and sings Happy Birthday. Dorinda comes out wearing a fake big boob top and a gold turban, bearing a cake with sparklers. Sonja motorboats Dorinda’s shirt, and a mariachi band plays.
Sonja says she’s loving it. Leah thinks the waiter is an amazing man. He might be only three feet tall, but has the aura of someone six foot seven. Leah tells Sonja, happy birthday, and talks about Sonja’s tight p*ssy. Ramona tells Leah, that she doesn’t want to talk about body parts; she wants to get along. Leah promises to only talk about her perfect p*ssy. Ramona gets up, and Leah follows her. In Ramona’s interview, she says, this is the Leah she doesn’t enjoy, but she can walk away, and it will diffuse. At her birthday, there were 70 women, and she couldn’t ignore it. Ramona tells Leah, don’t talk body parts, and Leah says, stop it right now. Ramona says she’s a good Catholic girl, and she doesn’t talk about that. Then a spaceship comes down to get her. It might as well, since she’s on another planet. Leah tells Ramona, she can try and hide, but her turtle times are liked. In Leah’s interview, she says, Ramona isn’t some delicate virgin flower. When she wants to talk about sex, she does. We flash back to several times where Ramona did talk about that, and Leah says, but if she talks about anything related to sex, she’s treated like a serial killer. Leah goes back to the table, and says, she understands she embarrassed everyone. LuAnn asks what Ramona said, and Leah tells her, Ramona claims to be a prude. Dorinda says, that’s bullsh*t. Leah says once again, she’s held to a different standard. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she’s not supporting Ramona, but she does think Leah is poking the bear.
Ramona comes back, kisses the top of Leah’s head, says she loves her, and they’ll talk tomorrow. Dorinda says she’s proud of Ramona. In Ramona’s interview, she says she thinks Leah looks to her for approval, and wants to test boundaries. So she gave her a kiss to disarm her. LuAnn says that a dish is spicy, and Leah says, she likes spicy… d*ck. LuAnn says, she can’t help herself, and Ramona says, God help her.
Next time, LuAnn finds a guy, Dorinda isn’t well, more sparklers, LuAnn tries to hook up Sonja, the women attend some kind of ritual, and Ramona and LuAnn discuss Dorinda’s drinking, then confront her. I’m sure that will go well.
💿 For the Record…
On Watch What Happens Live, LuAnn was the sole (remote) guest, and the 200th episode of RHONY was celebrated. Various people from days gone by made appearances, and one of them was Tomas, the pirate LuAnn may or may not have slept with. According to Tomas, they did not sleep together. I’m not sure if he was just being a gentleman, but case closed.
🧗♀️ Almost Made It…
After two days of the power going in and out, we lost it altogether tonight. Somehow, I was still able to get this post together, but tea time will have to wait until tomorrow. To top it off, WordPress has introduced a new editor that I haven’t had time to investigate fully. As far as I can tell, only links are done differently, but I’m so sleep-deprived, I could be hallucinating. Don’t let this happen to you, and stay safe, stay fit, and stay getting enough sleep.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 