What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny finds Carly in the kitchen, and says she’s up late. She says Jax called. Nikolas apparently made quite an entrance, interrupting the wedding by walking in with Ava in his arms. Valentin had shoved her off the parapet, but she’s okay. She landed on her feet. Everything in the Cassadine estate now belongs to Nikolas, and Jax thinks Valentin will fight it, but right now he’s distracted. Instead of getting married to Nina, Nina left him.   

Nina wonders where everyone went, but Jax isn’t sure. He hands her a scotch, saying it’s appropriate for the occasion. Nina tells him, revenge tastes worse than he said it would.

Walking in Rice Plaza, Anna tells Finn to relax. Violet is asleep, and can’t be in better hands than with his brother and Willow. He asks if she’s spent time with his brother. He didn’t expect Chase to say yes to babysitting. Anna says, he’s a cop. What could go wrong? It gave them a chance to take a walk at midnight, unless he’d rather do something else. He says he’d rather be with her, and she says, good answer. They kiss.

Maxie tells Valentin, he’s not going anywhere. Not with Charlotte. He says he’ll explain everything, and Lulu knows it’s his week. Peter says he’s not taking Charlotte anywhere.

Ava walks in to where Nikolas is, and says she’s so sorry to cut this lovely reunion short, but it’s time. Doc asks, time for what? and Ava says Nikolas hasn’t told them the happy news? She and Nikolas are getting married tonight. Laura says, getting married? and Nikolas says, yes. Lulu says, to her? and Ava says, excuse me? Lulu says, no way. She doesn’t buy it. Ava tells her, suit herself. They’re still getting married, aren’t they?

Nina tells Jax, Valentin is probably telling Charlotte the wedding is off again. Impressive; breaking Charlotte’s heart for the umpteenth time. She says she should have listened to him, and cut her losses, but she wanted maximum damage. Jax says, Valentin created the situation. Jordan and Curtis come in, and Jordan asks where Valentin is. Nina says she doesn’t know, and Curtis says a warrant has been called in for him. Jordan says he’ll be charged with fraud, tampering with a corpse, and attempted murder if Ava is telling the truth. Curtis says, it is what Nina wanted, isn’t it?

Carly tells Sonny, it’s hard to believe Nikolas and Jax pulled their plan off. Sonny is sure Lulu and Laura are glad to have him back, and Spencer will feel the same way. Carly says they’re probably in shock. When it wears off, they’ll feel vindicated. Sonny says everyone is accounted for except them. What comes next?

Curtis asks if Nina doesn’t think Valentin deserves payback after what he put her through. Nina says she wanted him to own up and tell the truth; give her a reason to stay, but he didn’t do that. Curtis wishes for her sake that he would have. Jordan is sure she was invited to make sure Valentin faces justice, and he will. She did the right thing.

Anna and Finn sit on a bench. She asks if he wants to skate; she heard he’s graceful. He says, her first, but she says, no. She’s not so graceful. They should bring Violet; she would love it. Finn asks if she thinks it’s safe, and Anna says it helps coordination and confidence. Finn says, and bleeding. Mac and Felicia approach, and Felicia asks how Violet is. Finn says, she’s sleeping, and Anna says, she’s with Chase and Willow. She’s totally fine, and it gave them a chance to go for a walk. Felicia says, great minds, and Anna says she’s been trying to persuade Violet’s over-protective father to bring her there. Felicia thinks it’s a good idea, and asks if Finn has pictures. He says, only about 300 of them. While they look at Finn’s phone, Mac tells Anna, about the file she requested on David Black… and she says she knows she’s held on to it for too long, but he says keep as long as she likes. The sooner find out who wanted Franco and Andre dead, the better.

Peter suggests Valentin talk to a lawyer. Valentin tells Charlotte, he knows it’s confusing, but there are problems he has to take care of. Charlotte asks if he’s going to make it okay, and he says, better than okay. Everyone wants what’s best for her. She asks what’s going to happen, and Valentin asks Maxie to take her somewhere else. Maxie takes her out of the room, and Peter says, let’s hear it. Valentin says, what’s left to say? Just this. He punches Peter, who drops to the floor, and Valentin runs out. He tells Maxie that Peter wants to talk to her in private. Maxie tells Charlotte, don’t move, and goes back in. Valentin tells Charlotte, move, and they jet. Maxie says, oh my God, and goes to Peter.

Nina tells Curtis and Jordan, she knows it makes her a coward, but she doesn’t want to stay and find out what happens next. Jordan says they’ll need her statement, and Nina says to call her office. She’ll do it tomorrow. Curtis says he’ll go with her, but she says she wants to be alone. She doesn’t need anyone to hold her hand. She just wants out of the house now. She leaves, and Jax says he’s got this.

Nikolas says he knows this must come as a shock. Lulu says, that’s an understatement, and he says, Ava is telling the truth. Ava says, they’re a betrothed. Lulu says Ava is blackmailing him. They can get him out of it. Ava says not everyone is as embittered about marriage as Lulu. The heart wants what the heart wants. Doc asks Ava if she’s considered her state of mind for making a lifelong commitment. She just checked herself out of Shadybrook. Ava says she thinks he’ll find she’s perfectly sane, and Doc says Laura told him that she checked herself in because she was convinced she was seeing ghosts, specifically Nikolas. He assumes Nikolas was manipulating her, and made her doubt her own sanity. Ava asks what his point is, and Doc says, why marry a man who treats her that way? Ava tells him, what can she say. She’s been powerless to resist him since they fell love years ago. Laura says she doesn’t think it’s about love. Ava had Helena’s portrait for weeks, and found the codicil. Now she’s holding it over his head. Lulu says, in exchange for a tiny scrap of paper, Nikolas is going to spend his life with Ava. Ava says, he could do worse. Many marriages are founded on a lot less. Laura says she knows Ava has been through hell, and she tried to help. Ava says she knows that, and appreciates it. Laura asks if Nikolas has learned nothing from her. Nikolas says he understands Laura doesn’t approve, and Laura laughs. She says he could have come home anytime. Spencer could have had a father, but instead, Nikolas chose to let them suffer, and come home when he could pull off a cynical power grab. Ava **since conn lu go one day te don’t get marr ** Nikolas says, in time, he hopes she realizes it’s a good match, and gives her blessing. Ava asks her, please stay for the ceremony.

Carly tells Sonny, they need to get past this. They have more important things to focus on. Gladys comes in, and says she’s not the only one who loves to raid the fridge at night. It must run in the family.

Felicia tells Finn, fair warning. Anna and Mac could be talking shop. She thinks pictures of Violet are more interesting. Mac asks if Anna found anything promising, and she says she’s been going over the file, and cross-checking with the WSB files, but no luck. She has nothing actionable. He says, it’s disappointing, but tells her to keep at it. They need to know who sent Black after Franco and Andre. Anna says she won’t be satisfied until she gets all the answers.

Jordan tells Curtis, now comes the hard part. She needs to bring Valentin in to answer some questions. He says he’ll come with her.

Nikolas asks Laura and Lulu to stay for the wedding. Lulu says she doesn’t know whether to tear him away from Ava, or let Ava have him. He says it’s his choice, but even if she doesn’t agree with it, he hopes she wishes him well. Lulu says, of course (🍷) she wishes him well, just not with Ava. She can’t stand by while he makes another bad choice. She’s going to check on Charlotte. Nikolas says Laura’s approval would mean a lot. Laura says what she would be endorsing is a quid pro quo. He gets his inheritance, and Ava gets to be princess of the manor. Ava says, it’s not entirely transactional. They grew fond of each other before their blossoming romance was cut tragically short. Laura says Nikolas could have come back, but he forgot about her too. Ava says she’s forgiven him, and Laura says, for a price. Ava says she doesn’t think about regrets, but puts them in the past. With or without Laura’s blessing, they’re becoming Mr. and Mrs. Nikolas Cassadine.

Maxie asks Peter, what happened? and he says, Valentin happened. Lulu runs in, and asks, where’s Charlotte? Maxie says Valentin took her. Peter says he tried to stop Valentin, but he wasn’t so receptive. Lulu says, Valentin has no right, and Peter says he told them it was his week. Lulu says Valentin tried to kill Ava. **arr that now kind** She goes to look for Charlotte, and Maxie says they should go after her, but Peter thinks they should just go home. There’s nothing more they can do. It’s an ugly family fight that will only get worse, and has nothing to do with them. Either Jordan will charge Valentin with kidnapping or not. Maxie says, Valentin assaulted him, and Peter says, Valentin dug a deep hole, and he doesn’t want to add more pressure. Please, let’s go home. Maxie says, okay.

Charlotte asks Valentin where they’re going. Valentin says, the man Charlotte saw carry Ava in, she knew him, didn’t she? She says he’s her bodyguard, but Valentin says, he’s not. She tells Valentin that he said Valentin hired him, and Valentin says he’s sure he did. It’s complicated grown-up stuff, and he’ll tell her about it, but he needs to get her somewhere safe. Then he’ll take care of everything. He holds out his hand, and opens the secret door. She asks if she can take Nina’s bouquet, and Valentin says, of course (🍷). They go through secret door, and one blossom drops.

Carly says Gladys keeps forgetting she’s not family. Gladys says, not to Carly, but she’s Mike’s family. Carly says, that’s all well and good, but the holidays are over. Gio pops in, and asks for a word with Sonny. They go out on the terrace, and Gio says he got a call. One of their trucks has been hijacked.

Mac tells Anna, good luck with her research. Keep him in the loop. Mac and Felicia go to get hot cocoa, and Finn tells Anna, nothing actionable? Peter and the gunman, working at the same company at the same time, and then Peter shoots him? Anna says, just because they overlapped, that doesn’t mean they knew each other. Even if they did, Peter can’t be convicted for working for his father. Finn says he understands Anna wants to give Peter the benefit of the doubt, but he wonders if Peter is betting on that too.

Nina sits at the café, and Jax brings her coffee. Nina says she has to figure out where to stay, and Jax says, while the coffee was being made, he took the liberty of booking a suite for her at the MetroCourt. They can have Maxie go to Windymere and pack a bag for her. She says the last thing she’s worried about is her luggage. She can’t get over how perfectly Jax predicted how it would go. Jax says he didn’t predict Ava getting pushed off the terrace. Nina wonders if Nikolas had come in five minute later, what would have happened. She didn’t know what she was going to do, confront or marry Valentin, but she does know she gave him one last chance to tell the truth. He didn’t take it. Jax says, maybe it was a blessing in disguise, but Nina says, it doesn’t feel that way.

Lulu tears through Windymere, and goes into the living room where the ceremony was supposed to take place. She calls Charlotte’s name, and says, dammit. She makes a call to the PCPD, and says she needs to be put in touch with Commissioner Ashford, but then says, never mind. She’s here. She tells Jordan and Curtis that Valentin took Charlotte. She went to check on Charlotte, and Maxie and Peter said he took her. She wants him charged with kidnapping. Jordan says she has warrant enough to bring him in already, and Curtis says the harbor patrol is monitoring traffic; they’re not going anywhere. Lulu sees the rose on the floor, and asks, what happened to Nina’s bouquet? Charlotte must have taken it. She looks at the door, and says, they’re in the tunnel.

Valentin cuts through Rice Plaza with Charlotte. She’s cold, and wants a hot cocoa. He says they can’t get one right now, but promises it will be warm in the car. He literally runs into Anna, who asks what they’re doing there. She thought he was getting married.

Gladys asks Carly if Sonny’s workers usually drop by at odd hours. Carly wonders why she’s asking, and Gladys says, it seems strange. It’s a funny time to be doing business.

Sonny asks Gio where the truck is, and he says, the tracking shows it as being stationery. He can have it checked out, but Sonny says he can stand to lose a truck of coffee. What he can’t do, is engage before he’s ready. Gio asks what if the cops get involved, and Sonny says, they’ll impound the truck, but it will let them know he’s a legitimate businessman. Gio asks if there’s anything else, and Sonny says, on his way out, ask the guards to tighten security. They can’t be too cautious. He goes back inside.

Gladys asks Sonny if everything is okay, and he says there was a problem at the warehouse. She says, this late? Who knew Columbian roast was such an exciting business. Sonny says what kind of business it is, is his, not hers. Understood?

Ava does her makeup, and Laura asks if she can come in. Ava says, please do. She’s sure seeing Nikolas was quite a shock. Ava wants Laura to know, there’s no way she could tell her, and not risk alerting Valentin. Laura says, please. She’s still processing everything. Her son, who was given up for dead, is alive. Thank God, but she’s confused, and she’s angry. How long did ava know that? How long had he planned it?

Nikolas wanders around the living room, and Doc asks if he’s interrupting. Nikolas says he’s just taking it all in. It’s all his now. Doc says, including the ghosts. Nikolas is sure Doc is upset with him too, and Doc says he doesn’t like to see Laura, or any of Nikolas’s family members, in pain. Nikolas says he regrets the extreme measures he needed to stay under the radar, but it was necessary. He hasn’t had a chance to tell Doc how grateful he is that Doc made his mother happy. Doc says, Laura’s happiness always has a touch of melancholy. So does Spencer’s. Nikolas asks how Spencer is doing, and Doc says, he’s growing up fast. He’s changed a lot. Nikolas asks if Spencer likes France, and Doc says, as much as he likes any place. Spencer spent three years grieving him. He needs to do the right thing, and call his son.

Nina asks Jax how much he knows about Nikolas. He says, more than he’d like to, but probably not as much as he should. She asks him to explain, and he says he always thought Nikolas was the good Cassadine, until Nikolas had an affair with his then-wife Courtney. Nina says, Spencer’s mother. He says after that, he had little use for Nikolas. He admits Nikolas was a good father, until he let Spencer believe he’d been dead three years. Nina asks, why help him? and Jax says, because of Spencer. He wanted to make sure Spencer’s inheritance was secure, despite his dislike for Spencer’s father. What happened tonight did nothing to reassure him. He has no sympathy for Valentin, but that doesn’t mean good triumphed. Nikolas won, but he and Valentin aren’t that far apart. Nina says, Valentin isn’t a Cassadine after all, and Jax asks if she’d like more advice. She says, maybe this time, she’ll take it, and he says, leave them in their own misery. She has better things to look forward to. She says she’s looking forward to taking a hot bath, going to bed, and sleeping for a week. He says, good thing he booked the suite. He gets up, holds out his hand, and says, shall we?

Valentin tells Anna, there’s been an unfortunate change in plans. Anna says, the wedding didn’t happen? and he says it didn’t. They’re taking a break, and want to find someplace quiet to regroup. It’s cold and late, and Charlotte is tired. They want to get someplace warm where they can hunker down. Anna doesn’t blame them, but she’s curious. Why is he out at midnight with Charlotte when they could be at Windymere?

Laura tells Ava, it hurts to say this, but she’s worried about Nikolas in a whole new way. The ghost Ava saw in Shadybrook wasn’t a ghost; it was Nikolas. He took advantage of Ava’s grief and tried to frighten her. Why? It was because he wanted to find out the location of Helena’s portrait. Ava just looks at her, and Laura says, oh my God; it is. She never thought she’d say it out loud, but her son is acting like a Cassadine. His selfishness, his willingness to lie and manipulate. He used her weakened state. Why does she want to go into a marriage like that? Ava says, when the shock passes, Laura will see that she and Nikolas are a good match. Laura says that’s what she’s afraid of. She won’t stay. She’s not going to pretend the marriage has her blessing, but wants Ava to know she thinks they’re both making a mistake. They’ll both regret it, sooner rather than later. She walks out.

Gladys tells Sonny, she gets it. His business is his own, and she’ll stay out of it. Carly says, while they’re on the subject of boundaries, their family is a gravy train that Gladys can attach herself to. Gladys says she knows that, and Carly says she’s a guest at Mike’s invitation. For his sake, they let her stay for the holidays, but don’t take advantage. Is she clear? Gladys says she is, and Sonny tells Gladys, goodnight. Gladys leaves, and Sonny guesses he told her. Carly guesses he did.

Nikolas gives Doc’s phone back to him. Laura comes in, and asks, what’s going on? Doc says Nikolas tried to call Spencer, and Nikolas says, he didn’t answer. He must be sleeping. Laura says, it’s probably for the best. She’s not sure Nikolas is the best one to tell Spencer. Maybe it would be better coming from her. She tells Doc, she’s overwhelmed, and doesn’t trust her judgement, and asks him to take her home. Doc says there’s nothing better he’d like to do, and Nikolas asks them to stay for the wedding. Laura says she’s going to tell him what she just told Ava. He’s making a mistake. It’s something he’s going to regret, and she can’t be part of that.

Valentin tells Anna that he’d rather not talk about it; it’s personal. There’s a lot of tension at Windymere, and it’s no place for Charlotte. Lulu sees them, and says, thank God. Jordan and Curtis are behind her, and Valentin says, it’s his week. He has every right to have Charlotte. Jordan says she’s sure he doesn’t want her to go into detail in front of Charlotte. He appreciates her courtesy, but says he’s keeping Charlotte, and they’re leaving. Lulu can contact him through his lawyer. Lulu tells him to let Charlotte come with her, and Charlotte says, it’s okay. She’ll call Lulu. Lulu says Charlotte doesn’t understand, and tells her to come with mom right now. Nina and Jax show up, but Mac tells them to stay back. There’s a warrant out for Valentin. Nina tells him not to jump to conclusions.  It doesn’t look like Valentin is resisting. Anna tells Valentin to listen to her. She has no doubt he can deal with difficulties that arise, but they can both agree Charlotte this escalates. Then he can change his tactic, and figure out a way to win. It’s his fight. Use it on his daughter’s behalf. Valentin looks at Nina.

Val kneels down, and asks if Charlotte trusts him. She says she always trusts him, and he tells her, no matter what anyone says, he loves her. She says she knows; they just made a mistake. He says, they did. They chose sides without all the information, and saw what they wanted to see. He has to clear himself all over again; that’s the tricky part. He thinks Charlotte better go with her mom. She wants to go with him, but he says, it’s better this way. She says she loves him, and he picks her up and hugs her, saying he loves her too. He puts her down, and kisses the top of her head. He tells her, go, and Lulu says she’s glad Charlotte is okay. Charlotte says, they just made a mistake. Papa will clear it up. Lulu suggests they get home. Valentin and Nina look sadly at each other.

Wearing a sparkly, Malibu feather trimmed gown, Ava goes into the living room, and sees Nikolas waiting.

Carly hugs Sonny.

In the fastest wedding ceremony ever, the officiant pronounces Ava and Nikolas, man and wife. He says Nikolas may now kiss the bride, and he does.

Jordan tells Valentin, he’s under arrest, and he asks what the charges are. She says, fraud, and he says he assumes they arrested Nikolas on their way over. Nikolas is a fugitive who faked his own murder. He framed an innocent man, and left the country on a phony passport. All felonies. An officer cuffs him, and he says he sees there’s one set of legal standards for him, and another for Nikolas. Because he’s the mayor’s son? She needs to consult the Constitution; the 14^th Amendment, equal protection. Violating it is a big deal. He can forgive that, except for what they’ve done to his daughter. He’s led away, while Jordan reads his rights. Curtis puts a hand on Nina’s shoulder as he goes past. Nina tells Jax, before they go to the MetroCourt, she wants to stop by the liquor store and buy a bottle of scotch.

Why does it have to be scotch? I hate even the smell of scotch, and every time they say it, I can smell it.

Tomorrow, Sonny has a surprise for Gladys, Lulu says Valentin is never getting near Charlotte again, and Carly tells Alexis and Sam about Nikolas being alive.

Vanderpump Rules

I hate my computer. You get what you pay for, and I did. It decides to update with no warning, just as Vanderpump Rules is coming on, so I handwrite the first paragraph.

Lisa doesn’t know where to start. We see clips of turmoil among the cast members, interspersed with her talking. She says, this was years of friendship, that she thought would last forever. Suddenly, everything kind of turned upside down. It’s great to see new faces, but their problems seem just as complicated as their predecessors’. Okay, let’s get started.

At TomTom, manager Max tells hostess Dayna, the Toms are coming in, and so is Lisa. Tom and Schwartz arrive, and Tom tells Dayna that friends are coming in for a bachelorette party, but he told them not to bring in any inflatable penises. She says he’d be surprised how many she sees on a regular basis. In Tom’s interview, he says it’s been a year, and it feels good to walk into TomTom and know he’s running it. Except if Lisa is there; then she’s running it. In Schwartz’s interview, he says they’ve hired the best staff on the planet. Dayna is so good, Lisa is poaching her for SUR. And Max is the glue that holds everything together. Schwartz brings in some super tiny shot glasses. He says he still sees himself getting wasted.

Scheana shows new server Brett around Sur. She tells him the girls are catty, and will probably try to hook up with him. She’s divorced – she doesn’t know if he knows that – but no big deal; it doesn’t define her. Lisa is particular; know how she likes her tea. Lisa pulls up. Raquel greets her, and Lisa asks if she’s having fun. Raquel says her pageant training prepared her to work there. She greets the guests with confidence and a big smile. In Lisa’s interview, she says Raquel has requested to work there so many times. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get involved in the complicated dynamic, because she closed the door on James. She asks how James feels about Raquel being there when he’s not. Raquel says it’s a trigger for him, and he looks like he’s about to cry when she leaves. In her interview, she says it’s like when you’re packing for a road trip, and your puppy jumps in the suitcase.

Scheana introduces Brett to Jax. In her interview, Scheana says, SUR has changed dramatically. Katie, Ariana, Brittany, and Lala don’t work there anymore. In Jax’s interview, he says, that just leaves him. Someone has to pay for the wedding. He asks if Scheana and Brett are dating already, and Scheana says they just met this weekend. In Brett’s interview, he says, a few nights ago, he was out at a bar, and Scheana invited some friends back to her house to play Scattergories. The next thing he knew, she kissed him. It wasn’t what he thought it would be; nothing against her. The producer asks if he’s saying she’s not a good kisser, and he says, that’s what he’s saying. In Scheana’s interview, she says she hasn’t talked to Adam in a couple of months. She briefly dated Max, but he ghosted her. She even bought him an Apple watch to show how much she cared, but he couldn’t even text her one it. I have no words. Jax suggests Brett not get involved with the girls. They tend to get sleazy around twelve o’clock. Brett says he’ll be sure to be there.

We find out that Dayna and Max are kind of a thing. In her interview, Dayna says he stayed over last night. She knows he’s her boss, and probably doesn’t want to be put on blast at work, but his underwear is on the floor at her house. She says she’s going to SUR, and he warns her that he’s dated some of the girls from there. She asks if that means she shouldn’t wear a T-shirt that says, I screwed Max, how about you? He says they should probably keep it on the DL, and she tells him, go manage something already.

Scheana asks Jax how the wedding planning is going, and Jax says, it’s almost done. He had a get together for the people who couldn’t come to his bachelor party in Miami. He thought Tom would come, but he hasn’t returned Jax’s texts. Are they children? In Jax’s interview, he says he hasn’t heard from Tom in weeks. He knows Tom is working on his house, but he can keep in touch. He’s decided to take the pressure off Tom, and make Schwartz his best man.

In Tom’s interview, he says Jax had a pre-bachelor party – which he wants us to know, is not a thing. Jax knew he couldn’t make it. He hadn’t seen his family in a long time. Because he didn’t cancel a flight to see his mom on Mother’s Day to go to a pre-bachelor party, he was demoted from best man to groomsman. Jax tells Scheana that Tom drifted, and it’s not about him, but she says, it’s always about him.

Beau and Stassi go to SUR for dinner. Beau asks if she’s doing okay, and she says that she feels she has to compartmentalize. She can’t live in darkness 24/7. In Stassi’s interview, she says, life is good. Her book is a best seller, and she’s got Beau, but she got a call that her grandmother passed away. It’s sobering. We see a clip of her and her grandmother Rosemary. She says her grandmother is like what she wants to be – if she was less bitchy. Lisa stops by their table, and tells Beau that she thinks the boys want to see him. Beau leaves, and she sits. She says she’s so sorry. Stassi doesn’t know how to feel. People are congratulating her, and saying they’re proud of her book. Lisa tells Stassi that she’s her grandmother’s legacy. In Lisa’s interview, she says it makes her proud that Stassi is a New York Times best-selling author, even if the name of her book is… She struggles, but doesn’t quite get it right, and says, whatever it’s called. (It’s Next Level Basic.) She says, Stassi is a best-selling bitch. She asks how Stassi’s best friend is, and Stassi says she’s been talking to Kristen, but she’s frustrated. The way Kristen tells it, she’s not being supported, but she’s telling everyone she and Carter have broken up, and they still live together and hang out every day. She feels like Kristen is lying to her. In Stassi’s interview, she says her relationship with Kristen has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but this feels different. We flash back to Kristen’s meltdown at the reunion. Stassi tells Lisa that she doesn’t know if the person she’s hopefully growing into can be friends with a person who isn’t growing at all. Lisa says lying is her Achille’s heel, and Stassi says she’s not playing this game.

Stassi tells Beau that she’s writing her grandmother’s eulogy. When she dies, she wants a haunted house theme, and the tray passers will look like her. In Beau’s interview, he says, Stassi makes everything fun. Stassi tells him that she wants to be taxidermized, so everyone can take selfies. She wants them to be able to move her body, so the selfies can be taken from their good sides. In his interview, Beau says, sometimes she creeps him out, but he just smiles. She says they’ll be missing Katie and Schwartz’s house warming, but at least she’s seen their house. She thinks it’s funny how everything is identical with the three couples’ houses. We see pictures of Schwartz and Katie’s, Jax and Brittany’s, and Tom and Ariana’s houses, and she’s right. She wonders why no one has said it’s weird that they all have the same house.

Jax mows the lawn, and Brittany wonders why it’s so hard to put things together, as she struggles with something on the porch. At Tom and Ariana’s, Tom wants to make one of the rooms a breakdance studio. Schwartz tells Katie that their post-married life is so blissful and indulgent. They eat what they want and travel. He thinks it’s time to bring the sexy back.

In his interview, Tom says, it was the great West Hollywood migration. In Ariana’s interview, she says, some people are leaders, and some are followers. Now they know who’s who. She asks if Tom has been to Jax and Brittany’s, and Tom says Jax seemed annoyed at everything he said. Jax immediately tried to one-up him, saying, it’s good for you guys, but he needs more, and a better school zone. In Tom’s interview, he says the house is a big deal to him. It’s their way of showing a commitment. They’re not getting married, or having kids. Can’t he have this one thing without Jax sh*tting on it? Ariana says Jax can’t help himself.

Jax tells Brittany that he and Tom don’t have much in common anymore. He’s getting married next month, and it’s a big effing deal. Brittany wishes Tom would reach out and see how Jax is doing. In her interview, she says Jax and Tom have been through so much. We flash back to that, and she says, they’ve done sh*t to each other, but at the end of the day, they make it through and are still best friends. One fight shouldn’t ruin everything. Jax says he needs someone else to be best man along with Schwartz. He doesn’t trust Schwartz alone.

Schwartz tells Katie that being best man is a lot of responsibility. He can’t do it by himself. He needs Tom with him. Katie suggests he talk to Tom. She says they’re not calling their party a house warming; it’s a house chilling – comfy chic. Schwartz wonders if she invited Carter, and she says he and Kristen still live together. She guesses they’re just calling themselves broken up. Schwartz thinks they should leave it up to Kristen.

Stassi says she loves Kristen’s house, and Beau says, it’s perfect. Stassi says, for Kristen, or Kristen and Carter? She has to go over there to see Kristen, and hopes they can get to an honest place. If Kristen is trying to make it work with Carter, tell her the truth. The only way to lose her as a friend is to keep lying to her.

Lala visits Lisa at Villa Rosa. Lisa tells Lala that she looks like a slob and Lala looks like a princess. Lala says Lisa has never been a slob in her life, and I agree. Lala says she’s missed Lisa, and Lisa says she’s been in Vegas. In Lisa’s interview, she says she and Ken were exhausted from opening TomTom, but then Caesar’s came along, and she created the Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. She wanted to make a low key entrance – we see a procession, with Lisa being carried in on a palanquin – but Caesar’s had other ideas. Schnookie starts to hump Lisa’s back, and Lisa says this is what happens when she gives her attention to anyone else. Lala asks if they’re not fixed, but Lisa says that doesn’t matter. Yep. You’d think it would, but no. Lala says, they’re still horny, like Randal. She tells Lisa that she’s seven months sober. In Lala’s interview, she says, it’s the biggest gift she’s given herself. She’s a happy person, and doesn’t attack people. We flash back to several of her altercations with the others. She says it’s another version of herself she never wants to go back to. Lisa is glad she turned the corner. Lala says part of it is making amends, so she reached out to James. She thinks he feels like she left him behind, but misses him as a friend. Lisa says Lala learned the hard way that her behavior wasn’t acceptable, but James hasn’t had that understanding. He needs to get sober. Lala says she doesn’t like to push her sobriety on other people, or give unsolicited advice. She doesn’t know who he is. Anyone who dealt with her was a saint, and Lisa took her into the restaurant, and did her a solid. It meant a lot. Lisa says she always believed in Lala, and Lala says she appreciates that. Lisa says she’d like to see more of Lala. What would she like to do? Lala says she’s been working with the Humane Society, and asks what Vanderpump Dogs needs. Lisa says they rely on volunteers. In her interview, Lisa says, Lala was a great hostess, but she’s in a different place in life now. She can’t expect Lala to get on a private jet to seat people, but she has an innate love for their four-legged furry friends. Lala says she’ll clean up dog sh*t, and Lisa says they have it in the vending machines.

Stassi visits Kristen, who’s packing. In her interview, Stassi says, Kristen knows how to make her outward appearance show what she’s feeling and going through. When Stassi gets upset, she likes to look presentable. Kristen looks like she’s been crying for days. Kristen says she’s tried constantly with Stassi and Katie, but they don’t understand she’s going through a breakup. Stassi feels like Kristen is lying. She says in public that they’ve broken up, but everyone knows Carter lives there. They see each other every day, and sometimes hook up. Kristen says that’s up to her, and Stassi says, it is, but she has to be honest; they’re not broken up. Kristen says maybe that’s not the way it works for Stassi, and Stassi asks if it’s working for Kristen. In Kristen’s interview, she says Stassi can be sad, but move on, and she commends Stassi for that, but that’s not who she is. She can’t say she won’t talk to Carter again. Stassi asks where Carter is going when Kristen moves, and Kristen says he’s moving in with Shawn. He told her today. In her interview, Stassi says, praise the break-up gods. Kristen says she misses Stassi.

Schwartz chants, we got a house; we got a house. Katie says as homeowners, they have to throw sophisticated parties. That’s why they’re filling super soakers with vodka. The guests begin to arrive. Katie introduces Dayna to Peter, but apparently they’ve met before. Peter talks to Dayna on the side, saying he doesn’t want any weirdness as her manger because of what happened last year. In Dayna’s interview, she says she went to Skybar, and met a lot of the people from SUR. The Toms had told her about opening the new bar, and she was looking for a job. She asks, what happened last year? and Peter says they went in the bathroom together. She says she was peeing. Is he saying something happened? He says they made out, but she says he tried to kiss her, and she leaned away, then left. In her interview, she says she has no idea why he’s saying they made out. She’s sure she’d remember the first time she made out with a pirate. She tells him, no weirdness.

On the way to the airport, Stassi tells Beau that she’s nervous. He tells her that it’s family and friends, and to speak from her feelings and heart.

Schwartz gives the house tour. Brett comes in with Scheana. Scheana tells everyone that she’s going to Palm Springs with Max next weekend. In Dayna’s interview, she says she knew Max and Scheana had dated, but now they’re going to Palm Springs on a couples vacation. She loves it. Jax asks Kristen if her significant other is coming, but she says she doesn’t have one. Speak of the devil. Carter comes in, bearing a houseplant. Max and Brett talk in the kitchen, and Brett says he feels like he’s on Scheana’s hip at TomTom, but he’s not trying be with her. Max says he had a similar situation when he was working there. All he knows is, she’s boy crazy. Katie listens in, and Max says, it was overwhelming at times. He made the mistake of hanging out with her all the time. Not that he didn’t want to, but he realized it was a lot. Katie tells Scheana that Max is saying she’s boy crazy, and he was sick of hanging out with her. Scheana approaches them, and asks what they’re talking about. Why is Max saying she’s boy crazy? Max admits he said it, but tells her it’s not a bad term. She asks if he said he made a mistake in hanging out with her. In her interview, Scheana says Max doesn’t know her and Brett’s relationship. Why is he saying something that will make Brett run away? I agree. She can do that all by herself pretty quickly. She says she thought she and Max were in a good place, and he says he’s not trying to offend her. She says she doesn’t like being called crazy. This is the part in the slasher film where she’d bring out a big knife. Max says she doesn’t have to chase anybody. Dayna asks for tequila.

While some of the guests play with the super soakers in the pool, Lala decides she’ll be a good person, and talk to Carter. Peter drains a trifle bowl of tequila. Max and Dayna go outside. Max says he wants to hang out with Dayna outside of work. In his interview, he says he had a strict policy, and broke his own rule. At work, he and Dayna couldn’t go past each other without the heat rising. Dayna says Max is going to Palm Springs with Scheana, and he says they’re not going alone, but he’s going. She asks what the deal is, and he says they haven’t hooked up since they stopped hooking up. He wants to be friends with her, and Dayna has no problem with that, but doesn’t want to be involved in any messiness. In Dayna’s interview, she says she knows people have warned her, but Max makes her twitterpated. I have to admit, I had no idea this was a real word. I don’t use Twitter much, so I thought it was a newish word in relation to that, but it is a real word, relating to twitter as a verb, and meaning infatuated or obsessed. I know. More than you wanted to know. What do you expect from an English major?

Lala calls Carter over, and they step outside. She says, Kristen cries often, and he’s still living there. Now that she’s moving out, maybe they should take some time apart. It seems like he’s latched on to a comfortable situation. He’s got his bills paid, and baby girl has a job. In Lala’s interview, she says she knows what it’s like not be financially equal, but she contributes in other ways, like running a household, and giving killer BJs. What’s Carter doing besides playing video games, and sucking the life out of her friend. Jax says Lala is really handing it to Carter out there. Carter says, if Kristen wants to cut him out of her life, she’ll tell him. He’s been doing the videos on her website, and just shot her last photo shoot. She’s not hearing both sides. In her interview, Lala says, as she’s listening, she’s officially seeing the grey area. She craves honesty, and Carter is saying he’s been honest. Inside, Kristen says she’s not comfortable right now. Why is this happening?

Everyone twerks, or tries to. Tom meets Jax at the pool. Jax asks how the house is coming, and Tom says he’s welcome to come over, but bring a chair. Jax says he would have liked to come over – if he’d gotten an invite. Tom says he didn’t want anyone over. Jax says he wouldn’t judge Tom, but Tom says he does judge a little. To him, getting the house is like his and Ariana’s wedding day. But when he was moving in, Jax was all about how much he spent, and what the square footage was, and telling Tom how he was going to do better. Jax says he’s having kids. He’ll need a bigger house, and will have to spend more. Tom says he’s known Jax a long time, and it felt like Jax was one-upping him. Jax says if there was hostility, Tom wasn’t feeling it from him. It’s a serious time for him. He’s getting married. Tom says when Jax was planning the pre-bachelor party, he told Jax it’s the one time he couldn’t do it. Jax says if once in a while he’d gotten a text, just acknowledging that the great and wonderful Jax is deigning to join himself to another human being (okay, I embellished), he would have appreciated it. Tom caused him to second guess his best man. Tom says he did send Jax a text, and shows Jax his phone, where he suggests the get together as soon as he gets back. Jax is like, humana-humana, and says, okay. In Tom’s interview, he says the wedding is this summer, and Jax is enjoying the power he has. He’s definitely taking advantage of the attention. Jax admits that he didn’t really want to demote Tom, and just did it to get his attention. In Jax’s interview, he says Tom pissed him off. He knows he’s right, but it’s not right if Tom’s not there be his side. Tom says he’d be honored to be Jax’s best man, and Jax says he’d be honored to have him. I say, ugh.

Kristen drinks out of two cups, then gives to Carter. She says he was talking a long time to Lala. Carter says Lala told him to move out, because Kristen is unhappy. Kristen starts her usual hopping around, saying that’s when she gets defensive. It’s no one’s business. Carter says he was taken off guard, and tells her that he loves her. In Katie’s interview, she says, Carter has some strange power to treat Kristen like sh*t, but when she says she wants to break up, he still lives in the house, and eats her food. It’s effed up. In Kristen’s interview, she says she’d expect it from Katie or Stassi, but not from Lala. She’d never interject with Randal. She learned her lesson with Schwartz and Katie. She tells Lala that she saw them talking, and Lala says she wanted to know what was happening. Kristen tells them that she’s miserable and crying all the time, then she calls him. She doesn’t like it when Kristen does phony confiding, when it couldn’t be further from what’s really going on. Kristen says maybe her way doesn’t work for the rest of them… and Lala says, it’s working for her? Lala tells Kristen not to call her crying, then do what she did to Katie and Stassi. She’s not going for this bullsh*t. Kristen can’t believe Lala pulled the Katie and Stassi card, which is possibly the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard anyone say on this show. And that’s saying a lot. By the pool, Tom wonders what’s going on, and Kristen calls Lala an effing bitch. Lala says do not call her out on this. Schwartz goes outside, and tells Tom, they’re going crazy in there. Brittany tells Kristen and Lala to calm down. Lala says she won’t be spoken down to by a sugar mama, and Katie tells Kristen, everyone is just trying be real. Brittany suggests they sit down, and talk; figure things out as friends. It doesn’t have to end like this. Katie says the need to stop acting like they haven’t been here before. She’s sorry, but Kristen needs to stop pretending they’re bad friends. She needs to get over herself.

Outside, Schwartz asks if that’s his wife, and Tom says that is his wife. Jax says he’s out of there. Kristen leaves, and Katie says, how many times has she cried wolf? Forgive her for wanting something better for Kristen.

This season, yachting, twerking, parties; Lisa tries on hats; Dayna does stand-up comedy; dogs; Lala talks about getting married; Raquel tells James, if he can’t get his sh*t together, they’re breaking up; and Stassi is shooken.

The Haves and The Have Nots

When we last left, a million years ago, the police had just shot Wyatt, after he shot Jim and Kathryn. Veronica had also sent a group of thugs to David’s house, to kill him and Jeffrey. But David and Jeffrey were waiting.

An officer tells George, Wyatt should be okay. The fall knocked him out, but he’s still breathing. They have to wake him up, and put the cuffs on him. George asks if Wyatt said his parents are dead, and the cop says he did. George says, dammit, and the officer says the have to clear the house. He goes inside, while Wyatt is cuffed, pulled to his feet, shoved in a car. This is obviously not the way George wanted this to go. He asks Wyatt, what happened? and Wyatt asks what he’s talking about. George tells him that he said his parents were dead. Wyatt says, take the cuffs off, and George asks what he did. Wyatt says he shot them, and orders George to get him an ambulance. George says it’s coming, and asks where Wyatt’s parents are. Wyatt says, they’re dead. Who’s got the last laugh now, bitches?

The police go through the house, saying, clear, as they hit each room. One says they’ve got a body, and another radios in that there’s a victim. It looks like a gunshot wound. They go upstairs. They hear something, and keep going. An officer goes into a bathroom, and says they’ve got another body. Kathryn is slumped over the side of the bathtub.

Veronica comes home, and says her son is gone. She pretends to weep, saying, what a girl gonna do without her family? She needs her family. She laughs, and takes a drink. She says, don’t ever try to kill me again. Her phone rings. It’s the thug in charge of the ambush. He says it didn’t turn out the way she thought. They were ready for his guys when they showed up. She says she doesn’t give a damn about him; she just wants to get it done. He calls her cold-blooded, and she says he knows that. He says two of his men died, and one was his brother. She tells him, calm down, and he says, she didn’t say they’d be ready for them; they had all kinds of guns. She says they should have known, and he says she should have told them. She asks if she has to school his ignorant ass. He’s a thug, and should know. He says his brother is dead, and she says, so sorry. He’s ruining her relaxation time, and now she has to come up with another plan. He tells her, get her ass down to the hospital. She says she just got home, and that’s not a good idea. He says she needs to get there now; he’s not playing. She laughs, and he hangs up. She says that’s what she gets for dealing with thugs. She gets her handbag, and goes back out, saying, I’m coming, a-hole.   

At David’s, it’s a mess. David tells Jeffrey to call the police, and looks at the two bodies. Jeffrey calls and says they just had a break-in, and gives the address. When he’s done, he asks David if the guy is dead, and David shoots him again, and says, he is now. He kicks the body, and Jeffrey says, dammit. He knew she would do this. David says he’s going after her, but Jeffrey says, don’t do that; just go away. David says he’s not running from Veronica. She won’t let them live. He told her to come after him, but she came after Jeffrey too. Jeffrey tells him to stop, and takes the gun out of his hand. David says Jeffrey is her son, and she tried to kill him. If they don’t stop her, she’ll try again. Jeffrey tells him, just listen. He’s okay. They’re okay. Calm down. They can have her ass arrested. David says the police won’t hold her; it will never stick. Jeffrey says, it’s okay.

On TV, Charles says he had no idea of Candace’s past. He should have had her vetted. He was confused, angry, and hurt. He’s a widower, and he was lonely and vulnerable. Things happen, and he has to be more careful – for the American people, and for his family. Watching the broadcast, Candace shakes her head. He says she had him completely fooled. She was someone he was dating, and when he learned about the people she’d blackmailed, he was blown away. He apologizes to the American people, from the heart. He trusted, and she wasn’t a good person. Hanna asks why Candace is looking at that, and Candace says she couldn’t sleep. Hanna says, looking at that won’t help her. Candace says, it was easier when she was cold. It was harder to take advantage of her. Hanna says, Candace was the one taking advantage, and Candace says, it worked for her, Hanna says, did it? Candace says, not really. Hanna says, when she was out there, was she ever really happy? Candace says, it was exciting, but Hanna says, was she happy? Candace says she can’t say she was, Hanna says, it looks like a lot of stress to her. Candace is better than that. Candace says she needed to know for herself. She asks if Hanna heard what Charles said, and Hanna says, he’s doing what he’s got to do; he’s a politician. Candace says she wants to understand how Hanna makes this okay. Hanna asks what this is, and Candace says, it’s not her house. She’s seen Hanna struggle. How does she do it? Hanna says she has a job for one, but first and foremost, the Lord has always provided. Candace asks why He doesn’t give her more. Hanna says she has everything she wants. She loves her life. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s full and it’s honest. Now that Candace is on this path, God has answered every one of her prayers. She doesn’t want a mansion or fancy cars. She wants everything she has. Candace says she clearly didn’t get that from Hanna, and Hanna suggests maybe it was from watching her around rich people. Candace says, maybe Derrick. If she knew where it was coming from, could she change it? He is her father. Maybe she has bad genes that make her do the wrong thing. Hanna says, we make our own choices, and you can change your life. She’s glad Candace is giving the money back. Candace says, it’s not for him; it’s for herself. She wants to start making right choices. Hanna says if she does, all other things will follow. Candace asks if Hanna doesn’t think she should talk to Derrick. Hanna says, as much as she hates that, she can’t deny Candace getting answers. Candace asks if she can get his number from Hanna, and Hanna says it sounds like she wants to talk to him. Candace still doesn’t know. Hanna goes to get the number. I love their new relationship. Candace seems lighter.

Charles asks Oliver how that went, and Oliver says, great, sir. He should see the responses on social media. His favorite says, let that man live. He’s been through enough. Another one says, duped, heartbroken, a good man. Charles asks what they’re saying about her, and Oliver says, it’s okay. Charles came up smelling like a rose. He did what he had to; let it be. He asks if he can get Charles anything else, but Charles tells him, have good night. When Oliver leaves, Charles takes out his phone, and I say, he is not. He says, don’t call her, Charles. I second that.

Landon pulls up to Charles’s place, and Oliver asks what he’s doing there. Charles doesn’t want to talk to him. Landon says Oliver works for him, and he heard he’s been fired. Oliver says he can have the Secret Service escort Landon out. The head guy doesn’t know Landon has been fired. Landon says he told Oliver to look after Charles, and he’s been trying to take Landon’s job. He calls Oliver a little SOB. He says Oliver’s name is going to be mud all over DC. Oliver says she didn’t do it; Charles did. Landon asks why fire him? and Oliver says because he couldn’t get the story killed. Landon wants to talk to him, and tells he guy at the door to tell the President Elect that he needs to speak to him. Oliver says he’ll do it, and Landon says, then do it. And cut his damn hair. Who wears a mullet in the White House? Oliver doesn’t exactly have a mullet, but whatever.

Oliver approaches Charles, and tells him, Landon is there. Charles asks, why? and Oliver says Landon wants to talk to him. Charles asks if Oliver told Landon that he’s fired, and Oliver says he did, but Landon came anyway. Charles asks how he got past security, and Oliver says he hadn’t informed the entire team yet. Charles says, send him in. Landon must have been two inches from the door, since he comes in pretty fast. They make small talk, and Charles asks where he’s been. Landon says there was a family emergency, but everything is all right. Charles insists on fixing Landon a drink, and Landon asks if Charles was informed that he was fired. Charles says he was, and Landon says he had nothing to do with this mess about Candace. Charles tells him to have a seat, and says, if he launched a full investigation, Landon’s prints wouldn’t come up on the knife? He was supposed to clean her up. Landon says he thought he did; he’s sorry. Charles hands him a drink, and starts taking off Landon’s shoes. Landon asks what he’s doing, and Charles says, what Landon did for him. He tells Landon to take off his jacket, and Landon says, Charles made it clear that he doesn’t want Landon to do what he’s doing now. Charles asks if Landon trusts him, and Landon says, of course. He knows how much Charles loved and wanted her, and Charles says, as much as Landon loves and wants him? He told Ellen that he wanted Charles and was in love with him. Should he call her in there? Landon says he was having a hard time, and Charles is a very likeable man. Charles says, likeable or loveable? and Landon says, both. Charles asks Landon to tell him the truth. Did he set this up, and release the information? If Charles is going to trust Landon, he has to be honest. Landon says he didn’t do it. He loves Charles; he’s right. He was in the Attorney General’s office and it was information they had already. He didn’t give it to them. Charles says Landon didn’t deny it, and Landon says, he couldn’t, so he let it ride. It’s not fair; there was nothing he could do, Now what? Charles says Landon is done. His career is over. Charles’s entire focus will be on running this country. That should scare him to death.

Landon comes out, and Oscar says, it didn’t go so well. He’s still fired. Landon says if he doesn’t get hired back, he’ll do everything in his power to bury Oliver. Even daddy and mommy’s money won’t help him, and he’ll only be hired in their restaurant. Oliver asks if Landon is threatening him, and Landon says, politics are built on threats. Oliver says he’s not going to take this lying down, and Landon says he knows Oliver doesn’t do that. Oliver says, see you, buttercup. Landon says he knows Oliver is enjoying this. Oliver says he’s not, and Landon asks why he’s smiling. Oliver says, it’s ironic. Landon treated him like sh*t. Landon tells him, don’t celebrate too early. Enjoy this moment. Oliver says Landon should take plane home, and Landon tells him to take one straight to hell. Alrighty then.

At the hospital, a buzzer rings. Madison tells the other reception nurse that it’s her turn. She says she doesn’t care; enjoy. He says he hates her, and goes into Justin’s room. Justin says he’s glad Madison is still there, and Madison asks what he can do for Justin. Justin says he’s in so much pain, but Madison says the doctor gave him pain meds two hours ago. Just ask for more, but Madison says he can’t; sorry. Justin says he won’t tell, and Madison says he knows, because he’s not giving them to Justin. Justin says he has $11K, and Madison says he’s going back to the desk. Justin says just give him the pills, and he’ll give Madison the money. Madison says he can’t do that, and asks if Justin has an addiction. If there’s a problem, he’ll call the doctor. Justin says he just wants enough to… Madison says, to what? and Justin says just give him a handful, and let him die. Madison says if Justin wants to die, he’ll have to get a mental health evaluation. Justin asks if Madison doesn’t want to get even. Put him out of his misery, and let him die. Madison says, sorry, and Justin grabs his hand. Madison says, please let him go, and Justin says, don’t leave. Why does everyone leave him? He tells Madison that he’s sorry for what he did to him, and Madison walks out.

At the desk, Madison tells his co-worker that he had to call upstairs. The patient wants to die, and need a psych evaluation. She says she would too, if she’d been though what he has. Madison says she knows what Justin did to him, and she says, that’s no excuse, but something’s not right up there. He calls for the evaluation, and she says she knows he cares. It’s sad. He says he wouldn’t be a good nurse without empathy. Veronica approaches the desk, and suggests some foundation would do something for Madison. She says, look what affirmative action has done; two girls at the front desk. It’s the whole rainbow tribe. Her favorite thug joins her, and she says, the voice of a real man. She walks away with him, and Madison says he hates her so much. The other nurse says, she kind of likes her, but kind of wants to kill her ass.

Her thug says if Veronica wants to know, he’s fine, but his brother and Tyrone are dead. They had kids. Veronica asks if he called her there for charity. He says, no, but the police are going to ask what happened. She asks if he’s threatening her right now, and he says he’s not, but it would be cool if she’d pay for their funerals. She can’t believe he called her about a thug’s funeral, and wasting her time like this. She thinks she could possibly pay for one casket. Maybe the funeral home will give her a two for one deal. If… she pulls him aside, and brings him into Justin’s room. Justin says, no, no, no. He’s in pain. Veronica says she just wants to introduce a friend. Madison comes in, and says they need to leave. Veronica says she needs him to get out. He says, visiting hours are over; she needs to leave. She says he needs this job, right? and he tells her to leave right now. She says she’s visiting a friend, and he says he means it. She laughs, and her thug says, come on. She says, okay, fine. She tells Justin that she’ll be back, and puts a card in Madison’s pocket. It’s a friend of hers who does good Botox. He could use it. When she’s gone, Justin thanks Madison, who says he’s just doing his job. Justin says, no. He’s a good guy. He asks if Madison will keep an eye on him, and Madison says, she won’t be coming back. Justin thanks Madison, and when he’s alone, he cries.

Benny’s phone rings. He wakes up and answers. It’s Mitch, who asks what he’s up to. Benny says he was sleeping, and Mitch tells him, come on. He wants to get out, and celebrate. Benny says, celebrate what? and Mitch says his family not killing Benny. Benny says Mitch thinks it’s funny, and asks where Mitch is going. Mitch says, for a drink at Joe’s, and asks if Candace would want to come. Benny doesn’t think so, but if she’s up, he’ll ask.

Veronica sees a cleaning lady, and realizes it’s Celine, one time housekeeper of the Cryers. She asks if Celine works there, and Celine asks what it looks like. Veronica tells her not to get smart. Celine tries to get past, saying she has work to do, but Veronica says she knows the board and the owner. She says she just has one question. Why would anyone want to work? Celine says, to feed their family and pay the bills. Veronica says why is she there working the graveyard shift when she has two adults in the house who are Jim’s children? She doesn’t have to do this. Veronica says she’ll help Celine get him; she can do better. Celine moves on down the hallway, and Veronica says, come by her house. She can help Celine. She adds that Celine missed a spot. Get the mop. Unless she calls.

Benny sees Candace on the couch, and asks, what’s going on? She says, nothing, and he says he’s heading out. Mitch is on his way, and wants to know if Candace would like to come with them. Candace doesn’t think it would be a good idea, but Benny says it would be good for her to get out. She says she’s staying in. Everybody knows her face; she’s staying there. He says she has her shoes ready. She’s thinking about running. She says, no. She already lost a son. She can’t stand the thought of losing another person she loves so much. What if they come back for him? He tells her to run and start over, but she says she’s not doing that. He tells her, if she wants to give back the $8 million, go ahead. She says he’s bad for her, and he says she never took convincing before. She says, have drink for her. She looks at the TV, and tells him, look. It’s breaking news of a triple shooting, at Jim and Kathryn Cryer’s house. The reporter says they’re trying to find out what happened, but the coroner’s van behind her tells her, it’s not a good thing at all.

Next time, Benny says Jim got what’s coming to him and Candace can keep the money; Landon threatens Oliver; Candace visits Derrick; and it looks like Jim survived.

🙇 Whew…

Because it’s Wednesday, it’s so late it’s early, it was a rough night of premieres, and why not?