Category Archives: Lisa Vanderpump

August 4, 2023 – Nina Visits Willow, Debut, Coupling, Happy 46th, Get Out, Shannon Spills, VanderCrumbs, New Charm, Daryl Talk, Cheese Tax, Pet (!) Safety, One Past Six Quotes & Ain’t Leavin’

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Deanna says she has a very important message for Elizabeth, and hands her an envelope. She takes out a card that says: Dinner Tonight? Check one box. Yes (If Yes 7 PM), No (If No Burn This Note).

At Charlie’s, Michael asks Kristina what a guy has to do to get a drink around here, and she tells him to keep his shirt on. Is he sure he’s okay here in enemy camp? According to Josslyn, Charlie’s is a Sonny and Nina hangout.

Willow looks from a mess of yarn to her laptop, when there’s a knock at the door. Nina peeks through the window, and Willow opens the door. Nina apologizes for not calling. She was driving home, and there was Harbor View Road, so she thought Willow might need something, and she knows Michael is off… Willow tells her not to worry about it. Would she like to come in? Nina says, yes, very much, and goes inside.

Elizabeth checks the Yes box, puts the card back in the envelope, and tells Deanna to make sure Dr. Finn gets this. Elizabeth goes in the elevator as Finn comes out of the other one, and Deanna calls him over. She hands him the envelope.

Austin tells Ava that he knew Sonny didn’t trust him that night, and now his patient is dead in an alleyway. Sonny’s never going to let him near Avery again. What Sonny is going to do… She says, Sonny’s not going to do anything because she told him that Austin helped her, and he says, that he helped her do what? Did she tell Sonny that she killed Nikolas? Elizabeth comes in, and says she’s sorry. She didn’t realize he was with… a patient? He says, Ava is visiting, and she says she doesn’t want to interrupt. She almost leaves, but then says, actually, she’s been meaning to ask Ava. Has she heard anything from Nikolas?

Greece. Doc asks Laura how she’s doing, and she says, going through the house is like the first circle of hell. It was her prison camp where Stavros held her captive for those two years. She hated it then; she hates it now. He says him too, but whatever they find in there, he’s right beside her. She takes his hand and says she knows he is. That helps more than he knows. She never wanted to set foot inside this house again, but it’s their best shot at finding Nikolas, so let’s do it.

Anna walks into her house, and Valentin is sitting on the staircase. He says he thought she’d never get here. She throws her arms around him, and they kiss.

Finn slowly slides the card out, and Deanna says, good news? He says, the best.

Ava says she hasn’t heard from Nikolas, and honestly doesn’t expect to, and Elizabeth says she hopes Doc and Laura find him. She’s known him a long time, and he’s gone AWOL before, but this is weird with his baby just being born. What could be more important? Austin asks if there’s something he can help Elizabeth with, and she says she wanted to know if Detective Chase found him earlier. He was questioning people about the man who was murdered in the alley. She’s wondering if they have any leads. Austin says, Chase did find him. Was that her idea? She says, only because she saw someone lurking outside his office, and that man found the body; Dex Heller. Austin says, Chase mentioned that a member of the staff had seen him lurking around, and she says, maybe she’s reading too much into it, but Dex said he got lost and he was definitely snooping. Austin thanks her for stopping by, and opens the door. He tells her that he appreciates it, and she says, sorry to interrupt. She leaves, and Ava says, Dex Heller. That’s one of Sonny’s goons.

Michael orders food for Willow and Wiley, and Kristina says she gets it. Of course (🍷) he’s going to side with Carly; that’s his mom. But they’re divorced. Get over it. He asks how over it she would be if the situation was reversed, and Alexis thought Sonny was dead for months. Then she discovered it was a vendetta of Nina’s that kept Sonny from his family. And all the while, she watches her mother fall into chaos. She’d be a little shocked that Sonny chose Nina over his family. She says she was there too. They all mourned dad. It was a miracle to discover he was still alive. And yes, Nina was wrong, but dad loves her. So who is she to judge? The heart wants what the heart wants, right? Isn’t that what happened with him and Willow?

Willow tells Nina that Wiley is out with Leo bug hunting, and Amelia is down for her afternoon nap. So she’s been trying to amuse herself. Nina picks up the knitting and asks if this is what she’s been doing. Uh… Willow takes it and says, it’s horrible. She took a wrong turn with the pattern. She figured she’d try to learn something new as a way to keep busy, but to be honest, all she can think about it getting back to the real world. She was starting to think she’d never leave that plastic bubble room. Nina says, it must be hard, all the time she lost waiting, and Willow says, it’s hardest on the kids. She wants to be there for Michael too. She wants her life back. Nina says, she deserves it. She knows they’ve had a lot of false starts and miscommunication, but she’s hoping they can truly start over. There’s so much about Willow that she doesn’t know. She’d like to learn about Willow’s life; what she loves, who she is. Will Willow tell her?

The caretaker, Mr. Costas, tells Laura, both Interpol and the WSB made a thorough search in May. Mr. Cassadine certainly wasn’t here then. She says, he couldn’t have come since? and Costas says, naturally, he can’t be everywhere at once, but he doubts it. They can make their own search. He can see she’s very concerned for her son. She thanks him, and he says, of course (🍷), since even in Greece, they overuse that phrase. Doc asks Laura, where to first?

Anna says, Valentin didn’t tell her when he was getting back. How did it go over there? Did he find Nikolas? He says, first, who tried to kill her?

Willow tells Nina that what she wishes for more than anything else is a normal life. All those million little mundane things like going shopping or taking Wiley to school. That’s what she wants. Even taking a mommy and me class with Amelia. Nina says, that sounds like so much fun. She thinks Willow should definitely sign up for a class like that. She wishes she would have taken… What else? Willow says, really she just wants her independence back. The Quartermaines have been such a support. Brook, Olivia, even Tracy, and thank God, because she still has a long way to go, but she looks forward to her and Michael not needing so much help. Speaking of Michael, she’s surprised he’s not here right now. He must be stuck in a work thing. Nina says, if he’s not going to be back by dinner, she could order them something. She has some pull at the MetroCourt. It can be here in twenty minutes. Michael comes in, and Nina says she was just driving by and stopped in for an impromptu visit… She sees the bag in his hand and says, dinner, right? She doesn’t want it to get cold, so she’ll leave now. She says she hopes Willow signs up for that class, and walks to the door. Willow tells her, goodbye, and Nina leaves.

Valentin asks Anna to tell him about the shooting, but she says, there’s nothing to tell really. He read all about it. He says, sure, everything that was fit to print. Tell him the parts that weren’t. She says, the worst part is, Curtis was hit by a ricochet, and he asks if she’s sure he wasn’t the target. She says, no. She was talking to Sonny. Dante caught a glimpse of a rifle in an upper story window, and then two shots were aimed directly at them. He says, so the shots were aimed at them; which one? She says, here’s something that wasn’t released to the press. The rifle was traced back to the WSB.

Laura says, there’s nothing in this house she wants to see again, especially that room where Doc was shot. Here’s the bad news. The most likely place for them to look where Nikolas wouldn’t want to be found is the subbasement. The labs where Mikkos used to do all his horrible experiments; where Stavros kept Lulu. He says, maybe it would be better if he went down and searched the lower levels on his own, and for her to stay up here. She says, absolutely not. They’re in this together. She’s not going to stay up here and risk him not coming back. So whatever they find, they face together. He says, all right. Let’s go.

Finn waits at the Grill, when Elizabeth walks in, wearing yet another slinky black dress. Apparently, she has a closet full of them. He gets up and says, wow. She looks… wow. She thanks him and says he looks really nice himself. He says he’s glad she came, and they sit. She says she really didn’t feel like burning the note.

Austin asks if Ava thinks Sonny had Gordon whacked, and she laughs, saying, no one has said whacked in like, forty years. He says, rubbed out? Iced? It doesn’t matter. Does she think Sonny did it? She says, no, she doesn’t. It would be a stupid move, and Sonny’s not stupid. Gordon was supposedly his patient. He says, that’s the thing. Gordon and Mason, known associates, and Sonny knew something was up. She asks, what exactly happened outside the restaurant when Sonny found him with Gordon? and he says, not much. Gordon was there, Sonny comes in, Gordon knows who Sonny is, Sonny does this whole routine – he imitates a prize fighter – then Gordon backed off. For some reason, Sonny made Gordon apologize to him, which he thought was really weird, but in the end he thought Sonny just wanted Gordon to be scared. Ava says she’s sure that’s what it was. Did anything else happen? He says, not that he knows, but that must have been when Sonny decided Dex should follow him. Because the next day is when Nurse Webber saw Dex lurking outside his office. She asks if there was anything for Dex to see, and he says, maybe. He doesn’t know. Gordon and Mason were in here waiting for him. She says, really? This just keeps getting worse.

Doc tells Laura, just as Mr. Costas said, no sign of anyone and the WSB turned the place inside out. She says, it seems like it, doesn’t it, but this house has secrets it will never give up. He says, let’s check the main rooms. Nikolas knows this place like the back of his hand. He could be coming and going in a way the caretaker doesn’t realize. She says, that is possible, isn’t it? Let’s start on the third floor. That was his nursery when he was a baby. I laugh because, as opposed to his nursery as an adult?

Anna tells Valentin, so the weapon was a ghost gun. It had been confiscated and tagged and logged by the WSB facility in Berlin. He says, then liberated and smuggled into Port Charles. That doesn’t necessarily mean the WSB is currently involved though. It could have been sold on the dark web. She says that’s what she thinks too, but somebody had to have clearance in order to access that weapon at the WSB facility in the first place. He says, plenty of agents go rogue… Sorry. She says, Sonny doesn’t think it’s the entire Bureau that’s after her. It’s one solitary person on the inside that deliberately leaked her history as a double agent in order to eliminate her.

Michael says he hopes Nina didn’t do anything to upset Willow, but Willow says, no, not at all. Even though it was an ambush. (I’m going to start calling people who just show up ambushes now.) She just dropped by, and Willow was glad for the company. And Nina saved her from her project. Michael picks up the knitting and says, it’s great. What is that? She takes it and says, it’s the makings of a sock. Something soft for Amelia to wear. Unfortunately, she’s not the best crafts student. She’d much rather read her nursing books. He says, it’s not bad, but she says, it’s awful. She was actually glad Nina rescued her from it.

Kristina pours Nina a glass of wine (screw top, really?), and says she wanted to talk to Nina. She ran into Trish from the MetroCourt the other day, and she said Nina was talking about her center. Nina says she’s so sorry. She hopes she didn’t speak out of turn. She knows Kristina’s privacy means so much to her, and she’d never interfere in Kristina’s life. Kristina says, she misunderstood. Trish said Nina was talking up her plans to help the LGBTQIA+ youth, and she was very touched by that. It means a lot that Nina believes in her. Nina says, of course (🍷) she believes in Kristina, and she believes in this project. Did Kristina talk to Trish about her brother? Kristina says, yes, It was so sad. It made her so angry. Too many kids are discarded and on the fringe of society. Port Charles desperately needs a resource like the Corinthos-Davis House for marginalized and homeless youth. She thanks Nina for the PR and says, the drink is on her, but Nina says, Kristina doesn’t have to thank her. She believes 1000% in what Kristina is doing. When Sonny told her, she was so impressed. Please. She wants to help any way she can.

Finn says, they made it through the salads without a single distraction and disruption, and Elizabeth says, and no personal crisis to come crashing down? He looks up and says, the sky looks pretty clear. She says, that’s good, because she’s had her fill of meteors. Her mother emailed her yesterday. He says, the old digital dodge, and she says she’s glad her mother didn’t call. She didn’t want to talk to her anyway. He says, not a surprise after what she and Elizabeth’s father did to her, and she asks if he can ever imagine doing that to Violet. Using his medical skills to manipulate her to cover something up? She knows she has to get over it; it’s in the past. He says, is it? and she says she guesses it hits a raw nerve, but at least it’s all out in the open. The worst is all behind her. He says, it is. The worst part of that whole mess is, the person who suffered the most, deserved it the least.

Valentin pours some wine (hopefully, not screw top), and Anna says, whatever arrangements Victor made to expose her past, he had to have somebody on the inside at the WSB in order to facilitate that. He says, once she was compromised, someone with their own agenda could take advantage of the situation to get rid of her. Someone could be planning a power grab. She’s a potent adversary at the WSB. How many warring factions are there at the Bureau? She says, suppose she knows something that could pose a threat. Regardless, the person may have thought, making her indiscretions public would result in an arrest. When it didn’t and they failed, they moved to Plan B, which is to eliminate her permanently. He says, don’t forget Occam’s Razor; the right answer is usually the simplest one. His father Victor despised her, and his parting gift was to attack her where it hurt her the most.

Laura says, nothing, and Doc says, better to rule out a possibility. She says, but if Nikolas wanted to hide, this would be the perfect place to do it. the fact that he’s not here makes her think he hasn’t gone into hiding at all. He asks if she thinks something’s happened to him, and she says, something or someone. He says, Victor’s dead; it can’t be him. She says, who else would want to harm Nikolas?

Austin tells Ava that he doesn’t know what Sonny’s guy Dex the Lurker saw or didn’t see. Gordon and Mason weren’t here that long. Gordon was here just long enough to ask Mason for a bunch of money. Ava asks if Mason gave it to him, and Austin tells her, Mason said, you’re going to get exactly what you’re owed… oh. She says, yeah. That’s not threatening at all, is it? Does he think Mason is capable of killing someone? (Is it me or is that a really stupid question?) He says, Mason wouldn’t be the only one. She certainly is. She says, it was an accident. It was to stop him, and Austin knows it. Forget it. What did he tell Detective Chase? Did Chase ask him if Gordon was his patient? He says, yes, and she asks what he said. He tells her that he said yes, and she says, why? He doesn’t even have a file on the guy. Now he’s going to have to fake it. What else did he tell the cops? He says, not much. Just that Gordon found him and confronted him at the restaurant, and she says, at the restaurant where he was with her and Nina and Sonny Corinthos. He says, that restaurant, and she says, good grief (sounds like something Scotty would say). He’s really, really bad at this.

Willow says, Michael is later than usual, and he says he got caught up in the weeds at ELQ. They’re in the middle of a big negotiation Ned started before he turned into Eddie Maine, and guess who’s still nowhere to be found? Valentin. She asks if he ever gets tired, having to save the day for everyone, and he says he kind of likes showing off. And if Ned ever regains his personality and Valentin decides to show his face, it’ll choke them both knowing he got it done. And it sets the groundwork if he wants to step back in and return. She says she never knew he had such a devious side (really?). it’s both impressive and slightly terrifying. He says he has to apply the Art of War when it comes to those two. It’s good to keep them on their toes. She says, and he does it so well. It’s inspiring seeing him thrive at work. It makes her realize how much she misses it. She’s a little envious. She wants to go back to her career.

Kristina says she was thinking about what Nina said, and wants to tell her something. She’ll accept any and all help she can get for the Corinthos-Davis House, but Nina doesn’t have to win her over by talking up her charity or contributing to it. Her dad’s happiness is her priority and he loves Nina. So she’s on Nina’s side. Nina thanks her and says, it means more to her than Kristina will ever know. Kristina says she thinks she has an idea, and Nina says she wants to be perfectly clear. Her support for Kristina’s charity has everything to do with the work Kristina’s doing. She’s not trying to score any points or favors. She’s just so happy that Kristina is willing to give her a chance. Kristina says she’s the queen of screw-ups. You know who was always willing to give her a second chance and always believed in her? Her dad. So if he does that for Nina, who is she to say he was wrong?

Elizabeth asks Finn, what is this? Friends having dinner? He says, no, and she asks, what does that mean? He asks if she really wants to get into this right now; it might complicate things between them. She wonders if he thinks she knows how to deal with complications, and he says, she’s had some practice. Let’s do this. Let’s get into it. She says, first, name a complication.

Austin tells Ava, all he wants to do is be a good doctor. He took an oath to heal, not to deal. Get it? She says, he didn’t have to volunteer extra information, but he says, the cops would have figured it out eventually. Gordon confronted him in a very public place; that restaurant is very popular. And he did great. He told Detective Chase that Gordon was at the restaurant to confront him about his medical bill. Ava says, and he wanted to negotiate his deductible with a known crime boss sitting right there. Austin says, this has got nothing to do with her. She doesn’t need to worry. She says she does worry. Because if she’s linked to Mason, people could start poking around. And who knows what they might uncover? He says, they’re not going to uncover anything. Because he’s not going to say anything, she’s definitely not going to say anything, and they’re being very careful. The only other person who knows anything about this is Mason, and he’s not… uh… well, Mason… So, question from before. Sonny. Did she tell him that she killed Nikolas? She nods.

Valentin says his father hated Anna, and everything she stood for. It was everything he wasn’t. He’d lost all humanity, because she’d ruined his greatest weapon – him. Anna says, he would have never been Victor’s weapon, but he says he could have been if it weren’t for her. Victor shot her the night of the Nurses Ball to hurt him and destroy her. She says, he was deluded; Valentin never would have joined him. He says he thinks she gives him too much credit. He could have very easily gone the other way if it weren’t for her.

Nina tells Kristina that she actually spent some time with Willow today, and it was great. It even got a little personal and philosophical, and she almost felt like she wasn’t totally on the outside. Kristina says, that’s great. Good for her. Nina says she even suggested they have dinner, but then Michael came home, and while he was perfectly polite, he was a little frosty. Kristina says, while Michael isn’t her dad’s biological son, when it comes to holding a grudge, they’re exactly the same, so watch out. Doesn’t Nina hate when people say, give it time? Nina says, yes, and Kristina says, the worst.

Michael says he just doesn’t want Willow to do too much too soon, and she says, of course (🍷). She knows she’s still healing. He says, it’s going to take some time, and she says she is feeling a lot stronger. He asks if her immune system is up to everything she’d be facing at the hospital, and she says, definitely not now, and believe her, she’s going to wait until she gets the all-clear from the doctors. But she needs to be useful. One thing this experience has shown her is, she wants to help people in crisis. She never really got the chance to immerse herself in nursing. He says he doesn’t know, and she asks, what’s really going on? There’s more to his concerns about her going back to work than just her health and that he’s a control freak. He says, she’s right. He has mixed feelings about it. He wants her to pursue her passions and go back to work, but doesn’t she think they could spend a little time focusing on their family first?

Elizabeth says, transfer to another hospital? Really? Finn says, it’s hard seeing her every day at work, and she says, why? He says he can’t take his eyes off her. Did he really say that out loud? When he invited her to dinner, he didn’t have an agenda, but here they are. It gives them a chance to be completely honest with each other. She says, if they’re being completely honest, she uses work to distract her from the same feelings. They’re both really busy people. He says he knows. Sometimes when he sees her, she’s just a blur; a beautiful blur rushing down the hospital halls. She says, maybe she should slow down, and he says he really likes getting to know her. It only makes him want to spend more time with her. She asks if there’s anything else on his list, and he says his list is long. Despite all of it, he’s still here. She says, so is she.

Austin tells Ava that Sonny is going to do stuff. He’s going to do stuff to protect her, the mother of his daughter, from potential exposure. What if Sonny already sent someone to silence him? She says, Sonny has no interest in silencing him, and he says, what if it wasn’t Gordon? What if it was a case of mistaken identity? Maybe it was him they were after in the alley. She says, don’t be ridiculous, and he says, still, it doesn’t make him feel any better. She says, they are where they are. All they can do is keep moving forward. Now they know who all the players are and how best to arm themselves. He says he’s not very good at this, is he? He’s terrible at subterfuge. She kisses him, tells him, don’t screw up, and leaves. He says, got it. Don’t screw up. Yes, ma’am.

Doc says, if Victor is responsible for Nikolas’s disappearance, then one of his associates still has him, and Laura says, the more she thinks about it, the less sense it makes. If Victor had gotten Nikolas, he would have been gloating about it when they were in Greenland, and there was nothing. Who else would want to abduct him? Does Doc think she just doesn’t want to admit Nikolas has done it again? That he’s turned his back on his family and abandoned his two sons? Doc says, if he can’t face the mess he’s made with Spencer and Esme, he may think running away is his only option. Shame is a powerful motivator. She says, then why just not let them know he’s okay? and he says, Nikolas may not be able to face disappointing her. She says, but she’s the one who’s always there to help him pick up the pieces. She tried to do that as a way to make up for his childhood. He knows she loves him. Doc says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says, then he’s got to know she’s going out of her mind with worry. She just can’t believe he did this – again. Doc says he just wishes there was some way to let Nikolas know it’s okay to show his face. Laura goes outside, and he follows her. She looks out to the property, and he says, Laura? She says she knows just where they’re headed next, and begins to walk.

Valentin says he loves Anna. He knows this isn’t exactly breaking news, but he’s loved her always. Never doubt she’s the reason he’s alive at all. She says she thinks he has the necessary survival skills. Lord knows, with their training. It didn’t leave much of an option for love though, did it? She thinks this is taking her a long time to admit, even to herself, let alone say it out loud to him. She loves him. She’s really glad he’s home. Did he have a good trip? Did he find Nikolas or anything? He says, no. He guesses that makes him the head of the family. She says, God help us, and he kisses her.

Kristina tells Nina, don’t focus on Michael. Just focus on her relationship with Willow. They had a huge breakthrough today and that’s amazing, so build on that. If Michael sees that Willow is happy and comfortable around Nina, he’s going to soften. Trust her. Nina says she’s going to prove to Michael that she can be a positive part of Willow’s life, and Kristina says, then she hopes he’ll join her in supporting Nina’s marriage to her dad. Then maybe she won’t be the only one at their wedding. Nina laughs, but that was kind of mean. Like they have no friends.

Michael says he’s not limiting Willow’s choices or doubting her capabilities. Maybe he’s being selfish and greedy for wanting to spend more time together as a family, but he almost lost her. He wants to savor every moment with her, Amelia, and Wiley. She says, so does she. Every moment is one more they might not have had, but she can’t turn her back on nursing. She realized there was a deep, profound difference she could make in patients’ lives, and he says, she has too much love to give. She says, but their family will always come first. Him, and Amelia, and Wiley. They’ve fought too hard for her to let that go. She hugs him.

Elizabeth thanks Finn for dinner, and he thanks her for coming. They get up, and she says she really looks forward to all of their complications. He says, let’s do it again soon, and she takes his hand, saying, okay. See him tomorrow? He says he can’t wait, and takes her by the hand to the elevator. She gets in, and we see their faces side by side, giving good soap look.

Tomorrow, Cody asks someone to get him into Ferncliff to see Sasha; Sasha says she feels like she’s missing something important; Spencer says he’ll keep his nose clean if Valentin will; and Sonny tells Brick that they have to get that body back.

✒️ Maybe He’s Triplets…

This actually sounds like a pretty good story.

👩‍❤️‍👨 All In the Family…

It’s not their first time at the rodeo together either.

🎉 Give That Man a Cigar…

Scotty celebrates another anniversary.

👈🏽 Don’t Let the Door Hit You…

Hard to believe some jerk is still doing this in 2023.

https://ew.com/tv/days-of-our-lives-lisa-rinna-calls-for-removal-producer-albert-alarr/

🍊 She Has Regrets…

Shannon addresses your questions.

🍸 And They’re Off…

Why we need this show, I’m not sure. Riding on coattails anyone?

To remind us he was once King Awful.

And to remind us who is now. Once again, the saddest thing about it was the perfect timing.

🍹 One Charm Coming Up…

I don’t know who that new guy is who told Shep to grow up, but I’m on his team.

⚰️ Daryl Of the Dead…

The latest tease.

If you missed the basics.

🧀 The Great Leveler’s Great Leveler…

Cheese, the universal love language of pets.

https://www.dailypaws.com/pet-news-entertainment/feel-good-stories/cheese-tax-dog-song-on-tiktok

🌞 This Summer…

Ending with some practical pet advice.

https://people.com/how-to-keep-pets-safe-in-summer-vet-safety-tips-7569088

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We suffer more often in imagination than in reality. – Seneca

Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. – Ryunosuke Satoro

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw

Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own. Imagination is a force that can actually manifest a reality. – James Cameron

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

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis

I burned my curtains off for a bee. – Tim Malcolm, Pillow Talk: 90 Day Fiancé Before the 90 Days, in reference to sharing space with a spider

🍻 Rolling Out the Barrel…

Come see me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and teatime. Until then, stay safe, stay leading by example, and stay remembering every moment is one more you might not have bad.

July 31, 2023 – Drew Intervenes For Cyrus, IRL, NYC SOS, Aspen Girlfriend, Caught, Tyrone, Collie & Goodbye

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Sonny says he needs them to find out everything they can on a Gordon Stevens. He did a little time in Pentenville. He took two bullets outside of GH, and Sonny wants to find out who’s responsible. He goes to the MetroCourt rooftop seating and finds Anna. He asks if this seat is taken, and she says, it is now. He sits across from her, and says he’s glad he found her. He was a worried about her the last time he saw her. She seemed a bit off. She says she got tired of hiding out at home. She got tired of eating cereal for dinner. She’s not very good in the kitchen, and with Valentin gone, it’s possible she could starve. Apparently, she’s never heard of Door Dash. Sonny says he’s surprised Valentin hasn’t come home from his trip, especially with what’s going on with her, but she says she’s fine on her own. She doesn’t need Valentin to protect her. He says, Anna might not need Valentin, but does Valentin know the WSB is trying to kill her?

Gregory gets in the elevator at the MetroCourt, and Tracy yells for him to hold it. He does, and she gets in. He says, you’re welcome.

Alexis lets herself into Molly’s apartment, and asks, how’s the patient? Molly says, she’s making way too much of this. She’s more embarrassed than she is hurt. Alexis tells her, that boot says otherwise. Alexis is her mommy, so let Alexis take care of her, for no other reason than to make Alexis feel better. Molly says she just wishes she could go back to work, but Alexis says, she needs to take a minute. Does she need anything? Molly says she’s good. Sam came by and made sure the fridge was full; Krissy offered to shop for her. Alexis says, good. It’s good of the girls to bring her groceries. Molly says, Krissy didn’t exactly bring her food. She came with something much better. Molly shows her Valiant, and Alexis takes him, saying, aww.

Michael says, Kristina wants to know why he’s so hard on Nina, but she tells him, that’s not what she said. She asked why he’s being such a bastard to her. He says, let him ask her a question. Why is she always so damn nice to Nina? She says she knows their family was hurt by what happened between dad and Nina, but they’re engaged. They’re a part of their family now, so he has to get over it.

Sitting in the prison library, Cyrus reads out loud, peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled. Better let it be afraid… Book slams the Bible shut, and Cyrus says, Lord, let me be a channel of Your peace. Book grabs him and lifts him out of his chair, and slams him up against the wall. He says, there’s no one to help you, old man. No warden, no guards. He’s all alone. There’s no one to help him now. Drew says, but he can. Get the hell away from him. Um… I feel like I missed something with Cyrus becoming this weaker character.

Meeting for drinks, Felicia asks if things are hectic at Deception, and Lucy says, that’s an understatement. She feels like she’s swamped. They’re all scrambling to do massive damage control. Felicia says she feels terrible for poor Sasha, and Cody. She’s just glad he’s going to be okay. It could have been a lot worse. Lucy says, she’s right. They just don’t know what happened. It was so sudden. Sasha’s life was on track. She was doing fine. She was happy. She was looking forward to doing the interview. Then she just lost it – boom. Sasha’s meltdown could have tanked Deception completely. It sent their stock tumbling, but thankfully, they have the Deceptor. The sales are incredible, and she thinks it’s going to save the company. Felicia says, at least that’s good news, and Lucy says, it should be. Felicia says, it’s not, and Lucy says, it’s just… she can’t help it. She discusses and brings up the Deceptor, and all she can think about is Martin was the inspiration for her to create it. Felicia says, and the problem with that would be? and Lucy says she can’t stop thinking about how he gets $50,000 in alimony a month from ex-wife number three. Why didn’t he tell her that? Why keep that a secret? And what else could he be hiding from her?

Tracy says, he’s welcome for what exactly? and Gregory says he held the door for her. The polite response would be, thank you. She says, I’m so sorry, Emily Post. She didn’t realize he expected to be thanked for a basic courtesy. Her phone rings, and he says, so she is familiar with the concept of basic courtesy. Tracy answers, and tells Monica that she’s in the elevator on her way to the restaurant. Although she wishes she’d taken the stairs… She’s canceling? Could Monica have given her a warning?… It is always a medical emergency with her… No, she wasn’t aware Monica was a doctor. She’ll see Monica at home. The door opens, and Gregory says, ladies first. She thanks him, and gets out.

Anna tells Sonny that she doesn’t want to worry Valentin at all. He has his hands full with Laura and Doc and whatever he’s doing. Besides, she doesn’t believe for one second that the Bureau has a hit out on her. Sonny asks if she’s sure about that, because they both know the gun was traced back to the WSB. Anna says, the easiest explanation is that the gun was stolen and sold on the black market. He says, and the shooter? and she says she doesn’t know. A rogue agent? At worst, maybe someone whose family was hurt by her actions. It’s a long time ago, but maybe they want payback. He asks if she’s still planning on using herself as bait to draw them out.

Alexis asks Molly, where on earth did Kristina find Valiant? Where was he hiding? Molly says, Kristina was going through stuff in Alexis’s attic, looking for stuff to sell at the fundraiser. She opened a box, and guess who was sitting there? Alexis says, Kristina used to brush his tail and braid it every night. Then she’d sleep with him in the crook of her neck, and Alexis had to put out carrots in case he got hungry in the middle of the night. Molly says she forgot about the carrots, and Alexis says, Valiant was a very special pony, and Valiant was the only one who could sleep on the bed, where the other stuffed animals were relegated to the floor. Because Molly believed that Valiant was special and needed a place of prominence. Molly asks if she really used that word, and Alexis says, of course (🍷) she did. She had a very big vocabulary at six; she still does. This pony went with her into every important moment of her life when she was little. Molly doesn’t know this, but Alexis actually heard her having a conversation with Valiant when she was getting ready for junior prom. She actually took Valiant with her when she took her SATs. Alexis didn’t know you could do that, but Kristina did. It was a second ago that Kristina was a little girl and had a stuffed pony, and now she’s Alexis’s big girl. She’s practicing law. Kristina says she may be all grown up, but she still needs her mom.

Michael says he doesn’t want to get into this with Kristina. Nina has caused enough stress in his life. The last thing he wants to do is fight about Nina with her. Kristina says, good. She’s not looking for a fight. She’s just offering Michael a simple solution. He asks if she’s giving him advice, and she says she is. He can be Mr. Big Shot Business Guy here, but they all know she has a sixth sense when it comes to people. He asks what her sixth sense is telling her, and she says, that he should drop this grudge and just give Nina a chance. He says, that’s just it. He’s given Nina chance after chance, and she keeps crossing the line. Kristina says, he shouldn’t even be drawing a line. Make peace. If not for his sake, do it for Willow. He says, if he just does what she’s telling him, everybody will be happy, and she says, yeah, basically. He says, it’s not about him. This is about Willow. When it comes to Nina, whatever Willow decides, he’ll support. She says, wow. How does he do that? He has to teach her. He says, teach her what?

Book says, this has nothing to do with Drew. So why doesn’t he just walk away and pretend he didn’t see anything? Drew says he can’t do that, and Book says, if he gets involved, he’ll pay the price. Is this codger really worth it to him? I wonder who uses words like codger, and Cyrus says, he’s making a mistake, but Book says, Cyrus is the one making a mistake. He thinks he has power here? That everyone’s still in his pocket? He doesn’t have any more allies; those days are gone. Cyrus starts looking uncomfortable and rubbing his chest, and Drew says, he told Book to leave him alone. Book says he’s giving Drew one more chance to get the hell out of here and forget he saw this. Cyrus starts to breath heavily, and Drew says he really doesn’t want any trouble here. Book tells Cyrus, you’re getting weak, old man. (What is Cyrus? Like 50?) We all see it. Drew decks Book, who falls to the floor. Cyrus crouches down, clutching his chest.

Michael asks what skill Kristina wants him to teach her, and more important, why? She says, he never actually committed to giving Nina a second chance, and he didn’t even say he’d try to get along with her. What he did say was he would leave it up to Willow. He says he still doesn’t follow because he’s stupid, and she says, it’s a classic move out of the Michael Corinthos playbook. Keep everything close to the vest, don’t give anything away, always keep your options open. It’s very admirable. Meanwhile, she’s over here like an open book. Leaping before she looks, impulsive. It doesn’t always bode well for her professionally or personally. He says, she’s giving him too much credit. Yes, he’s very analytical and thinks about everything, but she’s open, honest, and a free spirit. She goes where her heart tells her to go, and that’s not always a bad thing. Plus, she genuinely wants to help people. He admires her for that. She thanks him, and says she’s glad he sees them as good qualities, because honestly, it doesn’t always get the job done.

Anna tells Sonny that she’s got a few ideas, but it will take more investigating before she puts a plan in motion. Sonny says, let him know if she needs help. He doesn’t like that she’s alone in that house when there are threats coming. She says she really appreciates Sonny looking out for her, but can he call his watchdog off? She sees him parked outside her house, and she doesn’t need that kind of protection. She just doesn’t want it. He says he gets it. She wants him to stay out of it. She says, he has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need to add her to his long list of problems. He says he’s got a lot going on, but he always has time for her.

Molly says, when Alexis talks about memories from when she was little, now it’s bittersweet. It’s something she might never get to experience. Will she ever get to make memories like that with a child of her own someday? It’s something she really wants. Alexis asks if TJ feels the same way, and Molly says, he does. Alexis asks if they’ve talked about options, and Kristina says, when they committed to each other, they always thought kids were something in the future. They wanted to establish their careers first, but deep down, she wanted to be a mom. They were both so disappointed when they found out she wasn’t pregnant. For a few short hours before she took the home pregnancy test, they were just excited about the thought of being parents. Then they got hit with the endometriosis news, and she couldn’t accept that she couldn’t have a baby. It leaves them with a lot to think about. Alexis says she’s certain Molly and TJ will make the right decision, because it’s certainly their decision to make. Molly says, they definitely want a baby, but how do they make that happen?

The hostess says, table for two? and Tracy says, no, but Gregory says, yes. Come on. Live a little. Her dinner date canceled. Tracy says, it wasn’t a date; it was her former sister-in-law. He says, just join him for dinner. Please. She says, well, since he said please… Table for two. The hostess says, right this way. She’ll send their waitress right over. Gregory holds Tracy’s chair for her, and she says, thank you, kind sir. I love courtesy, but I have to admit, chair holding makes me nervous. I’m always afraid I’ll end up just half on the chair or on the floor. He says, she’s welcome. See? They’re making progress. She asks if this is going to be a running theme. He does his best Cary Grant, holding elevators and pulling out chairs, and she’s supposed to say thank you every time? What’s next? Throwing his jacket over a puddle? He asks if that would be so bad, and she says, torture. They open their menus.

Drew asks if Book has allies or he’s working on his own, and bent over and panting, Cyrus says, allies. Drew asks, how many? And Cyrus says something indecipherable. Drew says, they have to get him out of here. Can he walk? Cyrus shakes his head, and Drew says, they’re going to get him to the infirmary. Book comes to and gets up. He takes a shiv out of his sock, and runs toward Drew.

Molly says, their first choice was IVF, and Alexis says, understandable. IVF is very common now. Molly says, exactly. She thought it was simple. Use her eggs and TJ sperm. An embryo would be carried by a gestational surrogate. Now they know that can’t happen because her eggs aren’t viable. So the next option would be using someone else’s eggs, and that could be from the donor or the surrogate. Alexis says, she has a lot to process, and Molly says she knows. She just can’t help but think using Kristina might be the best solution.

Michael and Kristina sit down, and Michael asks, what job needs to get done? Is this about the foundation she’s starting? She says, the shelter, yeah. She’s setting up a shelter for LGBTQIA+ teens that are at risk. Dad found the site and set up all the funding. He says, that’s good, right? and she says, it’s amazing. She has to get everything off the ground; contractors and architects, and securing building permits. She has to learn all these new tax codes for non-profit. It’s a lot, and she’s just realizing how in over her head she is. He asks how he can help, and she says she thought he’d never ask.

Sonny says he hates what that bastard Victor did to Anna. Exposing her past is cruel. She says, the Cassadines can be a cruel bunch sometimes, and he says, but there is a collateral to this. They’re not on opposite sides. They don’t have to pretend they’re not friends. She says she never pretended, and they laugh. He says, so all this time she’s been judging him and digging him for his criminal activity, she’s meant it? and she says, absolutely. But if she’s being honest, she has to admit, even when she was doing her duty to uphold the law and bring him to justice, there was part of her that really admired how he was able to… He says, get away with it, and she says, okay, and laughs.

Felicia tells Lucy not to jump to conclusions. They don’t know for sure that those payments are alimony. Lucy says, come on. You don’t have to be a lawyer to figure it out. She gets up and says, your honor, exhibit A; Mr. Grey is receiving $50,000 every single month from a company in Pine Valley called Maquillage. That said company is owned by his horrible, greedy ex-wife number three. She looks at Felicia, and Felicia says, what? Lucy says, it just occurred to her. They only have Marty’s word that ex-wife number three is so horrible and greedy. She’s the one that’s shelling out all that alimony. What if it’s Marty? What if he’s the one who’s so greedy? Felicia says she doesn’t think… and Lucy says, wait a second. That’s the reason he couldn’t marry her. Because he would lose all that money. She digs in her bag, and Felicia asks what she’s looking for. Lucy says she’s looking for any gummi, even if it’s stale, and Felicia says she thought Lucy told her that wasn’t working for her. Martin walks in, and says, lookee here. Two of his favorite ladies. It must be his lucky night. Can he join them?

Book rushes Drew, as Cyrus remains doubled over and breathing heavily. Drew and Book circle each other, and Drew gives Book a kick, sending him flying into the shelves. Book picks up a book (ha-ha), and tries to hit Drew with it, but Drew dodges it and knocks Book down. He picks Book back up, and is punching the hell out of him, when the guards walk in. Two of them grab Drew and Book, and the third says, solitary for the both of them. Cyrus slides to the floor.

Anna says, there was always a part of her that admired Sonny’s ability to compartmentalize. On the one hand, he’s a loving father, going to dance recitals, soccer matches, whatever. On the other hand, he’s head of a criminal enterprise. It’s an interesting dichotomy, doesn’t he think? The doting father, then the commitment to running his business. He says, it’s a good thing, right? and she laughs, saying, yeah. It’s a good thing. But as an agent, she didn’t have the luxury of admiring the person she was trying to take down, because then it’s her personal feelings affecting her work. It compromises the whole situation. And if she’s being honest, that’s exactly what happened early on in her career, and she was determined that wasn’t going to happen with him. Now her reputation is kind of tarnished. She can say with 100% certainty, she never turned a blind eye to him or his organization. He says, that’s for damn sure. When she was Police commissioner, she was all over him, and he’s sure she was like that with any agent she was up against. She says, yes, she was, and he looks down. She asks if she hurt his feelings, but he says, no… What if it wasn’t Victor?

Kristina says, all foundations have a Board of Directors. She wants Michael to join. He says, who else is on the Board? and she says, no one, yet, but that’s only because he’s her first and only choice. She knows how busy he is here, but not just here; he has a lot going on everywhere. She knows he’s covering for Drew while he’s away, and at home, he has things going on with Willow and the kids. The last thing she wants to do is add to that, but he’s the smartest person she knows. Please? What does he say?

Gregory tells Tracy that his friend was in a bind and asked him to watch his dog. He said Astro wouldn’t be a problem. He just didn’t like to be left alone, so of course (🍷), he had to take Astro to class with him. So he’s in the middle of this passionate lecture about freedom of the press, and he hears tittering in the class. He’s a little offended, so he stops and says, does anybody have any questions? One student raises his hand and says, Professor, did you forget to walk your dog this morning? That’s when he realized Astro was relieving himself in the middle of the classroom. Tracy laughs, and he says, the moral of the story is don’t ever bring a pet to class. They will upstage you every time. She says, that was surprisingly charming, and he says, thank you… I think.

Molly says she must sound like a hypocrite after her reaction when Kristina first brought up the idea, but Alexis says, absolutely not. Her reaction was completely appropriate. Kristina’s timing, however, was not. There’s a lot to weigh with Kristina’s offer. Molly says she went ballistic when she overheard Kristina talking about being the egg donor and surrogate, but the more she thinks about it, it could be a good option. She and Krissy share DNA, so the baby would technically be a part of her. And it’s not like they’re using some stranger who could have a questionable lifestyle. They know Kristina’s medical history and her social habits. That’s a good thing, right? Alexis says, Molly sounds like she’s trying to talk herself into it. Is she? Molly says, she’s pointing out that Kristina seems to check all the boxes, which means she could be the perfect choice to carry their baby. What does Alexis think?

Lucy says, funny. She was just singing Martin’s praises. She was telling Felicia that the sales for The Deceptor are skyrocketing, thank goodness, and she owes it all to him because he was the inspiration for it. Martin says, they all know The Deceptor is 100% Lucy’s baby. There’s no reason to bring him into it. Lucy looks at Felicia, and Martin asks how their trip went. Felicia says, it was a fun getaway, and he asks where they went. Felicia says, they went to the spa… and Lucy says, in Llanview. Who knew? It was just beautiful. Felicia says, it was a real girls trip; wine, facials, and spa treatments. It’s getting late. She needs to check in with Mac and relieve him of his babysitting duties. A grandmother’s work is never done. She jets, and Martin asks Lucy if Felicia is okay.

A guard examines Cyrus, and Drew says he thinks Cyrus is having a heart attack. Please just get him out of here. The guard tells him to shut up and tells the others to take Drew and Book out of here. Book is hauled out, but Drew says he was in the military. Please. Just let him help Cyrus. The guard says, fine. Let him go. Drew runs to Cyrus and starts checking him out like he knows what he’s doing.

Tracy tells the waitress, separate checks, but Gregory says he’s got it. Tracy says she can pay for herself, and he says he’s not questioning her finances, but he insisted she join him, so his treat. She says, he’s definitely more entertaining than her sister-in-law, and he says, that’s not exactly a stellar review, but he’ll take it. Next time, she can grab the check. She says, next time? Who says there will be a next time? He just smiles.

Cyrus is on his back on the floor, and Drew blots his face with water. He tells Cyrus, try to relax. Take deep breaths. It’s very important. Take deep breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth. He tells the guards that they have to call the infirmary again, and the main guard tells the other to find out what’s taking so long. Drew tells Cyrus, hang in there. You got this.

Alexis says, it’s such a personal decision for Molly; she doesn’t want to influence her. Molly asks if Alexis can at least help her weigh the options. Try and sit back and talk to her as a former lawyer, not her mother. Alexis says, on the positive side, Kristina is in good health and she’s at a good age, but there are so many other things to consider. She knows Molly wants this to be the perfect solution because Kristina is her sister and she loves her, and because the baby would share her DNA; but on the minus side, most surrogates don’t have a relationship with the baby after it’s born, and Kristina would have a relationship with the baby forever. Molly says, but she already knows Kristina is an amazing aunt, and she’d be the same for… and Alexis says, that’s just it. She wouldn’t really be the baby’s aunt. She would be the baby’s biological mother, and that just buys Molly a whole lot of really complex issues that could come down the line. She just wants Molly to think about it and be prepared. Molly asks if she’s saying Kristina wouldn’t accept the role of aunt, and she’d want to be more, but Alexis says she doesn’t know that. Molly doesn’t know that. Kristina doesn’t know that. She’s never been pregnant before, and nobody knows if she’d be able to detach or not. Molly says, Alexis is freaking her out, but Alexis says she’s not trying to. She’s just trying to make Molly think. This is a huge commitment for Kristina. Molly says she realizes that, but she’s not sure Kristina does.

Michael says he’d be honored to have a seat on the Board, and Kristina thanks him, hugging him. She says she knew she could count on him, and he says he knows she’s going to make this youth center a huge success. She says she hopes so. She wishes she had that confidence. She feels like with her running things, it’s only going to last six months. He says, she has to believe in herself, and she tells him, funny he should say that. Molly was literally saying that to her the other day. She thinks her big fear is that she’s going to make huge mess out of everything – again – and then dad’s going to have to clean up after her. And mom is going to be totally disappointed with her again. And ultimately, she’ll prove everyone right, that she can’t do anything and follow through with something. He tells her to stop being so hard on herself, and she says, dad really gave her a great head start with this foundation. She just knows if she doesn’t succeed, she’s going to let him down. He says he can’t believe he’s saying this, but she underestimates dad.

Sonny says, all this information about Anna being a double agent that got to the press. He’s sure the WSB sealed the records. Why expose her now? She says, the timing isn’t a coincidence. Even in death, Victor is the gift that keeps on giving. It all just came out when his will was being read. The lawyer played this taped message from Victor, saying he was leaving her with the truth. She wasn’t sure what that meant, then less than an hour later, she was here, remember? And she was arrested by Agent Hursley. Then the whole media blitz started. Her face was plastered on every newspaper: Anna Devane, Double Agent. He says, so Cassadine exposing her past was all about payback? His final act of revenge? She says she thinks so. What else could it be?

Michael tells Kristina, despite his feelings about dad, he can be objective. He’s always been a savvy businessman. He wouldn’t invest time and money in Kristina if he thought she’d fail. If she needs Sonny’s guidance, just reach out to him. He’ll surround her with professionals who know how to get the job done. She says, that’s what she thought too, but once they got the funding set up, he completely backed off. Michael says, probably because he doesn’t want to overstep and make it seem like he’s keeping tabs on her. Dad is her biggest fan, and he’ll give her all the tools she needs to succeed. All she has to do is reach out to him. She says, it’s annoying how right he is sometimes. Michael’s got to admit, he still loves dad. Otherwise, Michael wouldn’t have this much faith in him. Michael says she should get out of here, and hugs her. Her new Board member needs to get to work. She thanks him and leaves.

Anna says, clearly someone else from the WSB could have reason to leak those confidential files, and Sonny says, she was a damn good agent. He’s sure she was a threat to somebody in the organization who thought they could shut her out. She says, could be. Her ego would really like to believe that’s true, but she has no way of knowing. She doesn’t even know if that bullet was meant for her at the pool. It could have just as easily been meant for him. He says he considered that. He’s been working with a high-powered security firm lately. Has she heard of Pikeman? She says, yes, she’s heard of Pikeman. Trust her. He doesn’t want anything to do with them.

Tracy guesses Gregory doesn’t miss lecturing, since he does so much of it outside the classroom, and he laughs. He notices his hand shaking and steadies it with his other hand. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s fine. Too many years of writing on a blackboard. Teachers don’t have to worry about that anymore; everything’s electronic. He’s sorry, but he has to run. He promised Alexis that he’d look over an article for her before it goes to press. They say goodnight, and he heads for the elevator, steadying himself for a moment along the way. Tracy watches him, and takes out her phone.

Molly thanks Alexis, and says, Alexis has given her a lot to think about. She wasn’t looking at it from Kristina’s viewpoint, and that’s something she and TJ have to consider. Alexis says she knows this is hard, and she’s sorry, but she knows Molly is brave and can handle it. And like she’s said, sometimes the most difficult things in life… Molly joins her in saying, can be the most rewarding. Alexis gives Molly a kiss, and says, Molly’s her favorite. Molly says, she tells all of them that, and Alexis says she does. The good news is, Molly isn’t doing this alone. Alexis did it alone twice, and it’s hard. But Molly has TJ, and that little guy; she points to the horse. Molly thanks her, and asks what she’d do without her. Alexis says, hopefully, she won’t have to know for a very long time. See ya, Valiant. She leaves, and in the hallway, her phone rings. She asks what she can do for Tracy, and Tracy says she just had dinner with a friend of Alexis’s, Gregory Chase. Alexis asks what Tracy was having dinner with Gregory for, and Tracy says, it’s not important. She wants to know if something’s wrong with him. Alexis says, in what way? and Tracy says, his health.

Lucy asks if Martin has checked in with his mother today, and he says he does every day; she knows that. If he doesn’t call, mama calls the neighbors. She says, so how is his mother today? and he says, she’s as vivacious as ever. He thanks her for asking, and says, as a matter of fact, she was trying on a new lipstick when they spoke. It’s Bingo night, and she’s vying for the affections of one Mr. Brewster, the most eligible bachelor there. Lucy says, clearly, she seems to be enjoying herself at the retirement home. It’s good, right? They take good care of her. She hears those places are very, very expensive. It makes her think he has such a huge financial burden; his mom and paying all that alimony to his ex-wives, three of them. He says, they’re a rather unique set of rapacious creatures, to be sure, especially number three. She’s a real piece of work. A vulture. Picks at your bones until there’s nothing left. Lucy says, she just sounds awful, and he says, she is, but he manages somehow for mama. He has to. It’s not like Cyrus can provide for her.

On the radio, the guard asks, where the hell’s that doctor? They need him here now. Drew tells Cyrus to stay with him, while he continues to blot Cyrus’s forehead. He says, hang on. Help is on the way. Stay with him. Come on. Stay with me. Cyrus sees a bright white light.

I’m no paramedic, but shouldn’t Drew be doing… something more?

Tomorrow, Anna asks how involved Sonny is with them; Carly accuses Ava of being up to her old tricks; and Dante asks, what happens if his old man’s theory is right?

🌱 Celebration Of Life…

The real-life memorial for Jacklyn Zeman. Still no word on how GH will be handling this. I don’t blame them. We haven’t recovered from Sonja Eddy yet.

🗽 What Happens In NYC…

Recapping the same old in younger packaging. So disappointing.

💎 Latest Edition…

So is this the best and final? What’s up with this woman?

🤢 Ptooey…

Eww. I’ll bet she’s thrilled to hear this.

⚗️ Watch This…

I watched this movie last weekend, and I loved it. Very funny and at times even poignant. It should also get an Oscar nod for costumes.

https://www.salon.com/2023/07/30/jamie-foxx-they-cloned-tyrone/

🐕 Don’t Dream It, Be It…

This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. Maybe it’s weird, but more power to him for living his dream. And he’s bringing happiness to people. A real life Sam from True Blood. I always thought Sam would make the perfect boyfriend. When he became tiresome, he could turn into a dog.

https://people.com/japanese-man-steps-out-in-usd14k-custom-made-border-collie-costume-for-the-first-time-7567864

☃️ Get Out the Parkas…

Join me tomorrow for soap and tea. Until then, stay safe, stay holding the elevator door if someone asks, and stay remembering that sometimes the most difficult things in life can be the most rewarding.

July 28, 2023 – Sonny Turns the Tables, Reject Dress, The Loud Woman, VanderStatus, Roadblock, Not Barbie, About Those Dead, Kitty Cooper, Funny Pets (!), Quotes of Eight & Rain

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chechnya, Russia. Valentin and Laura walk into a mansion that’s obviously unoccupied. He says, there’s no car in the driveway and no lights on, and she says, it’s deserted. He says, none of the Cassadines have been here in years, when a man runs down the stairs, holding a gun and yelling in Russian.

Dante brings Charlotte to see Lulu in a hospital that looks suspiciously like GH. Charlotte says she wants to see her mom, but she’s worried about her grandmother too. Is it safe for her to be in Russia? Papa knows his way around, but she’s nervous about grandma. Dante says, she’s going to be okay. Charlotte’s dad is with her and Doc is with her; she’s in good hands. Is she ready? Charlotte nods, and they go inside Lulu’s room.

Spencer thinks about calling Trina, and Esme asks if he’s heard from his grandmother. He says, nothing, and Esme says she hasn’t heard anything either. Not that she’s family, but she’s worried. Does he think it’s a bad sign he hasn’t heard from her? He says he doesn’t know, and she asks if he thinks she’s in trouble. He says he doesn’t know, but even if she was, there isn’t a damn thing he can do about it. Just leave it alone.

Kristina lets herself in to Molly’s apartment and says, it’s her favorite sister. Molly says she’s not surprised to see Kristina since she texted, but she’s surprised because that wasn’t very Kristina-like. Kristina says she’s working on being much more sisterlike. How is she doing? Molly says, A for effort. How does Kristina think she’s doing? Kristina says, there’s a definite learning curve, but whenever she’s in doubt, she asks herself, what would her younger, wiser, more beautiful sister do?

In his office, Michael discusses the budget with someone on the phone, when there’s a knock at the door. Carly comes in, and Michael says he’s got to go. Send him the accurate numbers by the end of the day. She says she’s sorry she just barged in. His assistant said she could come. She’s so happy to see him back in the office. He says, it’s not exactly by choice, and she says, he hasn’t left Willow’s side for months, but this must mean she’s continuing to get better. He says he’s very grateful her strength is coming back. When she tells him to stop hovering, he guesses it’s a good thing, but it means he has to give her some space. So he decided to come back to the office. Now that Drew is… She says, in prison. He can say it. She didn’t come here to talk about Drew, but she does have something she needs to talk to him about. He says, what about? and she says, his father.

Sonny does some work in his office, when his phone rings. It’s Nina, and he asks where she is. She says she’s at the MetroCourt. She’s trying to get some work done, but can’t keep her mind off the situation with Willow. He says he thought she told him things were better, but she says, Willow’s not the problem. It’s Michael. Ava walks into Sonny’s office, and says, they need to talk. Sonny tells Nina that he has to go. He has to take care of something. He asks Ava, what’s the problem? and she says, the problem is him. He told her that he was going to take care of that woman. This is how he takes care of it? He sends Avery off with that psychopath? She shows him a picture of Betty and Avery on her phone.

Avery swims in the pool, and Betty tells her, it’s time to go, but she says, just one more. Please. She swims off and Josslyn walks in. Avery calls to her, and Josslyn asks what she’s doing. Avery says she had swim class today and learned this. She floats on her back, and Josslyn says, amazing. Avery is better than she is. She could go to the Olympics with that. Dex stands near the entrance, and Trina sees him. She tells him, if he’s looking for Joss, she’s right over there. He says he’s not. He’s actually working. Avery tells Josslyn that she has a new nanny. Her name is Betty. Betty and Josslyn smile at each other.

Ava says she stopped by Sonny’s apartment to see Avery, and the guard said she’s out with that Mary Poppins from hell. Sonny says, relax. Betty took Avery to the MetroCourt pool for her swimming lessons. Ava says, don’t tell her to relax. The woman is violent. Betty smacked her face. What if she hurts Avery? What if she kidnaps Avery? What was he thinking? He says, Betty is their best bet to lead them to whoever blackmailed Ava, but she says she already told him. It’s that creep Mason. He says, Mason is taking orders from somebody else. They have to find out who it is and Betty’s going to steer them right to his boss.

Josslyn says she didn’t realize Avery had a new nanny. What happened to Pilar? Betty says she has no idea. She interviewed with Ava Jerome, Avery’s mother. Josslyn says she knows Ava, and Betty says, Mr. Corinthos joined them and asked her to start today. Josslyn says, she must have really impressed him, and Betty says, who is Josslyn again? Josslyn tells her that she’s Josslyn Jax, Avery’s older sister, but Betty says she’s confused. Miss Jerome told her that Avery has a half-sister, but she’s younger than Avery. Either Josslyn is big for her age, or she’s not really Avery’s sister.

Michael asks if something is up with Sonny, and Carly says she was hoping he could tell her. Has he heard anything from Dex? Michael says, so far, he’s sticking to the agreement. He’s keeping tabs on Sonny and letting Michael know if there are any big deals in the works. Carly says, so what’s the latest? and Michael says, last night, Dex found a dead body. Carly asks if he knows who it was, and Michael says, apparently, it’s a guy with a connection to Dr. Gatlin-Holt. Carly asks if Austin isn’t seeing Ava. She saw them together at the Nurses Ball. He says he doesn’t know, but Dex called Sonny and told him that he found a dead body near a dumpster, and surprisingly, Sonny told him to call the police. She says, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would Sonny have Dex call the police? I’m not sure why everyone is so shocked. Sonny didn’t know Gordon and has nothing to do with him, so why wouldn’t he be a good citizen?

Kristina says she’s not here for Molly’s sage advice; she’s here to serve her sister. What can she get Kristina? She sees Kristina has water and snacks. She knows – a smoothie. Molly says, Sam beat her to it, and Kristina says, Sam the good sister. She knows one thing she doesn’t think Sam got for Kristina, and takes a stuffed horse out of her bag. Kristina says, Valiant, and takes the horse. This is exactly what she needed.

Esme asks if her concern for Spencer’s grandmother is bothering him. For all they know, she could be locked up in some Russian prison, but clearly he’s not worried, so she’ll keep it to herself from now on. He says he’s sorry he snapped at her. He’s very worried and concerned about his grandmother, but right now, he’s far more worried about Trina. Her father was shot and he could also be paralyzed, and he has no idea how to help her. Esme says, getting upset with her isn’t going to fix anything, but why doesn’t he call Trina and tell her that he’s thinking about her?

The man asks in Russian what Valentin and Laura are doing here, and Valentin answers in Russian, they mean no harm. They’re looking for someone. He tells them, get out, and in Russian, Laura says, we come in peace. The man says he speaks English. They’re trespassing. Now get out. Laura says, they don’t want to hurt anyone. All they want is information. They’re looking for someone. He asks who they’re looking for, and Valentin says, Nikolas Cassadine. The man says, Cassadines are evil, and spits. They’re all gone. What is that American expression? Good riddance. They’re very dangerous people. Stay away from that family. Laura says, he doesn’t understand. Nikolas Cassadine is her son, and they’ve got to find him. The man asks why they’re looking in Chechnya. Has he been kidnapped? Or is he running from authorities? Valentin says, they don’t know. That’s what they’re trying to find out. Laura says, he disappeared from his home in the United States five months ago and they have no idea what happened to him. The man says, if he’s a Cassadine, nothing good.

Charlotte tells Lulu (who we never really see) about winning a ribbon in her equestrian show. Dante says, she was amazing. Rocco’s doing amazing as well. He doesn’t know how, but Rocco’s got straight As. He’s always talking about every girl in his class; he’s got a crush every week. Charlotte says, Lulu is missing so much. She’s starting high school in the fall. She spent so many years at boarding school, but she’s happier staying in Port Charles and being close to her family. But Lulu isn’t there. She has to wake up and come back to them. Dante says he’ll give Charlotte time with her mom, and gets up. He says, they’ll see Lulu soon. They miss her. He leaves, and Charlotte says, Dante’s right. They really, really miss her, but she misses Lulu more.

Ava says, Sonny can follow any lead he wants, just please don’t involve their daughter. He says, does she really think he’d put his daughter at risk? Ava says, that’s what he’s doing right now, but he says, she’s not at risk. He’s going to take care of this like he said he was. She’s going to have to trust him.

Avery gets out of the pool, and Josslyn puts a towel around her. She asks Avery to do her a favor and tell her new nanny who she is, and Avery says, Josslyn’s her big sister. Josslyn says, the branches of their family are very complicated. She’d be happy to draw Betty a diagram. Betty says, that won’t be necessary, but thanks for the offer. They’re both smiling, but I don’t think they’re smiling in their heads. Josslyn says, Betty’s probably right. She’ll be gone before she can memorize any names. Betty tells Avery, time to go, and Josslyn says, nice meeting you. Betty says nothing, and leaves with Avery. Dex watches, then follows. Trina asks Josslyn what that was all about, and Josslyn says she has no idea, but she needs to find out. She has to call Sonny. What the hell is he thinking letting that girl look after Avery? Trina says, don’t call Sonny, and Josslyn asks, why? Trina says she has the feeling something else is going on. When she got here, Josslyn’s boyfriend was over there, but it didn’t look like he was soaking up rays. He was keeping a low profile watching Avery and the nanny. He never took his eyes off them. That’s got to mean something, right? Josslyn says, but what?

Michael tells Carly that he’s not sure how all this fits together, but Dex will get more information soon. He really needs to thank her. Carly says, for what? and he says, she’s the one who encouraged this arrangement with Dex. It’s nice to know they have somebody they can trust in Sonny’s organization. It works out for both of them, since Sonny thinks he has a trustworthy lieutenant, and they don’t get blindsided by his illegal dealings. She says she thinks this is about more than getting information from Dex. She thinks a part of him wants Dex to protect his father. He says he’s not saying he can forgive or even wants to forgive Sonny, but a part of him still cares about Sonny. Carly says she’ll take that as a plan and hugs him.

Kristina kisses the stuffed horse, and says she’s missed him. Where has he been hiding all these years? She thought she lost him. Kristina says, he was in some mislabeled box. She was in mom’s attic looking for pieces to sell at the community fundraiser, and she saw this box labeled law books. She opened it up, and there was Valiant, right there on top of the New York Penal Code. Molly says she’s so grateful Kristina found him. She knows it must sound silly, but this little guy meant so much to her. Kristina says, Molly was the only four-year-old on this planet who would name their stuffed animal Valiant and actually knew what it was. Kristina had stuffed animals named like the rest of them; Fluffy, Stuffy, Coco. Molly says, one time when she was six or seven, she had friends over and showed them Valiant, and they all made fun of his name. Kristina came storming in the room, saying they were all stupid, and if they didn’t stop making fun of Molly, she was going to pour maple syrup in their hair. Kristina says she remembers that. Then they ran out the door so fast. She thinks it’s the last time they came over to their house. She thinks she made life a lot harder for Kristina than it needed to be. Sorry. Kristina says she’s not. She was proud of her big sister then, and she still is.

Laura says, this is about her son, and asks the man if he has any children. He says, da. Two daughters. She says, then he must understand what she’s going through now. Is there anything he can tell her? He says he’s sorry he was harsh with her. He would help her if he could, but he has no idea where this Nikolas Cassadine is. Valentin asks if this is his house, and the man says he bought it for his family. But it was all done through lawyers. He never saw the previous owner. Valentin says, lucky him.

Spencer says he wants to be there for Trina, but it’s complicated, and Esme asks, why? He says, Trina’s mother isn’t a fan of any Cassadine, particularly him, and he does understand why she doesn’t like him. His father has done a lot of damage, but even he pales in comparison to his Uncle Victor. To make matters worse, she’s holding the other side of his family accountable for her husband’s shooting. Esme says, what? and he says he told her it was complicated. Curtis Ashford was shot, and Dr. Robinson thinks the bullet was meant for his Uncle Sonny. She says, so Trina’s mom pretty much hates everyone related to him? and he says, yeah, with the exception of his grandmother and Ace, and one of them is a baby and the other isn’t even in this country.

Josslyn tells Trina that she’s happy Dex is looking out for Avery, but she gets bad vibes from that girl. Trina is absorbed with her phone, and Josslyn asks if she’s there. Trina says she’s sorry. She was hoping there would be a message from Spencer. Josslyn asks why she doesn’t text him, and Trina says she would, but it wouldn’t be right. Josslyn asks what that means, and Trina says her mom is dealing with so much since Curtis was shot, and she never liked Spencer, so she’s trying to keep her distance from him. She doesn’t want to add more stress. Josslyn says, but she misses him, and Trina says, yeah. Josslyn says she understands Trina’s mom needs support, but Trina needs support too. She bets the only reason Spencer isn’t reaching out is because he doesn’t want to put pressure on Trina. But if Trina needs him, let him know. She won’t regret it.

Molly says she appreciates Kristina looking out for her, and Kristina says, it’s usually the other way around. She was always jumping from one thing to the next, getting herself in these difficult situations, and leaving an absolute mess in her wake. But there she was, her Molly, cleaning up her messes. Molly says she just never wanted Kristina to get in trouble, and Kristina asks if Molly remembers doing her homework for her. Molly was like three grades below her and would do her homework. She covered for Kristina when she was in trouble with mom, and comforted her when she cried or was upset. Molly always took care of her. Molly says, not always. She didn’t take care of Kristina when her abusive boyfriend Kiefer Bauer was beating her up.

Betty comes into Pozzulo’s with Avery, who runs to Ava, hugging her. Avery tells Ava that she can float on her back, and Ava says she’s so proud of Avery. Betty says, Avery had a terrific lesson. She could barely get Avery out of the water when it was time to go. Sonny says he wants to hear all about it, but right now he wants Avery to stay with Frank. He and Betty need to have a conversation. Maybe Frank can give Avery some biscotti. Frank says, sounds good, and Sonny, Ava, and Betty go into Sonny’s office. Sonny says he knows it’s Betty’s first day and Avery seems to like her a lot. That’s important to him. Betty says, he has a wonderful daughter, and he says, anybody who can make his daughter that happy, is okay by him. Betty asks if he’d like her to take Avery to his place, but he says, no. She can pick Avery up there tomorrow morning. They’re not going to need her for the rest of the day. He gives her some cash, she thanks him, and she leaves. Avery and Frank are playing cards while they have biscotti, and Betty tells Avery, see you tomorrow. Ava comes out, and Sonny says he has a phone call to make, closing his office door.

The man says, Laura seems like a nice woman, but it’s obvious her son has left her. It must be painful. She says she doesn’t believe her son would just leave her. He has kids and she doesn’t believe he’d abandon them. Maybe he was forced to leave. The man says he’s sorry. He wishes he could help her, but there’s nothing he can do. Please show themselves out. He leaves, and Valentin says, where do they go from here?

Charlotte tells Lulu that the other girls talk about doing things with their mothers; shopping, getting manicures, going away for the weekend. She just smiles and pretends it’s okay. Sam and Grandmother take her out, but it’s just not the same. She never actually told her friends what really happened to Lulu. If she doesn’t tell them where Lulu is, she can believe it isn’t real; that she’s just away for a little while, and she’ll be back soon. So she has to wake up. Charlotte puts her head down on the bed and cries.

Esme says, it’s such a beautiful day. As soon as Ace wakes up, why don’t she and Spencer take him to the park? He says he has a better idea. Why don’t they take him to the MetroCourt pool, and they can dip his feet in the water. He’ll love it. She says, yes, absolutely. She just got him a bathing suit and he has a matching hat. He’ll look adorable. She goes into the other room, and Spencer opens the front door. Trina is there, and he says he’s surprised to see her… in the best way. She says she’s sorry for just showing up without calling, but he says, don’t apologize. Come in. She’s always welcome here. She says she’s glad to hear him say that. These last few days have just been really hard, and she’s missed him. He hugs her, and Esme watches.

Carly goes into Sonny’s office, and Ava asks, what brings her here? Carly says she came to pick up Avery. Avery is coming with her for a sleepover with Donna and Josslyn. Sonny says he appreciates her doing this on short notice, and Ava says, how short? When did Sonny set this up? Carly says, he called her just a few minutes ago. What’s going on here?

Kristina asks why Molly would bring up Kiefer. She hasn’t thought about him in years. Molly says, really? and Kristina says, no. That’s not true. She just doesn’t like to admit how often she does think about that time in her life, but she does. Especially now, working with troubled teens. So many of them are in abusive relationships, and it just brings her back to Kiefer. She tries to help them, but she can’t even help herself. Molly says she should have helped Kristina. She knew something was wrong and she should have said something. She could hear Kristina crying in her room every night, and she knew something was wrong. Every time she asked Kristina, Kristina got upset and said to leave her alone. So she did. She’s so sorry. She should have pushed harder to get Kristina to open up. Kristina takes Molly’s hand, and says, she has nothing to be sorry for. It’s on her. She couldn’t find a way to get herself out of that hole. Sometimes she wonders if that’s when everything started. Molly says, when what started? and Kristina says, her life just derailed when she was with Kiefer. Ever since then, she tries, but she’s never been able to get it back on track.

Michael opens his office door to Nina, who thanks him for seeing her. She knows she’s not his favorite person right now. He asks what he can do for her, and she asks if they can make peace for Willow’s sake.

Sonny says he just thought Avery would like to spend some time with her sisters, and Carly says, whatever. The girls will be thrilled to have Avery. They walk out, and Carly tells Avery, let’s get this sleepover started. Avery heads for the door, and Carly looks at Sonny and Ava. She says, whatever, and follows.

Nina says she and Willow had a wonderful visit the other day, but Michael says he doesn’t quite remember it that way. She says, if he remembers correctly, she was at the hospital checking on Sasha, he stepped outside, and she and Willow made significant progress. He asks, what exactly does that mean? and she says, it means she and Willow communicate better when he’s not in the room. He says he’s pretty busy, so can she get to the point? and she says her point is, at best, he just tolerates her and wishes she wasn’t in Willow’s life, but she’s Willow’s mother. Michael says she’s mentioned that once or twice, and she says she now knows Willow is open to the idea of them having a relationship. And she’s wondering, is he open to that too?

Molly says, Kristina has gotten her life back on track. Look what she’s doing with the youth center. She’s going to make a difference in these kids’ lives. She thought that made Kristina happy. Kristina says, it does, but she doesn’t know if she’s enough for them. These kids are so desperate for help, and she doesn’t know if she has the skills or the tools to adequately help them. Soon her center is going to be up and running, and her name is going to be on that building, but it’s not going to be hers. She thinks she’s been fooling herself this whole time, thinking she can make a difference and help these kids, but she doesn’t know if she can. Molly tells her, don’t say that. She knows Kristina can. Kristina says, stop. Molly is here with an injured leg and she’s doing it again; she’s comforting Kristina. Molly says, because that’s what she does when she loves someone. And before Kristina talks herself out of being useful to these kids, take the time to educate herself. No one knows how to take on a project like that without experience. So take some classes. Study management. Talk to people who’ve done this before. She can do this. Kristina asks why she’s so sure, and Molly says, because she believes in Kristina. She’s just got to believe in herself.

Esme says, Spencer told her about Trina’s dad. She’s so sorry. It must be so scary thinking he could be paralyzed. Trina says, it’s been awful, and Esme says she’s going to check on Ace. He’s about to get up from his nap and she’s going to take him to the park. She leaves, and Spencer says he’s so sorry for what Trina’s going through. How is she holding up? She says she’s so worried for Curtis. She’s trying to stay strong for her mom, but she doesn’t know what to do to make her feel better. He says he does. Stay away from him.

Laura asks if Valentin think the owner would mind if they had a look around the house, and he says, she could ask him, but he doesn’t think they’re going to find any clues around here. She says she guesses he’s probably right, but she did get the feeling he was telling them the truth. He says, they need to regroup; think of somewhere else Nikolas could be hiding. She says, what if he’s not hiding? What if he’s being held against his will? Victor could have turned on him just like he turned on Valentin and Spencer. Valentin says, Victor’s dead. Nikolas could be anywhere. Doc is probably back at the hotel by now. Let’s get the hell out of here.

Dante says it’s tough for Charlotte to see her mom like that, but the doctors say maybe she can hear them, so it’s important they’re here as much as they can be. Charlotte says she knows. She just wants her mom to come home – their home. She went by there the other day and looked in the window. It made her sad. Everything was covered in sheets and so quiet. Not like it used to be. He says, they had some really good memories there, didn’t they? and she says she just doesn’t like seeing it so empty. She bets mom would want someone to live there.

Trina says, the last thing she wants is to stay away from Spencer. She needs him more than ever. He’s the thing that gives her strength to hang on right now. He says he thinks she’s the first person who’s ever said that to him, and she says she doesn’t care what people say. They don’t know him like she does. She needs him. He says he’s always here for her, but he thinks it’s going to add a lot of stress to her mom’s life right now if she knows he’s spending time with her. She says she hates to admit it, but she thinks he might be right. She doesn’t want to stay away from him, but it would probably be best to keep their relationship low key for now. He says, yeah, he gets it. He’s the last person her mom wants to see, so he’ll steer clear of her, and if Trina needs him, he’ll be here whenever. She says, now would be a good time, and they kiss.

In the bedroom, Esme tells Ace, sorry, buddy. She wanted to take him to the pool today, but his big brother has other plans. She guesses that means Trina is more important than they are. It’s just her and him; they’ve only got each other. Unless she takes steps to change that situation.

Michael says he’ll support any decision his wife makes. If she wants to have a relationship with Nina, he has no problem with that. She tells him that his attitude says otherwise, and he asks what she’s trying to say. She says, while he’s polite to her somewhat in front of Willow, it’s clear he wants nothing to do with her and just wants her to go away. Willow knows that, and it’s just a matter of time before Wiley and Amelia feel it as well. She knows she’s made mistakes. She just wants to rectify them and make peace. Kristina barges in and asks if she’s interrupting something, but Michael says, no. Nina was just leaving. Nina says she guesses she was just leaving, and asks Michael to please give her a second chance. That’s all she’s asking. Whether he likes it or not, they’re family and she’s not giving up. She gives Kristina a quick kiss as she goes by, and when she’s gone, Kristina asks why Michael is being such a bastard to Nina.

Dex goes over to Josslyn, who’s lying on a chaise lounge, and she says she wanted to ask him something. Trina said she saw him earlier, and it looked like he was doing surveillance on Avery and her nanny. Does he want to tell her what that’s about? He says, Sonny asked him to keep an eye on Avery and the new nanny, so he was tailing her. Josslyn says, Avery’s her sister, so she kind of has a right to know, and he says he’d tell her if he knew, but Sonny hasn’t shared the details. But he thinks it has something to do with Ava Jerome.

Ava says, please tell her that he’s not bringing Carly into this. Sonny has to promise her that he’s not going to tell Carly what she did to Nikolas. He says, that she killed him? and she says, it was an accident. She didn’t mean to do it. He says he won’t tell Carly about Nikolas unless he has to, and she asks what that means. He says, the good thing is, Betty bought his act. She thinks she’s spying on him, but it’s the other way around. She’s going to lead them to whoever’s behind this. And when he finds them, they’re not going to know what hit them.

On Monday, Sonny asks if Anna is still planning to use herself as bait; Kristina says she thought someone would never ask; Tracy says, Gregory is surprisingly charming; Martin says, it must be his lucky night; and Drew tells someone, get the hell away from him.

👧🏼 New Kid On the Block…

The latest in Georgies.

👗 The Right Choice…

Jen dishes on the wedding of the century and her rejected Reunion dress.

🍊 Don’t Say It…

It really doesn’t sound like all that big a deal, but oh yeah, it’s Shannon.

Was she kicked out or just looking for her Uber? I want to know what the argument was about.

🍸 Good Luck With This…

Who will and won’t film with the undesirable Tom.

🥪 Something About Them…

I thought it was open already, they’ve had so many soft launches.

👶 Comes With Accessory Baby…

This is actually a pretty funny idea.

⚰️ Let’s Talk About Dead…

FWD, coming to your TV in October.

Obviously not a real New Yorker.

I’m hoping it goes on forever.

The name isn’t what you thought it was.

https://ew.com/events/comic-con/rick-and-michonne-walking-dead-title-teaser-explained-ones-who-live/

We are from France.

🐱 He Is Not a Cat…

Although he does kind of look like one.

https://ew.com/tv/anderson-cooper-compared-dog-cat-live-with-kelly-mark/

🐕 Comedic Companions…

These are great! How come I never catch my pets doing this stuff? By the time I get the camera, they get bored and walk away or they’ve moved on to something else. I have a lot of pictures of tails.

https://people.com/finalists-announced-of-the-2023-comedy-pet-photography-awards-see-photos-7561437

🪶 Quotes of the Week

Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it. – François de La Rochefoucauld

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little; do something.Sydney Smith

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past. – Richard Bach (I’m not too sure about that past thing… maybe a different viewpoint of the past.)

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

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. – Carl Jung

Everyone must choose one of two pains: The pain of discipline or the pain of regret. – Jim Rohn

I don’t do anything in order to cause trouble. It just so happens that what I do naturally causes trouble. I’m proud to be a troublemaker. – Sinead O’Connor

So let me get this hetero-straight. So you’s a vampire, that can come out in the daytime? … Oh there goes the damn neighborhood. – Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis), True Blood

🔮 I Ain’t Got No Crystal Ball…

Come back for more soap and tea on Monday really Tuesday. FYI, Below Deck Down Under is airing a new season on Mondays, but I’m Decked out. Until then, stay safe, stay always being polite to waitstaff, and stay talking to people who’ve done it before when you take on a big project without experience.

July 27, 2023 – Sasha Gets Gaslighted At Ferncliff, Fan Fête, Arguable, New Em, Rude Rinna, Slamming Sofia, OC Review, Denim On the Runway, Celeb Pets (!) & Cool

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone at Kelly’s, Carly says, everything is under control. The regulars from the waterfront are still coming in. It’s great. She has to have the guy come and look at the freezer because it’s still leaking, and the bread was delivered two hours late, but she was able to work around that… She knows, and promises to figure it all out, but she’s got to go because they’re busy. She puts some to-go orders on the counter, when Nina walks in.

Finn finds Portia crying in the employee lounge and asks if she’s all right… He says, of course (🍷) she’s not. Is there anything he can do? She says, no. It’s just this whole thing with Curtis. It’s really catching up with her and she doesn’t know what to do. He glances at his phone as she pulls tissues out of the box on the table.

Elizabeth tells Curtis, good morning, and he asks if she’s here as a nurse or his friend. She says she hopes he always sees her as his friend, but she is working. She just needs to check his vitals and update his chart. He says he doesn’t want to interfere with her job, and as she’s here in an official capacity, he has a favor to ask. He doesn’t want any visitors in his room, especially Trina and Portia. Her phone dings, and she sees a text from Finn: SOS DOCTOR’S BREAK ROOM.

On the phone, Maxie tries to find out what time visiting hours are, but James comes tearing out, chased by Georgie, who yells, give it back! They struggle over a tablet, and Maxie says, that’s it. Georgie says, he started it, and Maxie tells them, sit on the couch, separate ends, and don’t even think about looking at each other.

Cody apologizes for just showing up in the middle of the night, and Dante asks if he means passing out on the doorstep. Cody says he was pretty bad, wasn’t he? and Dante and Sam both say, yes. Cody says, thanks to them, he’s feeling much better, and Sam says, he looks much better. She’s glad they insisted he stay here instead of going to the Quartermaine’s last night. Dante says he thinks Cody left out some details though, and Cody says he’s really worried. Sam says, about Sasha? and he says, she doesn’t realize how much danger she’s in.

Sasha wakes up and realizes she’s tied to a hospital bed. She yells, asking if anyone can hear her, and struggles against the leather straps.

Sam asks why Cody was more worried about Sasha last night than his stab wound, and he says he’s not the one who got hauled off to a place called Ferncliff for the criminally insane. Dante says, that’s because Sasha stabbed him, and Cody says, she didn’t mean to. Dante says, she was disoriented. It doesn’t change what she did. It doesn’t excuse what she did. Cody says, but she’s not insane. She didn’t even know she was attacking him. She thought he was someone else. She kept calling him Cyrus. Dante says, that’s why she’s in Ferncliff; she’s not well. Cody says, no. He’s not buying it. Something else is going on here.

Sasha shouts, hello? Is anyone there? A woman walks in and says, hello. She’s Andie. She’s a nurse practitioner here to help Sasha. Sasha says, there’s been a terrible mistake. She shouldn’t be here. Andie says, she’s here to get some help, and Sasha asks where she is. Andie says, she’s in Ferncliff Hospital. Does she remember being admitted? Sasha says, no. Why would she be admitted to a hospital for the criminally insane? This doesn’t make any sense at all. She doesn’t belong here. Can Andie please contact her family? Can she call Sasha’s mother-in-law, Gladys Corbin?

Maxie says, Grandpa Mac is on his way here right now to take them to the pool, but if they don’t start behaving, she’ll have to call and tell him to forget about it. Then they’ll spend the entire day in their room – cleaning… with no screen time. James says, Georgie should clean the room. She hogs it with all her books and clothes. Georgie says, that’s not true. She keeps herself on her side of the room. She gets no privacy with him. He’s the one always making a mess. There’s a knock at the door, and Maxie opens it to Mac, who asks if the kids are ready for their day at the pool. They both scowl, and Maxie says, thank God he’s here. Bailey Lou is with the sitter. James and Georgie can have one treat – one – at the pool. But no one’s going anywhere until they clean up this apartment, so… She leaves, and Mac says, bye. He’s got it handled. Are they ready for some fun? The kids just look at him.

Nina says she’s glad she ran into Carly. There’s something she wants to say to her. Carly asks what she wants, and Nina asks if she works here. Carly says she owns the place, and Nina says, really? Good for her. Willow is back to her old self. She looks amazing. That bone marrow transplant was a huge success. Carly says she knows. How does Nina know that? Nina says she was at the gatehouse yesterday visiting Willow.

Finn gives Portia some coffee, and she says she’s sorry for breaking down like this, but he says, there’s no need to apologize. They all have breaking points, even doctors. It makes them human. Elizabeth comes in, and Portia asks if she got a chance to see Curtis today. Elizabeth says she just came from his room, and Portia asks how he is this morning. Elizabeth says, emotionally speaking, he’s not the Curtis she knows. He wants to be alone, and asked her to limit his visitors. Portia says she bets that includes her and Trina, and Elizabeth says, their names were mentioned, yes. Portia says, her husband has been shot and he’s recovering from spinal surgery. He may never regain the use of his legs, and she’s not allowed to be in the room with him. She starts to cry again, and Finn says he’ll leave the two of them alone. He leaves, and Portia says she feels so sorry for Finn; she’s such a mess. Elizabeth asks, what happened between her and Curtis? and Portia says, Elizabeth heard what Curtis said. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with her.

Molly works on her laptop, her foot elevated and in a boot. Sam comes in and says she’s sorry she’s late. She had an unexpected visitor last night. She got Molly’s favorite, a mocha latte (mine too!), and Molly says she’s glad Sam’s here, but she doesn’t need to wait on her and bring her coffee. Sam says, Molly’s her little sister, she had an accident, and it’s her job to take care of Molly. And she loves Molly.

Cody folds the linens he used, placing them on the sofa, and Dante says, Sam’s gone. Maybe Cody can level with him now. Cody says he did, but Dante says, not completely, right? Why is he so concerned about Sasha? Why does he think there’s more to her breakdown? Cody says, because there is, and Dante says, like what? He knows Sasha’s had a breakdown before, and a lot of losses that have left her in a very fragile state. Cody says, there’s a big difference between fragile and broken. Sasha was shaky, no question about it, but she didn’t try to hide it or cover it up. She was on an upward trajectory. She was getting stronger every time he saw her. Then all of a sudden, she just craters out of nowhere? Come on detective. Doesn’t that sound suspicious to you?

Portia tells Elizabeth that she’s seen other patients who have been given a similar diagnosis that behave the same way Curtis is behaving; isolating themselves from loved ones, thinking he can do this all on his own. Elizabeth says, plus, Curtis is Portia’s husband, and she’s still dealing with the shock of almost losing him. What she’s feeling right now is valid. Portia says, Elizabeth is right about that, but she thinks she has to face the fact that their marriage is kind of part of the problem. Elizabeth says, Curtis is behaving like most patients facing the possibility of never walking again, and Portia says, yes, but she and Curtis were at odds when he was shot. So now he’s convinced himself that she’s acting out of pity or some sort of obligation, and not out of love for him. It just couldn’t be further from the truth. She flashes back to Curtis saying that she’s thinking, this poor sucker needs me now, but he has news for her; he doesn’t. She tells Elizabeth that she’s loved that man for over twenty years. She loved him when she thought she was never going to see him again. She took their wedding vows very seriously; for better or for worse. But Curtis seems so determined to push her away.

Curtis is looking at his phone when Finn walks in and asks, what’s he reading? Curtis says he’s researching spinal cord injuries, seeing if there’s hope, and Finn says, there’s always hope. Curtis asks, so what brings Finn? He knows it’s not a professional visit. Finn says he’s here as Curtis’s friend. They are friends, remember? Curtis got him through some pretty tough times. He just wants to return the favor, and let Curtis know he’s here for him, whatever he needs. Curtis says he appreciates the gesture. If Finn really wants to be a friend, just give him some space. Finn pulls up a seat and says, if anyone appreciates needing space, it’s him. As a fellow addict in recovery, he knows exactly what Curtis is going through.

Carly says, Nina just can’t help herself, can she? What doesn’t she understand about giving Willow some time and space, and letting her reach out to Nina when she’s ready? Nina says, that’s the thing. Willow called her. Willow is including her in her bubble of friends and family. Carly says, really? and Nina says she was as surprised as Carly is. They had an amazing visit, and she has Carly to thank for that.

Mac tries to clean up as Georgie and James struggle over the tablet again. He asks why they don’t work together to put the toys away. Mom said they can’t go to the pool until this place is straightened up. Georgie says, not until James gives her back her tablet, but Mac says, she won’t need it at the pool. James snatches the tablet, and says he’s going to delete all of Georgie’s Harry Styles songs. She chases him into the other room, and Mac wonders, who’s Harry Styles?

Sam says, Molly told her how she fell, but never said how it happened, and Molly says she was in these new crazy heels, missed a step, and fell in front of the courthouse. She was so embarrassed, until she realized she’d really hurt herself. She’s walked the steps a million times, and still doesn’t know how it happened. She was obviously distracted. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have missed the step, fallen, and hurt her leg. Sam asks, what made her so distracted? and Molly says, the only thing she can think about lately is if and how she and TJ should have a child.

Dante says, six months ago, Cody didn’t even know Sasha. Now he can judge her mental state? Cody says he’s a quick study, but Dante says he doesn’t think that’s enough time to tell if someone is actually improving or on an upward trajectory. Cody says he first got to know Sasha a little while ago at the Qs. They shared biscotti and they talked. Sasha was tentative at first. Kind of like a rider who’s been knocked off of a horse, but still has the courage to get back on. The more he talked to her, the more confident she became, and the better idea he got of how warm and open a person she is. Dante says, he hung out with her a lot after that? and Cody says, enough to keep forming the same impression of her. And she kept getting stronger every time. She was strong enough to maintain her composure when the producers of Home & Heart were sabotaging her. He was there. He saw what they did to her. That’s why he’s convinced, whatever the problem is here, it’s not Sasha. It’s the people around her.

Andie leaves Sasha’s room, and Gladys comes in. Sasha says, thank God she’s here. Gladys has to help her. She doesn’t belong here. Gladys says, she doesn’t remember, does she? and Sasha says, remember what? Gladys says, what she did. What happened at the MetroCourt. Sasha says she doesn’t remember anything. She has no idea what’s going on. Dr. Montague comes in and says he stopped in to check on Sasha. Sasha asks, why? and Gladys says, Sasha doesn’t remember, but she tried to kill Cody Bell.

Carly says, as Nina can see, she’s busy. Could she please get to the point of why she’s thanking Carly for Willow calling her? Nina says, it’s because of Carly why she had such a wonderful visit with Willow, and Carly says, how is that exactly? Nina says she assumes Carly dropped the vendetta against her, and Carly asks, who said she did that?

Portia tells Elizabeth that she knows it’s partially her fault that Curtis is pushing her away. She kept the secret from him for twenty years that Trina might be his daughter. Trina’s whole childhood was robbed from him because of her. He didn’t get a chance to see Trina grow up; she did. Elizabeth says she thought he made peace with that revelation, and Portia says she thought he did too. Elizabeth says, he’s building a relationship with Trina. He moved back into Portia’s house. She assumes that meant he’s forgiven Portia. Portia says she thought so too, but then she found out that he kissed Jordan. Elizabeth says, wait. What? When did this happen? Portia says, when they were living apart. All of a sudden, things were all turned around, and she was starting to feel doubt about him. She was so angry, hurt, and frustrated. She gave this man time and space, and this is what he does? That’s why she spent the night at the hospital instead of going home. She didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to see that man’s face. Elizabeth says, she had every right to be angry that he kissed his ex-wife. But being shot, as awful as that is, doesn’t absolve him from all the inconsiderate, pigheaded things he’s ever done. It doesn’t make him a saint. Portia says, but he’s still the man she loves. She loves him with all her heart and wants to have a life with him, whether he’s in or out of a wheelchair.

Curtis says he’s not using, and Finn says, good. He just wanted to make sure that hasn’t changed due to Curtis’s current condition. Curtis says, the doctors have him on pain medication. He told them about his history of abuse, so they’re monitoring the doses. Finn says he’s glad Curtis is handling it for now, and Curtis asks, what’s that supposed to mean? Finn says he’s been there. Curtis is isolating himself from all the people who really care about him. Curtis says he’s just trying to figure this out and if it involves Portia or not, and Finn tells him, say he does want to go down this path on his own. Be honest with himself. How long before he starts looking for a little relief from all the pain and all the anger? How long before Curtis just wants to be alone with his drug of choice? Curtis says, this is not about addiction. It’s about his pride as a big baby man. He doesn’t want Portia and Trina to have to take care of him. He doesn’t want to tie them down at all. He never used to be that kind of man. Finn asks, what kind of man would that be? and Curtis says, helpless. Finn says, asking for help doesn’t make you helpless: it makes you smart. (He might also point out that Curtis just insulted everyone in wheelchairs everywhere.) He’s speaking from his own experience. He learned it the hard way. Curtis can’t shut out everybody. Once he accepts and swallows his pride, he accepts he can’t do this all on his own and lets in the people who really care about him, who really love him, that’s when progress happens. Not just physically, but spiritually as well. Curtis says, look at Dr. Finn getting all woo-woo, and Finn says, don’t tell anybody, but he’s going full-on new age now. He’s thinking about getting some crystals and dreamcatchers, and setting them up all around the room. Curtis says he’d pay money to see that, and Finn says him too. But in the meantime, don’t push away the people who care about him the most, not when he needs them the most. He says he’ll see Curtis around, and leaves.

Nina says she just assumed Carly buried the hatchet; that they’re putting this feud behind them. Carly says she doesn’t know what kind of game Nina is playing, but she’s busy and doesn’t have time for this. Nina says she’s not playing a game. She really means it. She wants them to get along… for Willow’s sake. They’re family. Carly says, they’re not family. Family gives. All Nina’s done is take. Nina asks what she’s taken from Carly this time, and Carly says, Nina took her life. Nina says, now Carly is blaming her for owning Kelly’s? and Carly says, they all know Willow’s heart knows no bounds, and she’s allowed Nina access, but the rest of Carly’s family is not so forgiving. She may be having a setback right now, but make no mistake. She’ll get back every single thing she lost; all of it. Carly goes in the behind the counter.

Dante says he assumes Cody’s means Gladys when he talks about the people around Sasha being the problem. Cody says he knew that woman couldn’t be trusted the second he met her, and Dante says, Gladys is the one who wanted Mac to arrest him about the bracelet. Cody says he didn’t take that bracelet. Gladys framed him. Dante says, but he’s been vague on the details of why Gladys would do that to him, and Cody says he knows he has and he’s sorry about that. Gladys didn’t want Sasha to trust him. She wanted him out of Sasha’s life. Dante asks, why? and Cody says, because he was trying to warn Sasha that Gladys couldn’t be trusted. Dante asks, why couldn’t Gladys be trusted?

Sasha asks why she’d try to kill Cody. Or kill anyone for that matter. She’s not a violent person. Montague says, she had a psychotic break. She became delusional. Sasha says, no. She doesn’t understand. This doesn’t make any sense. She was doing better. She was feeling strong and more in control. Gladys says, she wasn’t getting better, and Sasha says, she went back to work at Deception. Brook, Lucy, Maxie, they all said that she was doing better; she was doing great. Gladys says she’s so sorry, but they never said that, and Montague says, those are just more of her delusions. Gladys says, they were very concerned about her, but Sasha must have made all that up to convince herself that she was getting better. Sasha says, no. She didn’t imagine it. Montague suggests Gladys step outside, but Sasha tells Gladys, no. Please don’t. She needs Gladys to stay here with her. Gladys says, they should listen to the doctor, but Sasha says, please don’t. Gladys says she’ll be right outside the door. She’s not going anywhere. She leaves, and Maxie comes up to her in the hallway, asking if that’s Sasha’s room. Was Gladys visiting her? That’s why she’s here; she wants to see Sasha.

Elizabeth says she has to wonder, would Portia still be fighting for this relationship if the shooting had never happened? Portia says she thinks they would have taken some time to work through some of the things they were going through, and rebuild the trust they had before, but yeah, she would. Elizabeth asks if she’s certain, and Portia says she is. She’s hurt that he kissed Jordan, but she kept a secret from him for far too long. Elizabeth says, they both made mistakes, and Portia says, and they both hurt each other. Just thinking about how she almost lost him makes her realize how much she truly cares about him, and she’s loved him most of her life. Elizabeth says, now that she’s had that realization, what is she going to do about it?

Georgie backs James up, and he says, one more step, and he deletes her My Face account. She says, don’t do it, and he says, say goodbye to all her pictures. Mac says, give him the tablet, but James says he can’t. Once he gives Georgie back her tablet, she’s going to destroy his Millenium Falcon Lego set. Georgie says, he hasn’t even started building it yet, and he has no idea where she hid the cockpit so – she lunges for the tablet – let it go. They struggle again, and Mac tells them, stop fighting over the tablet. Give him the tablet. Now the three of them struggle over it, when Felicia walks in. She says, what on earth is going on in here?

Molly tells Sam that she never wanted to be one of those baby obsessed women. The ones who only think about being pregnant, and when they don’t, they’re mired in the fertility clinics and ovulation cycles. Sam says she doesn’t see Molly like that, but Molly asks if that’s not who she’s been lately. Now that she’s facing the reality she can’t carry a child or even use her eggs to create one, she can’t help but wonder if it’s the universe’s way of sending her a message that she was never meant to be a mother and should find other ways of fulfilling her life. Sam says, there’s nothing wrong with not having children, and Molly says she knows that. Sam says, does she? Then she needs to be honest with herself. How would she feel if she never had kids? Molly says, the rational part of herself says, that would be fine, and Sam asks what her heart says. Molly says, in her heart, she knows that she would always feel like there was something missing.

Dante says he believes what Cody is saying about Gladys, but all Cody’s told him is that she can’t be trusted. Why can’t she be trusted? Why did she want him out of Sasha’s life? Cody says, she’s also done things behind Sasha’s back when it comes to managing her estate. Dante says, like what? and Cody says, she sold Brando’s garage without Sasha knowing. When he told Sasha, Dante should have seen her face. She couldn’t believe it. Dante asks how Cody knew about Brando’s garage before Sasha, and Cody says he overheard Gladys and Selina Wu talking at The Savoy. Dante asks what he, Gladys, and Selina Wu were all doing at The Savoy at the same time.

Gladys says she’s sure Sasha would love to see Maxie, but Dr. Montague isn’t letting anybody visit her today. Maxie says she can convince him to make an exception for her friend, and Gladys steps in front of her, saying, she’s Sasha’s mother-in-law and guardian. She barely had time to say hello to Sasha before Dr. Montague asked her to leave. Maxie asks why the doctor isn’t allowing Sasha to have visitors, and Gladys says, poor Sasha is delusional. She’s completely out of it. She’s not making any sense. She doesn’t remember stabbing Cody Bell. It’s breaking her heart to see Sasha like this. Maxie says, she can’t really blame Sasha for freaking out in a place like this. She thinks anyone would. That’s why she needs her friends and family. Gladys says, the doctor is with her now. Hopefully, he can help. Maxie says, maybe it’ll help if Sasha sees her. Just for a minute. Come on. She really needs her friends.

Sasha tells Montague that she was getting better. She knows she was. She could tell. She asked her friend Sonny Corinthos what he thought of her recovery. He said he believed in her, and that he thought she could be in charge of her own life. Montague says, many of the things she thinks she’s remembering may just be a fignewtonment of her imagination. She doesn’t want to remember she almost killed someone, so she replaces those memories with made up ones, ones that make her feel better. She says, no, dammit. She did not imagine that conversation with Sonny. It was real. He says, it seemed real, but she adamantly says, no! She went to see him at his penthouse. He was supportive and said he trusted her judgement. And she was getting better. She was not imagining that. In fact, everything was going great until she started to see him and take that prescription he gave her. Just a thought, but wouldn’t her bag have been taken to the station as evidence? Wouldn’t they have gone through it and found that prescription?

Portia walks in to Curtis’s room, where he’s still on his phone, and he says he thought he said… She asks if he’s still following those horror stories on his phone. Why doesn’t he read these? She slaps some pamphlets on the bed, and says, these are going to help him understand rehabilitation and physical therapy regimens he’s going to be facing. That they’re going to be facing when he gets home. Because he is coming home. And as his wife, she’s going to be there. She’s going to be there with him every single step of the way. He can try all he wants to push her away, but it’s not going to happen. They’re husband and wife and they’re in this together, no matter what the odds are, no matter what life throws their way. She walks out, and he picks up a pamphlet. I get it. He was being a big baby, so she had to put her mom hat on and read him the riot act.

Finn finds Elizabeth in the lounge and asks if they’re alone. She says, the coast is clear, and he thanks her for the save earlier. She asks if he was in over his head, and he says he just wasn’t exactly sure how to help. Which is why he texted her. She says, he wasn’t doing too bad, but Portia needed a girlfriend shoulder to cry on. He says, she’s lucky to have Elizabeth, and she says, she and Curtis are going through hell right now. They were barely holding on to their marriage before he got shot. Now they’ve got to deal with his paralysis. It’s going to be difficult, but she hopes they find their way because she knows they love each other. Where did he disappear to? He says he was just helping a friend too.

Mac slumps in a chair, looking dazed and holding a butterfly net. Felicia tells Georgie that she’s doing a good job, and Georgie thanks her. Georgie and James are straightening up, and being ultra polite to each other. Felicia says, all toys need to be put away neatly on their own sides of the room. Clothes picked up and put away, and beds made. And they have to pass the Grandma Felicia inspection. Go on. The sooner they finish, the sooner they can leave for the pool. They hurry to their room, and Mac says, she’s a miracle worker. How did she do that? She winks at him and says she’s magic.

Sam asks if Molly has talked to TJ about this yet, and Molly says she has, but it’s not the same way she can talk to her sister. It’s so easy to talk to Sam. Sam says, that’s what big sisters are for, but how does TJ feel? Molly says, he wants to have kids; they both do. The question is, do they want to have a child right away? Sam says, it’s a lot to consider, especially since they’re both so early on in their careers, and Molly says, it’s a big decision all around. Maybe they wait, maybe they look to adopt, maybe the go the surrogate route. Although that’s become a landmine with Kristina. She knows there are a lot of options and a lot of decisions to make. Sam says, there are, but the silver lining is, Molly has a lot of time to go through all her options, and she and TJ can make the decision together. And when the two of them do, just remember she’ll be here to listen to Molly, and maybe someday even babysit.

Dante asks again, what were Cody, Gladys, and Selina Wu all doing at the Savoy at the same time? Either Cody cares enough about Sasha to tell him what he knows and how he knows it, or he doesn’t. Cody says, son of a bitch. Okay, fine. Selina Wu runs a high stakes, invitation only poker game in the back room at The Savoy. Gladys is one of her regulars. And she loses big, a lot. She’s lost more than she can ever pay back Selina. That’s why Gladys sold Brando’s garage to Selina, and he’s pretty sure Gladys is raiding Sasha’s bank accounts to pay her gambling debts. Dante asks how he knows all this, and Cody says he plays for Selina. Selina bankrolls him, and his job is to make sure her customers win, but not too big. Selina has threatened to kill him if he tells anyone, so now his life is in Dante’s hands.

Gladys says she thought what Maxie is thinking now. That if she was here, and Sasha saw that she loves her and is here for her, it would help, and it didn’t. Maxie says, okay. She doesn’t believe doing nothing is what’s best for Sasha. Gladys says, right now she and Maxie have to accept they can’t do anything for her. The best thing they can do is let the professionals help her. Maxie says, but she was doing so well. She was getting stronger and stronger, getting her life back on track, and this just happened out of nowhere. It makes no sense. Gladys says she knows. It is heartbreaking seeing her struggle with her mental health, but she’s in good hands. She suggests they get a cup of coffee, and she and Maxie leave.

Montague says, Sasha needs to calm down. She’s becoming agitated. Sasha says she isn’t, and Montague says he’s going to give her something to help her relax. He takes out a syringe, and she says, what is that? She doesn’t want that. Get Gladys back here please. Stop! She doesn’t belong here. He puts the syringe in her IV, and she yells, stop it now! struggling against the straps. She screams for help, and then goes limp.

Nina follows Carly and asks if that’s a threat. Carly says, maybe. Or maybe it’s just her mantra. Do with it what she wants, but get the hell out of her kitchen and take a seat. The waitress will be right with her. Nina says she’s lost her appetite, and leaves. Carly says, oh my God.

Tomorrow, Kristina says she’s been fooling herself this whole time; Esme asks Spencer if it’s a bad sign that he hasn’t heard from her; and Ava asks if this is how Sonny takes care of it.

🚑 GH Is In the Building…

It’s not until October, but if you want to go, better get tickets now.

🍽 The Family Institution…

I figured they were easing us into Bobbie’s death, but apparently, it was happening anyway.

🍸 Up For Debate…

While these are just matters of opinion, she who can do no wrong, aka LVP, is tied to both lists.

👠 New, More Compact Version…

All about Emily’s transformation. I don’t begrudge her happiness, but she looks like a different person.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1381481/rhocs-emily-simpson-reveals-what-bothers-her-most-about-her-ozempic-use

👄 But She Owns It…

I dunno about the Andy thing, but I love Janice. She just says whatever pops in her head, but she’s lived a rough life, so more power to her.

📸 Maybe She’s Afraid Of Flying Solo Cups…

I don’t think it’s because Teresa’s on a reality show.

🍊 Rehashing the OC…

It looks like everyone has a whole lot to say, yet they say nothing.

👖 Project Blue Jeans…

Loved the challenge of head-to-toe denim, and I had a lot of ideas. Oddly enough, not one designer made the denim headband I made in my head. Guest judges were designer Willy Chavarria and actress Julia Fox, and something I never saw coming happened at the end.

🐕 Great Equalizer…

Everybody loves their pets, and they don’t care who you are. They’ll poop on your floor regardless.

👾 Not Today, AI…

Boomerang back tomorrow for soap, an assortment of tea, words to ponder, and a timely tune. Until then, stay safe, stay treating everyone equally, regardless of their position in life, and stay remembering that asking for help doesn’t make you helpless; it makes you smart.

July 26, 2023 – Curtis Acts Like a Big Baby, Happy Anniversary, Paying It Forward, The Tres Amigas Reunite, Detailing, Twisty Tease, Lake Chat, Sushi Pup (!), It’s a Girl & All

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny says, Nikolas is dead, and Ava killed him? She says, yeah. She killed him.

Willow folds laundry, when Michael says, busted. She says, it was worth it, and he asks if she isn’t supposed to be sleeping. She says she tried, but she couldn’t. She’s too happy to sleep.

On the phone, Sam says she’s glad Molly is getting the rest she needs, when Dante walks in. Sam says, tell Molly that she’ll see her when she gets home tomorrow. And that she loves her. She loves Kristina too. Dante asks, how’s Molly? and Sam says, she’s doing okay. She’s a little banged up, but luckily that’s it. It could have been a lot worse. She was going to check on Molly, but Kristina insists she has everything under control. She’s glad they made up before the accident. (Did I miss something?) He says, she’s a good sister, and she says, what about him? He was supposed to be home two hours ago. He looks wiped. He kisses her and says, after a shower, she’ll recognize him again. She says she’ll grab them a beer and when he comes downstairs, he can remind her of who he is.

Josslyn goes to Dex’s place, and says she knows he told her not to come, but she’s here. Did he really think… She looks around at all the candles burning, and says, if he told her not to come, who exactly was he expecting?

Portia asks what Curtis said, and he says, let me go. Literally, let him go. She says she thinks he’s talking crazy, and she’s not going to let him go. He says, it’s not her decision, it’s his, but she tells him that he doesn’t know what he’s saying right now. He tells her that he knows exactly what he’s saying. He doesn’t want to see her again.

Sonny asks what she did with the body, and she says, they thought he disappeared. Sonny looks over the parapet, but she says, no. He didn’t go into the water. Mason has the dead body. He has the evidence and he’s blackmailing her. If she doesn’t do anything he wants, he’ll expose her. Sonny says, that’s not going to happen.

Ava says she was so mad at Nikolas when he told her that he got Esme pregnant, and Sonny says he punched Nikolas in the face when Nikolas told him. That was his son’s girlfriend. Ava says, Spencer was mad too. When he got the idea to file for custody of Ace, she agreed to help him. Sonny says, by killing his father? but she says, no. Nikolas foolishly recorded a confession, taking responsibility for Esme’s death. Esme went over the turret and obviously survived, but she still had the recording and she gave it to Spencer. Sonny says, so he could blackmail his father, and she says, exactly. When Nikolas found out about it, he went crazy. He came after her and told her that he was going to take Avery away from her. Sonny says, bastard, and she says, it broke her. She lost Kiki, and she won’t lose Avery. She’ll do anything she has to, to protect her. Avery is her life.

Dante comes downstairs and says he loves that Sam is a night owl. She hands him a beer, and he says he loves when she’s lying in bed when he gets home too, but he likes that she’s here waiting for him. Sam says, he flatters himself too much. She wasn’t just worried about Molly. She’s also working on a case. Why is he home so late? He says, her first, and she says, Sasha and Cody of course (🍷). He says he’s been thinking about that too. Cody said Sasha called him Cyrus before she stabbed him, but that doesn’t make any sense. Sam says, now she’s under lock and key at Ferncliff, and he says he has the feeling she has a suspicion as to why that all happened. She says, Gladys. Remember when they ran into them at the hospital? Sasha said she was ready to end her guardianship with Gladys. Sam could tell Gladys wasn’t totally on board with that, and of course (🍷) she denied it, but why was Gladys so hell-bent on getting Cody arrested and sent to prison? And does he think it’s just a coincidence that Gladys sold Brando’s garage to a holding company controlled by Selina Wu?

Dex says, Josslyn caught him. He’ll be here soon. He kisses her, and she says, he? He says, the super. In case she didn’t notice, the power is out in the building. She says, the lights are on in the hall, but he says, auxiliary batteries. First scorching day of the year, and everybody turns their AC on full blast, and the wiring in this old building can’t take it. She asks, how long until the super fixes it? and he says, it usually takes a few hours. She says she kind of likes the candles, and he says, how about the heat? She says she’s sure they can find some way to deal with it, but first, she needs to know what’s going on. He says, the only reason he didn’t want her to come was because of the heat, and she says she hasn’t heard from him in 32 hours 46 minutes and 37 seconds, and he asks if she’s counting the hours. She says, he left her alone at the MetroCourt pool yesterday because Sonny called him. Sonny had a job for him – on his day off – and he said it would be a very safe, simple task. She didn’t hear from him until an hour ago. What’s going on? He says, it was just a surveillance job. It took longer than he expected. She says she knows there’s more. Please tell her. He says he found a dead body tonight.

Michael wonders if this is the kind of excitement Willow had in mind when she married him, but she says, it’s better. What about him? He says, being here together, folding their kids’ laundry, who’d have thought something like this could be so perfect? She says, it was one of the things she thought about when she was waiting for the bone marrow transplant, and Michael and I both say, folding laundry? She says she knows it’s silly, but it was the little things that she may never get to do that kept her up at night. She took comfort in thinking about being with him and their kids, doing the little things. Somehow, it gave her hope. She didn’t want to close her eyes because she thought she may never open them again. But she couldn’t sleep tonight because she knows now that she’s going to live, and she never wants to miss a single moment like this. He takes her hand.

Portia tells Curtis that she thinks this is too much too soon. It’s only his second day of recovery after his surgery, so… He says, this is not about the surgery. This is not about recovery. She says, but he’s asking her to leave him. It just doesn’t make any sense. He says he’s not asking, and she says she’s not leaving. She’s his wife. He says, on paper maybe, but they never consummated the marriage, so an annulment should be no problem. She says she’s not giving him an annulment. She knows he’s hurting right now, but she loves him. Big baby Curtis asks if she loved him when she found out he kissed Jordan, and she tells him, don’t do that please, but he says, no. Did she love him when she couldn’t stand to look at him for weeks on end? When was the last time they even spoke to each other before he became Curtis the victim. And when they did speak, what did they say? She says, they had an issue, yes. She wanted to make sure he didn’t still have feelings for his ex-wife, but when she saw him laying by the pool (that would be lying, but I’ll let it pass), and she thought she might lose him… He says, she thought what? Oh, this poor sucker needs me now? He has news for her – he doesn’t. He doesn’t need her pity.

Sam asks if she’s seeing something that’s not here, and Dante says, it’s not like Gladys is some criminal mastermind. Brando’s garage was sitting there, waiting to be sold. Maybe Selina Wu offered the most money for it. She says, what about when Cody and Spinelli tried to bluff Gladys into changing her witness statement? Spinelli said, Gladys wasn’t budging until Selina Wu stepped in and patched things up. Selina takes Gladys’s side, then she changes her witness statement and drops the charges against Cody? Coincidence? He says, there might be a connection, but does that mean Gladys has anything to do with Sasha stabbing Cody? Unless she’s got some proof. Sam says she doesn’t like Gladys, and he laughs. She says, Gladys just rubs her the wrong way. And before he says it, she knows as a P.I., she should never let her personal feelings get in the way of a case, but she doesn’t like Gladys. She gets the feeling Sonny doesn’t either. Maybe he only tolerates her because of Mike and Brando. He says, now Sasha, and she says, yes. He says, she knows how Sonny is with family, and she says, Dante wasn’t there when Mike went through his worst with Alzheimer’s. It killed Sonny seeing his father suffer that way. So maybe that made him more tolerant of Gladys. Dante says, it’s possible, and she says, on one hand, out of nowhere, Sasha stabs Cody. Then on the other hand, Gladys hates Cody, and tries to get him arrested and sent to prison for stealing a bracelet. Then she forms this relationship with Selina. Sam is desperate to form a connection. He says, she’s not the only one.

Portia says, Curtis told her last night in the ICU that he came to the MetroCourt pool because of something Sam said; that you never get enough time to spend with the ones you love. He told her that he loved her. Curtis says he was on heavy medication. He didn’t think… Never mind. She says, he didn’t think there was a possibility he may never walk again? but he tells her, that’s not what he was going to say. She sits on the bed, and says, he got a devastating prognosis last night. And she had to deliver it to him. She’s had to do that before with other patients, and they all react differently, but some of them react the same way he did; going on the internet, looking at all these worst-case scenarios. It just left them feeling like… He says, why doesn’t she stop telling him how he’s supposed to feel? and she says she’s trying to explain something to him. That he’s not the only spinal surgery patient to react this way, but he couldn’t be more wrong about why she’s here. She doesn’t pity him – he lets out a sigh, which he’s been doing periodically – she’s here because she loves him. He says, just stop, but she says, no, because he feels alone right now, but he’s not alone. She’s right here. Her, him, and Trina, they’re going to face this together. Big baby Curtis says, there is no way in hell that’s happening. Man, he is annoying the crap out of me.

Dex tells Josslyn that he saw this guy at the hospital. He matched the description of a guy who Sonny saw harassing Austin the night before. That might have been who Austin was talking to when Elizabeth caught him outside his office. Dex called Sonny, decided to follow him, and when he got outside, he found the guy’s body in the alley. Josslyn says (in case we didn’t get it the first time), so Sonny had Dex following Austin, then Austin had a meeting with some guy in his office, and a few minutes later, the guy was dead? Dex says, yeah. Isn’t she going to ask him? She says, ask him what? and he says, if I killed him.

Ava tells Sonny, Nikolas was enraged. He was so full of hatred. He said, by giving Spencer that recording, she had taken his baby away from him. She tried to reason with him, but he said he was going to take Avery away from her. He said he was a Cassadine, and there were place he could go where she’d never find Avery. And the last thing he said was, I’m going to tell Avery that you said goodbye. He started to leave, and she had to stop him. Sonny asks how she stopped him, and she says, there was a little statue on the table. Not thinking, she grabbed it, and she hit him. And he fell… and he was… Sonny says, dead. She nods, and he asks if she’s going to tell him how this Mason guy fits in here.

Portia says, Curtis told her that he wanted to know more about Trina. He said he wanted to get to know her better. He said… Curtis says, will she stop telling him about what he said before and listen? Listen to what he’s saying now. He will not be a burden to Trina. In fact, he thinks it’s best if he doesn’t see her again. Oh come on. It’s not like she has to tote him around, and they certainly have enough money to do whatever. Portia gets up and says, their daughter was sitting outside that ICU room for 24 hours straight. She was desperate to hear any word about how her father was doing. Trina broke down when she told Portia that the first words he said after waking up were, where’s my daughter? He has no idea how much that meant to her. She wants to be here. She wants to help him. She wants to support him. He says, parents are supposed to support their children, not the other way around. Just because he’s Trina’s father doesn’t mean she should be stuck nursing a pathetic man in a wheelchair. Portia asks if he knows how many people have suffered the same injury he has. And much worse. Some of them are in a wheelchair, yes. Some of them aren’t so lucky, but their lives are far from pathetic. They know their lives might not be what they’d once been, but they didn’t quit. They didn’t give up on their families. Is that what he’s going to do? If he can’t be the father he wants to be for Trina, then he’s not going to be a father at all?

Ava tells Sonny that she checked to see if Nikolas had a pulse, and just as she realized he didn’t, Austin started banging on the door. Sonny says, she let him in? and she says she tried to get rid of him; he wouldn’t leave. She told him that she had a business call and sent him up here to wait. She went down and got a wheelbarrow and brought Nikolas down to the tack room. She put him in a storage closet there and locked the door. She turned around, and Austin was standing there. He’d seen everything. Sonny asks if that’s when he blackmailed her, but she says, no. He helped her.

Josslyn says, Dex didn’t kill him, and he says he didn’t think she thought so, but… She says, he never would have told her anything if he had, because he wouldn’t want to lie to her. She knows he’s always going to do everything in his power to protect her. He says, everything? and she asks if the body’s still there. He says, no. He called Sonny, and Sonny told him to call the cops. She says, what? and he says he was surprised too. He figured Sonny would tell him to walk away, but Sonny told him to call the cops and tell them what happened. She asks, why? and he says he’s not sure. Maybe because it was right outside GH, and Sonny thought the surveillance cameras caught him. Maybe he wanted the body found for some reason? Either way, Dex is sure Sonny didn’t think the cop that would show up would be his son. She asks if Dante hassled him, and he says, Dante questioned him, and he told him exactly what Sonny wanted him to say. She asks if Dante thought Dex killed this guy. He’s the one who called it in. Dex says, he was just doing his job. But Dante knows he works for Sonny, and if any of Sonny’s guys had called it in, Dante would have been suspicious. He’s also very protective of Josslyn. She says she gets that, but she doesn’t need his protection. He says, Dante loves his father, but he knows a lot of what Sonny does, what he does, isn’t exactly legal. Dante’s just worried he’ll drag her into it somehow. Josslyn says, nothing and nobody is ever going to come between them, and they kiss.

Willow says, Michael helped her so much. His love was so important. Doctors talk about patients having the will to live. That’s what he and the kids gave her. He says, she fought so hard, and she says, because of him, and Wiley and Amelia. And because she was so determined to have moments like this. Deep down, she knew she might not win that battle, but she also knew that if she didn’t, Wiley and Amelia would be okay, because they had him; a father who would love them, put them first, and protect them. He says, when she wanted to talk about a future without her, he had to make himself say the things she wanted to hear. She says she remembers it was hard for him, and he says, they had to talk it through. She was weak and he had to reassure her, but never in his heart did he accept losing her. Maybe it was denial or clinging to hope, but he couldn’t imagine life without her. Now he doesn’t have to. She says, so he’s basically saying he was right all along, and he says he usually is, kissing her.

Sam asks why Dante was home late, and he says, someone reported a dead body in the alley outside GH. She says, any witnesses? and he says, one. He was sort of cooperative; he had a pretty convincing story. She says, story? Sounds like he’s not convinced. Does he know the guy? He says, Dex Heller. One of Sonny’s guys finds a dead body in the alleyway, who does she think his first call is to? She says, Sonny, and he says, right. And what does Sonny probably tell him? To walk away, right? But instead, Sonny told him to call the cops. Why would he do that? She asks if there was an ID on the body, and he says, yeah, but that’s on a need-to-know basis. She says, okay. So this on top of Cody getting stabbed. She thinks maybe they need a little distraction. I need a little distraction from the squeaky sounds their couch is making as they move around on it, and start getting busy. There’s a knock at the door, and Sam says, go away, but it’s persistent. Dante gets up, and opens the door to Cody, who says, what’s going on? Then falls inside.

Wiley is concerned that if Willow goes to his baseball game, it’s dirty and some of the kids will have germs. He doesn’t want her to get sick again. Michael says he’s amazing to be so concerned about his mom, but she’s getting stronger by the day. Willow says, the doctor told her that her immune system is getting stronger too. That’s what fights off the nasty germs. So she might not be able to come to his game next week or the week after, but she’ll definitely be there before the season’s over. Wiley says, then he’ll have his dad and his mom there, and Michael says, he sure will, but right now it’s very getting late. So finish his cookie, and then he has to go back to bed. Wiley says, it isn’t fair. Why does he have to sleep when everyone else is awake? Michael says, Amelia is asleep. Amelia starts to cry, Wiley says, uh-oh, and Willow laughs.

Curtis says, Portia is Trina’s mom. She shouldn’t want Trina tied down with him either. She’s a young woman in college. Portia should be encouraging her to get out there and live her life. She says, he can still be a part of Trina’s life. He’s still here. He says he can’t move his legs. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to walk again. He’s not the man she fell in love with, and he’s damn sure not the man who saved Trina from Victor Cassadine. And he can’t be anything less. She says, it’s just going to be different, that’s all, and he says, how? Pity? Consolation? Support? He doesn’t want any of that, least of all from his daughter. She says, they just want to be here for him, and he says he’s the one who’s living this. If she really wants to help, she’ll walk out the door and not come back.

Just a thought, but he would always be less than the man who saved Trina from Victor Cassadine. It’s not like it was going to happen again. Well, on a soap, it might, but you know what I mean. Curtis is just being a big baby, and it’s driving me nuts.

Sonny asks why Austin would want to help Ava, and she says, he tried to get her to call the cops. She convinced him that they’d never believe her; everybody knew how angry she was at Nikolas. He says, that’s for sure, and she says, after a while, Austin agreed to keep quiet, and they decided to leave Nikolas in the storage closet and decide what to do later. Then so much happened. Laura showed up here looking for Nikolas, and Ava realized she had to find a way to convince everybody he’d left town. Then she had to go to go to Portia’s wedding. She couldn’t afford to raise suspicions at all. He says, and all the while, Nikolas’s body is in the storage closet, and she says, yeah. She and Austin agreed to meet after the wedding. They decided they’d bury Nikolas in the Pine Barrens. It’s the safest place. That was the night Ryan and Heather showed up, and all hell broke loose. Austin was hooked and she shot Ryan, and Esme gave birth to Nikolas’s baby, and Heather… He says he gets it. It was a complicated night. She says, it certainly was, and then the cops came, swarming the island, looking for clues as to exactly what happened. it wasn’t long before they started to search the tack room. He says, and they found a locked storage closet, and she says she and Austin were there; they were jumping out of their skins. She tried to stall them. She told them she didn’t have a key. That wasn’t a problem for Dante though; he pried the door open with a crowbar. He says, and no Nikolas, and she says, at first she thought she didn’t kill him after all. Then a few minutes later, Mason started toying with them. He said he’d followed them out to the island that night, and he’d seen everything. Sonny says, and he took Nikolas’s body, and she says, with her DNA all over it. He’s been blackmailing her ever since. Sonny says, to spy on him.

Dante helps Cody to the sofa, and Sam asks what he’s doing out of the hospital. Cody says he checked himself out, and Dante says, they’re going to check him back in. Sam says she’s calling GH, but Cody says, no doctors, no hospital. Dante says, Cody is in rough shape, but Cody says he’s okay. He just overdid it a little. Sam says, they’re taking him back to GH, and he says he was in the hospital after Sasha stabbed him. If he goes back, it will just be worse for her, and she didn’t mean to hurt him. Sam said it herself; none of this makes any sense. Sam leaves to get the first aid kit, and Dante asks if Cody is sure he knows what he’s doing.

Amelia on her knee, Willow says she loves Wiley’s daddy so much, that’s how she knew she had to come home. She’s not going anywhere, so he has no reason to be afraid now. He asks if he can stay up all night, and Michael says, he can stay up as long as Amelia does. He tells Amelia, stay awake.

Cody’s wound is rebandaged, and he says he’s not going back to the hospital. Dante says, he has to understand something. Sasha’s already in Ferncliff for what she did to him. Him dying will make it worse for her, so maybe leaving the hospital wasn’t the greatest move. Cody says he knows. He just thought… He doesn’t know what he thought. None of this makes any sense. Sam says she doesn’t disagree with Cody, but Sasha stabbed him in front of a lot of witnesses. Her being at Ferncliff is what’s best for her and everyone else. Cody says, she doesn’t belong there, and Dante says, if that’s the case, they’ll figure that out. Oh yeah, sure they will. The same place that mistook Doc for Ryan for years. Cody says, Sasha was doing so well. She was getting stronger, then all of a sudden, out of nowhere… Sam says, Sasha is fragile, but Cody says, she isn’t fragile. She was doing so well, and it happened out of nowhere. He would bet everything he has that this has something to do with Gladys. Dante says, nothing is going to get solved tonight, and Cody needs to rest up. Cody says, he’s right. He’s sorry for crashing in on them. He’ll call a car to take him back to the Q’s. Dante and Sam make some faces at each other, and Sam rolls her eyes and goes upstairs.

Dex and Josslyn feed each other fruit (?), and she says, he still looks pretty hot. She rubs an ice cube on his chest and says, this better? He says, getting better and better. She looks hot too. He slides an ice cube up her arm to her neck and kisses her. They get busy. I’m finding this more awkwardly forced than romantic. Is this from the non-union writers?

Sonny gives Ava a martini, and she thanks him. He says he thinks she earned it. She’s been through hell. She says, it’s still there. She told him, Mason wants all the information he can get on Sonny and this Pikeman company. She told Mason that she couldn’t come up with anything, and that’s when he came up with the idea to replace Avery’s nanny with Betty. Betty said if Ava didn’t cooperate, they’d hurt her mother. She thinks they already have her. He says, nothing’s going to happen to Delia, but she says she doesn’t know if it’s going to be that easy. She knows Sonny is powerful, but Mason is genuinely afraid of these people that he works for, so they’ve got to be pretty powerful too. He says, don’t worry about it, and she says, okay, but remember the part where Mason has Nikolas’s body. She doesn’t want anything to happen to her mother, but she doesn’t want to go to prison. He says, she’s not going to prison. Her mother’s going to be safe. He’s going to take care of everything. He promises. I want a Sonny.

Curtis asks if Portia knows what he’s been thinking about the last 24 hours he’s been stuck in this bed. She says, please don’t do it, but he says he’s been thinking about what his life would have been like today if it weren’t for her lies. Even if he were stuck in a wheelchair, he would have known his daughter for twenty years now. Twenty years she took from him. She says she’s sorry. She explained to him… He says, sorry doesn’t matter now. Those years are gone because of her. He can never have them back. (I’m thinking, well, you’ve got plenty of time to catch up now…) Right now, he doesn’t give a good damn whether she wants to stay with him out of guilt, pity, or because she wants the insurance money – it ain’t happening. He doesn’t trust her. He doesn’t know her. And he doesn’t want her. Get out. He yells that he said get out, and she leaves.

Willow and Wiley are asleep on the sofa, and Michael asks if Amelia finds this memo as fascinating as he does. It’s the last one and he promises they’ll go off to Dreamland just like those two. Her mother and brother are pretty amazing. So is she. Her dad just happens to be the luckiest guy in the world.

Cody sleeps on the sofa, and Sam and Dante turn out the lights. In the hallway, Dante says he’s sorry he has a friend who thinks he can show up at any time. She tells him, stop it. Cody’s lucky to have a friend like him. Dante says, he has bad timing, and Sam says she thinks he’s going to sleep well tonight. They kiss, and she says, there’s no reason why they can’t pick up where they left off. He says, that’s the second best idea yet, picks her up, and carries her upstairs.

Dex and Josslyn get busy in bed as the candles burn down. Hey, where’s that super?

Ava leans against the parapet and remembers Sonny saying he’s going to take care of everything. He promises. She says she hopes he means that.

In his car on the phone, Sonny says he needs them to find somebody for him… Dead? Sure. Alive would be better.

Tomorrow, Curtis asks someone for a favor; Sam asks how Molly would feel if she never had kids; Felicia asks, what on earth is going on in here; Carly tells Nina that she’s going to get back every single thing she’s lost; and at Ferncliff, Sasha calls out, asking if anyone can hear her.

👨‍❤️‍👨 Still Going Strong…

I liked his Nikolas better than the other Nikolases. Nikoli? The part really suited him.

💌 Passing It On…

It’s amazing how he’s used his illness to help others, both on the show and off.

The Real Nightmare Housewives of Orange County

I saw Emily on Watch What Happens Live just before I watched this, and I dunno. She’s super thin, and claims she just used Ozempic to give her a jump start, then worked her ass off in the gym and changed her diet. She looks good, but doesn’t look like herself. The weird part is, I’d just been thinking how pretty she looks and how much like a Disney princess with those hairbands. Not anymore. She’s too slinky to be a Disney princess.

Shane gets his nose hairs waxed, and I can’t watch. Emily’s hoping everyone has a great time and relaxes at her pool party, and asks, how you can be fighting when there’s an adult Slip N Slide? Where there’s a Tamra, there’s a way. Jenn brings son Greyson to meet Taylor and her daughters Kennedy and Alexis for some boardwalk fun. In Jenn’s interview, she says, Taylor feels like they’re long lost sisters from Oklahoma. They take a ferry to the boardwalk action, and have corndogs. I think about the corndog I’m planning on eating at this year’s county fair. Taylor passes on the corndog because of her cotton candy reputation. She can just imagine. Shannon joins them.

Tamra meets Fancy Pants Heather for coffee, and wears camo pants I could live without. Fancy Pants says she felt like she was on an apology tour when they were at dinner, and Tamra says, the Jenn thing is fuzzy. Jenn assumes the stories Tamra is getting about Ryan are from a non-Fancy Pants Heather, who claims she and Ryan were just friends prior to Jenn hooking up with him. Tamra has some stupid idea about getting them together and the three of them being friends like they used to be. Jenn says, Tamra’s airing of her past dirty laundry is causing problems in her relationship, and Shannon identifies with the others discussing a relationship they’re not a part of. We flash back to various discussions about John.

Gina and Travis meet Matt and his new girlfriend, along with the kids, and in her interview, Gina says she loves having a big, blended family. The whole thing is pretty boring, as she goes blah-blah-blah about how she helped Matt since it was best for the family. She says, it wasn’t about making it go away, but learning to live with it.

Emily and Tamra meet for drinks, and I still don’t understand why Emily didn’t make a break for it while she could, since she’s now been replaced by a thinner, more swanky clone. Emily asks if Tamra’s relationship with Shannon is the same as it used to be, and Tamra says, it’s getting there. Emily tells Tamra that Fancy Pants was talking about Shannon’s relationship, and Tamra says, it makes her feel like Fancy Pants isn’t a good friend, and Shannon needs to know. Emily asks Tamra not to throw her under the bus, which is probably like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

Ryan seems supportive… The pool party commences, and Taylor suggests Jenn might like to be in a relationship without everyone else’s input. In Fancy Pants’ interview, she says she loves that Emily is assertive, but it’s off-putting when she shifts to being aggressive. Since Emily doesn’t mean it, she can get past it – usually. Like Fancy Pants has never been for real aggressive. Cue the video of her kicking everyone out of her house and pushing people aside before the entrée was even served. Jenn, dressed like she’s going to a funeral complete with hat and veil, is skeptical about being at a party with Tamra, but in Emily’s interview, she says, Tamra was drunk, and they’ve all been there. We flash back to each of them drunk to the point of more stupidity than usual. Emily not quite admits that she and Shane made sex tapes, and in Fancy Pants’ interview she said she doesn’t even like seeing herself on sitcoms.

Other Heather and Jenn have a sit down. Heather says, Jenn threatened her and was assuming she was the source of the Ryan gossip. We flash back to Tamra relaying everything to Jenn, saying, Heather told her, and Heather says, Jenn plays dumb. No surprise, the others discuss them as they watch from a distance, and Fancy Pants gives a report. In Tamra’s interview, she says, the whole reason she brought non-Fancy Pants Heather is because she wanted the three of them to talk it out. I’m not sure who she thinks she’s kidding. Nobody ever talks anything out on this show. They pretend to sometimes, but then it’s back on the merry-go-round. Heather tells Jenn that if she found out her man did what Ryan did, her heart would be broken, and in Jenn’s interview, she says, it’s not like it’s a Nancy Drew mystery, where she’s getting new information. Heather asks where her feelings are, when Shannon inserts herself, saying maybe Jenn wants to keep things between her and Ryan. (The nerve!) Emily comes by to check in, presumably as hostess, but come on. Other Heather says, Jenn isn’t standing up for herself and she loves Jenn. At this point, everyone is squeezed in there, and on the side, Taylor says she feels like she’s married to Ryan and she’s sick of him. Tamra tells Jenn that she overdrank, and apologizes. She says she just wants Jenn to be honest and strong. Jenn says she and Ryan didn’t know where things were going to end up, and they were taking some time. However, her idea of taking time wasn’t taking time with other people. What she didn’t need though, was everyone bringing it up again. In her interview, she says, the cycle is repeating itself. A Slip N Slide came out, along with a champagne gun.

This was so stupid I can’t even. The water got disgusting pretty quickly, and in Emily’s interview, she says, everyone in Orange County has a spray tan, and every pool party has brown water. Blech. Jenn makes an early exit, and in her interview, she says she’s exhausted. She can’t fake it as well as some of these people. Fancy Pants puts on a wetsuit to use the slide so her body doesn’t touch the ick. In her interview, Emily says, she’d envisioned a pool party with hot friends in bikinis. What she got was Shannon in Spanx, and Fancy Pants looking like a whale trainer at SeaWorld. It’s not Girls Gone Wild. It’s not even Cougars Gone Wild. It’s not even Grannies Gone Wild. It’s Nobody’s Gone Wild.

Jenn and Ryan go to a healer/therapist where the healer makes weird ohm-ish sounds. Their eyes are closed, but Ryan looks like he’s going to laugh, and I can’t blame him. Gina confesses in her interview that she buys jarred sauce, and tells Travis that she got approved to take the real estate exam. She’s going to shadow some agents in the meantime. In Gina’s interview, she says, passing her first exam was a confidence boost. Travis asks if she’s happy that her life took a turn, and she tells him that quitting drinking played a huge part in her processing the trauma she’d gone through. It scares her to think of being stuck in her former life because she’s so happy. Travis says, it’s a real fresh start.

Tamra and Shannon meet with Vicki for drinks and food (mostly drinks), and Vicki, who’s dating new man Michael, actually looks pretty good. Tamra was also on WWHL tonight, and she and Emily agreed that they thought Vicki would be back on the show. I don’t know if they had some inside knowledge or they were just throwing it out there, but Andy didn’t disagree. Shannon says, the tres amigas are back, and in Shannon’s interview, she says, it’s elevated to crazy fun when she gets together with Tamra and Vicki. They tequila up, and we flash back to all the shots they’ve ever had together. At least it felt that way. Shannon says she had a rocky year with Fancy Pants, but now it was better, and Tamra wonders if Fancy Pants can be trusted. Shannon says she believes Heather has a vault, but Tamra thinks otherwise. It gets confusing here, because out of the blue, Shannon tells Tamra, don’t bring it up. She and Tamra leave the table, and Shannon tells Tamra that her relationship is over if whatever-it-is is aired. Okay, they got my attention, but then…  

To be continued…

🍊 Going Deeper…

Although, how deep can it really get? This clarifies the end a little more, but not really.

https://people.com/real-housewives-of-orange-county-shannon-storms-beador-says-heather-dubrow-will-destroy-relationship-while-tamra-judge-apologies-fall-short-7566002

🍸 VanderStrange…

Lala dishes on the upcoming season.

https://people.com/lala-kent-calls-vanderpump-rules-season-11-strangest-yet-teases-twist-7566114

🚣‍♀️ With Help Like That…

This is actually a pretty fun show. They keep calling Sonja and LuAnn celebrities, so I guess they don’t get out much.

https://www.salon.com/2023/07/22/luann-and-sonja-welcome-to-crappie-lake-an-indicator-of-just-how-little-class-money-can-buy/

🐩 I Wouldn’t Normally…

While I’m not a fan of all those K’s, this pup definitely gets a heart-eyes emoji from me.

https://people.com/kim-kardashian-dog-sushi-wears-fluffy-pink-sweater-photo-7564510

🐵 Congratulations, Sully…

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes… well, this happens.

https://people.com/shock-twist-at-columbus-zoo-as-male-gorilla-gives-birth-to-baby-girl-7564204

🏰 Best and Final…

Make a return trip tomorrow for soap and teatime. Until then, stay safe, stay not occupying more space than you need on public transport, and stay not going on the internet and looking at worst case scenarios if you’ve gotten a devastating prognosis. Or probably any prognosis.

July 25, 2023 – Brook Makes a Bet With Chase, Final Molly, NJ Share, VanderClose, Shady But Smart, Odd Pets (!) & Night

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase brings Brook out to the pool, and she asks what they’re doing here. He says, there’s nowhere to dance in the restaurant, and he wants to dance with her. He spins her around, sings to her, and they dance. He dips her, and looking up, says, they can’t be here. They’ve got to go.

Portia goes into Curtis’s room, and says, hello, you handsome man. She could have sworn she told him to stay off the cellphone. He says he found a new website; this one from Harvard. He thinks he might be on to something. She tells him, please stop, and takes the phone out of his hand. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, saving him from himself.

Finn’s table is ready, and he and Elizabeth are seated. He tells her that she looks stunning, and she thanks him. She says, it seems busy here tonight. It’s a beautiful night; everyone wants to be outside. He says he can ask if they can have a table outside, but she says, no. She didn’t mean… She’s good. They’re fine in here. She doesn’t know why she’s nervous. It’s not like they haven’t had dinner before. He says, if it makes her feel any better, he’s nervous too. Don’t tell him that they’re finally on the same page. She says, it’s a really nice way to start over again; to be on the same page.

Dex tries to rouse Gordon, and says, hey! He kicks Gordon’s leg, but there’s no response. He takes out his phone.

Ava says, Sonny’s not interrupting. She’d like him to meet Betty. She’s the potential nanny for Avery. Betty shakes his hand, and says, what a pleasure to meet him. He says, it’s good to meet her. There’s nothing more important than his daughter. She says, of course (🍷), and his phone rings. He sees it’s Dex, and asks them to excuse him for a second. He leaves, and Betty tells Ava, remember their deal. She either sells Betty to Avery’s dad that she’s the perfect nanny, or someone she loves dearly will pay the price.

In the foyer, Sonny says he’s in the middle of something. This better be important. Dex says, unfortunately it is, and Sonny asks, what’s going on? Dex says, they have a problem.

Betty says, as a reminder, she’s going to need full access to Sonny’s penthouse. She’s done her part and provided Ava with a flawless résumé. She even has references to vouch for Betty’s her work as a nanny. Ava just needs to convince Sonny that she’s the ideal candidate to take care of Avery. Because if Ava doesn’t sell her, that phone call to Delia will be the last time Ava ever hears her mom’s voice again.

Sonny says he hopes Dex is clear on how he’s going to handle this… Great. Call him with an update. Sonny goes back into the living room, and says, sorry about that. Now where were they? Betty says, he doesn’t have to apologize. She’s so appreciative of the opportunity to be interviewed by him. From everything Ava tells her, becoming Avery’s nanny sounds like the perfect fit for her. Don’t worry. She’s worked with non-married parents before. She’s used to making sure both mom and dad are always happy with her work. Sonny says he’d love to hear what they’ve already discussed about Avery and her needs, and Ava says, anything. It’s really one of the most memorable interviews she’s conducted. Sonny smiles.

The waiter asks if he can start Finn and Elizabeth off with cocktails. Perhaps a bottle of wine? Elizabeth says, a bottle won’t be necessary, but she’d love a glass of cabernet, and Finn says he’ll have the sparkling water. The waiter leaves, and Finn thanks Elizabeth for ordering what she wanted. Sometimes it’s awkward for a non-addict to be out with a recovering addict. They feel like they have to abstain. Like somehow ordering a glass of wine will be a temptation for him. He appreciates her not treating him that way, and also doesn’t want to spend the evening talking about him not drinking, which is exactly what he’s doing, isn’t it? She says, how about if tonight is just about them spending time together? She thinks that’s the point of what they’re trying to do. She’s missed spending time with him. He says he’s missed her.

Portia says, all the websites Curtis is trying to get information on, he doesn’t know if the information is true or not, and he says he didn’t want to just sit here helpless, wondering what comes next. She says, medical website after medical website. She thought he’d at least be checking the baseball game scores or something. It’s not healthy. He says, baseball scores don’t seem all that important at this point, and she says, he’s been glued to this phone almost 24 hours straight, and she knows it’s probably making him a little bit crazy. He says, what’s making him crazy is taking test after test for the last 24 hours, and not getting any news on the results, good or bad. Not a damn thing. He can’t move his legs, and yes, he’s finding the internet a little more helpful than his doctors. She says, his doctors don’t want to give him a premature diagnosis, and he says, some information is better than none. She says, but the information he’s getting online… Isn’t it better to talk a doctor with an actual medical degree? He says he feels like he’s being handled. Does she think that’s helping him? She says she understands what he’s saying. She doesn’t know how he feels, but she can imagine he’s feeling like his life is out of control. She knows him, and knows that has to be hard for him, but going on the internet and looking at these websites… Can’t he see that he’s torturing himself? He says, it’s his phone. It’s his injury. It’s his choice. He wants his phone back. She says she’ll give him his phone back under one condition.

Chase and Brook look at the Pool Area Closed sign, and Brook wonders why they closed the pool on such a beautiful night. He says he doesn’t know. He guesses he could go inside and see if there are any tables available. She says, or they could stay out here and pretend they didn’t see the sign, but he says he’s a police officer. She says, who’s off-duty, but he says he’s still a cop. It’s literally his job to enforce the rules. She says, yes, but she’s a Quartermaine, and they break the rules. Besides, her Uncle Sonny’s fiancé owns half the MetroCourt, and the other half is owned by her dad’s wife… even though her dad doesn’t currently know who he is or won’t admit it. He asks, how is the Eddie Maine situation? and she says, whether her dad knows who he is or not is not going to be solved tonight. Tonight is just about them. So in light of her special standing with the MetroCourt owners, will he please just break the rules with her just this once?

Ava tells Sonny that Betty has a degree in Early Childhood Development, and her references are excellent. And like Betty said, she has experience in working with kids who split their time within parents, so she understands the rules might be a little bit different in each home. He says, sounds good, and Ava says, Betty’s warm and friendly, and she’s confident Betty would be a very good fit for Avery. Sonny asks if Ava talked to her about Avery’s hobbies, and Ava says, of course (🍷). They talked about how Avery loves crafts, and Betty is a bit of a budding artist herself. And they talked about outings at children’s museums. Sonny says he knows Avery is going to miss Pilar, but this confidence Ava has in Betty goes a long way in persuading him.

Dante shows up in the alley, and says, so Dex is the one who called in a dead body. Dex says he’s not totally sure he’s dead. He didn’t want to touch the body, but he seems dead. Bennet joins them, and asks, where is it? Dex says, follow him, and takes them to Gordon. Dante puts on gloves and checks Gordon’s pulse, and says, yep, he’s a dead guy. He turns Gordon over, and there’s blood on the front of his shirt. Dante says, they’re going to need forensics down here, and Bennet says he’s on it. He leaves, and Dante asks what Dex thinks. Does Dex recognize him? Does Dex think he could be a known associate of Sonny’s?

Portia gives Curtis back his phone, giggles, and leaves.

Finn gets a text from the babysitter, and says he’ll ignore it, but Elizabeth insists he check his phone. He tells her the text said Violet went to bed on time, no problem. This is the time when she negotiates for staying up later or extra stories. Just like that, and not ask for anything? There’s something going on. She says, there are no problems with the boys either, and asks if he told Violet they were going out to dinner. He says he did. Did she tell the boys? She says, no, but she has the feeling Violet may have told them.

Chase and Brook come back to the pool with drinks, and Chase says he’s never had an old fashioned. Brook says, it’s one of her favorite summertime drinks, and he takes a sip, saying, it is good. They sit on chaise lounges, and she says, it’s nice having the pool all to themselves. He says, as long as they don’t get busted, and Brook says she’s going to ask Chase’s dad if he was always such a rule follower. Chase says, then he’s going to ask Ned if she was always such a rule breaker, and she says she bets he’d say she was. Now that she thinks about it, both of her parents encouraged her to break the rules, in their own ways. He says he actually went through a rebellious phase, and she says she’ll need to know more details. He says he can prove it. He had a motorcycle. He used to go skinny-dipping in the lake, and he’d spend all night at the casino. She says, him on a motorcycle, very hot. The gambling, she could take it or leave it, but the skinny-dipping? She doesn’t believe it. He says, Scout’s honor, and she says, prove it.

Betty leaves, and Sonny asks Ava, what’s going on? but she says, nothing is going on. He knows she hasn’t been happy with Pilar, and she’s trying to find a nanny they can agree on. He says, stop right there. Who’s that Betty woman, and what does she have on you?

Curtis reads, unfortunately, there’s no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord. Treatment can improve this person’s quality of life, but this condition can’t be cured. Portia comes back with a takeout shopping bag, and says she has their dinner. She knows it’s piping hot because she waited at the front door for the delivery guy to drop it off. She starts setting up the food, and says she’s sure they thought she was waiting for an ambulance with a patient in it. Curtis opens his container and takes a bite of spaghetti. He says, it’s good, and puts the container back down. He says, good call. Much better than hospital food. He feels better already.

Finn says, so Elizabeth thinks Violet told Jake and Aiden that they were on a date tonight? She says, look at this text from Jake, and he reads, enjoy dinner, mom. She says she didn’t tell him that she was having dinner. She just said she’d be home later. He says, so Violet texted Jake and Aiden, and said they were out to dinner. So be on their best behavior, so there wouldn’t be any reason to end the date early. She says, those boys would do anything for her, but to give them fair credit, ever since Cameron went away to college, they’ve gotten really good at taking care of themselves. He asks how much she misses Cam, and she says she tries not to focus on him being gone. It’s not like he was home much anyway; between soccer, and working at Kelly’s, and dating Josslyn. The good news is, he’s thriving at school, and every text she gets, he sounds incredibly happy. She thinks it’s fair to say he’s living his best life. He says he’s glad Cam’s having a good time, but she glossed over his question. She says she misses him so much, it physically hurts.

Forensics does their thing, and Dante asks Dex if the guy works for Sonny or not. Dex says, Dante will have to ask his dad himself. Bennet asks how Dex wound up in this alley, and Dex says he was leaving General Hospital and walking home. Bennet says, through an alley? but Dex says he wasn’t cutting through the alley. He went to throw his cup away in the dumpster and saw the guy’s feet sticking out. Bennet asks if that’s when he called the police, but Dex says, no. He decided he needed a few more details, so he moved closer to the man’s body and saw that he wasn’t moving. That’s when he called it in. Dante says, so tell him, what was he doing at General Hospital?

Sonny says, Ava is scared; he can tell. And it takes a lot to frighten her. She says she really thought she was covering it better than that, and he says, for most people, but not for him. He was just playing along, saying how perfect this nanny was. She says she’s glad he did, and he says, who are they threatening? She says her biological mother, Delia. She lives in Manhattan, and they said they would target her if Ava didn’t get this Betty in position with access to Sonny’s penthouse. He says, son of a bitch, and she says she’s sorry. She didn’t really have a choice. He says he needs more answers from her. Why are they making these threats against her? What do they have to do with him? And more important, if it involves his daughter, why is he hearing about this now?

Chase says, what does Brook mean, prove it? and she says, if he’s telling the truth and he’s so comfortable skinny-dipping, then he should have no problem getting in the pool and doing it right here. He says, what? and she laughs. She says she’s the only one here and she’s already seen it all. So go for it, bad boy. He says, okay. He’ll do it if she’ll join him. She says, this is his thing, and he says, chicken. She says she’s not chicken; she’s just being a lady. He says he has a better idea. How about a little friendly competition? Loser has to jump in the pool – buck naked. She says, he knows she loves a good challenge. What’s the bet?

Elizabeth tells Finn that she knows being in California is good for Cameron. Having his first love break his heart was so painful. He needs to start over. And now he’s on the soccer team. Finn says, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss him, and she says she’s already thinking it’s not that far away that Jake’s going to be in college. She can’t even imagine Aiden leaving her. They’re growing up. They’re becoming more independent by the day. He says, she did an amazing job raising him, and she thanks him. She says she’s really proud of them. It does make her sad that Cameron’s childhood is basically over, and soon Jake and Aiden’s will be too. She’s really grateful the Head Nurse position came around when it did. It’s going to keep her busy. He says, now she has less free time than anyone he knows, and she laughs. He says, can he ask her a question? Tell him all the things she’d do if she had all the time in the world.

Portia and Curtis finish dinner, and she says, it was good, wasn’t it? It makes her regret letting her cooking skills slide over the years. He says he didn’t realize how much she enjoyed cooking, and she says, especially when Trina was younger. She would arrange her work schedule so she’d be home in time to cook dinner. Then when Trina got home, she’d sit at the dining room table and do her homework while she cooked. It was kind of their time to connect and tell each other about their day. She says she’s sorry. She’s just realizing, he may not want to hear about Trina’s childhood, because he wasn’t there… He says he’s not feeling that way at all. He’s eager to learn about how Trina was growing up. It makes him happy to know they have such a special connection, and he wants to know all there is to know about his daughter. She says, good. She’ll be glad to let him know all there is to know about Trina’s past. Because Trina and Curtis are going to work out their future together. He says he knows that too.

Ava says, there’s a man, Mason Gatlin, and Sonny says, Gatlin as in Austin Gatlin-Holt? She says, apparently, he’s Austin’s cousin from Pautuck. He’s been pressuring – and by pressuring she means threatening – her to get information about Sonny and this company Pikeman. He says, there’s got to be more to the story than that, but she says she doesn’t know anything more. Mason is really just following orders of whoever’s pulling the strings. Mason told her to search Sonny’s penthouse. The only time she was left there alone, she tried, but of course (🍷) he keeps his home office locked. Then Pilar showed up so that put an end to any potential snooping. She told Mason that she couldn’t give him what he wanted, and he came up with the idea to replace Avery’s nanny with a nanny he could control. Sonny says, so this Mason is making threats against Ava to get information on him. Can she fill him in on one more thing? Where does her boyfriend Austin fit in to all this?

Chase tells Brook, they’re using this bowl of nuts as their competition. Whoever can throw and catch the most peanuts in their mouth, wins. The loser has to get in the pool, nekkid. She asks if he just said nekkid. He’s so immature. He says, they’re two grown adults making a bet about who’s going skinny-dipping in the pool of one of the nicest hotels. He thinks all of this is a little immature. She says, not to mention breaking the rules, and he says he already told her that he can break the rules. She’s says, okay, and he tells her to go first. She’s pretty good at this, and he asks if she practices at night. She finally misses one, and says, eight. He takes the bowl, and he’s not bad either. He tells her that he got nine in a row and it beats eight. She’s going in.

Bennet tells Dante that the dead guy’s license says his name is Gordon Stevens. They’re doing a record check to see if he has any prior arrests, and they’re still waiting on the official autopsy report. Dante tells Bennet to let him know when it comes back, and goes over to Dex, who asks if he’s free to go. Dante says, he’s not. He still hasn’t answered Dante’s question. What was he doing at GH? Dex says he was there checking on Curtis Ashford.

Ava tells Sonny, trust her. Masons been threatening and blackmailing Austin just like he’s been doing to her. Austin doesn’t want to have anything to do with his cousin, but so far, he hasn’t found a way to get out from under him. In fact, Austin’s been scrambling to help her. Sonny says, it was Austin who conveniently found Avery who was lost at the park, and Ava wasn’t just a concerned mother. She immediately insisted Avery was kidnapped. She says, Austin orchestrated the whole thing as a way for Sonny to lose faith in Pilar. She was no part of the plan; he did it on his own. She had no knowledge of it whatsoever. He says, so the goal was to get Pilar fired so she’d be replaced with a plant from Mason, is that right? Ava says, believe her. She was furious about it too, but please keep in mind Avery was never in any actual real danger. She wasn’t even frightened. She just ran off after a balloon. Sonny says, that’s why it makes sense that Pilar got that call from her grandma. Whatever differences he and Ava have had in the past, he knows she would never endanger their child. She says, of course (🍷) not, and he says, why did she not tell him about this the minute she heard they were planning on planting a nanny to take care of their daughter?

Portia tells Curtis that she doesn’t know if her pomodoro is as good as the restaurant’s, but hers was still good, if she does say so herself. Cooking for her loved ones always made her so happy. He says he can see that, and she says she thinks when Trina went off to college is when she stopped cooking. Her work schedule got so busy, and she relied more and more on take-out, and the food delivery apps are too convenient. But now that she’ll be cutting back on her hours at work, she’s going to make it a priority to be home in time to cook dinner. He asks, why exactly is she cutting back on work hours?

Brook says she thinks they should make it best two out of three, and Chase asks, why? He already won. Why would he mess with that? She asks if he’s saying he’s convinced he won’t beat her again, and he says, no. He’s saying he already won. Why would he gamble on a sure thing? Unless she’s saying she’s not willing to pay up on what they agreed on. She tells him, of course (🍷) she’s not saying that. A bet is a bet, and she never backs out of a bet. She starts to unbutton her dress, and says, what about the security cameras here? He says, she wasn’t concerned about security cameras when she thought he was the one who was going to be doing the striptease, and she says, he expects a strip show? He says, she’s damn right, and she says, in that case, she’ll need some inspiration. She kisses him, and he gets up and starts taking off his clothes. She asks what he’s doing; he won. He tells her, let’s just say, he’s willing to pay for her bet. Because that kiss was more than worth it. He gets nakey, and jumps in the pool.

Elizabeth tells Finn that she doesn’t think about it very often because there’s just not enough time, but every now and then she thinks about going back to painting. He says, she likes to paint? and she says she did it for years, then got back into it when she fell in love with Franco… Oh, that was weird. Was that weird? Sorry. He says, don’t apologize. That’s not weird at all. He knows it’s hard to believe, but he’s had past relationships too. She says she knows, and he says, sometimes it’s hard to shake those histories. She loved Franco; he loved her. Finn can see why. The host says, sorry to interrupt, but the kitchen is closing soon. Would they like to order dessert? Elizabeth says, oh my goodness. They’re the last people here. Finn says he’s sorry they kept the staff late, but the host says, not a problem. They can have the table as long as they want. Finn says, it’s up to her. Does she want dessert? She says she’d love that, and the host leaves. So does he guess?

Brook holds up a towel, and Chase gets out. He says he told her that he could prove it, and thanks her for the towel as he puts it around him. She thanks him for what he did, and the view was impressive. She wants to keep it to herself and doesn’t want the MetroCourt guests getting an eyeful. Not to mention, if he’d gotten caught skinny-dipping in the pool, the hotel would have called the cops – also known as his colleagues – and it would have been really embarrassing. He says, it’s just a misdemeanor, but now she knows that he’s willing to break the rules for her. They kiss.

Elizabeth and Finn share what looks like chocolate lava cake, and Elizabeth says, this is so decadent. Not like her at all. He asks if she’s talking about the dessert, and she says, the dessert, being the last people in the restaurant, keeping the waiter late… She asks if he doesn’t want anymore, and he says he wants more, and kisses her.

Portia says she’s cutting back on her hours at work so she can spend more time with Curtis at the hospital. She knows how eager he is to get home, but they both have to face the fact that his recovery is going to be a process. His prognosis hasn’t been determined yet, and they just don’t know so many things. They don’t know if he’s lost the use of his legs short-term or maybe longer, but either way, they’ll adapt. He says, she sounds like she has some very specific thoughts in mind, and she says, as much as she loves their beach house, there’s a lot of stairs in that house. Maybe it would better suit them to rent someplace that’s all one-level, so he doesn’t have to deal with any stairs at all. He says he doesn’t want them to give up their home, but she says she’s just trying to plan for their future. They can hire a contractor. A contractor can modify the house and make it more livable for Curtis. Curtis says, no. That’s not what they’re going to do. If he’s never going to walk again… She says, they don’t know that’s the case, and he says, but it’s a likely possibility. And if that is the case, she’s not going to remodel their home. What she’s going to do is let him go. Ugh. I hate when they play martyr.

Dex tells Dante that he and Josslyn were in the park with Trina the night Curtis got shot. They took Trina to the hospital. She’s been so worried about her father, and she’s Joss’s best friend. So that’s what they were doing. Dante says, wow. That’s nice of him. He was convinced Dex was doing something for Sonny at the hospital. Bennet tells Dante to come look at the records check on the victim, and Dante tells Dex, wait here. Dante comes back in a hot second, and tells Dex that he’s free to go. If they have any more questions, they’ll find him. Actually, this guy is from Pautuck and did time in Pentenville. Any of that ring a bell with him?

Sonny says, if this Mason character has been threatening Ava for months, especially if she knew it involved their daughter, why didn’t she come to him? She says she thought she could handle it herself… and Sonny yells, this Mason guy has something on her. He has leverage. What is it? What does Mason know that he doesn’t? What? She says, he knows that she killed Nikolas.

Tomorrow, Josslyn asks who Dex was expecting; Ava says she’ll do what she can to protect her; Sonny says he’s going to take care of everything; and Curtis says, there’s no way in hell that is happening.

🚪 Closing the Door…

Thank God they finally picked a lane.

👠 Not Who You Think…

How do you finesse going to prison into not hurting each other?

🗽 Six Degrees Of LVP…

I have to admit I’m surprised. She wasn’t too impressive on RHONY, and came off as an immature, spoiled brat.

🍸 Must Be In the Water…

More surprises. Why is she giving out the awful advice that Rachel/ Raquel/Rachel should milk the Scandoval cow?

On the other hand, can’t blame her here. Suckerfish Hoppy was quite the nightmare.

🦥 You Too Can Have Weird…

They’re still cute.

🚬 Dave’s Not Here…

Join me tomorrow for soap and kicking a few oranges around the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay exercising self-control, and stay not going for best two out of three if you’ve already won.

July 24, 2023 – Carly Has a Back-Up Plan, Not Out, Wives In the City, VanderSnakes, Post Deck, Dogs (!) & Wasting

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Elizabeth gives a nurse some instructions, and the nurse says, thanks, boss. Finn says, boss has kind of a nice ring to it, and she says, if you’re a Springsteen fan. He says, that’s him; born to run. Is she clocking out for the night? She says she is, and he says, good. Remember when they were talking about being more direct with one another? In the spirit of being more direct… He’s going to stop talking and just ask this. Would she like to have dinner with him tonight?

At Windymere, Ava’s phone rings, but she says she can’t talk right now. She’s about to meet the nanny Mason has forced on her. Austin says, everything is going to be just fine. Have a martini. She says, done, looking at her nearly empty glass. This nanny is just here to spy on Sonny. Avery won’t be in any danger, right? He says, no. The only way Avery’s in danger is if they don’t do what Mason says. If they play along, everything will be okay. He should go though. Call him later with the details. His phone buzzes, and he sees a text from Mason: We’ve got trouble. Your office. Now! Dex watches him from down the hall, then follows.

Outside the gatehouse, Michael and Wiley have a play sword fight with… I don’t know what that is, but it lights up and looks like a thin, wobbly pool noodle. Willow comes to the door, and Wiley asks if they can stay out longer. Michael says, sure, but he needs to talk to Wiley’s mom for a second. He asks if Willow has heard from Nina, but she says, not a word. This isn’t like her. Wouldn’t Nina reach out and let her know if she couldn’t come? She hopes nothing’s wrong. Michael says he wasn’t looking forward to Nina seeing the kids, but went along with it for support. They kept Wiley out of camp for two days, so it would be safe for her to visit in the bubble. They went out of their way, and she doesn’t even show up. Willow is sure there must be a reasonable explanation; something came up at the last minute. He asks, what’s more important than Nina seeing her child and grandchild?

At the hospital, Sonny tells Nina not to worry about it. He has a lot of contacts at Ferncliff, and he’ll have someone look out for Sasha while they sort this out. She says she’s so worried about Sasha, but thanks him so much for helping. He’s always there for her and the people she cares about, and she appreciates that. She hugs him, and says, she’s supposed to be at the gatehouse. She’s supposed to visit with Willow and the kids, and Willow is going to think she doesn’t care. He tells her that she needs to relax. They’ll understand when she tells them what’s going on with Sasha. She says, all right. Willow will understand and not hold it against her, but she knows someone else who might. He says, like who? and I wonder if he has short term memory loss.

Carly goes inside Kelly’s, talks to a woman, then flips the sign to Closed.

Cyrus is putting books away in the prison library, when Drew walks in. He says, they got interrupted at the visiting center, but he wasn’t done with Cyrus, and Cyrus says, clearly Drew has anger toward him for some reason. The Good Book has taught him peace and patience, so it’s better not to let things escalate. Drew says, they wouldn’t escalate if Cyrus would answer the question. Is he responsible for Curtis getting shot or not?

Elizabeth wonders if Finn is asking her out on a date, and he says, yes, he is. She says, well, this is awkward, and he asks if it’s awkward because she’s turning him down, or is it awkward because she can’t say no. She says, it’s awkward because she was planning on asking him out tonight, and he beat her to it. In fact, she already made reservations… and they both say, at the Port Charles Grill. He says he did too. One of them is going to have to change their reservation. She says she’ll cancel. She doesn’t think his reputation can take the hit as well as hers. He says, she’s right; he’s a mess. A mess that’s looking forward to seeing her tonight.

Yuri comes out of the elevator, and Terry hugs him, saying, what a great surprise. For me too. It’s been so long, I forgot they’d gone out. She says she thought he was still helping Mayor Collins and Valentin in Russia, and he says, he had a very difficult journey to make sure they had safe passage north. He had local people he knows to help them travel as far as they can, but it’s still a dangerous trip. She says, he’s incredible to risk his safety for them. It’s just another reason she’s crazy about him. He says, crazy? and she says, it means she really likes him and she’s glad he’s back. She can’t stop thinking about him. He says he thinks about her all the time, which is why he’s here. There’s something important he needs to discuss with her.

Cyrus shows Drew a book, and says, Thoreau wrote this work in a place like this. Unlike Drew, he made good use of his incarceration. He didn’t antagonize others. Drew says, answer the question, and Cyrus asks, what is this incident he’s referring to? Drew says, there was a shooting at the MetroCourt pool. His friend Curtis Ashford was hit. Cyrus remembers him, right? Cyrus says, Curtis was of little interest to him until Jordan and Taggert dragged him into their affairs. So why would he care what happens to him? Drew says, maybe he doesn’t, but Curtis wasn’t the only one there; Sonny Corinthos was also there. They both know Cyrus would love nothing more than to take him out.

Carly walks around an empty Kelly’s, when Josslyn knocks at the door. Carly asks what she’s doing here, and Josslyn says she wanted to talk to Carly. She came in late last night, left early this morning, and Josslyn had to track her down on the family app. Carly asks if everything is okay, and Josslyn says she got a call from a classmate’s mother. She asked Josslyn to put in a good word for her, and let Carly know she was interested. Carly says, interested in what? and Josslyn says, their house. Apparently, Carly is selling it.

Sonny says, if Nina thinks Carly and Michael will hold it against her, she’s got that wrong. They would understand she’s late visiting Willow because of the Sasha situation. They’re not going to blame her. She says, he’s right. She’s so sorry. She thinks because she’s worried about Sasha, her frustration is misplaced. If she blames Carly and Michael, it takes away a little bit of that fear, and she’s sorry. He says, they’re all thinking about Sasha, especially her, since Nina thought Sasha was her daughter. She needs to go to Willow, tell her about Sasha. He has to meet with Ava tonight, so he’ll give her an update. She kisses him, and says, he always knows what to say to her to make her feel better. Wish her luck – she crosses her fingers – and she’ll check in later. She leaves, and he takes out his phone.

Austin says, this better be good, and goes into his office. Mason is there with Gordon.

Butler Giles tells Ava that her appointment, Miss Rutherford, has arrived, and a woman walks in. Ava says she’s so happy to meet her, and Betty says she’s so happy Ava chose her resume. She’s never met anyone who has their own butler. Ava says she tried managing things on her own, but things were falling through the cracks. Betty says she bets; this place is huge. Ava takes out Betty’s resume, and thanks Giles, telling him, that will be all. He leaves, and Ava says she sees Betty majored in Early Child Development. Betty says, let’s stop, shall we? That relic Ava calls a butler is gone, so drop the formality. Her resume could say she studied under Mother Teresa, and it still wouldn’t matter. They both know this job is hers, and there’s nothing Ava can do about it.

Terry asks if everything is okay, and Yuri says, da, but while he was away, he realized it’s been one year since they started seeing each other. She says she can’t believe it’s been a year since the Quartermaine picnic, and he says, and the Sicilian Thunderbolt🌩. She says she’s never been happier than this past year, and it’s because of him. He says he feels much the same, which is why he feels the time is right to give her something. He reaches into his jacket pocket, and hands her a small box. She takes out a key on a lightning bolt keychain, and he says, it’s the key to his apartment. He’d like her to come and go as she pleases, even if she has a late hospital shift. She sees Finn and Elizabeth, and Yuri says he knows it’s a big step… She says she hates to cut him off, but there’s something important she has to take care of first. Please don’t go. She runs off.

Elizabeth says, there are a few things she has to take care of first, then she has to change. Keep in mind, she’s getting ready in the locker room, and he says he’s sure she’ll look amazing. See her at 8? She says, okay, and by the way, she’s buying; no argument. He says, that’s ridiculous, but she’s gone. Terry says she takes it that’s a good sign for both of them, but Finn says his lips are sealed. She says, fair enough, but if he has a moment, she’d like to speak with him. It’s been weeks, and he hasn’t followed up. He says, about…? and she says, her offer? About becoming Co-Chief.

Yuri’s phone rings, and sees it’s a call from Valentin.

Cyrus says he has no idea what Drew is talking about. His only interest now is in knowing God and doing His work. Drew says, Cyrus doesn’t expect him to believe that, does he? and Cyrus says, Drew shouldn’t, given his reputation and past misdeeds. Drew has to take his word for it, but that would require Drew having faith in him. He and Curtis risked their lives bringing his nephew home after he fell into Victor’s clutches. So he would never bring harm upon Drew or Mr. Ashford. Quite the contrary; he’s forever in Drew’s debt. Book (remember him?) and a cohort walk in.

Josslyn asks why Carly wouldn’t tell her that she put the house on the market, and Carly says, she told Josslyn they had to downsize. She assumed Josslyn knew that meant selling the house. Josslyn says she didn’t know that. Carly never made that official. Carly says she just wanted to have an open house to see what kind of offers she’d get. Selling the house is the last thing she wants to do. She watched her kids grow up there. It’s special to her. Josslyn says, please let her help. She doesn’t care about dipping into her trust fund. Carly says she can’t accept any financial help from Drew, Sonny, or Michael because of legal implications. There’s no way in hell she’s dragging Josslyn into it. And besides, she has a back-up plan. Josslyn says, and what would that be? and Carly says, she’s looking at it.

There’s a knock at the gatehouse door, and Michael opens it, telling Nina that she’s late. Amelia is asleep and Wiley is about to go to bed. Willow says, it’s late, and Nina says she’s so sorry. She sees Wiley, who hugs her, and says he hasn’t seen her in a long time. Nina says she knows. She heard he was a very brave boy when mommy was sick. He nods, and Michael asks if he can talk to Grandma Nina for a second. They go over to the sofa, and Michael says, they don’t need Nina bringing up the fact that Wiley’s mommy was sick. He has to live with every single day. Also, she’s supposed to be here to visit Willow. She can’t have the decency to show up on time? Nina says she understands they’re upset, but can she explain why she was late? She was at the hospital. Willow asks if everything is okay, but Nina says, no. It’s Sasha, and she’s far from okay.

Sonny asks what Dex found out, and Dex says, he did exactly as Sonny told him. He kept eyes on Dr. Gatlin-Holt since yesterday at the Grill. Nothing really to report. Then he seemed a little agitated after he got a text message, and he bolted and went to his office. Sonny says he wants Dex to stay with him; see what he can find out. Dex leaves.

Ava tosses the resume on the table, and says, it didn’t take Betty long to drop the Fräulein Maria act. She wasn’t sure how this was going to play out. Was she an unwitting accomplice or an eager associate to Mason? Betty says she’ll spell it out for Ava. When her kid’s father arrives, Ava is going to gush over how impressed she is by Betty, and she’s perfect for the job. Ava asks, what makes her think Sonny Corinthos is going to be fooled by her? He’s come across a lot of con artists in his day. Betty says, in case she wasn’t clear, selling her to Corinthos is Ava’s job, not hers. And Ava’s pitch better be convincing, because there will be consequences if she fails. Ava says, Mason’s made it very clear he has her life in his hands. She’s very well aware of the consequences. Betty says, but it’s not just Ava’s life. How long has it been since she called her mother?

Ava says, this isn’t the first time her mother’s been mentioned, and Betty suggests she give Delia a ring, and ask for herself. She hands Ava her phone, and says she bets the sunsets are gorgeous from up here. Betty goes out on the terrace, and Ava makes the call.

Dex skulks around Austin’s office, and Elizabeth asks if there’s something she can help him with.

Mason says, it seems Gordon here wants to extract some additional funds from them, and Austin says, that’s what he hears. Mason tells Gordon, that was never part of the plan, and he knows it, and Gordon says, plans change. They never told him that he’d be in Sonny Corinthos’s crosshairs. That wasn’t part of the deal. He guesses Austin’s cousin didn’t tell him. Corinthos seems awfully protective of Austin here. Makes him think he’s going to need some more coin to stay quiet. A hundred grand should do it. Show him the money before he tells Corinthos what they’ve been doing behind his back.

Ava asks what took Delia so long to pick up… She’s sorry. She knows it’s been a long time since she’s called. Things have been pretty hectic, but she misses Delia, and just wanted to say hi and make sure she’s okay… She has a date, does she?… Wait. What does she mean, he’s the dangerous type?

Michael says he doesn’t believe this. He thought Sasha was doing so much better. Nina says she did too. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Michael says he’ll make some calls and see what he can find out. he leaves, and Nina says she feels like all she’s been doing since she walked in is apologizing. She didn’t mean to upset Willow, but thought she deserved to know what’s going on. Willow says she appreciates it, and it’s better to hear it from Nina than see it on the news. Nina looks at Wiley, and says, he seems so happy and carefree. Nice reminder to them as adults to look at the positive things when things are really challenging. Willow says she knows. She was so afraid her illness was going to affect Wiley’s spirit, and she looks at that sweet smile on his face… Kids are so resilient. Nina says, if anyone asked her, she’d say he gets it from Willow. If she ever comes on too strong, Willow will let her know, right? And she’ll do better. Willow says, she’s already been better. Willow’s noticed Nina’s been trying harder, especially when it comes to Carly, and she appreciates that.

Carly tells Josslyn to sit down, and they do. She says, Josslyn knows grandma went to Amsterdam to get Luke’s affairs in order, right? and Josslyn says, that’s why the hours in Kelly’s were cut back this summer. She’s not following. Carly says she was debating on whether to sell the house or not, when Diane found a loophole that could help her get back on her feet financially. The State of New York and the federal government recognizes that a parent can give their child a property or a business. Josslyn asks if she’s saying she owns Kelly’s now, and Carly says she sure does. She’s been entrusted with their family institution.

Book asks, who’s the librarian? He was telling his friend about Pet Sematary. Why doesn’t Cyrus go fetch that book for them? Cyrus starts to go, but Drew says, he doesn’t have to do that. They may not realize, but these shelves are cataloged. They could probably find it themselves. Book says he guesses Drew is right. It must have taken a long time to organize these shelves. He starts pulling books off the shelves and onto the floor, but when he reaches for the cart, Drew grabs him. Book asks if they have a problem here, and Drew says, yeah. They do.

Book says he knows who Drew is. He’s that pencil pushing CEO. How did he get tossed in with them? Drew says he’s also an ex-Navy SEAL. Is Book sure he wants to test him? Cyrus says he thinks this is the book they were looking for, and Drew lets Book go. Book takes the book 9ha-ha!), and says, they’re done here. He tells Cyrus, thanks, old times, and leaves with his buddy.

Yuri says he can barely hear Valentin. Did they make it to the north safely?… He can’t understand; bad connection. Are he and Mayor Collins safe?… The connection is lost.

Finn says, Terry was serious about that? and she says, absolutely. The Board’s been hounding her for weeks to name a deputy, and she can’t think of anyone she trusts more to be her number two than him. He asks if Portia didn’t turn her down, and she says, okay, so he’s her second choice, but she still thinks he’d be a great fit for the position. He says he doesn’t think he’s the right guy for the job. He just hates all that administrative stuff. She says, but he’s a department head, which already involves all that administrative stuff, but he says, it’s not the same thing. She says she gets it. Oncology was always her passion. She didn’t think she’d like giving up the day to day contact with patients, but she knew she could do more good as Chief of Staff, and she knows he can too. He says he doesn’t know, but she says, look at it as the ultimate in holistic treatment. He wouldn’t just be diagnosing patients; he’d be diagnosing the entire hospital. And helping match the right healer with the right patient. There’s no denying his hands won’t get as dirty, but he’ll play a role in saving every single life under this roof. He doesn’t have to answer now. Just promise her that he’ll think about it. He says he promises, she thanks him and leaves.

Michael calls Sonny, and says, Nina’s here. She told them about Sasha. How bad is it? Sonny says he wishes he had some good news, but he doesn’t. Sasha assaulted somebody at the MetroCourt pool. They arrested her, and they took her to Ferncliff. Michael says, for the criminally insane? That was the only option? They couldn’t have held her at GH? There’s got to be something they can do. Sonny says he’s on it. He talked to her doctors, and he’s a big donor at Ferncliff and Shadybrook, so she’s going to be looked after. Michael says, thanks, dad, and Sonny says he’ll get back to him.

Mason says, Sonny’s suspicious of their operation, and Austin didn’t think it was wise to tell him that? Austin says, calm down. Gordon is exaggerating about what happened at the restaurant, and Sonny is only interested in him because of his relationship with Ava. They share a child together. So now that he and Ava are somewhat involved, Sonny is just paying extra attention to him. Gordon says he doesn’t care about some scene out of Fraternity Row. He just wants his money now. Is he going to get it or not? Mason says his associate will meet Gordon at the main entrance. Don’t worry. He’ll get everything he’s owed. But let him be clear. After this, Gordon doesn’t set foot in this state again. Is he clear?

Dex tells Elizabeth that he’s here to see a sick friend and must have gotten turned around. She says, you need an appointment to access the physicians offices, but he didn’t really seem like he just got turned around. It kind of seemed like he was – Gordon leaves and the sliding doors are so loud, I have no idea what she says, but I think it was, Dex seemed like he was listening. She introduces herself as Nurse Baldwin, but says he probably knows her better as Cameron Webber’s mother. She knows exactly what happened between him, Josslyn, and her son. She also knows he works for Sonny, and Sonny has taken him under his wing. Nothing good will come of that. So whatever he’s up to, there’s no place for it on her watch. Understood, or does she need to call security? He says, no, all good here, and leaves.

Ava says, Delia just met this man, and he’s taking her away to a cabin in Pautuk?… She barely knows him. Is she sure that’s a good idea?… Please don’t rush off the phone… Delia has hung up, and Ava goes out to the terrace. She sees Betty leaning against the wall, looking out over the parapet.

As Ava approaches, Betty says she could get used to living in a place like this. It’s a thousand times bigger than her place. She looks at Ava, and says, that’s close enough. She hopes Ava wasn’t getting any ideas. She’d hate for Ava’s mother to have to pay for the results of Ava’s hot temper. She goes inside, and Ava screams.

On the phone, Dex tells Sonny that he couldn’t get into Austin’s office, but there’s another player he’s meeting with. He matched the description of the guy Sonny said was harassing Austin at the restaurant. He’s going to tail him and see where it leads. He goes out the door.

Willow tells Nina that she doesn’t want to get ahead of themselves, but Nina has made a real effort to respect her boundaries. Nina’s clearly done as she asked and let go of her vendetta against Carly before anyone got hurt. Nina flashes back to telling Martin that she wants him to expose Drew and Carly for engaging in insider trading. She tells Willow, believe her. She wishes she would have handled things differently. Willow says she gets it, and she knows how important it is for Nina to be a part of her family, and she sees how Nina dropped everything to be there for Sasha when Sasha needed her. They sit, and Willow says, it’s been a while since she saw that side of Nina. She’s not saying they can start with a clean slate, but maybe there’s a way just to see if they can fit into each other’s lives now, rather than just accepting they don’t.

Carly says, Ruby, Luke, Josslyn’s’ grandmother, and now her. Bobbie sold her this place for one dollar. She’s going to pay Bobbie back the real price eventually, and she knows business has been slow, but she’s going to fix the rooms upstairs… Josslyn says, she’s not going to live upstairs, is she? but Carly says, God no. She’s not there yet. She does want to rent it to PCU students or interns at GH. This place used to be the heart of Port Charles. She’s going to restore it to its original glory. No. She’s going to make it bigger and better. She knows it’s not going to be the MetroCourt… Josslyn says, listen. That all sounds amazing, but she could get the MetroCourt back. Carly just has to let her or dad help her. Carly says she’s benefitted by the financial safety net provided by Josslyn’s father and Sonny for a very long time. But she’s always been able to stand on her own two feet, and she’s not going to stop now. She knows this isn’t as big as the MetroCourt, but having raised Josslyn, she knows firsthand, small things can turn into something big.

Cyrus thanks Drew, but Drew says, this doesn’t make them friends. He doesn’t like bullies, and that’s the only reason he stood up for Cyrus. Cyrus says, before he found God, one word that would have described him was a bully, and Drew says he still thinks Cyrus is, which is the reason he wonders why Cyrus gave in to that guy. He thought Cyrus was tougher than that. Cyrus says, the Good Book tells us to turn the other cheek, but Drew says he thinks it’s more than that. Because Cyrus was scared. If these guys are targeting him, he has to tell the warden. Cyrus says he can handle himself, and Drew says, if Cyrus is worried about them retaliating for reporting them, he’s already got a target on his back and nothing to lose. He can just tell the warden himself. Cyrus says, the warden is the last person who would help him. Especially if it means crossing them. Drew asks, what’s that supposed to mean?

Finn goes into the Grill, and tells the host that he has a reservation for two at 8 under the name Finn. The host says he has Finn right here. Just give him a moment. He steps away, and Elizabeth walks in, wearing a slinky black dress with a slit up the side. They smile at each other.

Terry says she’s glad Yuri hasn’t left yet, and Yuri says he knows she wanted him to wait, but she doesn’t like his gift. She ran off. He’s sorry it upset her. It was meant to make her happy. She says she is happy. She was just surprised, that’s all. She’s been flying solo for so long, it threw her for a second. She takes his hands, and says, giving her his key means so much. She actually has something to give to him. She takes a key attached to a paper clip out of her pocket, and says, it’s the spare key she keeps in her desk. It’s in better hands with him. Obviously, she didn’t have time to get a meaningful keychain, but it’ll do. He takes it and thanks her. She kisses him, and asks if he’s okay. He seems distracted. She didn’t mean to worry him when she ran off earlier. He says, it’s not her. He got a phone call from Valentin. He could barely hear Valentin, then the line went dead. When he tried to call back, he couldn’t get through. She says, it was an international call; it was probably just a bad connection. He says he hopes so, but he has the feeling that Valentin and Mayor Collins are in trouble.

Cyrus says he may have spoken out of turn. Drew needs to keep his head down and don’t ask questions about Book and his associates. Drew asks, why? Are they going to come after him? Cyrus says, it’s not just them. There are other factors at play here, and he would hate to see Drew become a victim. Drew says, listening to him talk, he would almost believe Cyrus is a changed man, but he knows better. Cyrus laughs and says, faith can change people. If Drew comes to their service, he’ll see. Drew says he’ll pass, and Cyrus says, then may he offer Drew a word of advice? Drew needs some kind of family to survive behind these walls. If Drew won’t join his flock, then he strongly suggests Drew find another.

Josslyn says, Carly inspires her. She’s very proud of how Carly is handling all this. Josslyn just worries about her. Carly says she gets how this can be a little scary, and it’ll be tough if they have to sell the house, but it’s just a bump in the road. She already told Josslyn; she’s going to get everything back that she lost. And not just for herself, but for Josslyn, for Donna, and for Avery. This is just the first step of an amazing journey.

Nina says, Willow has no idea how long she’s waited to hear her say that, and Willow says, no promises, just baby steps? Nina says, yeah, baby steps, when Wiley comes downstairs, and tells Nina, look what he brought. Nina takes a toy soldier from him, and says, hey, I’m soldier guy… Michael comes in, and eager to rain on this parade, he says, it’s time for this little cowboy to get to bed. Nina says she guesses this is her cue, and thanks Willow for this. This is very special. She tells Wiley, think fast, and tosses the toy to him. She says, nice catch, and gets her bag. Wiley asks if she’ll come visit again soon, and Nina looks at Willow, who says, we’ll see. Ugh. The eternal parental euphemism for either no or I don’t know. Nina tells Wiley, until then, goodnight, like we’re in a Shakespeare play, and leaves. Outside, she takes a breath and sort of smiles.

Betty asks if Ava feels better now that she got that out of her system, and Ava says she wants to know who this man is who’s trying to seduce her mother. Betty says, relax, lady. He’s just a friend who’s keeping an eye on Delia for them. That’s all. Ava takes the drink out of Betty’s hand and says, call him off. She’s not going to play ball with her or Mason as long as her mother’s involved. Is Betty listening to her at all? Betty smacks Ava across the face, and says she thinks Ava is forgetting who calls the shots here. Sonny walks in and says he’s sorry. Is he interrupting? Yeah. Betty’s kind of stupid, since anyone could walk in.

Austin thanks Mason for handling this. Sonny’s got eyes on him now, so the last thing they need is Gordon bringing extra attention to them. Hopefully the guy will just take the money and run. Mason says, if Austin has learned anything from him, he makes his own luck. He sticks a lollipop in his mouth.

Dex walks outside near a dumpster and sees something. He says, hey, are you okay? He takes out his gun, and walks to the other side of the dumpster, where he sees Gordon, either unconscious or dead. I’m guessing the latter.

Tomorrow, Curtis tells Portia that he thinks he might be on to something; Brook asks Chase to break the rules with her, just this once; Betty says, the one Ava loves dearly will pay the price; and Sonny yells, why is he just hearing about this now?

⌨️ Work Arounds…

How the soaps are getting through the strike. While I’m totally on board with the writers, people still have to eat, and God knows we can’t lose another soap.

🗽 Give Us Your Rich and Backstabbing…

RHONY recap.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/real-housewives-of-new-york-recap-the-new-cast-makes-its-first-hamptons-pilgrimage

What other people think.

IMO opinion, the most, and maybe only, likeable cast member. So far.

🍸 VanderSprinkles…

Never liked him. And I’d never want to live with a dude who spent more time looking in the mirror than me.

Another snake slithers back to the nest.

⛵️ After the Sailing’s Over…

More Reunion chatter.

Leaky boat.

⚰️ Final Week In the City…

Dead City recap. This was also the finale. I feel cheated.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-dead-city-recap-season-1-episode-6-doma-smo-season-finale/

🐕 If You Love Puppie Like I Love Puppies…

As always, it’s up for debate, but they’re all cute.

🌮 Not Taco Tuesday…

Slide into my blog tomorrow for soap and throwing some tea in the air to see what sticks. Until then, stay safe, stay not commenting  on other people’s physical characteristics unless you’re being complimentary, and stay looking at the positive things when things are really challenging.

July 14, 2023 – Anna Has a Plan, Busy Lady, No Guard Here, Yet Another, Spilling It, VanderLatest, Daryl’s Date, Dead Rank, Already, Next Last, Record Setter, Pet (!) Fashion, Just Enough Quotes & Wild

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna comes downstairs, hears something, and draws her gun. She opens the door to Dante telling a guy in a hoodie not to move.

Alexis tells Sonny, the details aren’t hers to give him, but their daughter is considering doing something Alexis believes she’s completely unprepared to do. He says, and she wants him to be the bad guy.

Arriving back home, Sasha tells Gladys that she’s not sure what happened. She was so sure she could take those clothes. How could she have misunderstood Deception’s agreement with Logan’s? Gladys says, it’s all over now. The PCPD let her go, Maxie took care of everything with Logan’s, they dropped the charges, and no one’s mad at Sasha. She looks tired. Has she taken her afternoon meds? Sasha says she is tired. She’s going to splash some water on her face and take her pills. She leaves, and Gladys’s phone rings. She says she’s glad they called. She’s so sorry she rushed out of the store like that… She definitely wants the coat and the belt… You know what? She’ll take it all. Leave the card on file. Can they send it over today? There’s knock at the door, and she opens it to Cody. She says, he’s the last thing they need right now, and slams it shut.

Sam says, he scared the hell out of her, and Mac says, for the last time, he’s sorry. She says, fine. Now will he tell her why he basically abducted her and took five years off her life? He says, not until she tells him why she was following Cody, but she says she wasn’t. Actually, she was following Selina Wu, but why does he think she was following Cody? Is he in trouble? Mac says, yes. He thinks Cody’s in trouble, and from the way things look, he doesn’t think he can get Cody out of it.

Portia asks if Curtis made it through surgery, and TJ says, he did. She asks if Dr. Barnsdall (settling on this name) was able to remove the bullet, and the doctor says, they were, but the bullet left significant damage.

Anna asks, what’s going on? and Dante says he saw this guy hanging around her house. He identified himself and the guy ran. He was also carrying, so he took the guy down. He helps the guy stand, and pulls back his hood. Dante asks if Anna recognizes him, but she says she’s never seen him before. Dante says, Ricky Vasquez, and Anna asks if Dante knows him. Dante says, he works for Sonny. What is he doing here? Ricky says, taking a walk; enjoying the pretty houses. Is it a crime to take an afternoon stroll now? Dante tells him, it’s going to go one of three ways. Ricky tells him what he’s doing here, or he takes Ricky down to the station and then Ricky tells him, or he asks Sonny about it. Anna says, it’s okay. She knows why he’s here.

Stella asks if Curtis has woken up yet, but TJ says, not yet. Portia asks if they can see him, and Dr. Barnsdall says, Mr. Ashford is being moved to ICU. Once he’s settled, he can have one visitor at a time. She thanks him, he says he’ll keep them posted, and leaves. Marshall asks, what’s the best way to do this? Should they wait here or what? Portia says, there’s a waiting room outside the ICU. Maybe they can all wait there. TJ tells them to go ahead; he’ll catch up.

Sonny says, Alexis wants him to say no. That way, he’s the bad parent and Kristina’s mad at him, not Alexis. She says, Kristina never gets mad at him, just at her, and he says, maybe they should consider why that’s true. Alexis says, because Kristina thinks everything he says is awesome, and whatever she says is critical and judgmental. He says he thought things were fine between them, and Alexis says, they are. That’s why she doesn’t want to screw it up. Kristina values his opinion. He says, maybe because he doesn’t criticize or judge her, and she says, maybe because he tells Kristina what she wants to hear, and she tells Kristina what she needs to hear. She’s already weighed in on this, so he can weigh out. He says, so Alexis wants him to tell her it’s a bad idea, whatever it is, but Alexis says she’s not telling him what to say. He asks if she’s going to have cue cards for him, or feed the lines through earbuds. She says, maybe he won’t even agree with her, and he says, but she thinks he will, and she says, any normal or rational person would. Kristina is going to do something because she thinks it’s a good thing to do, but Alexis knows she’s not thinking about how this is going to affect the rest of her life. He says, this sounds serious, so she needs to tell him what kind of trouble Kristina’s in for.

Nina tells Kristina that she’s calling Sonny. She promised to update him as soon as they heard something. She steps away, and Kristina sees Molly and TJ hugging. She goes over to them, and says, what a relief. She was so worried. TJ says, his uncle is still in critical condition, so it’s a little early to start celebrating, doesn’t she think? Kristina says, he made out of surgery, so she’s being positive, and he asks if she understand his uncle could have died. And he can still… TJ storms off, and Kristina turns to Molly, but Molly says, not now, and follows him.

Back on the phone, Gladys says she wasn’t talking to them. She had some idiot knocking at her door. Cody knocks again, and she says, so they’ll send it over, right?… Thank you so much. She opens the door and asks if Cody can’t take a hint, but he says, no, sorry, and walks in. She says, it’s not a good time, and he says, good thing he’s not here to see her. Sasha comes out, and he says he got her message. He’s sorry he couldn’t answer the phone. She was at the police station? Gladys says, she called Cody? and Sasha says, Chase couldn’t reach Gladys, so she used her one phone call to call Cody. Gladys says, why? Don’t answer that. It doesn’t matter. Sasha says she’s glad Gladys sees it that way, and Gladys says, what does matter is that Cowboy Cody couldn’t bother to show up. He couldn’t even take time to answer Sasha’s call. What was more important than helping Sasha out in her time of need?

Sam asks if the PCPD is running surveillance on The Savoy, and Mac asks, what’s her interest in Selina Wu? She says she thinks Selina may have roped Cody into something shady, and he says, like what? She says, he’s a really good card player… and Mac says, she can relax. He knows all about Selina Wu’s illegal poker game.

Anna tells Dante that she gets it. He had a conceal/carry permit. He wasn’t really doing anything wrong. She knows why he was here. She knows why he was armed. Dante says, Sonny sent him here. Speaking of guns, is she always toting that thing around, or is it because of the shooting at the MetroCourt pool? She says, many reasons, and asks if he’s heard anything about Curtis. He says, Curtis is in surgery, and she says, if he hears anything, let her know. He says, of course (🍷), and she asks if she can run something by him. He says, officially? but she says, not yet. They sit on the sofa, and she says she has reason to believe she was the sniper’s target, not Sonny. He says, that would explain why she went up to the room the sniper was set up in, and she says, he knew about that? He says, of course (🍷). And officially, he has to tell her that she’s not law enforcement anymore, so she can’t do that. He’s the one to mess with this. She says, got it, and he says, now that they’ve gotten that out of the way, the reason he’s here is he wanted her impressions of the crime scene. She says, the pool area? but he says, the room the sniper was in. Think they missed anything? She says, there was nothing to notice. It was clean as a whistle. Other than what they found, the discarded rifle, the ammo… He says, it was clearly a professional, and she says, definitely. She heard the rifle was a ghost gun, so it was assembled at home, not mass manufactured. That means it’s untraceable? He says, it does, and she says, so the weapon’s a dead end, but he says, maybe not so much of a dead end as she thinks. Because he was able to trace where the weapon came from.

Alexis tells Sonny that she’s said all she can say. Now his job is to get Kristina to open up of her own accord. He says, just tell him if Kristina’s in any kind of danger, but she says, it’s nothing like that. If that was the case, she’d tell him. His phone rings, and he says, hold on. It could be about Curtis. He says, hi, and Nina says, hi. He’s out of surgery, but there were complications. He says, like what? and she says, that’s just it. The doctors don’t know just how extensive the damage was. They’re bringing Curtis to the ICU right now. He asks if she thinks Curtis could be paralyzed, but she says, the doctors didn’t say anything like that. She hopes not. She’s so worried about him. Sonny says, they all are. Is Curtis holding his own? She says, he is, and Sonny says, focus on that; that’s all that matters. She thanks him, and says, he always gives her great advice and knows how to make her feel better. He asks if she’s headed home, but she says, not yet. Maxie left her this vague voicemail. She has to follow up with her. She said something happened with Sasha.

Gladys says, he has nothing to say, but Cody says he has a few things to say. First, he doesn’t owe Gladys any explanations for anything. Gladys says she’s not asking him to explain his hurtful and negligent behavior to her. She’s asking him to explain it to Sasha, the poor woman he abandoned when she was under scrutiny by the authorities. Sasha says, that’s enough, and Cody says, and second, yes. He might not have been available when Sasha called, but the reason Sasha called him in the first place was that no one could find Gladys. So what was she up to? Care to share? Gladys says, don’t make this about her, and Sasha says, knock it off. Cody had no obligation to answer her call. They’re not even friends. Gladys says, is that right? and Sasha says she’s not even sure why she called him. Must have been an old impulse. Cody says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s glad she called him. He wishes he could have helped. Gladys says, if wishes were horses, he could ride them out of town, so get along, little doggy. Sasha asks to talk to Cody alone, and Gladys says, fine, but if he gives her any trouble, just let out a blood curdling scream. Gladys leaves, and Sasha says she’s so sorry about that. Cody says he’s not worried about Gladys. Is she okay? She says she screwed up. Big time.

Molly finds TJ, and says she knows it must have been rough in there, observing in the OR, while they were operating on Curtis. It must have been scary. He says, it was. Not a great sign if he wants to be a surgeon, is it? She says, this wasn’t just any surgery, and he says, now he has a greater understanding of why doctors aren’t allowed to operate on their loved ones. Seeing his uncle laying there, not knowing if he’ll ever walk again… It was horrible. She hugs him.

Portia, Trina, Marshall, and Stella go to the ICU waiting area, and Trina asks Portia if Curtis could still die. Portia tells her, from what Dr. Barnsdall said, Curtis’s condition is precarious, but they have faith in him. Stella says, they all do, and they join hands. Marshall says, they’re going to get through this together, as a family, and Stella says, including Curtis. Dr. Barnsdall comes out, and says, one of them can go in. Portia tells Trina to go in and see her dad, and Marshall says, go on in there and tell her father that they’re waiting on him. Trina says, okay, she will, and goes into Curtis’s room. He’s all hooked up to machines, and she says, dad.

Anna says, how was Dante able to traced an untraceable rifle? and he says he’s glad she asked. It was one of seventy-two rifles that were impounded back in 2021. She says, by the PCPD? but he says, by the WSB. That rifle should be locked up in Berlin, not in the streets. She says, the sniper has ties to the Bureau? Like a former agent or something? Dante says, or a current one. Maybe her resignation wasn’t enough. She asks what he’s saying; that the Bureau wants her dead?

Kristina finds Molly, and asks if TJ is okay. Molly says, he’ll be fine. He’s just upset about Curtis. She’s going to the ICU. Kristina follows her, and says, it seemed like something was off with him earlier, and Molly says, leave it alone. Kristina says, so there is something, and Kristina says, enough is enough. Not everything is about her.

Trina approaches Curtis’s bed, looks at all the equipment, and runs out. Portia says, what is it? Did something happen? Trina says, nothing happened. She’s sorry. He was just so still. She didn’t recognize him. She was so scared. She’s sorry. Portia says, there’s nothing to apologize for, and Trina says, Portia should go in. She’ll be in later. Portia asks if she’s sure, and Marshall says, they’ll take care of her. Trina says, go. She doesn’t want him to be alone.

Sam says, Mac knows about the poker game? Great. It will save them some time. How long? He says, between them, he’s known for months, which is why they’ve been staking out The Savoy. She asks if he’s going after Curtis, but he says, the target is Selina Wu. If Curtis is involved, it’s not because he wants to be. She says, so if the PCPD has been running surveillance for months, why haven’t they made their move? What’s taking so long?… Oh, it’s because he doesn’t want Cody caught in the trap they’ve set for Selina.

Sasha tells Cody that she thought Deception had a blanket agreement with Logan’s, and she could go in and take the things she wanted. She didn’t know she had to ask first. He says, it sounds like an honest mistake, and she thanks him. He says, its all over now, right? Will there be any charges? She says, no. Fortunately, the store dropped the charges. She’s just not sure she’s ever allowed back there. All she wanted was to get Willow a gift. Willow’s her best friend and she almost died. Oh my God. She needs to tell Michael and Willow… He says he bets Michael and Willow will understand. Can she finish the conversation with him right now? She says, sure, but that’s really all there is to the story. She’s so sorry she had him come all the way over here. She’ll never bug him again. He says, she can always call him if she needs him. He’s just sorry he couldn’t answer the phone. She says, it’s okay. They’re all busy people. He has his own life, right? There’s a knock at the door, and she says she hopes it’s not the police coming to arrest her again. It’s Nina, who says she’s so relieved that Sasha is okay. She is okay, right? Gladys comes out, and says, oh, it’s Nina. Cody asks if she was expecting someone else, and she says, it’s none of his damn business. Sasha asks if Gladys called Nina, but she says, no, and Nina says, Maxie left her a message that Sasha was at the PCPD, but she was coming home. What is going on? Sasha asks if Gladys would mind filling Nina in, and Gladys says, gladly. Sasha says she’s so thirsty, and asks if anyone wants anything. She and Cody go to the kitchen, and Nina takes Gladys aside. She asks if she should be worried, and Gladys says, our girl’s in trouble.

Alexis asks if Sonny is going to talk to Kristina, and he says he’ll give her a call, but if she doesn’t confide in him, he’s not going to push her. She says, of course (🍷) he’s not. She’s meeting with her editor, but she’s stopping at the hospital first. She thinks Kristina’s there… nudge-nudge. He says he was going to stop there anyway, and his phone dings. She asks if everything’s all right, and he says, there’s just something he has to take care of.

Anna says, one of the factors that contradict it being a WSB hit was that it was unsuccessful, and Dante says, but she knows even the best laid plans can go awry when you’re in the field. There’s a knock at the door, and she says she knows who this is. Sonny says, open up, and she says she was expecting him. He says he got a text from Ricky, and Dante says, saves him a trip to visit Sonny. Anna says, Sonny understood that if she needed any help, she’d ask for it, and he says, that’s what he’s doing. She says, but she didn’t ask, and he says he doesn’t apologize for putting someone on her to keep her safe. He apologizes because the person he put on her got caught. The next person he puts on her is going to be invisible and silent… Dante says, he should send a ninja, and Sonny says, so that way, he doesn’t have to apologize for keeping her safe. Anna says, that’s a shame, because he could certainly use the practice. I wonder if she means practice apologizing or keeping people safe, and Sonny says, on another note, he talked to Nina. Curtis made it out of surgery. Dante asks if he’s going to be okay, and Sonny says, it’s touch and go, but he’s alive, and that’s the only thing that matters at this point. Here’s what concerns him. The shooter. Who was he targeting? Dante says he’s happy that Sonny brought that up, since he has a question for him. Sonny asks if he needs an attorney, but Dante says, no. Can he think of any reason the WSB would want him dead?

Kristina says, so Molly is mad at her too. What did she do? Molly says, nothing… yet. She knows Kristina and she’s never going to let it go. Kristina says she’s going to need a translator for this conversation, and Molly says she overheard Kristina at The Savoy, telling Sam and mom that she can give TJ what Molly can’t. Kristina says, ew! That doesn’t even sound like her. Molly asks if Kristina’s forgetting she heard her. Kristina says, Molly knows she has no interest in TJ, and Molly says she knows that. Kristina asks what the hell they’re talking about here, and Molly says, Kristina wants to give TJ a baby since she can’t.

Portia tells Curtis that she’s right here with him and takes his hand. His dad, Trina, and Aunt Stella are right outside too. TJ is on his way with Molly, and Nina was here earlier. If she doesn’t make it back today, she’ll be here tomorrow. He’s surrounded by so many people who love him so much. His family loves him and they’re right here. They’re waiting for him to come back to them.

Trina says she can’t believe she ran out of that room like a scared little girl, and Stella asks, why? Trina says she’s supposed to be stronger than that, and Stella says, the reason she ran out of that room like a scared little girl was because, at that moment, that’s what she was. There’s no shame in that. Marshall says, none at all, and Stella says, a man who Trina just recently learned was her father was lying in front of her, hooked up to machines, and looking like the life was drained out of him. If that didn’t upset her down to her soul, Stella would think something was wrong with her. Marshall says, that’s why they keep her Great Aunt Stella around, for pep talks, and Stella says, they’ve all been here the better part of yesterday and today, praying for Curtis, all the while, scared out of their minds. Everybody’s nerves are fried, and Curtis would be the last person who’d want her beating up on herself. Marshall says, Trina can wait until he wakes up and talk to him then.

Gladys whispers, fortunately, Deception has a professional relationship with Logan’s which gave Maxie the clout to get them to drop the charges, but Nina says, Sasha insists it was just a misunderstanding. Gladys says, even if Deception had such an arrangement with Logans, which they don’t, what would make her think she could just take anything she wanted and walk out without telling anybody? It doesn’t make sense. Nina says, it doesn’t, and Gladys asks, why wouldLogan’s leave the security tags on if they knew Sasha was taking the clothes? Nina asks if Sasha didn’t set off the alarms, and Gladys says, she did, but she just showed them the receipt for the clothes she did pay for, so they thought it was just a glitch. Nina says, here’s the thing. She doesn’t think Sasha’s lying. Gladys says, that’s what worries her, as Sasha laughs in the kitchen. What if she’s getting confused again? What if she’s losing touch with reality?

Sonny says he doesn’t see any reason why he’d be on the WSB’s radar, and Anna says, it’s looking more and more like she was the intended target, not him. He asks why she’d say that, and Dante says, the gun that was used is the property of the WSB. Sonny asks if Anna thinks the Bureau feels she knows too much, and is trying to silence her. Anna says she can’t rule that out, but she can tell them both, if they were trying to get rid of her, they could just take her out like that. So efficiently, no one would be any the wiser. But shooting at her in a public pool like that, ignoring the possibility of collateral damage? It’s just too high profile for a Bureau assassination. Sonny says, then who else? and Anna says, making headline news like she has recently, internationally, because of her past as a double agent, gives any number of people a motive to want her dead. Sonny asks how they narrow down the suspects.

Mac tells Sam, even though they know about the illegal poker games, they don’t have enough to make the charges stick, especially for someone as slippery as Selina Wu. Sam says, and that’s the official reason? and he says, at least it’s legit. Also, if they’re going to catch a crime boss like Selina Wu, it has to be for something a helluva lot bigger than a casino racket. She says, it makes sense, but still… He says, still, Cody’s involvement has given him cause to hesitate. Cody may not be his son, but he is Dominique’s, and he wants to do right by him. She says, even though he’s in way over his head, and he says, especially then. Cody’s been doing pretty much whatever he wants his whole life. He’s used to doing what it takes to survive. Sam says, whether it’s legal or not? She’s not judging. She’s just saying she gets it; she’s been there. He says he thinks Cody has a good heart, and she says she’s known him only a little bit, and she thinks Cody has a well-paved road to hell. Mac says, he’s not doing himself any favors, especially with what happened with that bracelet at the Nurses Ball. Something was off about that. Sam asks if Mac thinks Cody stole the bracelet, and he says he thinks Cody’s smart enough not to put an expensive bracelet in his coat pocket, so no. She says, her neither, but she does think Selina helped Cody get the charges dropped. He asks what makes her say that.

Sasha asks if Nina and Gladys are whispering about her, and Nina says, no, but they’re worried about her. Sasha says she’s just kidding, but seriously, today could have been an even bigger disaster. After many, many public meltdowns and humiliations, the Face of Deception gets locked up for shoplifting? Throw away the keys. Does she look good in a straitjacket? Gladys says, even she has to admit it wasn’t that bad, and Sasha says she’s just grateful to Chase for bringing her in the back way to the station so photographers and reporters wouldn’t see her. Nina’s phone dings, and Sasha wonders if she talked too long, but Nina says, it’s just Ava. She was supposed to meet Ava, but she’ll cancel. Sasha says, no. Crisis averted. Everything is fine. Go meet Ava. Nina asks if she’s sure, but Sasha says she’ll be fine. Nina hugs Sasha, and says she’s going to call her a million times today. Gladys says she’ll walk Nina out. They leave, and Sasha asks if it’s just her, or was Nina being a little weird? Cody says he thinks Nina’s just worried about her. And honestly, so is he.

In the hallway, Nina says she’s assuming Gladys wants to talk about Sasha, and Gladys says she does. In fact, she needs Nina’s advice. Nina knows Sasha is seeing this psychiatrist as part of the process of dissolving this guardianship, right? Nina says, right, and Gladys says, Dr. Montague has to report to the court his professional opinion of Sasha’s mental health, and as her legal guardian, is it her responsibility to let the court know Sasha was caught shoplifting?

Kristina asks if Molly is talking about her being their surrogate, and Molly says, first, she plans a night out. Then Kristina spent the whole night talking about her shelter, her foundation. Kristina says, Molly told them she didn’t want to talk about babies, and Molly says, so Kristina automatically talks about herself? Kristina says, Molly was off-limits. Yes, she was talking about herself, because she’s actually doing something she’s proud of for the first time in her life. Is that a problem? Molly says, no. The problem is Kristina making Molly’s fertility issues all about her. Kristina asks, how? and Molly says, because if Kristina inserts herself as their surrogate, she and TJ having a baby becomes all about Kristina and her pregnancy. Kristina says, here’s a shocker for Molly. She wasn’t thinking about herself. She was thinking about her little sister and how upset she was and how she could help. She was willing to give up a year of her life, and give birth, so that Molly could have a baby, and she’s selfish?

Portia says she doesn’t know if Curtis remembers what happened, but if he does, everybody else is okay. She knows he worries about everybody else before himself, and she loves that about him. She loves his bravery and his big heart. But he’s got to look out for himself too. His family needs him. She needs him. She doesn’t want to live in a world without Curtis Ashford.

Molly tells Kristina that she doesn’t want to talk about this right now. They’re all upset about Curtis. Kristina says, they are all upset about Curtis, and now she’s upset because Molly and TJ think she’s making all of their problems about her, when she’s trying to help them have a baby. She was going to offer this to them sooner, but mom and Sam helped her realize it was too soon. Molly says, she needed mom and Sam to help her figure this out? and Kristina says she did, because she’s just Molly’s dumb, self-centered, narcissistic sister. She and TJ are right to think she shouldn’t be their surrogate, because God forbid their child is anything like her when Molly is this perfect… TJ walks up, and says he could hear them down the hall. What’s going on? Kristina says, nothing. They’re fine. Molly was just educating her on why she’s not good enough to be their surrogate. She storms off, and passes Alexis standing in the elevator. Alexis says, Kristina… but Kristina says, not now mom, and keeps walking. Alexis asks Molly and TJ, what happened?

Nina asks if Gladys is out of her mind. She wants to tell the court about this? Gladys says, of course (🍷) she doesn’t want to. The question is, should she? Nina says, no! but Gladys says, for her own good. They both know something isn’t right with her version of events. Nina wonders if Gladys is asking for her permission to tell the court about Sasha, and Gladys says, of course (🍷) not. Nina says she wants Gladys to listen to her, because nothing legally or officially happened. Gladys tells her, she wouldn’t say nothing, and Nina says, Gladys is going to say nothing. Sasha made a mistake. Logan’s is not pressing charges. Gladys wants to go to the court and tell them about this? If she does, she’s just causing Sasha trouble. Is that what she wants?

Sasha says, Cody is worried about her? and he says he is. Despite what she said before, he is her friend. She says, he’s the one who told her that they couldn’t be friends, and he tells her that he says stupid stuff all the time. If they’re going to be friends – which, hey, too late, they already are – she’s going to need to know when not to listen to him. So hold on to his number. If she ever needs anything, call. Gladys comes in with two shopping bags, and Sasha says, what now? Gladys says, don’t panic. These are for her. She ran into the delivery person in the hall. And Cody needs to leave. Sasha needs to rest. Sasha says, actually, she’s gotten her second wind, but Cody says he should get going. He has a horse to groom and a stable to clean. He tells Sasha to remember what he said, and she tells him that she will. He leaves, smiling at Gladys on his way out. Gladys says, here’s what she needs Sasha to remember. Whatever Cody said, Sasha can’t count on him. He’ll only get her into trouble.

Mac wonders why Selina would lift a finger to help Cody, and Sam tells him, at this point, the less said the better. He says, she’s probably right, and she says, he’s a good guy to worry about Cody, but she’s worried it’s too late for them to save him from himself.

Stella wants to check on Trina, but Marshall says, she’s just taking a minute to herself. She says, it’s been a long minute, and starts to get up, but then sways on her feet. Marshall says he’s got her, steadying her and helping her sit back down. He asks if it’s her heart again, but she says she’s fine. She’ll be even better once Curtis wakes up. He says, they’re in a hospital. Why don’t they get her checked out? Trina comes back, and Stella asks if she’s feeling better. Trina says, a little, and Stella says, nothing makes you feel better than a splash of water on your face. I can think of plenty of things, but okay. Trina asks if her mom is still in there, and Marshall says, she is. Stella says she knows Trina is worried, but it’s not unusual for patients to take their time waking up after surgery, especially one as difficult as Curtis’s. Trina says she knows, but until he wakes up, they won’t know how much damage the bullet did. He could be paralyzed.

Portia says, Curtis knows she hates this, not being able to do anything. But she’ll just stay right here, right by his side. She hates that she stayed away from him after she found out he kissed Jordan, because they made a commitment and she let her pride get in the way. But not anymore. Because she loves him so much. And her harsh words can’t be the last thing he hears her say. So open his eyes for her, so she can tell him how much she loves him. She squeezes his hand and says, please.

Dante says, Sonny’s got to keep his eyes open, and Sonny says, Dante knows him. He won’t drop his guard. Dante asks if there’s anything in Anna’s files with the WSB or DVX that could give them a lead, but she says she doubts any of it has been declassified, even after the leak. But they don’t need it because she remembers everyone. She remembers the name of every person who was ever compromised by her actions. He suggests they find out what they’re doing, but she says, it’s going to take too long. This person has proved they have little to no regard for human life, that they’re willing to sacrifice any innocent bystander… probably knowing she’d blame herself for that. She’s not going to let anyone else get hurt because of her. Sonny asks, what’s the plan? and Anna says she thinks they need to lure her enemy out in the open… using her as bait.

Tomorrow, Ned says, there’s only one way to settle this; Tracy says, there is only one person who can put things to right; and Sonny asks if it’s possible someone in the organization went rogue.

👵🏾 She’s His Mama…

She’s been in a million other things too.

💸 Life Imitating Art…

It sounds pretty messy.

🥀 What the What…

So many gone already this year.

💎 Keep Pouring…

Garcelle shares the tea.

🍸 Those Crazy Kids…

So should we call her Raquel now to be annoying? I bet her people told her to do this.

Bringing the new drama.

Is he still here?

🏍 See Him In September…

The latest on Daryl’s spin-off.

⚰️ Best Of the Dead…

Hard to believe there have been only four so far. It seems like there are always Dead around somewhere. No surprise about number one. It’s my favorite so far.

🗽 Rushing the Season…

Wow. We just got started.

Last On the Way…

2025… Wait. What?

🏆 Kudos…

I remember that episode vividly. He was excellent.

https://ew.com/awards/emmys/the-last-of-us-keivonn-montreal-woodard-sets-emmy-record-youngest-nominee/

🐕‍🦺 A Different Runway…

Some lovely pet fashions to usher you into your weekend.

https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/new-york-pet-fashion-week/208

Going to the source.

www.petfashionweek.com

💐 Quotes of the Week

For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail. It’s just the opposite. We aim too low and succeed. – Sir Ken Robinson

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

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. – Steve Jobs

No one else has access to the world you carry around within yourself; you are its custodian and entrance. No one else can see the world the way you see it. No one else can feel your life the way you feel it. Thus it is impossible to ever compare two people because each stands on such different ground. When you compare yourself to others, you are inviting envy into your consciousness; it can be a dangerous and destructive guest.  – John O’Donohue

I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. – Audrey Hepburn

The merit of all things lies in their difficulty. – Alexandre Dumas

Looks like he wipes his arse with his house. – Gaap (Paapa Essiedu), Black Mirror: Demon 79

⚾️ Put Me In Coach…

If you still use a calendar, start your week here on Monday really Tuesday with soap and a Reunion on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay giving more positive comments than you do negative ones, and stay being brave and having a big heart, but looking out for yourself too.

July 13, 2023 – Michael Brings Paris To Willow, About Jack, First One, Coming Soon, Andy Talk, Cracking Up, VanderSituation, Rad Runway, How To Shark & Burning

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase tells Sasha that she’s under arrest, and she asks if it’s a joke. He says, it’s not, and suggests they step outside, but she says she’s not going anywhere without an explanation. Michael says, that seems fair, and asks Chase, what’s going on? Chase says, Sasha left the store with this blouse and several other items she didn’t pay for.

Gladys admires herself in a faux fur coat in the dressing room mirror. Scout wanders in, and touches the coat. She says, this is pretty, and Gladys tells her, hey kid, it’s couture. Keep her hands to herself. Sam comes in and says, Gladys has a way with children, doesn’t she?

Cody says he can explain, but Selina says, he was marking cards. No explanation necessary. Cody says he swears he’ll pay her back, and she says, that’s a given. But by losing so dramatically, he damaged the reputation of her game. There’s a rhythm; you can’t win them all, nor can you lose them all. He guesses she’s never played with his cousin Barry, and she cracks him across the face. She says, he’s making jokes, and tells Li that she guesses it’s time Cody learned how humorless they are. Li grabs Cody.

At Kelly’s, Kristina looks at the Invader headline: Blood in the Water: Shots Fired at the MetroCourt. Alexis joins her, and asks if she’s talked to Molly. Kristina says she’s going to the hospital after this, and Alexis says, with everything they’re going through, now Curtis gets shot. TJ must be going out of his mind. Kristina says, it makes her want to help them even more. She’d really make the perfect surrogate for them. Alexis says she really appreciates how open and willing Kristina’s being… Kristina says, but she needs to wait to be asked first, and Alexis says, please. If Molly and TJ actually asked her to be their surrogate, would she say yes? Kristina says, yes, and Alexis asks if she’s sure. Is she really ready to have a baby? Kristina says, it’s not just a baby; it’s Molly’s baby. Molly’s her sister, and Kristina would do anything for her.

Marshall asks if Molly’s heard anything, and she says, if TJ could give them an update, he would. Stella wonders why it’s taking so long, and Portia says, this type of surgery could take hours. Stella says, all night? and Portia asks if Trina is cold. Trina says, a little, and Portia says she’ll get Trina a sweater from her office. Marshall says he can go, but Portia says she could use to stretch her legs. She leaves, and Marshall says, Portia might have the right idea. Molly asks if he wants to take a walk, and he tells her, lead the way. Stella sits with Trina, and says, she’s so strong, but Trina says she’s not feeling very strong right now, and Stella holds her.

Nina and Sonny arrive at the hospital, and Nina says she assumed Curtis would be out of surgery by now, but she guesses he’s not. Sonny tells her not to jump to conclusions. He’s going to ask the nurse for an update. He sees Molly, hugs her, and asks how she’s holding up. Marshall says he has to admit, he’s surprised to see Sonny here.

Portia picks up the sweater, then sits down in her empty office. She flashes back to Curtis asking her not to give up on them when they’re so close to finding their way back to each other, and her saying she wishes it was that simple, then leaving. She says, please Curtis, give us a chance to make it right.

We see Curtis in surgery, while TJ watches from the sidelines.

Sasha says she’s allowed to take those clothes, and Chase says, without paying for them? She says, yes. Deception has an agreement with Logan’s. It’s basically free advertising for the store. He says, the manager didn’t know about it, so why doesn’t she just come down to the station, and if what she’s saying is true – she says, it is – then it will just take a few minutes to sort out. Besides, they should probably let Willow get some rest. Sasha says, fine, for Willow’s sake. Let’s get this over with. She leaves, and Chase follows her out. Willow says, call Gladys, but Michael says he’s already on it.

Gladys tells Scout that she’s sorry if she was snippy. It’s just that it’s a very expensive coat. Scout says she knows, and Sam asks, how? Scout says she saw the price tag, when a call comes in on Glady’s phone from Sonny’s Kid. Gladys says, mother/daughter shopping trip? and Sam says, they’re picking out a dress for Scout for swim camp. Gladys says, don’t tell her that they swim in dresses now, but Sam says, it’s for a dance the kids put on. What about her? Special occasion? Gladys says, no. She just thought she’d treat herself. Sam says she’s glad they ran into each other. She’s been meaning to ask Gladys something. She tells Scout to try the clothes on in the dressing room, and Scout leaves. Gladys wonders what Sam wanted to ask her, and Sam says, how is her new BFF Selina Wu?

Li smushes Cody’s head against the bar, and Selina says, it’s not only that he cheated. To a certain extent, she expects that. He’s done it before, so they’ve been keeping an eye on him. He mumbles that he’s impressed, and she says, white ink? Child’s play. What she didn’t expect and what she won’t tolerate is that he lied to her, and even worse, that he thought she wouldn’t notice. He says, confession time? and she says, better late than never. He says he made sure the house lost so she’d think he was no longer valuable to her operation, and she asks, why? He says, honestly? He just wants to move on from the game. It’s nothing personal. He’s no good at doing anything for too long. He gets restless. She says she has news for him. Her employees do not come and go as they please. Once you’re in, you’re in. Is she making herself clear? He gives her an okay sign.

Sonny asks how Marshall is, shaking his hand, and Marshall says he’s been better. Nina asks if they’ve heard from TJ, and Molly says, not yet, but TJ has always said Curtis’s surgeon is the best in the country. Marshall says, thank God for that, and Sonny says, if his family needs anything, they’re here. Marshall says, first and foremost, for Curtis to pull through. Then some answers would be nice. Who would do this to his son?

Trina tells Stella that she just hates that she was holding Curtis at arm’s length. She was angry and confused… Stella says, and rightly so. She still has time. Trina says, Stella doesn’t know that, but Stella says she does. She knows Curtis, and she knows her nephew will fight to get back to Trina. Just like he’s fighting to get back to Portia. Portia stands behind her holding the sweater.

In the OR, the surgeon says, that’s the last of the bullet fragments, putting them into a bowl. Vertebrae looks good, but he doesn’t like that heartrate. Close him up before it climbs up any higher. Curtis suddenly flatlines, and the doctor says, they have to turn him on his back.

Curtis wakes up on a blanket in the grass, and a woman’s voice says, Curtis Ashford, did you eat all the potato salad? Again? Next time, she’s going to put a padlock on the container. He sees a woman sitting next to him, who looks like an older Jennifer Hudson, and says, mom?

Marshall tells Sonny that he’s sorry. Whoever shot his son last night isn’t Sonny’s responsibility. He shouldn’t have laid that at Sonny’s feet. Sonny says, don’t worry about it. He doesn’t know who the shooter is yet, but he’s not going to rest until he finds out.

Stella helps put the sweater around Trina’s shoulders, and Portia asks if Trina wants to talk about it at all, but she says she’s fine. Portia says, really? Because she’s not. Stella says, me neither. This waiting is fraying on her nerves. Trina says she was just so worried that she wasted all that time; that she didn’t resolve things before. Portia says she knows, and holds Trina, as Nina and Molly join them.

Alexis says she really appreciates Kristina’s willingness to help her sister out, and Kristina says, but… Alexis says, not only does surrogacy a huge deal, so is getting pregnant. Kristina’s never been pregnant before. does she have any idea what it’s like having a baby? Kristina says she’ll figure it out. She’s young and healthy and single, and don’t Molly and TJ deserve to be parents? Alexis says, of course (🍷) they do, and Kristina says, so if they decide to move forward with surrogacy, then isn’t it best if they go with someone who’s already prepared and ready to go? Alexis says she doesn’t know that anyone is truly prepared to be a surrogate. It’s not just a physical thing, it’s an emotional… Maxie comes up to their table and says she’s sorry to interrupt. She heard Alexis was trying to reach her. Alexis says she was. The Invader would like to do a feature on The Deceptor. Maxie says, great. What’s the angle? Alexis says, it’s in the leisure section. It’s an interest in the design process. Maxie says, then she’ll probably want to talk to a product manager or someone in marketing, and Alexis says she’ll have her assistant call Maxie’s office. Maxie thanks her, and starts to leave, but Kristina says she has a couple of questions. Maxie says, about The Deceptor? but Kristina says, no, about surrogacy. Wow. That whole conversation for no reason other than to get to Kristina’s question.

Gladys says, Selina Wu’s not her BFF, and tells Sam to get her facts straight. Sam says, that’s pretty interesting, because according to Spinelli, she and Selina were seen at the MetroCourt all cozied up… Wait, no. It was actually Gladys, Selina, and Cody Bell. That’s an interesting trio, doesn’t she think? Since Gladys did accuse him of larceny. (Who uses that word?) Gladys says, a misunderstanding, and Sam says, they put him in handcuffs. Gladys says, then isn’t he lucky to have a friend like her to bail him out? Sam says, Gladys hasn’t answered her question. How does she know Selina? Gladys says she’s bumped into Selina at The Savoy a time or two. Should she get the red one or the black one? She compares coats, and Sam says, and what about Cody? What is his relationship with Selina? Gladys says, Sam will have to ask Cody, and Sam laughs. She says, either Gladys can tell her what’s going on with the three of them, or she’s going to figure it out for herself. There’s obviously something. One word from Selina, and Gladys changes her story about Cody stealing her bracelet? What does that woman have on her?

Nina asks if there are any updates on Curtis, but Stella says, nothing yet. Portia says, Curtis would be so glad to know Nina is here, and Trina hopes he feels their support. Molly says, and all the strength and love they’re sending his way. Nina says, he’s very, very lucky to have such a close family, and Stella says, it’s at these moments they realize how truly important family is.

They do chest compression and use the defibrillator on Curtis.

Curtis says he doesn’t understand, and Irene asks if he’s still hungry. She made biscuits, and there’s blueberry pie for dessert. There’s a whole picnic set-up on the blanket now, and he says he remembers this blanket. Does it still have the… She says, the hole that he burned in it when he was playing with matches? Sure does. He says, it was Tommy’s idea, and she says, blaming his brother, just like always. He heaves a tearful sigh, and she asks if he’s all right. Does he feel sick? She feels his forehead, and he says, just fine. A tear rolls down his cheek, and she asks if he’s sure. He takes her hand and says, mom, is this really happening? Are you really with me right now? She says, where else would she be? and he kisses her hand. It reminds me a little of that scene in Our Town when Emily gets to relive her 12th birthday.

Irene says, it’s a beautiful day, and Curtis says, it’s just magical. She says, when they’re done here, would he mind taking a look at her car? He asks, what’s wrong with her car? and she says, the check engine light’s on again. He says he doesn’t understand why she won’t take her car to the garage, and she says, what does she need with a garage when she’s got two strapping sons? Tommy’s working on it now, but she thinks he needs a little help. He says, Tommy’s here? and she says, in the parking lot. Go help his brother. He gets up, and the doctor says, we’re losing him. TJ says, stay with us, Uncle Curtis, and Curtis asks if Irene heard that. She says, hear what?

Stella tells Nina, whatever Tommy did, Curtis had to do it too. It continued when they were older. When Tommy learned to ride a bike, Curtis was determined to learn too. Tommy made Varsity; there was Curtis on JV. Portia says she didn’t realize Curtis was that competitive, and Stella says, that was part of it, but he was also very protective. He didn’t want to be far away in case his brother needed him. She thinks he was like that with all of them. All they had to do was call, and Curtis would come running. Trina says, he’s still like that today, and Portia says, he certainly is.

Sasha bounces around the interrogation room, and outside on the phone, Chase leaves a message for someone to call him back as soon as possible. It’s about Sasha.

Gladys asks if Sam is implying she’s done something wrong, and Sam says, she must have. There was no way she was going to let Cody off the hook; she was out for blood. So the only reason she can think of that Gladys backed off was to save her own skin. Scout asks what Sam thinks of the dresses, while Gladys sees she has two missed calls; one from Sonny’s Kid and one from Unknown. Sam tells Scout to try them on, and they’ll decide together. After listening to a voicemail, Gladys tells Sam, as much as she’s enjoyed being accosted, she has to run. Family emergency. Sam says she hopes everyone’s okay, and Gladys says, so does she. She stops at the door, and tells Sam to have her kid pick the white one. Pink’s not her color.

Maxie says, it’s not every day she gets asked about her surrogacy, and Kristina says, it was such a selfless thing Maxie did. She’d love to hear more about it. Alexis says, please don’t feel like she has to divulge anything personal, but Maxie says, there’s nothing not personal when it comes to surrogacy. Let her wrap her head around this first. Kristina says, of course (🍷), and Maxie says she’ll call Alexis and leaves. Kristina says, what?

Maxie’s phone rings, and she asks Chase, what’s up?… Sasha did what?… Okay, she’s on her way.

Kristina says, Alexis told her that she could never know what surrogacy was like, so isn’t asking someone who’s actually done it the next best thing? Alexis says, it was just a little insensitive, but Kristina tells her, Maxie said she’s fine with it. Alexis says, okay, and Kristina says she has to go to the hospital. She’ll see Alexis later. She leaves, and Alexis texts Sonny: Got a second? It’s about Kristina.

On the phone, Sonny thanks Brick, and says, keep him posted. Nina asks if Brick found out anything new about the shooting, when Sonny’s phone dings. He says, ugh, and Nina asks, what’s wrong? He says, Alexis wants him to come by. It’s about Kristina. She says, go, and he says he feels kind of weird… but she says she’ll stay here and call him if there’s any updates. She kisses him goodbye, and he leaves.

Sasha asks how long Chase is going to keep her here, and he says, Maxie’s on her way. He tried to track down Gladys, but he’s having trouble reaching her. He holds out his phone and says, she’s allowed one phone call. She should really contact a lawyer. She says, lawyers are for guilty people, and he tells her, be reasonable. She says, why, when something completely unreasonable is happening to her? She needs someone in her corner. Someone who understands what a colossal mess this is.

As Selina plays solitaire and Li roughs up Cody. Cody’s phone rings, and Cody says, mind if he gets that? Selina says she doesn’t, but Li would find it quite rude. Well, she must be going. Enjoy their afternoon. She thinks he’ll find Li is both creative and resourceful. Li takes a bar tool and starts to stab Cody’s hand with it, and Cody yells, wait! Selina says, he came into her game with his own agenda. There must be consequences. Cody says he has a proposition, and she asks what he could possibly have to offer. Li spins Cody around to face her, and he says, plenty, but she says, no one crosses her. Goodbye, Mr. Bell. Li drags Cody off.

Irene says, it’s probably Tommy swearing at the car. Curtis knows how his voice travels. TJ says, Uncle Curtis, you have to come back, and Curtis wonders if somebody just said his name. Irene says, it’s Tommy. He’s calling for Curtis. He needs Curtis’s help. Curtis says, it didn’t sound like Tommy. It’s like he recognizes the voice; he just can’t make it out. She puts her hand on his shoulder and says, come. Just be here. They’ll go see Tommy together. She takes his hand, and TJ says, come on, Uncle Curtis. Fight. Do it for Trina.

Nina says, Portia can tell her to buzz off if she wants to be alone, but is she doing okay? Portia says she just needed a minute. Everyone’s so scared, and they’re desperate for answers. Nina says, and she’s not? but Portia says she’s terrified. But the fortunate, or unfortunate, thing about it is, she knows the answers to some of those questions, and the surgery’s taking way too long. The longer they have him open, the longer the recovery… if there is a recovery. Nina says, there will be a recovery, and Portia says, it’s a bullet to the spine. The damage could not only be significant, it could be life-altering. Nina tells Portia that she wishes there was something she could do or say, and Portia thanks her but says, the only thing they can do is… wait.

Sasha says, that manager is trying to embarrass her, and Chase says, there’s something she needs to see. Gladys walks in, and runs to Sasha, hugging her. Sasha says, they’re accusing her of shoplifting, and Gladys asks, who is? Sasha says, Logan’s. It’s just like Home & Heart. They’re out to get her. Chase asks if he can show them something, and tells them, take a seat. He takes out a tablet, and says, this is the security footage from Logan’s. Sasha says, finally, something to prove she’s innocent, and they see a video of Sasha putting the garments to her face and smiling, then shoving them in her bag. Sasha says she doesn’t remember doing that. Why would she? It’s not like she can’t afford the clothes. Something is wrong here. Gladys says, she may not remember it, but she did it. That is Sasha, isn’t it?

Willow says, any word? but Michael says, Gladys didn’t answer. But Sasha’s with Chase. He’s sure Chase is taking good care of her. Willow says she thought Sasha was acting strangely, and he says, Sasha’s been through a lot. She says, understatement, and he says, she’s been doing good lately, but there’s bound to be setbacks. Willow says she knows, but… shoplifting? and he says, maybe she didn’t realize she had clothes in her hands and walked out the door. He takes Willow’s hands and says, it’s going to be okay. She tells him, if you say so, and he tells her that he says so. She asks why he’s looking at her like that, and he says he still can’t believe she’s home. She says, there’s no place she’d rather be, and he says, uh-oh. He and Wiley have been planning a little trip. She says, rude, considering she can’t go anywhere yet, but he says, au contraire, mon cheri. If mademoiselle wouldn’t mind looking out the window… She looks out and sees Wiley wearing a moustache and dressed in a French outfit, including a beret. He holds up a sign that says, bonjour madame, and she asks Michael what they’re up to. He says, bienvenue à Paris.

Sam says, both dresses look absolutely beautiful on Scout, but hurry up and choose. She has to take her to swim class. Scout says she doesn’t really want to go, and Sam says she thought Scout loved going to swim class. Is this because daddy is the one who normally takes her? Scout says, and he picks her up, and Sam asks, what else does daddy do? Scout says, he asks how many laps she swam and how long she held her breath under water, and Sam says, that’s not fair. She wants to know those things too. She leads Scout to a chair, and they sit down. She says she knows Scout’s sad because daddy is gone, and it’s hard for both of them, but guess what? Daddy’s going to want to know how many laps she swam. So they’re going to write everything down. This way, when she goes to see daddy, she can tell him all about it. Sound good? Scout nods, and goes back to the dresses. She asks, which one? and Sam says she thinks Scout deserves both of them.

As Li hustles him toward the door, Cody says he can make Selina rich. She says, is that so? and he says he’s coming into some money. Actually, it’s a lot of money. She asked why he wanted out of the game. Really it’s to tie up some loose ends before he retires to the Cayman Islands. She says, so he lied, and he says he stayed quiet because he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but now that he’s thinking about it, he feels he owes her a debt of gratitude. She asks where this money is coming from, and he says, the WSB. Li twists his arm, and Cody says he’s not an informant. The WSB took something from him, and they’re willing to pay through the nose to make it right. She says, took what? and he says, a family heirloom. The WSB is willing to cough up ten mill to make up for his pain and suffering. Would she like a cut?

Michael says, obviously, they’ll plan a real trip when she’s ready, but for now, he and Wiley decided to bring Paris to Willow. She thanks him, and he says, don’t thank him; her son was the mastermind. Look at him. Wiley holds a toy accordion, and lowering her voice, she says, please tell her that thing doesn’t actually make noise. Michael says, well… and Wiley pulls and pushes the accordion, making a dreadful sound. Michael tells her to picture it. Her and him, walking hand in hand on the Champs-Élysées. She laughs and says she can’t wait. She loves him too much. He says, too much? There’s no such thing.

Cody says, some of it can be hers, and Selina says, define some. He says, 50/50 split, and she says, 60/40. He says he has to pay some… Li twists his arm again… his attorney. She says, he’ll have plenty left over, and tells Li to let him go. Li releases him, and she says, they must also discuss how Cody will pay his debt from last night’s fiasco. Cody says he expected as much, and she says something to Li which I interpret as, come on, and they walk to the other side of the room. Cody picks up his phone, and listens to the voicemail from Sasha. He asks if he’s free to go, and Selina says, something wrong? He says, possibly, but it has nothing to do with her or her operation. She says, of course (🍷) he’s free to go. Because wherever that is, Li will always find him.

Gladys says she’s sure Maxie will take care of everything, when Maxie walks in. Sasha says she swears she didn’t do anything, and Maxie says she spoke to the store manager at Logan’s. She explained everything, and they’ve agreed to drop the charges. Sasha says, thank God, and Maxie says, they should be calling the station now. Chase leaves, and Sasha says she can’t thank Maxie enough. She honestly doesn’t know what happened. Maxie says, it’s okay, everything’s fine, and Sasha asks how she convinced them. Maxie says, as Sasha knows, they’re doing a cross-promotional event with The Deceptor… and Sasha says she’s sorry. Maxie says, it’s all right. It ended up working out well for the brand. Sasha says she’ll help out wherever she can, and Maxie says, actually, Logan’s would prefer if she and Lucy handled it. She hopes Sasha understands. Sasha says, of course (🍷). It makes sense. Gladys says, Sasha has been working so hard. She thinks Sasha’s earned a break, doesn’t she?

Sonny meets Alexis at Kelly’s and asks, what’s up with Kristina? Alexis says she was just wondering what his involvement is with Kristina’s foundation, and he says he’s been hands-off because he figured that’s what Kristina needs. Unless Alexis thinks otherwise. Alexis says, not that she would admit to this, but she thinks Kristina is a little overwhelmed, and he says he’s here for whatever Kristina needs. She says she was hoping he’d say that.

Kristina runs into the waiting area, and hugs Molly. She asks, how’s Curtis? and Molly says, they’re still waiting for news. She’s so glad Kristina is here.

Nina and Portia walk down the hall, and Portia says, things were already so complicated between them. And now… What if she doesn’t get the chance to tell him that she loves him. She cries, and Nina holds her.

Curtis says, Trina, and starts to walk toward the voice. Irene asks, who’s Trina? and he says, she’s his daughter. She says, he has a daughter? How wonderful. TJ says, Trina needs you, Uncle Curtis. So does Portia. Irene says, once he and Tommy fix the car, they’ll go home. She’ll make dinner. TJ says, you’re stronger than anyone I know. Fight. Irene says, then they can go for a walk through the neighborhood. They’ve missed him so much. He says he’s missed her too; more than she’ll ever know. She says, now they don’t have to. The family’s back together again. Come. They’ll go see Tommy together. She pulls on his hand, but he doesn’t move. He says he wants to, but why does he have the feeling if he leaves this park, he’ll never see Trina or Portia again?

Michael says, hungry? and Willow says, famished. Michael signals to Wiley and says, garçon. Wiley drapes a towel over his arm like a fancy waiter. Michael, now also wearing a beret, comes out with a tray, and says, we have ze… He’s not even going to attempt a French accent. They have quiche Lorraine and a lovely green salad, a crispy baguette, and the Frenchiest butter they could find. She says, c’est parfait, and he asks if that’s good. She says, very, and they kiss. Wiley is still too young to be horrified at seeing his parents kiss yet.

Alexis tells Sonny that Kristina has the passion and energy to make this shelter happen. She just thinks Kristina needs a little guidance. And for better or worse, she listens to him. He thanks her, and she says she’s thinking Kristina might actually receive some constructive feedback from him. He asks how come he feels there’s a lot more going on here, and she says, he probably feels that way because there is.

Gladys says, everyone makes mistakes. And one day in the not too far future, no one will remember this even happened. Maxie says, Gladys is right. Clean slate. Chase comes back and says, Maxie worked her magic. Logan’s is happy to drop the charges. Sasha thanks Maxie, who says, anytime. Hopefully, this is the only time. Gladys asks if Sasha is ready to go home, and Sasha says, yes. She’s exhausted. They file out, Maxie at the end, and Chase says, hey, keep an eye on her. Maxie says she was going to do that anyway.

Outside, Cody leaves a voicemail, saying, he’s sorry he missed Sasha’s call. Is she okay? Call him back when she gets this. Selina says, he forgot something, and holds up the bottle of ink. She hands it to him, and asks, is everything all right? He says, a friend needs his help, and she says, and we always take care of our friends, don’t we? brushing his face with her hand.

Someone is taking pictures. That someone is Sam. A hand comes down on her shoulder.

Irene says, Curtis isn’t going to stay with them, is he? He says he can’t. There’s too many people waiting for him. But he doesn’t want to say goodbye. She says, then don’t. Say until we meet again. He cries and says, until we meet again, and she says she’s so proud of him. Maybe if she’d been as strong as he is, maybe she would have met Trina. It’s time for him to go back. He hugs her and says, I love you mama, and she says she loves him too. It’s time. She lets go of his hands, steps back, and disappears.

TJ and the doctor come out, and everyone gets up. Portia asks, did Curtis make it through surgery?

Tomorrow, Dante says, it might not be as much of a dead end as Anna thinks; Sasha says she screwed up; and Sonny asks Alexis, what kind of trouble Kristina is headed for.

⚖️ You Don’t Know Jack…

Just in case you don’t know Erica Kane’s 10th husband.

I didn’t know he wouldn’t be sticking around. I feel ripped off.

🏥 Dipping In the Vault…

I can’t believe I don’t remember this. Although the house might have still been under reconstruction after Hurricane Sandy. I was pretty busy.

🗽 Newest New York…

Premiering July 16th, here’s the basics. I want to like it, and the beginning of the trailer looks promising. But then it seems to go middle school, so my jury is out.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhony-season-14-premiere-date-teaser-video

You have to remember, we are in our 50s, so the world that we navigated was a very different world, said Dorinda. Women today have financial power, they have children, they have devices! Alrighty then.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/what-original-new-york-housewives-say-about-new-rhony-reboot

📺 More RHONY Than Rules…

Andy gets misty-eyed over his Bravo children.

https://extratv.com/2023/07/12/andy-cohen-on-new-rhony-pump-rules-season-11/

🍊 Calling Out Fancy As Fake…

While I think Fancy Pants Heather just makes things worse, Gina makes her own spectacle about her issues and problems.

🍸 What a Tease…

Well, I doubt they can top last season, which pains me to say, since it’s someone’s real life problem that boosted the ratings.

https://extratv.com/2023/07/12/lisa-vanderpump-teases-another-situation-as-pump-rules-films-season-11-exclusive/

👗 Today’s 1990s…

This week’s Project Runway was all about the 90s, with Jennie Garth as guest judge. It was fly.

🦈 How To Doo-Doo Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo…

In case you needed instruction.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-shark-week-2023-with-jason-momoa-7559270

🥐 Storming the Bastille…

Come on by tomorrow for soap, a spot of tea, a dose of wisdom (or not), and a song befitting the day. Until then, stay safe, stay speaking up if others are disrespectful or inappropriate, and stay not saying goodbye, but saying, until we meet again.

July 7, 2023 – Tracy Joins Finn’s Family Dinner, Why, On the Edge, Hotlanta, Crappie, Off Camera Drama, Bye-Bye Fame, VanderNext, She Wins, Dead Talk, Lotsa Cute, Not Ten Quotes & Habit

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt bar, Violet finishes another Shirley Temple, and tells Finn, that was delicious. She asks for another, and he says, she knows it’s 100% sugar, right? She nods enthusiastically, when Chase comes up behind her, and says, guess who? She says, Uncle Chase! and he asks what they’re doing at the bar. She says, they’re having cocktails before dinner. Everybody knows that’s when you have cocktails. He says, we already know that, do we? He asks if they’ve seen Brook, and Violet says, Brook bought her a Shirley Temple. Finn says he didn’t know Brook was joining them, and Chase asks if it’s okay. Finn says, absolutely. He last saw her by the pool with Tracy. Chase says he’d better rescue her… He’d better find her.

Tracy asks, why on earth would Brook confess to downloading proprietary information on The Deceptor? Why didn’t she just let Maxie take the fall? Brook says, because she has a conscience? A soul? A shred of decency? Tracy says, and she doesn’t? and Brook says, and she couldn’t stand to see Maxie and Lucy fight. Tracy asks, why not? and Brook says, because she likes them. That’s why she hates doing this so much. Tracy says she thinks Brook misspoke. She loves working at Deception. Otherwise, her boyfriend Detective Chase is going to know just what role Tracy played in getting his badge back. Chase walks in, and says, just the two he was looking for. Finn said they were by the pool. Brook says, they were, but they’re done, and Chase says, good evening, to Tracy. She asks if he had a busy day keeping the citizens of Port Charles safe.

Anna and Jordan sit at a table poolside, and Anna says she’s glad Jordan called. They haven’t really seen one another since her past was splashed across the newspapers. Jordan says, for the record, that’s not why she hasn’t called. Anna says she knows, but it has to be hard to process how she’s going to be friends with… basically a traitor. Jordan says, not for a second. How’s she handling all that? Anna says she guesses she’s been able to wait out her relevance in the news cycle. It’s almost insulting how reporters stop harassing you and just move on to the next thing. Jordan tells Anna to count her blessings, and Anna says her life is probably returning to a new normal. Jordan asks if she thinks it’s normal to find the word murderer spray painted across her front door.

Elizabeth asks how things are with Trina and Curtis, and Portia says, Trina approached her yesterday, and it’s the first time since the wedding. Elizabeth says, that’s amazing, but what about Curtis? and Portia says, they’ve yet to talk… because she’s been avoiding him.

Curtis says, sorry for the interruption, but TJ says, it’s cool. Curtis has a club to run. He should probably be going and get out of Curtis’s hair (which is funny, since Curtis doesn’t have hair). Curtis says he’ll always make time for TJ, and TJ says he appreciates that. Curtis says he appreciates TJ coming to him. TJ and Molly have been dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. TJ says, that’s an understatement, and Curtis says, if TJ wants to talk, he’s here. TJ thanks him, and says, because right now, he doesn’t know how to talk to Molly about having a child or not having a child without making her feel pressured. Curtis says, which reminds him. TJ never answered his question. How would he feel if Molly decides she doesn’t want to have children? The Davis girls walk in, and Molly locks eyes with TJ.

Having dinner at the MetroCourt, Sonny tells Dante that he has a confession to make, and Dante asks if he should take his phone out to record it. Sonny says, it’s nothing like that. He called Dante out to dinner under false pretenses. He needs a favor. He and Nina are getting married, and he wanted to know if Dante wanted to be his best man.

Brook says, nice talking to Tracy, but she and Chase have dinner plans. Tracy says, romantic night? Just the two of them? Chase says, actually, they’re meeting his brother. He and Violet are at the bar. Brook says, they can’t keep them waiting, and she and Chase leave.

Anna asks how Jordan knew about the spray paint on her door, and Jordan says, how does she think? Anna says, Valentin, and Jordan says, he called her before he left town. He told her about the vandalism at Anna’s house. It’s funny. She checked, but there was no police report on the incident. Anna says she didn’t make a report. It’s kids. It’s just a prank. It’s not a major crime. Valentin shouldn’t have bothered Jordan with that. Jordan says, Valentin is worried about her. He feels it’s a bad time to be gone, and from what she’s hearing, she agrees. Anna thanks her for her concern, but surely as the new Deputy Mayor, she’s got bigger things to focus on. How is the new job going? Jordan says, nice try and don’t call her Shirley, but Anna says she’s interested. Jordan is embarking on a whole new career. Jordan says she hasn’t really started yet; there’s not much to tell. Back to Anna. Has their been any fallout from the article? What about from her family? Anna says, nobody’s thrilled. Robin understands, but Emma… It’s more difficult with her. She’s just hoping with time, Emma gives her the benefit of the doubt. And her friends are her friends. Jordan takes Anna’s hands, and says she’ll always be one of them. Anna says she’s grateful for that, and she does feel, as lucky as she is with the people who love her, there are those that are really angry, and they have a right to be. Because she did hurt a lot of people. Jordan says, that was a long time ago. She’s helped countless others since then, and what she did was dangerous, no matter whose side she was on. Anna says she was on both. Ask Robin. Jordan says, undercover work is risky and complicated, both physically and emotionally. It takes a toll on you, your relationships, your whole life. Believe her. She knows. Anna says she knows Jordan does. What is she looking forward to in this new job? Jordan says, honestly, she’s hoping it will distract her from the rest of her life, and Anna says, what happened with her and the… Jordan says, the kiss, and Anna says, yeah, that. Jordan says, yes and no.

Curtis says he sees the Davis women showed up in full force tonight, and Alexis says, they sure did. Molly asks what TJ is doing here, and Alexis suggests they get a table, and let Molly and TJ have some privacy. Curtis says he’ll set them up. First drinks are on him. Kristina says, he should know, they’re drinking champagne, and Alexis says, club soda for her. Curtis says he’d expect nothing less, and tells them to enjoy their night. They go to their table, and Curtis asks if he can talk to Sam. She asks, what’s up? and he says he just wanted to check in; how’s Drew? She says, that’s a good question. Her head is still spinning. She doesn’t know how Drew’s plea deal went so wrong. Curtis says he heard that judge might be running for office, so maybe the judge wanted to prove he wasn’t soft on white collar crimes. She says, it still doesn’t justify Drew missing three years of his daughter’s life.

TJ says he’s sorry. He just came to talk to his Uncle Curtis. he was planning on leaving before she got here. He guesses he lost track of time. She’s here now, so he guesses he’ll head out. He tells her to have fun with her mom and sisters, and he’ll see her at home. Okay? She says, nothing about this is okay.

Dante says he’ll be honored to be Sonny’s best man, and Sonny says he appreciates Dante’s support when it comes to his relationship with Nina. Dante says, you got to do what makes you happy. Does he know when the big day is? Sonny says, sometime in the fall, and Dante says, pretty close. Sonny says, they want to keep it simple. Nina doesn’t want a big wedding. Dante asks if that’s the only reason, and Sonny asks if Dante thinks no one is going to show up at his wedding. Dante laughs, and says, Sonny could have a point, but that’s not what he was saying. Does Sonny think he should keep a low profile about this wedding because there could be trouble?

Elizabeth says, the last time she and Portia talked about Curtis, Portia was afraid she’d say something out of anger she didn’t mean. She doesn’t know what happened between them, but is Portia still angry… Portia says, yes, and Elizabeth says, no hesitation there. Portia says she’s angry and extremely hurt. The whole situation is sad, and she misses Curtis and knows that they need to talk. A part of her is worried that maybe it’s already too late. Given everything that’s already happened, and given everything they’ve done to each other at this point, do they even want to try again? Elizabeth says, that’s why Portia’s been avoiding him, and Portia says she knows they need to talk. Elizabeth says she totally gets why they haven’t, and why Portia keeps putting it off. After so much hurt, she has to consider is it even fair to ask him to risk his heart again. Portia asks if Elizabeth and Finn are talking about getting back together again, but Elizabeth says, they’re talking about Portia. Portia says, Elizabeth and Finn are getting closer again, aren’t they? and Elizabeth says, they have been talking about doing stuff together as a family for the kids. Portia says, that’s good, and Elizabeth says, it is, but she doesn’t think she should push it. It isn’t just about her and Finn. Violet’s happiness is also at stake. That little girl wants her and her dad to get back together so badly, she arranged for them to go on a date last night. Portia says, that sweet faced little girl is absolutely sneaky, and Elizabeth says, she is. After dinner, Finn just kept apologizing for Violet having the wrong idea about them. And if he wants to just be friends, she doesn’t want to jeopardize that. If they were to try again, and for some reason Elizabeth couldn’t make it work, she doesn’t want to be responsible for breaking that little girl’s heart again. Portia asks if it’s really Violet’s heart Elizabeth is worried about breaking, or is it her own?

Violet says, Chase lost Brook, and Finn says, Chase just found her. How did he lose her again so fast? Chase says, she told him she had something urgent, and asks, where’s dad? Finn says, he should be here any minute, and Violet says, grandpa’s sleeping over tonight. Does Uncle Chase want to sleep over too? He can bring Brook. Chase says, another time. How’s this weekend? She asks if he promises, when Tracy comes over. She says, they meet again, and Finn says, it’s been a whole twenty minutes, but always a pleasure. Violet says, Auntie Tracy, look. They’re having cocktails. Tracy says, you’re starting early, but Violet says, it’s not early; it’s almost dinnertime. Tracy says, that’s not what she meant, but she won’t intrude. She just wants to get some take-out. She hates dining alone. Violet says, she doesn’t have to eat alone, and asks Finn if Auntie Tracy can have dinner with them. Finn says he doesn’t think she’d… and Tracy says she’d loved to. She thanks Violet for her kind invitation, and Violet says, now they’ll have the same number of boys and girls. Tracy says, but Brook is joining them, and Violet says she knows. It will be Uncle Chase and Brook, her and Daddy, and Auntie Tracy and… grandpa! She runs over to Gregory, and he picks her up. Tracy says, this is going to be fun, and Chase asks Gregory how it’s going.

Molly says she can’t believe it’s come to this, and TJ says he swears he wasn’t trying to intrude on her night out. He knows she needs time. She says, that’s not why she’s upset. She’s upset because he thought he needed to sneak out before she got here. Has she made him feel like she can’t stand to be around him? He says, she hasn’t, but to be fair, she didn’t seem all that happy to see him. She says she was just surprised, and he says, then demanding to know what he’s doing here at his uncle’s club. She says she thought maybe this was… He says, like an ambush? and she says, maybe. Everything is so scrambled right now, but one thing she does know is that she’d never want to chase him away. He says, and he wants he to know that he’d understand if she needs some time away from him, but she says she’d never need that. What she needs is a break from her fertility issues, but not from her life partner; never from him. She would never want to shut him out, but if he wants to talk, they should talk. He says, not tonight. She needs a break. Go have fun. She says, only if he stays, and he says, if she insists, and they kiss.

Coming out of the elevator, Brook sees Tracy sitting down for dinner, and says, why God? What have I done to deserve this? On second thought, God, don’t answer that. At the table, Gregory says he didn’t realize Tracy was joining them, and Tracy says, how could she refuse his delightful granddaughter’s invitation? Brook comes over to the table, and Gregory says, speaking of delightful granddaughters… Tracy asks how many he has, and Brook says, he was talking about her. Chase says, she is delightful, and Finn says, now that she’s finally here, try not to lose her again. Chase says, never, and Tracy says she needs a drink. What’s everybody having? Violet says, the Shirley Temples are delightful (WOTD), and Tracy says she needs something stronger. Much, much stronger.

Elizabeth says she doesn’t want to hurt Finn, Violet, or her boys any more than she already has, and Portia says, she’s making it seem like everything that went down was her fault. Elizabeth says, wasn’t it though? but Portia says, no. From what she recalls, they both made plenty of mistakes, and they both were trying to protect people they care about, including one another. What if Finn does wants to try it out again? (Um.. it’s not a car.) Elizabeth says, what if he doesn’t? and Portia says she knows how hard it can be to put your heart on the line. She let her fear come between her and Curtis, and now she’ll never know what would have happened if she’d just told Curtis the truth from the beginning. And Elizabeth will never know what’s going to happen if she doesn’t tell Finn how she really feels. Elizabeth says, Portia’s right. She’s going for it. She walks out the door, and Portia says, she’s going for it right now? Elizabeth says, if she doesn’t do it right now, she’s going to lose her nerve. She knows Finn and Violet are having a date right now at the MetroCourt. So she’s just going to head over there, and see what happens. Portia says, that’s a great idea, but why doesn’t Elizabeth go home first, take a shower, and put something on she feels good in, and then meet him? She can show him what he’s really missing. Elizabeth says she has a better idea.

Anna says, Portia’s brother? To get over Curtis, Jordan slept with… Jordan says, his brother-in-law. Anna says, whoa, and Jordan says she knows; she was there. Had she known who he was, she certainly wouldn’t have told him that she recently kissed her ex-husband. Anna says, would she have slept with him anyway? and Jordan says, no… No. The point is that when Zeke realized who she was, he told Portia about the kiss. Anna says, no, and Jordan says, which was completely unnecessary. Curtis decided he wants to saved his marriage, which is the only reason she was with Zeke in the first place. Anna says, it’s the only reason? and Jordan says, well, not the only reason. Zeke is charming… and funny… and… Anna says, is he hot? and Jordan says, stupidly hot. There’s no reason he should be related to anyone she knows, but it doesn’t really matter now. Anna asks if Zeke left town or something, and Jordan sees Zeke walk in.

Dante says, something went down the night of the Nurses Ball; there were shots fired in the warehouse district; Sonny’s been beefing up his security detail. That’s the word on the street. Sonny says he doesn’t know what to tell Dante, and Dante asks, where’s Dex? Sonny says, why? and Dante says, he’s usually joined at Sonny’s hip. He was even staying with Sonny for a while, wasn’t he? Sonny says, what’s with the questions? What is Dante fishing for?

Sonny says he invited Dante here ask him to be his best man, and Dante says, and he proudly accepted. Sonny says, so what’s with all the questions? Unless the PCPD is trying to pin something on him. Dante says he’s not trying to pin anything on Sonny. They have an agreement, right? Sonny says, right, and Dante says, Sonny doesn’t tell him about his business, and he doesn’t ask. Sonny says, but here he is asking, and Dante says he’s not asking as a cop; he’s asking as Sonny’s son. He doesn’t want details. He’s just noticed some changes in Sonny’s routine. Sonny says he has everything under control. Dante doesn’t have to worry about it. Dante says he can’t help it, and Sonny asks if it’s because he’s a cop. Dante says, no. Because he’s Sonny’s son.

Violet shows Tracy some stuff on her phone, and everyone is laughing and having a good time. Chase asks if Brook is feeling okay, and she says she guesses. She’s sorry her grandmother hijacked their dinner. He says he’s kind of surprised she stayed. Brook doesn’t think… No. That’s a crazy idea. She says, what? and he says he’s just wondering. Does she think Tracy’s lonely? Brook says, she’s something all right.

In the hallway with Curtis, Sam says, so how are things going between him, Trina, and Portia? Curtis says, things with him and Trina were going good, but now he’s messed things up with Portia. She asks what he messed up, and he says he just hopes he and Trina can get through it. He always Admired Portia and Trina’s relationship, and subconsciously, he always knew if he was to establish a relationship with Trina, it would be secondary. There’s something about knowing that she’s his daughter, that he’s her biological father, that makes it different. Sam says she gets that. Before he found out, Portia connected him to Trina, but now he has his own connection whether he and Portia stay together or not. He says he sure hopes they do. He just hopes he and Trina can learn to be father and daughter no matter what. She says, they will, and he asks how she knows. She says she knows him, and that gives her faith that things will work out. He says, sometimes it feels like it takes a lifetime to get to know someone. Then you look back, and you realize it’s just a blink of an eye. Take his father for instance. He thought he’d never let that man back in his life after he abandoned them, but look at them now. He just wishes he’d let Marshall in sooner. She says, exactly, and sooner or later, Trina is going to realize that. Then she’s going to regret all the time she spent being angry at Curtis and judging him. Because in the end, we never have enough time with the people we love.

In the locker room, a nurse tells Portia, looking good, and asks if she’s going home. Portia says, nope. She’s going out. The nurse says, good for her, and Portia heads out.

Anna asks if that’s him, and Jordan says, mm-hm. Zeke comes over to the table, and says hi to Jordan. Jordan introduces her good friend Anna to Portia’s brother Zeke. Anna says, nice to meet him, and he says he didn’t mean to interrupt. Anna says she has to make a phone call, and Jordan says, really? Anna says, really, so if they’ll excuse her… She leaves, and Jordan says, he doesn’t have to stay. He says he knows his timing was bad, coming to her office when Curtis was there, and she says, ya think so? He asks her to please hear him out.

Anna calls Sonny, and asks where he is. She has to talk to him about something. He says he’s with Dante at the MetroCourt. They’re just wrapping up dinner. He can come to her. Where is she? She says she’s here too; she’s up by the pool. He says he’ll be there.

Zeke says he knows Jordan is mad about him telling his sister that she kissed Curtis, but she says she’s not mad at him. He asks if she’s sure. She seemed mad. She still seems mad. She says she was mad at him because he didn’t give her a heads up, not because he told Portia about her and Curtis. Portia is his sister, and he wants to protect her. She gets that. If Portia had found out about the kiss and he didn’t tell her, she’d feel betrayed. And family like that shouldn’t keep secrets from each other. Zeke barely knows her. He says he’d like to change that, now that they’ve cleared the air. Let’s just start over. She says she thinks it’s a little late for that, and he says, it doesn’t have to be, but it’s up to her. How about it? Will she give him another chance?

Dante asks if Sonny is cool with Anna, and Sonny says, she’s good. She just wants to talk to him. He and Dante are good? Dante says, they’re great. He just wants Sonny to be careful. Sonny says, Dante too. She’s by the pool. Does he want to say hi? Dante says he’d like to, but he should be getting home with dessert for the kids. Especially Scout; she could use the pick-me-up. Sonny asks how she’s doing, and Dante says, she’s doing her best, but not great. It’s tough. Sonny says, give her his love, and Dante says, same with Anna. Keep him posted with what he and Nina got going. He doesn’t want to be shirking his duties as best man. They hug, and Sonny leaves.

Gregory asks Brook how it is being back at Deception, and Brook says she’s glad to be back. Tracy says, things must be very busy over there with the success of their new product. What is it called?… The Deceptor. Brook says, yes, they’re very busy, and Gregory says, last time they spoke, she was excited about focusing on her song writing. Will she still be able to do that if she’s working full-time?

Anna thanks Sonny for meeting her, and he says she looks good. She thanks him, and says, better than she did the other night probably. She thanks him for coming over when he did. It made her feel a little less lonely. He says, she didn’t have to see him to thank him, but she says, that’s not what she’s doing. She has a message from Valentin.

Zeke says, his and Jordan’s night together wasn’t just about sex. At least not for him. She says, it was for her… At least that’s what she wanted it to be. He says, but it wasn’t. He thought they at least had some potential. Before everything that went down, before all that crazy, he was looking forward to seeing her again. She says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she felt the same way, and he says, great. Then let’s start over. She says she just started a new job, and she’s beyond busy, and he says, he’s a lawyer. He’s always busy too. But they’re both pretty free right now. Have dinner with him.  

Alexis asks Kristina to tell her about the plans for the shelter, and Kristina says she’s glad Alexis asked. She had a really interesting lunch with the head of the food pantry. Alexis says, where she’s volunteering, and Kristina says, he really helped her understand the whole manpower end of things, like how much staff they have to hire, and what tasks volunteers can handle. Alexis says, that’s great, and Kristina says, it’s a lot, but now that she understands what she’s up against, she thinks she can pull this off. Alexis says she knows Kristina can pull this off, and she’s very proud of her. Kristina says, this may come as a shock, but she’s proud of herself too. Getting this shelter off the ground is going to be a lot of work, way more than she imagined, but she’s going to see this through to the end. Alexis says she knew if Kristina found the right thing, she would soar, and Kristina says she doesn’t know if she’s soaring. She doesn’t know if she’s even on the runway. There’s so much she doesn’t know. Alexis says, if she doesn’t know, she’ll learn. If it’s too much, she can hire someone to advise her. She knows this is going to be great. Kristina can do this. Kristina thanks her.

Tracy says, Brook is just being practical. It’s always good to have back-up when you’re working in the arts. Gregory hopes she keeps writing songs. He really enjoys listening to them, especially when Chase is singing. Chase says, inspiration happens when it happens. Brook can do anything she sets her mind to. Whatever it is, it will work out. Brook says, Finn’s been quiet, and Chase asks how she can tell. Brook asks what he’s been up to, and Finn says, besides work, nothing much. Violet says, daddy, tell them about your date.

TJ asks if the shelter will provide basic medical care, and Kristina says she wants it to. LGBTQIA+ teens tend to avoid going to doctors because they’re concerned their gender identity isn’t going to be accepted, but she doesn’t know if it’s feasible. TJ says, let him know if he can help on that end, or anything at all. Whatever she needs. Kristina thanks him, and Molly says, he should be on the board. Kristina says, it’s not for profit, so she needs to assemble a board before she breaks ground; before she does anything really. Alexis says, she can’t do everything herself. She’s running a business. She’s the boss. Delegation is the key. Molly asks, who is she and what has she done with their mother? and Kristina says she’s worried that she’ll miss being with the kids directly and helping them, being behind a desk all day. Sam comes back with Curtis, and says, then plan it. That’s what mom or Molly would do. Molly says, she has to set time aside on her schedule to talk to the kids one-on-one, and TJ says, that way she can see what kids need more structure, and the ones who need more freedom. Curtis tells TJ, let’s get that champagne, and TJ leaves with him. By the bar, Curtis asks if things are good with TJ and Molly, and TJ says, somehow, they are. Curtis was right; they’ll get through this. He doesn’t know if a kid is in his future, but Molly definitely is. Curtis says he’s glad, and asks if TJ minds if he takes off. TJ says, no, and thanks him for listening. Curtis says, any time, and TJ asks where he’s headed. Curtis says he thinks it’s time he takes his own advice, and leaves.

The champagne has been poured, and TJ is back at the table. Molly asks if he’s ready to dance, and he says he thought she’d never ask. Molly asks if the others are coming, but Sam and Alexis beg off. Kristina says she’ll be there in a minute, and Molly says, don’t wait too long. She and TJ go onto the dance floor. Sam says, it looks like Molly is feeling better, and Alexis says she’s glad Molly is giving herself a break from all the pressure she’s putting on herself. Kristina says she wants to really make sure Molly knows she’s not alone in this, but Sam says, Molly knows they all have her back. Kristina says, of course (🍷). She knows that it’s their decision, but she wishes they’d move forward with having a baby. Sam says, so does she, if that’s what makes them happy, but she doesn’t want to pressure them about anything. Kristina says, of course (🍷), of course (🍷). She knows, but just wishes they could help make their decision easier… That’s it. Why didn’t she think of that before?

Anna says, obviously Sonny is aware Valentin went with Laura to find her son, right? and Sonny says, Charlotte’s staying with Sam and Dante. Dante filled him in, but he’s surprised that Valentin would have her pass along a message. He and Valentin don’t really say much to each other. Anna says, normally, she wouldn’t be a go-between with something quite so precarious, not even for Valentin, and Sonny says, why now? She says, Sonny is involved in a business venture with Valentin? Or rather, Valentin is involved with him. This is all she knows. She doesn’t know any of the details. She doesn’t think she really wants to. But right before he left, Valentin gave her the message. Knowing Sonny would rather do any kind of business in person than over the phone, he wanted her to pass on the message. Sonny says, go ahead, and she says, he’s not to speak to anyone new. If his contact person is to change, do not proceed until he’s spoken with his original contact person. Does that make sense? Sonny says, yeah, and she asks, does he want to tell her what’s going on with Valentin? Why Sonny would be in any kind of business with him?

Jordan says she doesn’t know how this is going to work, and Zeke says, only one way to find out, right? She says, and then what? This situation is just too messy. He says, when she told him that she was done with her ex, did she mean it? and she says, they are over. Whatever happens between Portia and Curtis, she’s moving on. He says, then what’s stopping them from seeing each other? and she says, reality? She’s sure Portia’s already given him an earful on why he should avoid her like the plague. He says he doesn’t let his family dictate who he sees. Does she? She says she doesn’t want to cause problems between him and his sister, and he says, Portia will cope. Portia walks in, and Jordan says, you think so? He turns and sees her.

Violet yawns, and Finn says he thinks someone’s tired and they’re going to be heading home. He reaches for Violet, who insists she’s not tired, as we all did at her age, and he picks her up. Tracy thanks him so much for allowing her to join his family for dinner, and he says, it was surprisingly fun having her here. She says, for her as well, and thanks him. She looks at Gregory, and says, and you? He says, yes? and she says, he’s a lucky man. He says he knows, and thanks her. He tells Chase that he’ll see him at the next tea party, and tells Brook, it’s always a pleasure. She says, he can’t imagine how nice that is to hear, and he says he thinks he can. He leaves with Finn and Violet, and Tracy says she’ll see Brook at home. Don’t stay out too late. She has work tomorrow. Brook says, goodnight, granny, I laugh, and Tracy leaves. Brook asks what Chase says about her and him getting a nightcap at the pool bar, and he says he’d love to. She says, great. The sooner, the better. He says, there’s something he needs to ask her first.

Elizabeth comes out of the elevator, and sees Finn, who says, hi. Violet says, she looks like a princess, and Elizabeth thanks her. Finn says, she looks beautiful, and she thanks him. She asks if they’re leaving, and Gregory says he and Violet are heading home, but Finn can stay. Finn says, he can stay? and Violet nods. Finn tells Elizabeth that he can stay, and hands off Violet to Gregory.

Brook says, whatever it is, can she and Chase talk about it on the way to the bar? and he asks, what’s going on with her? Something’s been off with her all evening. She says she knows, and her name is granny. She’s always on edge around her. Chase says, it’s not just Tracy. When his dad asked Brook about her job, he knew he was right. She says, about what? and he says, her work at Deception. Her heart’s not in it. She doesn’t want to be there. Brook says, of course (🍷) she does. It’s a day job. He says, exactly. She’d rather be writing music and managing artists. So he has to ask; why did she go back?

Kristina says, it solves so many problems. It’s perfect. Alexis says she shudders to think. What? Sam says, what’s her big idea? and Kristina says she can be Molly and TJ’s surrogate. Molly overhears.

Portia says, so this is why Zeke isn’t taking her calls. He’s on a little date with Jordan? Jordan says, that’s not what’s… She and Portia both see Curtis walk in.

Sonny asks what else Valentin said, when Dante walks in. He looks up, and yells, everybody down! We hear a gunshot.

On Monday, Spencer tells Esme, this is him cooperating; TJ asks why Molly doesn’t want to be around her mom and her sisters; Dex asks if Sonny is okay; and Chase reports that shots were fired at the MetroCourt pool.

🩺 Having His Reasons…

He’s one of my favorite actors. I got to see him as Ben in a revival of Follies on Broadway. He was filling in for someone else, and when I found that out, I thought, meh, but he was amazing. I’m glad he took this gig.

👩‍❤️‍👨 The Struggle Is Real…

Two Wives. Two roller coaster marriages.

As Dr. Phil says, better to come from a broken home than to live in one.

🍑 Next Peach…

The upcoming season of RHOA.

🗽 Andy Says It’s Good…

This sounds like a fun one.

https://www.etonline.com/sonja-morgan-and-luann-de-lesseps-on-their-crappie-lake-adventure-and-rhonys-return-to-scary-island

📹 Taking Their Word…

Juicy Joe’s phone call was definitely cringeworthy.

🎸 And Stay Out…

My heart is bleeding for him. For those not familiar with sarcasm, that’s an example.

🍸 Rules Coming Up…

The latest on the next season of VPR.

💃🏼 Dancing Like Everyone’s Watching…

For once, good triumphs over evil, and we all get to see it.

https://people.com/ariana-madix-joining-dancing-with-the-stars-7557819

⚰️ Unearthing The Dead…

Everyone’s looking for Rick.

https://screenrant.com/rick-grimes-walking-dead-biggest-priority-fear-spinoff/

The Fear reunion I’ve been waiting for.

There are no small parts.

A preview of the next Dead City episode.

🦎 Fuzzballs And Fluffballs And A Lizard, Oh My…

I spent more time than I care to admit looking at this page.

https://toofab.com/2023/01/01/celebrities-who-love-to-show-off-adorable-pets/

🎋 Quotes of the Week

Maybe you can afford to wait. Maybe for you there’s a tomorrow. Maybe for you there’s one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around it, let it slide like coins through your fingers. So much time you can waste it. But for some of us there’s only today. And the truth is, you never really know. – Lauren Oliver

The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth. – Niels Bohr

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness. – the 14th Dalai Lama

No one forgets the truth, Frank. They just get better at lying. – April Wheeler (Kate Winslet), Revolutionary Road

We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. – Whoopi Goldberg

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. – Les Brown

Do your work with your whole heart, and you will succeed – there’s so little competition. – Elbert Hubbard

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. – Mark Twain

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

🍺 Didn’t Come Here, Ain’t Leaving…

Come back on Monday really Tuesday for soap and a double Decker. Until then, stay safe, stay not making loud phone calls on the train (text for Pete’s sake), and stay remembering, in the end, we never have enough time with the people we love.