Category Archives: soap opera

February 22, 2024 – Anna Gives John a Choice, Thoughts, A Little Bit Of Soap, Reunion Scare, Volcanic House, VanderFlat, Turning 40, More Awards, Pet (!) Friendly & Revolution

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly says, Drew threatened to blackball writers and photographers if they worked with Nina on her new magazine, and he says, Nina tried to ruin both of their lives. The least he could do is return the favor. Carly says, but they’ve already gotten their revenge. He fired Nina and hired her as Editor-in-Chief of Crimson magazine. He knows it’s killing Nina to see Carly take her place. Drew says, she bounced back as the editor of a new magazine and he had to shut her down, and Carly asks, why take the bait? What is the benefit of one-upping Nina? They already have everything they want. Their happiness and success is the best revenge. Why can’t he just ignore Nina? (Because apparently, Drew doesn’t have an actual job himself and has a lot of free time.)

Sasha and Maxie come into Charlie’s and Sasha asks what Cody is doing here. She thought he had to work at the Quartermaines tonight. Cody says his plans changed. He would have let her know, but she said she was staying in to watch a movie. Sasha says she and Maxie had to blow off some steam after the day they had at work. A latte and streaming service wasn’t cutting it, so they decided to come here for a drink or two. Cody says, looks like they had the same idea, and Spinelli says, what a fortuitous happenstance. Maxie says, her mom took the kids for a movie and ice cream, so she thought she’d take advantage of a free night and let loose a little bit. Sasha says, this is perfect timing, and asks the guys to join them. Cody says, they would, but Spinelli was just about to bail on him. Sasha says, what? They just got here. Stay a little bit. They all had so much fun together at the Hatchet Range, she feels they should keep that going. She and Maxie could really use it. Maxie says, definitely. Please stay. Spinelli says, slumber can wait, and Cody says, great. The ladies need drinks. Does Sasha mind helping him? She says, sure, and they go to the bar. Sasha says she brought Maxie here like Cody asked. What tricks does he have up his sleeve?

Dante says, while they’re getting Cyrus mic-ed up, why don’t they go over the plan one more time? Anna tells Cyrus that he’s at Pentenville to preach a sermon as a volunteer chaplain. The arms dealer they’re very interested in, Philip O’Neill, is in protective custody, but they’ve made a deal with his guards to attend the sermon. So Cyrus is going to strike up a conversation with him… Cyrus says, wait. He thought time was of the essence here. He’s already agreed to their plan. Why is she talking to him like he’s an idiot? She says, maybe it’s because he likes to exploit loopholes and she doesn’t want him to weasel out of what they’ve already agreed to. So although she might have made a deal with the devil, she refuses to be damned.

Sonny approaches a house in a woodsy area with Selina, and says he thought he was supposed to come here and question her guard who betrayed her, not take a scenic tour around the property. She says, with everything that’s gone on recently, she prefers to be surrounded by security, and that’s easier on her estate. But don’t worry. His patience is about to be rewarded. He says, how so? She says she doesn’t imagine he cares about her gardening, and opens the door. He sees Li, tied to a chair and gagged, and she says, but she does all her best work here. (I’m like, whoa. Li.)

Drew says, the day after they agreed not to engage with Nina, she tried to sabotage Carly’s first issue as Crimson’s Editor-in-Chief. Is he supposed to let her get away with that? Carly says, no. He’s supposed to have faith in her, because she handled it. That magazine made it to the printer on time despite Nina’s dirty tricks. He says, that’s a testament to how good Carly is already at her job. It doesn’t excuse Nina from her behavior. Carly wants her out of their lives, but Nina has made it very clear that she isn’t going to disappear, no matter how badly they want it. She says, so what? Let her play her games. The only thing Nina wants is a reaction from them, and the best way to fight her is to not give her that reaction. He says, she doesn’t really believe that, does she? Nina was standing right here in Carly’s office, gloating about her next strategy on how to take them down. Doesn’t that infuriate her? She says, yes. It took everything in her not to smack Nina, but she knows and has learned that every time she stoops to Nina’s level, it only causes more conflict. And come on. Sonny’s dumped her. Michael and Willow don’t want her anywhere near them or their children. Nina is almost disconnected with everyone in Carly’s life, except Drew apparently. He says, she’s got a near bottomless bank account. She’s got nothing else to lose. That is a dangerous combination. He did what he did to try to get her out of their lives quicker and to minimize the damage she can cause in the meantime. She says, he just wants to humiliate her, and he says, that, too.

Cyrus says, at least let him reassure Anna that he knows what he’s doing today. After his sermon, Mr. O’Neill’s guards will delay returning him to his cell, allowing him to enlighten O’Neill as to the healing power of confession and how it frees the soul. Anna says, that’s a good start, but the goal is to get him to give up the name of whoever it is he sold the WSB stolen cache of guns to. He says, she does realize she’s asking him to betray his values and his sacred duties as a man of the cloth, and Dante says, Cyrus might want to dial back just a little bit. He’s not even ordained. Cyrus says, there are people at Pentenville who actually see him as a chaplain, with all the responsibilities that entails, and Anna says, he believes they all get closer to God by admitting their sins, right? He says he does, and she says, that’s exactly what he’s doing for O’Neill. Regardless of the motives, Cyrus is giving him an opportunity to change and be a better person. Dante says, that’s right. O’Neill isn’t talking to them. He hasn’t got a plea deal and he’s going away for a long time. They’ve got him dead to rights on an illegal weapons trafficking charge, so nothing they do today, none of the information they’ll be getting, will cause any more trouble for him. Cyrus says, and this may help others, and Dante says, 100%. Anna says, for sure, so much, and Dante says, it’s going to be putting less people in harm’s way, innocent people like Curtis Ashford, who may never walk again because of the guns that O’Neill sold. This confession they’re going to get will help a lot of innocent people. Cyrus says, the Lord does work in mysterious ways, and Dante and Anna agree. Anna says, it’s time. Is he ready? Cyrus says he is. He just hopes his Lord and his Police Commissioner remember his sacrifice. He leaves.

Selina says, Curtis Ashford’s warning that she might be open to assassination came just in time. Sonny asks, how so? and she says, between Curtis’s information and the failed attack on her, she realized she was in greater danger than she thought. He says, that’s been made clear to them already, and she says she needed to start asking questions, and wouldn’t you know, discovered that Li here had just bought a new car, a luxury vehicle. She dug a little deeper and found out he’d recently come into quite a large and unexplained sum of money. She puts her hand on Li’s shoulder, and he flinches. She says, after some convincing, Li confessed that he’d agreed to share her whereabouts, putting her in a very vulnerable position. Her loyal men also recovered a gun that was in Li’s possession, and her people examined it closely. No serial number, but there was a marking on it. Sonny says, let him guess. It’s another one of the missing guns that was stolen from the WSB. Li looks at him and he says he’ll take that as a yes. Li’s been working for the people who took a shot at him – twice.

Cody tells Sasha, so Spinelli used to sing karaoke to Maxie back when they were dating, so he figured, what better way for them to remember their history then for Spinelli to serenade her again. Sasha says, that makes sense. He wants to remind them of all the good times they had together as a couple. Smart. He’s the best.

At a table, Maxie tells Spinelli, Tracy is out of control. She’s trying to make all the decisions at Deception. Tracy thinks she knows better than her or Brook or anyone else who works there. Tracy even suggested she quit and go back to Crimson. Not that she would ever do that. She’s completely committed to Deception. Also, she can’t give Tracy that satisfaction. Spinelli says, that’s egregious. Without Maxie, Deception would crumble faster than if Thanos snapped it out of existence. Maxie thanks him and says she is working really hard to make Deception successful. They all benefit. Tracy’s just not making it easy. The MC comes by with slips of paper and pencils and tells them to remember to put in their song choices early. Maxie says, they have karaoke here now? and Spinelli says, apparently, Kristina just started it. It reminds him of their wedding. Remember? She says, how could she forget?

Sasha says she hopes getting Maxie and Spinelli together here tonight works, without betraying girl code or telling Cody anything they talked about. Cody says he would never disclose the conversations he and Spinelli have had, and Sasha says, they’re keeping their friends’ confidences, but they can have eyes. He says, they do have eyes, and she says she’s keeping her fingers crossed that a night of karaoke with Spinelli will give Maxie the clarity she needs on her feelings for him. He says, once the music starts, who knows what will happen?

Drew says he doesn’t want to fight with Carly, but he’s not going to apologize for wanting justice for what Nina did to him. He thought she would actually back him up on this. Normally, she’s the first person to want to get even with somebody who wrongs her. She says, he’s right. Payback has been her go-to reaction for most of her life. If someone hurt her, she was going to hurt them back twice as bad, but most of the time, that reaction has caused more conflict and life is short. Losing her mom so unexpectedly just brings it home all over again and she’s happy now. She’s so happy with him. They have a great life. Isn’t that enough? He says he thought it would be and it would have been if he didn’t find out who turned them in to the SEC, but he knows and he can’t pretend it doesn’t affect him. He just came back from Pentenville with so much rage. Does she have any idea what it feels like to be beaten within an inch of your life? He was lying on the floor of that shower, and he was in so much pain, he wished he was dead, but he was praying for someone to come save him. She says she’s so sorry that happened to him. That was horrible. He says, then he was freed, and he had nowhere to go with that anger. He had no one to blame until he found out who sent him there. She says, seeing Nina must be so hard every time, and he says, every time he does, he feels the rage boiling inside of him, and he thinks about how much time he lost with Scout when he was in prison. He thinks about being beaten and the pain and the recovery, so yeah, sometimes he feels like he’d like Nina to feel a little bit of that humiliation as payback. That’s true. She says she’s not asking him to forgive Nina. She would never ask him to forgive her. But this anger scares her. He hasn’t been the same since he went to prison. He says he went to prison for… She says, he can finish that sentence. He went to prison for her.

Sonny says he’s done playing games here, removing the gag from Li’s mouth. Who hired him? Selina says, unfortunately, Li seems quite loyal to his other employer. They haven’t been able to get a name out of him yet. She uncovers a table of garden tools and says, perhaps Sonny can get him to be a little more forthcoming. She tells Li, Sonny can be very persuasive, and Sonny says, Li’s working for people who are trying to have him killed. People who would put his family and the people he cares about in the crossfire of an assassin’s bullet. Whoever did this is gonna pay. He picks up a pair of shears, and Li moves around. Sonny says, hey. He usually has people who do this sort of business, but since Li’s friends took a shot at him while his little girl was nearby, he needs a more personal touch. He moves closer to Li and says, whoever did this is going to suffer; he can promise Li that. And whoever’s helping them is going to suffer unless Li gives Sonny a compelling reason to spare him.

Cody asks if Maxie and Spinelli have decided what they’re going to sing yet, but Maxie says, not her. Spinelli is the singer. Cody says he has to check something out. He’ll be right back. He leaves, and Spinelli says, if Maxie isn’t going to grace them with the dulcet tones of her voice, he’s not going to sing either. Maxie says, he can’t sit it out because of her. She knows how much he loves karaoke. He says he does, and the MC takes the mic and says, they’re going to get started, so drink some liquid courage if they need it and get ready for some great tunes. Their first singers tonight are Cody Bell and Sasha Gilmore. There’s applause, and Sasha looks surprised. Maxie tells her, get up there, and Sasha tells Cody that she hopes he knows what he’s doing. He says, she trusts him. Come on. She says, he’s never heard her singing voice, and he says, she’s never heard his, and she gets on stage with him. They sing like a pair of professional singers who’ve been singing together all their lives. They finish to lots of applause.

Anna, Dante, and some other guy listen in as Cyrus says, when we confess our sins, we’re not punished, but rewarded for having the courage to bear our souls. With penance and absolution, our conscience is freed and we’re able to step forward with a clear heart.

Sonny says he doesn’t see Li’s lips moving, so he guesses Li’s made his choice. Li asks what Sonny wants, and Sonny says, a description of the man who hired him to betray Selina and his name. Li says, he didn’t give his name. He said it was better Li didn’t know. Sonny moves the shears toward Li’s face and says he guesses Li’s out of luck, but Li says, no. That man doesn’t matter anyway. He was just a go-between working for who’s really in charge. Sonny says, that’s convenient, isn’t it? and Selina says, and Li’s telling them he never met his boss? Li says, no, never, and Sonny says, so let him guess. He never gave Li his boss’s name. Li says, the guy didn’t trust him enough, and Sonny yells, come on! Li says, but he overheard one of his phone calls. His boss goes by the name Stone. (I’m like, double whoa.)

John walks into the room where Anna and Dante are and says, starting without me?

Sasha tells Maxie that she never thought she’d like doing anything like that in front of a crowd, but it was so much fun performing with Cody. Maxie says she’s not surprised Sasha had such a great time. The two of them make a great team.

Cody asks if Spinelli isn’t glad that he stayed tonight, and Spinelli says, it has been illuminating. Cody says, Maxie looks like she’s having a good time too. Maybe Spinelli can convince her to sing a duet with him after all. Spinelli says he knows what Cody is doing, and Cody says, having a fun night out with his friends? Spinelli says, Cody is trying to get him and Maximista to spend as much time together as possible in the hopes it will lead to something, but he’s already told Cody that he has no intention of pursuing his unrequited feelings for her. Cody says, what if it isn’t unrequited? What if she feels exactly the same way he does? Spinelli says, what’s wrong with him? Please stop. Let this go. Cody says he’s just trying to help out, but Spinelli says he didn’t ask for Cody’s help. This is none of his business. Why does he care so much anyway? Cody says he just wants Spinelli to be happy. Okay, maybe he does feel bad about the way he treated Spinelli when he first came to town. Spinelli says, when Cody was blackmailing him? and Cody says he knows. He’s trying to be a better person. He feels like he owes Spinelli one. Spinelli says, then he releases Cody from that debt, making a releasing motion with his hands, but Cody says, that’s not the only reason. He cares about Maxie and her family. They mean a lot to him. And he sees how much Maxie likes Spinelli. He just wants her to be happy. Spinelli says, it’s a touching tale, but Cody isn’t that altruistic. He thinks Cody realizes the longer he plays Cupid with him and Maxie, the more time he can spend with Sasha. Cody says, Sasha is smart, fun, and he’s not going to deny he likes spending time with her, but that’s not the reason he wants Spinelli and Maxie to get together. Spinelli says, tell himself whatever he wants, just butt out of his life, and Cody says, fine. Spinelli says, now that they have that settled, he’s leaving. He gets up as Sasha and Maxie come back, and Maxie asks where he thinks he’s going. He’s not going to sneak out before he sings, is he?

Drew tells Carly that he’s sorry. He didn’t mean that. He doesn’t feel like he went to prison for her. She says, he did. He paid for her crime by losing time with his family and he almost died, and her life basically stayed the same. He says he made a choice to cop a plea to protect her and he doesn’t regret that for a second. He would do the same thing in a heartbeat because he loves her. She says she loves him too, and he says, that’s all that matters. She says, is it? She’s not so sure anymore. He asks what that means, and she says she understands his desire for revenge against Nina. If she had to go to Pentenville and found out it was because of her, she’d feel the same way. She would want to kill her. He says, it’s nice to hear her acknowledge that, and she says she knows her situation is very different. She didn’t have it as bad. She lost some money and a business, but she wants him to know she understands and truly appreciates his sacrifice. He says he knows she does, and she says, but she can’t move on with her life unless Nina is behind her. She doesn’t want to think about Nina anymore, she doesn’t want to argue with Nina anymore, and she doesn’t want to hurt Nina anymore. Because it always comes back to bite her. Nina suffers, but she suffers, and she doesn’t want to do that to herself anymore. She doesn’t want Drew to do that anymore, but she can’t make him feel the way she feels. He says, it’s obvious they’re not on the same page about Nina, but they can keep talking. They can figure things out as they move forward on how to deal with her. She says she wants Nina out of her life completely and she doesn’t know if he can do that. She doesn’t know if he wants to do that. He says he understands, and he wants her to know that he hears where she’s coming from, but he’s not just a passenger here for the ride along with her life. He’s in this relationship just as much as she is, and he gets to have just as much of a say about what to do about Nina as she does.

O’Neill sits at a table, and Cyrus introduces himself as the honorary chaplain at Pentenville. He and O’Neill shake hands, and Cyrus sits down. He says he hasn’t seen O’Neill at any of their services. He wanted to introduce himself and see if there was anything he could do for him. O’Neill says he appreciates that. He thinks he’s good. He’s only recently become incarcerated here. Cyrus says he’s sorry O’Neill finds himself behind bars. As a former inmate, he knows how disconcerting that can be. O’Neill says he didn’t realize a former felon could be a chaplain, and Cyrus says his journey has been an enlightening one. He spent years making all the wrong choices, and finally he decided to listen to what God had been trying to tell him all along. That he was not beyond saving if only he would trust in Him to guide him. And now that he’s been given a chance at redemption himself, he tries to pay it forward by helping other lost souls. O’Neill says, that’s quite a transformation, and thanks Cyrus for sharing. Cyrus says, it turns out it’s his calling, helping others find a way forward when all seems lost. He can see something’s troubling O’Neill. Maybe he can help.

Selina and Sonny come out of the house, and Selina says, from Sonny’s reaction, she gathers that name means something to him. Sonny says, it was somebody he knew a long time ago who was very important to him. He’s gone now. She says, then it can’t be the same person who’s targeting them, and he says, but that name is also very important to somebody else who just arrived in Port Charles.

John says he’s disappointed in Anna. He thought they’d come to an understanding. She says, so did she. She doesn’t think she’s violating that in any way. If he’ll excuse her, she and her detective are in the middle of an operation. He says, one that was never cleared by him. Imagine his surprise when he found out Philip O’Neill isn’t available for questioning tonight because he’s in a religious service, on Anna’s orders. She says she stands on her decision, and might she remind him, this is her jurisdiction and O’Neill is a possible witness. So she’s at liberty to conduct her investigation any way she chooses. He says, she’s not at liberty to keep the FBI in the dark, which is why he’s shutting this operation down.

Dante asks if they don’t want the same thing here, to stop the attacks on these mob figures? and John says he gets that they’re all invested in this case. But it’s their methods he’s got a problem with. They’re trying to get his witness under a wire and extract information without looping him in. He can’t allow that. Dante says, so he wants to tank the entire investigation because his pride’s hurt? John says he’s been working on this case for months. He’s put everything into it. So he’s not going to allow them to blow the whole thing because they have a bias toward Sonny Corinthos. Dante says, and there it is. This whole thing, right? It’s the vendetta John has against Dante’s father. Anna says, Sonny’s been targeted twice. It’s not a bias to find out who’s responsible. It’s literally their job, and O’Neill is the best lead that both of their cases have. And the federal prosecutor couldn’t convince him to talk, so she’s taken matters into her own hands. John says, by acting without authority and going behind his back? and she says, but this could work. Why is he so willing to shut it down?

Sonny tells Selina that Stone was a kid he took in back in the 90s who was very, very important to him. He had a brother, John. After Stone died, John had a son and named him Stone in memory of his brother. John is a Fed. She says she sees, and Sonny says, they never got along. As a matter of fact, John hated his guts. The only thing they had in common was Stone, and after Stone died, he hadn’t seen John in years, until recently. And John still has it in for him. John is the agent investigating all the attacks on organized crime figures. She says, that seems like suspiciously convenient timing, and he says he feels the same way. So if whoever is coming after them is named Stone, it can’t just be a coincidence. She says, it does raise a lot of pressing questions, and Sonny says, and he’s going to get the answers.

The MC says, Damien Spinelli, you are up. Amid pats on the back and cheers, Spinelli takes the stage. He sings It All Comes Down To You to Maxie, who looks enraptured. He finishes to applause and goes back to the table. Sasha says she and Cody are going to get some fresh air, and they go outside. Spinelli and Maxie look at each other.

Carly says she doesn’t mean to make Drew feel like it’s her way or no way. He’s completely justified in wanting to make Nina pay for what she’s done to him. But not if it’s turning him into someone that the people he loves don’t recognize. If Nina accomplishes that, then she wins. He says, that’s the last thing he wants, and she says she knows. And she hates that this is where they are. When they talked about her taking the job at Crimson, her condition was that he end his war with Nina, and he agreed. She picks up the magazine and says, so consider this her first and last issue. She hands it to him and walks out. I’ve never been a huge Carly fan, but I’m liking this new Carly.

Maxie says, that was a beautiful song, and Spinelli says, maybe he should have gone for more of an up tempo, more of a crowd pleaser. She says, the song was perfect. It reminded her about how he’s been singing Lullaby and Goodnight to Baby Lou every night for the last two months. He says, two months? Time flies when you’re crashing in someone else’s abode. She’s not getting tired of that bedtime song? She says, no, never. She loves hearing him sing to her. Almost as much as she loves having him at the house and seeing him with the kids every day. They adore him and they’re all happy to have him. He’s the one who hasn’t been able to be in his own space for so long. He says, it appears the repairs have taken longer than expected, but she says she doesn’t mind. If it didn’t mean his apartment would look like a scene from Avatar: The Way of Water, she would say he should never leave. She’s sorry. She didn’t mean to… He says, no. Don’t take it back. He feels the same way. Living together the last couple of months felt so right. She says, for her too, and he says, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. He’s here for whatever she needs. She says, whenever her life was falling apart, he was always there for her. She knows she can count on him. He says, always. She’s one of his closest friends… Actually, he considers her more than a friend. She says, how so? and he kisses her. (Aww!) She kisses back.

Outside, Cody says, this was really fun. He’s glad they did this. Sasha says, her too. She has to admit, as much as they always say you regret your past, it’s fun watching him scheme for a good cause. He’s very good at it. He says, it’s easy when you have a great accomplice.

Maxie suddenly pushes away and picks up her stuff. She says she’s got to go, and jets, telling someone she passes that she’ll see them at work tomorrow. She comes out, and without even stopping, she tells Sasha, we have to go. Sasha says, o…kay, and shrugs at Cody, who says, bye.

Li says he told Sonny everything he wanted, but Selina says, it’s not enough. Li says, but it’s all he has. They know everything he does; he swears. Please. Sonny says, then he’s got one shot to save his life, and Li says he’ll do anything. Sonny and Selina look at each other, and Sonny says, anything.

Cyrus asks O’Neill to tell him what’s weighing him down, so they might pray on it together and find him some peace. O’Neill says he’s worried about his safety. He hasn’t slept in days and feels like there’s so many people in here who are out to get him, after all the things he’s done and the people he’s mixed up with. Cyrus says, his past doesn’t define him. He can move forward in his life. It begins by telling the truth. So give himself a chance. Tell him everything.

John says he is lead agent on this case. He doesn’t have to explain his actions to Anna. He answers to a higher authority. (So does Cyrus. ha-ha!) Anna says she wants them to work together. She’s not the enemy here. Her daughter thinks the world of him, and that’s worth something to her. He says, personally, he has no problem with her. Professionally, that’s a different story. She’s standing in the way of him tracking down a large shipment of stolen guns and possibly stopping whoever’s murdering mob bosses from consolidating their power. This ends now. Dante says, yeah… Something doesn’t feel right about this. It almost feels like John is having a personal issue with Anna or something. John says, that’s big accusation with no proof, and Dante says he’s got proof. They’ve come this far, and he can’t believe John wants to stop them from questioning this witness. Anna says, neither can she. Something else is going on here. If John forces her to shut down this operation, then her hands are tied. She’s going to go to his supervisor and tell them that he’s not fit to investigate this case. So what’s it going to be? It’s his choice.

Tomorrow, TJ asks Molly if it’s him or that was weird; Kristina tells Blaze, in that moment, she felt like the baby was hers; Elizabeth asks if Sam is worried something deeper is going on; and Cyrus asks O’Neill, who is this man who’s worth a lifetime in prison?

💭 Thoughts. This was a good one. I made noises out loud at the Li and Stone reveals. Since I remember squat about Spinelli and Maxie being together, his beautiful singing voice was a surprise too. Although seriously, the most unrealistic karaoke ever. Sasha was surprised when Cody asked her to do a duet, yet they looked and sounded like they’d practiced the song a million times. Even more unrealistic, they put on a show rather than their eyes being glued to the lyrics screen like their lives depended on it. The general consensus in my karaoke group is, if we had to sing Happy Birthday there, we’d need to see the lyrics.

Also, and hear me out here, I’m not sure if John is the man behind the shootings or they just want us to think that. Somebody could have set him up. Even though he hasn’t been in the opening credits yet, they don’t usually bring on a guy like that just to show him the door five minutes later. Just a thought.

🧴 All the Soap That’s Fit To Print…

I wonder if she gets to pet the chihuahua.

She’s living the dream.

Feelings.

Up for tons of awards, but they change the team. Go figure.

🚑 It’s Not About the Esophagus…

This really just describes the scene, but gives no new info.

🤽‍♀️ Sorry, Hamptons…

Those awful people are back for another season. No recap online yet. Maybe no one wants to watch it.

🍸 Falling Rules…

I don’t know if I agree. Certainly not that Raquel is needed. Got along without her before we met her, we’ll get along without her now.

🩰 Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes…

Iconic.

https://people.com/footloose-40th-anniversary-lori-singer-kevin-bacon-chemistry-electric-exclusive-8584419

🏆 Rewarding Their Work…

BAFTA winners.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/18/entertainment/bafta-award-winners-nominations-live/index.html

More important, BAFTA fashion.

https://www.theroot.com/our-favorite-black-celeb-outfits-from-the-2024-bafta-aw-1851272322

Everything about the Golden Globes. My dream is to get ahold of one of those swag bags.

🐶 Award Worthy Pup…

But did he pee everywhere?

https://people.com/host-david-tenant-brings-dog-named-bark-ruffalo-to-2024-baftas-8584703

💎 Shining Bright Like a Diamond…

Stop in tomorrow for some pre-weekend soap, interesting tidbits on the famous and furry, and quotes to ponder. Until then, stay safe, stay assuming three pieces per person for a pizza, and stay not reacting to someone only trying to get a reaction. It’s the best way to fight them.

February 21, 2024 – Selina Pays a Visit To Sonny, From White Party To Separation & Someday

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Maxie and Brook rave over the new issue of Crimson, and Maxie says, best of all… Brook says, it makes her want to buy the product. Maxie says she knows it’s too early to track sales, but… Brook looks at her tablet and says, website traffic and social media mentions are spiking. If this continues, they’re in for one hell of a quarter. Maxie says, congratulations, and Brook says, to all of them, but Maxie says, no, to her for all her work with Carly to make this happen. Brook says, that’s why she’s here, and Maxie says, not to make this weird, but since she’s so reinvested in Deception, is Brook reconsidering her plan to turn the company over to her? Brook says, absolutely not. As soon as it’s possible, Deception will be Maxie’s again. Just as it should be. Maxie says she knows it’s hard to tell because their waterproof mascara is just that fantastic, but she’s tearing up right now. Lucy and Sasha come in, and Lucy asks, what’s going on in here?

At Charlie’s, Trina tells Josslyn that since she saw Spencer disappear into the water, she’s been walking through a fog. It’s like the world doesn’t have meaning anymore and everything that was important to her has lost its value. Josslyn says she hears Trina, but not everything has lost its value. What about art? What about her family and her friends? Trina says she loves them all, but it’s more like something she remembers feeling, and Josslyn says she thinks she felt something similar when Oscar passed. That’s how she knows Trina will get through this. Trina asks, what makes her so sure? and Josslyn says, because Trina is Trina, and she says so. She just can’t believe Spencer is gone. Trina says, he’s not the only one. What about Dex?

At the bar, Felicia thanks Spinelli for going through this entire ruse; moving in with Maxie and paying rent to keep her afloat so she can sort out her finances. It’s meant a lot. He says he was only too happy to help, and she says she’s sure giving up his personal space has been a huge sacrifice, which is why she’s happy to report – fingers crossed – that his pipes might soon be fixed. He says his pipes were never broken. That was all part of the… Oh. He sees. She says, Maxie’s almost back on her feet, so she was thinking it might be time to put an end to their little deception. He says, as it were, and she says, so he can finally pull up stakes and move back home. Won’t that be great? He says, yeah… great.

Lucy says, look at you two, thick as thieves. It forces her to wonder, what inspired Maxie to get so cozy with the resident rat? Maxie says, it’s nothing. They were just excited about the spread. She holds up the magazine, and Lucy says, oh. She’s actually excited. It’s better than she imagined, and she does have a very vivid imagination. Brook says, clearly, and Sasha says she has to give it up for their team. The copy, the placement, this entire ad campaign looks fantastic. Tracy comes in and says, you know what they say about appearances. They have all been deceived, (well, that would be ironic), and someone is going to be held accountable.

Alexis tells Gregory that the social media reports came in, and the online engagement about their coverage has been on a steady rise, so she’s hoping the numbers will impress their new – she makes a gagging gesture – management. Nina comes in and says, her? Satisfied? Never.

Carly looks at the headline about Olivia Jerome, when Drew comes in with the magazine and says, look what you did. She’s a beauty, just like her editor. What’s the matter? Doesn’t she want to celebrate her first issue of Crimson? She says she wishes she could, but right now she can only think about one thing.

Ava comes into the penthouse and says she didn’t think Sonny would be here. She’s just going to pick up something for the gallery. She’ll stay out of his hair. He says, she can’t avoid him forever, and she says, but she can try. He says, they need to talk about her sister.

Carly tells Drew that she’s so proud of that magazine. She’s never done anything like that before. She should be out there thanking her staff for all their hard work, but – she shows him her tablet with the headline about Olivia – this happened. Olivia Jerome is dead, the woman who planted the car bomb that killed Morgan. Seeing the headline opened a door that she’s been keeping closed really tight, and all she can think about is her son and how he was taken from her. Drew says he’s definitely thought about Morgan too. He was on his way to see how she was doing, but then he saw the magazine. He was so proud of her being able to focus on this considering. She says, it should be a happy thing, and she should be feeling that instead of all these feelings that are coming back to her. Drew says, he was her son, and she says, his death was so sudden and so senseless. He says he knows. Morgan was so young and had so much life left to live. She says, she should have processed this already, and she should be able to bounce back, and he says, why? There is no should. Not when it comes to losing a child. He hugs her.

Ava says, Sonny’s right. She has been avoiding him, but does he blame her? She’s sure she’s not a person he wants to see right now. He says he didn’t ask her to steer clear, and she says she knows. And she knows he’s not one to mince words, and she also knows he wouldn’t tell her to leave for Avery’s sake. He says, if she’s in his home it’s because he wants her to stay, and she says she doesn’t mind if Avery stays and she finds someplace else, but he says, she knows that’s not an option. She says, but staying here is? Doesn’t her being here bring up an awful lot of memories?

Tracy says, Carly changed the layout, in bad faith, she might add. They were promised an interview and a full-page spread in the first 20 pages. Maxie says, they were, and then Carly called them personally and said there was a spacing issue. She got the change approved by Brook and by her. (What did I say? Carly was making all these promises as the magazine was going to press. I know zilch about that stuff, yet I could guess there wouldn’t be the space she was offering.) Brook says, and she gave them an addition half page of ad space as compensation, and Maxie says, which means they got better placement and more space, all thanks to Tracy’s granddaughter’s exceptional negotiation skills. Tracy says, it isn’t what they agreed upon, and they could have squeezed more out of Carly. But clearly, Maxie is too close to her or maybe just too trusting to realize it. Sasha suggests Tracy take another look at the issue. She thinks if Tracy keeps an open mind – Lucy says, what little mind she has left – she’ll see how fantastic this ad campaign is, thanks to Maxie’s guidance. It’s vital, it’s fresh, and you can see how much passion went into it. (Does anyone really look at ads that hard?) Tracy says, maybe if Maxie loves what Carly is doing so much, she should sell her shares of Deception and go back to Crimson.

Alexis says she didn’t realize they had a meeting this morning, and setting down some potted flowers, Nina says she couldn’t sit on her hands after reading Alexis’s Olivia Jerome coverage. Gregory says, they’re all very proud of their work on that piece. Not only did The Invader get the scoop on Ms. Jerome’s murder, they provided valuable context and insight into her life as well as her death. Nina says she loved it. That’s why she wants to promote Alexis’s work. She wants to find Alexis her Peabody, her Pulitzer. Alexis says she thinks what Nina is suggesting is a little ambitious, and Nina says, of course (🍷) it is. Alexis says, what she meant was, a little too ambitious. She knows Nina is used to running a glamor magazine, but this is a daily newspaper, so the pacing and style is different. Nina says she gets it and trusts Alexis’s instinct on journalistic integrity. But what she brings with her from Crimson is more than a little expertise in circulation. And The Invader, while good, leveled off. Alexis says, again, with respect, the landscape of journalism is the daily struggle. What she would suggest is Nina spend some time learning about the business and then make a big change if she wishes. Nina says, that’s a great idea. That’s why she wants Alexis to focus in on the important issues and quality journalism and let her worry about the numbers. Alexis says, right. What does that mean?

Tracy asks Lucy, what’s so funny? and Lucy says, it’s just that she’s so pleased to know Tracy hasn’t lost her famous people skills. Brook suggests they take a moment to recognize there is no Deception without Maxie. Have they even taken a minute to look at social media? The campaign is doing great. Crimson readers are going straight to the website, all thanks to Maxie. Maxie thanks Brook, and says, Brook deserves just as much credit. Tracy says, clicks and likes do not translate to sales, but Brook says, they literally do. People who go directly to the website usually end up buying more than one product, making up for those who are just browsing. Maxie says, likes keep them trending, which means more clicks, so… Lucy picks up her bag and coat, and Maxie asks where she’s escaping to. Lucy says, this is so boring. All that Tracy does is complain and she’s sick of hearing it. She’s sure they are too, so she has more important things to do with her time. She leaves.

Spinelli says, any number of bad things can happen to Maxie. There could be a downturn in the market. Deception could have a downturn. The debt ceiling could be a socioeconomic trash compactor. Felicia tells him, breathe. Maxie’s financial advisor is confident that she’ll be fine. He asks if they trust this advisor. What are their credentials? Are they even a fiduciary? They could be an itinerary gambler, an embezzler, or God forbid, clandestinely involved in the performing arts. (Oh, horrors!) Felicia says she really doesn’t think that’s the case, but you never know, right? He says, her attempt at humor is no solace to him, and she says she’s getting a very strong impression nothing would be. Level with her. Why doesn’t he want to move out?

Sonny asks if she’s talking about her sister Olivia, and Ava says, he brought her up. He says, yes, he did, and she tells him that she knows she probably doesn’t have to say this, but it bears repeating. She and Olivia were not close. She barely knew Olivia. Olivia did hold her hostage. Sonny says he remembers, and she says, so whoever killed her dearly departed sister, she’s grateful. He says he doesn’t know how grateful she’s going to be when he tells her who did it. It was the people who tried to kill him at the MetroCourt and in Puerto Rico. She tells him that she can’t say she’s a fan of all their work, but she’ll give them credit of doing the one good deed of wiping Olivia off the planet. But where does this leave them? There’s a lot of history under this roof right now and she doesn’t know how long they can sustain it. He says he doesn’t even want to think of the past, because there’s so much trouble going on in the here and now. Do they agree on that? There’s a knock at the door, and Ava says she’ll check on Avery. Sonny asks the guard, what is it? and he says, Sonny has a visitor. Sonny says he doesn’t want to be disturbed, and the guard says he’ll send her away, but Selina says, he’ll do no such thing. She walks to the doorway and says, Sonny Corinthos, you never write, you never call.

Alexis says, absolutely not, but Nina says, just hear her out. Alexis says, fine, but only because she has to, and Nina says, this is what she does. Take her two top op-ed writers and publish them on alternate days, so The Invader will have space for a syndicated gossip columnist. Alexis says, when Valentin told her that he bought this paper and hired Nina to be publisher, she told him on no uncertain terms that she would not let this paper be turned back into a seedy tabloid. Not on her watch. Nina says she promises Alexis will be able to provide quality journalism for her readers (it’s not like Crimson was some rag), and Alexis says, great. Are they done here? Nina says, in order to fund and expand that work, they need to increase revenue, and the only way to do that is by readership growth. One thing she did learn from Crimson, it pays to give the readers what they want. Alexis says, Nina’s already hired someone, hasn’t she? and Nina says she likes to work with people who are open minded and not afraid of change, and she knows that’s Alexis, whether Alexis knows it or not. She adjusts the flowers and leaves. Alexis tells Gregory, help… Okay, here’s what they’re going to do. They’re going to convince Nina that there’s going to be no gossip column here or they’re going to hightail it out of here with their integrity intact. Will he say something? He says, don’t hate him, but he thinks Nina might be onto something.

Spinelli tells Felicia, it’s not that he doesn’t want to move out. He’s gotten used to spending time with Georgie and James and Bailey Lou. It would be a shame to abruptly end their tutelage of fantasy role playing games at this juncture. Felicia says, Bailey plays fantasy games? and he says, they work as a team. She has a deft touch with the dice. A hand clamps down on his shoulder, and Cody says, if it isn’t two of his favorite people. He asks how Mac is doing, and Felicia says, still away. They talk a little bit every day if they can. He sends his regards. Cody says, please send Mac his as well. He couldn’t help but overhear them, and asks Spinelli, why not tell Felicia the truth?

Josslyn says, there are things she can’t tell Trina about why Dex left, and she wants Trina to know it has nothing to do with their friendship. Trina says she’s here for Josslyn, so tell her what she can. What has she figured out so far?

Cody says, Spinelli wants to keep spending time with the kids. Wouldn’t it be jarring if he suddenly left, especially after their used to having him there so much? And he bets Spinelli would miss them too. Right, buddy? Spinelli says, that’s exactly right, and Felicia says she supposes they could work out some kind of arrangement to wean him out of the house. Talk to Maxie. Lucy comes in and trots over to Felicia. She says, you, with me, now. Excuse them. She practically drags Felicia outside, and Cody says, Spinelli does know Felicia’s right, doesn’t he?

Tracy says, thank God Lucy left. They can finally get some work done. Brook says, before they do that, she’d like to have a word. She asks Maxie if they can please use her office for a second, and Maxie says, yes, by all means. Maybe Brook can get Tracy to see what a triumph they’ve made. She tells Sasha to get out while she can, and they both leave. Tracy says, finally, it’s just her and Brook. How does Brook want to manage this crisis? Brook says, they don’t, because there isn’t a crisis, and Tracy asks if she’s learned nothing. Brook says, what she’s learned is that there’s obviously something that’s upsetting Tracy and she’s taking it out on everyone else. And she’s pretty sure it has nothing to do with Deception.

Sonny asks if Selina just happened to be in the neighborhood, and she says, first of all, she wanted to congratulate him. He says, why? What did he win? She says, the woman who’s responsible for the death of his youngest son is finally dead, and he says, too little too late. Anything else she needs? She asks why she had to hear from Curtis Ashford that she might be the target of a shooter going after – Ava comes back – certain independent business owners. He says, it’s okay. Ava knows everything. Selina says, even so, care to answer the question? He says he thought she could handle it herself, and Selina says she appreciates the vote of confidence, but why should she believe him? He says he doesn’t really care if she believes him or not, and she says, before all this happened, they were managing to peacefully co-exist in Port Charles, but now with all this secrecy, she’s thinking maybe that should change. Perhaps now is the time to bring their alliance to an end.

Sonny says, if Selina wants to end their alliance, that’s up to her, but he wouldn’t recommend it. Selina asks, why not? and Ava says she’ll leave them to it, but Sonny says, don’t leave. He might need her input. Ava says, really? and Selina says, and why? Sonny asks if Selina forgot Ava was in the business, but Selina says, not for some time now. He says, she knows the business from the inside and the outside, and she may even give Selina some insight. Selina says, unlikely, but one never knows. So tell her, why should she and Sonny not dissolve their partnership? Sonny says, she never represented a threat to him or his business whatever that is and they both know she doesn’t want to. It’s a matter of scale. Selina says, then why not tell her the truth, that she has a target on her back? and he says he was going to. That’s the actual truth. Selina says, and he changed his mind, but he tells her, like he said, there were other factors. Selina says, such as? and he says, if he tells her this, she needs to give him her word that it doesn’t go out of this room. She says, he has her solemn oath, and he says, there’s a leak in his organization. She says she sees. Does he know who it was? He says he did, but it turned out to be a dead end. He didn’t want to say anything to her until he was positive. She says she sees the wisdom in that. As it turns out, he’s not the only one with a traitor in their midst.

Carly says she thought if Olivia ever got what was coming to her, she’d feel some kind of relief, and Drew says, then it happens, and… She says she feels anger… It’s sadness He suggests she take the day off. This is a lot to process. People will understand. She says she can’t. People worked so hard to put this issue together. Everyone showed up and taught her the ropes and they deserve some recognition. So does she look okay? He says, she looks amazing, and hugs her. Nina walks in.

Tracy says she’s not upset about anything. Where did Brook get that idea? Brook says she saw the way Tracy reacted to Lucy, and Tracy says, she’s an airhead. Brook says, look, ever since Tracy lost Luke, she’s been a little rudderless. Maybe a little lonely, dare she say, although she knows Tracy would never admit it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. She knows it must be scary, opening her heart up after losing the man she loves, but Brook also knows she must want to. Tracy says, this is not appropriate workplace conversation, but Brook says she’s right. It’s obvious there’s someone Tracy wants to bring to the wedding, but she just hasn’t asked them yet. Tracy says, Brook’s not right, so how can it be obvious? and Brook asks, why else would she have pitched a fit about not getting a plus one? Tracy says, come on, and Brook says, Tracy’s right. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about – Tracy says, thank you – because if she did, that would mean Tracy is too afraid to ask. But she is Tracy Angelica Quartermaine. She’s not afraid of anything. Is she?

At the café, Maxie tells Sasha, the mock-ups are exactly the same. They’re just spaced out a little more, which means they have more ad space. They look less crowded. It’s a win for them. She doesn’t even know what Tracy is talking about. Sasha says, stop, and Maxie says she’s sorry she’s rambling. It’s just that Tracy drives her so crazy sometimes. Sasha says, she drives all of them crazy, but she can’t take Tracy too seriously. Besides, Brook knows how to handle her. Maxie says, Sasha’s right. Normally, she wouldn’t let something like this bother her; she’d just dive straight into work. But this time… Sasha asks if she’s okay, and Maxie says, yeah. Why? Sasha says, she just stopped talking, and Maxie says she can see why that would be a cause for concern. Sasha asks if there’s something else on her mind, and Maxie says, her accountant said she’s close to being financially solvent again. Sasha says, that’s great. She must be so relieved. Maxie says, yeah, she is, and Sasha asks if she’s sure. Because by the look on her face, it doesn’t seem like good news. Is something else going on?

Cody sits next to Spinelli and says he knows what Spinelli is going to say, that he and Maxie are just friends or co-parents or whatever, but… Spinelli says, as much as he loathes to admit it, Cody is right. His feelings for Maxie extend beyond the platonic and into the romantic. Again. Cody says, way to go. Look at him. He said it out loud. He’s really proud of Spinelli. Doesn’t it feel good? Spinelli says, only because he knows nothing will come of it. Maxie will ask him to move out, which he will, and everything will go back to normal. Cody says, or now maybe is the perfect time to tell Maxie how he feels, but Spinelli says, and risk their friendship? How could he possibly throw that away because of some fleeting infatuation?

Lucy asks if Maxie has said anything about Deception, and Felicia says, other than working night and day on a new ad campaign? but Lucy says, not about work. She’s talking about Brook. She did help Tracy steal Deception from her and Maxie. She just can’t figure out why Maxie is trying to make Brook look so good.

Trina asks Josslyn, if Sonny made Dex go away, would he trust Dex or would he have his guards make sure Dex stays away? Josslyn says, Trina is a genius. She has most of Sonny’s guard’s numbers because of Donna and Avery. Trina asks if she can trace them or something, and Josslyn looks over at Spinelli. She says, she can’t, but she thinks she knows someone who can.

Nina says she’s there to make sure this office still meets Carly’s high standards, and Carly says she’s satisfied with the repairs. Thanks. Nina says, Carly is much more understanding than that boyfriend of hers, and Carly says, how so? Nina says, Drew was so upset with the repairs being done, he made some choice phone calls to some very important people and crushed her dreams of starting her own magazine, but fortunately, she’s resilient and adapts, so she’s no longer in fashion. She’s in news media. Carly says, cable access? and Nina says, no. Carly hasn’t heard. Valentin bought The Invader and now she’s publisher. So she guesses the moral of the story is, everything always works out in the end. So thank you, Drew. He freed her from the insular world of fashion, allowing her to broaden her horizons with The Invader. So from now on she’s on to far bigger and far better things.

Gregory says, Nina wants a money-maker that relies on subscribers than advertisers. Gossip columns began as populist journalism, written by and for the elite. Alexis says, you know why the society page died? Because no one gives a crap anymore about debutants and divorcées. He says he knows she thinks it’s soft and unworthy of interest in her newspaper, but it also reveals what’s going on behind the closed doors of influential people. She says, columns about who wore what where don’t interest her, and he says, she’s not her only subscriber. And don’t forget, not all newspapers are dropped off at a doorstep anymore. Most of their readers prefer to come to them and they want them to keep coming, do they not? She says, of course (🍷) they do, and he says, so if they want them to eat their vegetables, i.e. the good stuff they offer them, maybe they need entice them with a little dessert. She says she doesn’t like it, and he says, she doesn’t have to like it. She says, so they just have to do it? and he says, unless she can come up with a highbrow alternative that’s just as popular and profitable. She says she has a better idea. Why doesn’t he come up with a highbrow alternative that’s whatever he said. Earn his paycheck. He says he’ll get back to her on that. In the meantime, he hopes she won’t hold his falling in line against him because he has a favor to ask. She says, depends. What’s the favor?

Tracy says, of course (🍷) she’s not afraid, and Brook says, then why not ask? Tracy says, it’s not her business, and Brook says, if she hadn’t inherited Tracy’s relentlessness and insistence on meddling, she’d let it go, but alas. Tracy says, fine. There is someone. Brook says she knew it, and Tracy says, but she’s not going to ask him. Brook says, why not? and Tracy says, because it’s not necessary. Brook says, why not? Is he already going to be at the… She gasps and says, it’s Gregory, and Tracy says, good guess. So now she sees, there’s no point. Brook says, but wouldn’t it be great to show up on Gregory’s arm as opposed to just happening to be at the same place?

Maxie tells Sasha, they must be almost done with the repairs in Spinelli’s apartment and that means he’ll be moving out soon. Sasha says, that’s too bad. Maxie really seemed to enjoy having him at her house. Maxie says, they drive each other crazy; they always have. Sasha says, but in a good way, right? and Maxie says, sometimes. She guesses she missed seeing Spinelli every day, because now that she does, she loves telling Spinelli about her day. And she loves explaining the business to him and listening to him talk about chemical compounds and situational epics and hearing about his day, the details of which are completely incomprehensible. It’s like listening to R2-D2. Sasha says, who doesn’t love R2-D2? and Maxie says, right? But he loves what he does, and she loves hearing him talk about what he loves. For somebody who uses 500 words when 5 will do – Sasha says she can’t imagine what that must be like – he’s a great listener. Spinelli always helps her put her day in perspective and remember what matters the most. Sasha says, if things are going so well, why doesn’t she ask him to stay? but Maxie says, no, no, no, no, no. Sasha says, why not? and Maxie says she’s already asked so much of him. How can she ask him for anything else?

Trina tells Josslyn, go find Dex. And when she does, never let go of him. They hug.

Felicia says she doesn’t know what’s going on with Maxie and Brook. All she knows is, they have a very strong bond. You don’t care for the same child without developing a deep trust and understanding. Lucy says, friendship though, is one thing. Business is quite another. Felicia says she doesn’t know why Maxie is being so generous with Brook or why Brook is suddenly so invested in Deception. They’re probably just working out their differences and it’s as simple as that. She wishes she could be of more help, but she can’t. Lucy says she’s got to go, and jets.

Spinelli tells Cody that he used to woo Maxie with karaoke. Those were the days, my friend. That’s an expression. He and Cody are acquaintances at best. Cody says he’s well aware, and looks at a card advertising karaoke at Charlie’s. Josslyn approaches Spinelli, and he says his condolences about Spencer. She thanks him and asks if she can talk to him.

Sonny says, any idea who the leak is? and Selina says, with all due respect, and looks at Ava. Sonny says he told her, she can trust Ava, but Ava says, it’s okay. She was just about to fix herself a drink. Selina says, cheers, and Ava leaves. Sonny and Selina sit on the sofa, and Selina says she takes it he heard about the attack on her and her men. He says he doesn’t know the details. Is there something else he should know? She says, between them, she was quite taken aback that she left herself in so vulnerable a position, and he says he knows the feeling. She says, after the attack, she discovered one of her most trusted guards had been accepting bribes. He tipped off her location. Sonny says he needs to talk to this guy, and she says, that can be arranged, but she’ll need something from him in return. I’m shocked she let him live.

Josslyn asks if Spinelli can find the location of a cell phone off the number, and he says, it’s possible, but it does depend on a variety of factors. It might help if he knew who she was looking for. She says, trust her. The less he knows, the better. At the bar on the phone, Cody asks Sasha if she and Maxie have any plans for tonight. Sasha says, not that she knows of, and he says, she does now. Bring her down to Charlie’s. Spinelli will be waiting. Do not take no for an answer. She says, they’ll be there.

Alexis tells Gregory, that is a favor she’s more than happy to grant. As soon as she checks her schedule. Tracy knocks at the door and says, Gregory’s assistant said she could find him here. He says he doesn’t really have an assistant, and she says, somebody knew where he was. He says, it’s always lovely to see her. What brings her by? She says she actually had something personal she wanted to talk to him about, and Alexis says she just wants Gregory to know her schedule is free and she’s available to be his plus one. Tracy asks, plus one for what? and Gregory says, Brook and Chase’s wedding. Did she want to go somewhere? She says, no. Actually, Lois has been harassing her about nailing down the RSVPs, but now she can tell Lois they spoke. It’s great Alexis will be joining them on the big day. She leaves and, in the hallway, she looks sad.

Nina says she was so excited about her new venture, she just had to share. Being publisher of The Invader is allowing her to tell these new stories. She’s especially interested in exposing how those at the top are willing to do anything to stay there. So don’t they dare cancel their subscriptions. They won’t want to miss a beat. She leaves, and Drew says, can she believe that woman? Carly says, she’s hateful. They knew that. So why go out of his way to antagonize her?

Lucy goes into Brook’s office and says, Brook and Maxie are up to something, and Brook is going to tell her exactly what that is. Brook says, just trying to run Deception, that’s all, and Lucy says, so if she were to go to Tracy and suggest that maybe her true-blue granddaughter isn’t all she’s pretending to be, would she stick to the same story? Think about it. If she were to suggest to Brook’s dearly beloved granny Tracy, what would Brook think Tracy would think if she knew Brook and Maxie are conspiring against her express wishes for Deception? Brook says, Lucy doesn’t need to upset her that way. So tell her. What does Lucy want to make sure that doesn’t happen? Lucy says, easy. She wants in.

Sonny asks what Selina needs, and she says she’d like to resume her poker games. They were rather profitable, and their absence has sparked a demand for their return. He says, in exchange, she gives him access to her guard, and she says, access. Is that all? He says, and free reign to get what answers he needs by whatever means necessary. Ava listens in.

Tomorrow, Sasha asks what tricks Cody has up his sleeve; Carly asks Drew, what is the benefit of one-upping Nina; John says he’s shutting this operation down; and Sonny says, whoever did this is going to pay.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Kyle meets with personal assistant Jenn, Erika, Kevin Lee (remember him?), and the event manager at the SoFi Stadium to plan the White Party. In Kyle’s interview, she says, the White Party is nostalgic for her. It’s always been about their family. We flash back to White Parties past, and she says she’d rather put her energy and focus on planning the party than her personal life. The White Party is back and bigger and better than ever. They check the place out and act stupid on the field. Kevin shows Erika the stage, and in Erika’s interview, she says she can’t believe Kyle is having her party there and asked her to perform. It’s a warmup for her Vegas residency and a chance to redeem herself. Erika Jayne is back and at SoFi. Take that. In Kyle’s interview, she says she learned about Kevin from LVP, and we flash back to bling, bling, bling, shi, shi, shi. She says, if she’s doing an over-the-top party, she needs an over-the-top planner.

Sutton goes to see jewelry designer Martin, bringing along her daughter Porter. In Sutton’s interview, she says, it’s a special day. Porter is home and she’s had her store for four years; they survived the pandemic. She wants to show Porter that as women, they can do this. They browse, and in her interview, Sutton says, in a previous life asking permission was not fun. This is freedom. She’s doing what she wants with no guilt. Martin shows her some jewelry that none of us will ever be able to afford in several lifetimes, like a 9-million-dollar ring. Sutton says her business manager would kill her and settles for $68K earrings. In her interview, she says she’s struggled about a lot of things since her divorce. She wants everyone, especially Porter to see she’s thriving and not being a cliché wealthy woman, sitting around planning galas in a muumuu with bonbons. We go to work. She tells Porter that it was hard when daddy said he was moving. When she married, she lost her independence, but now she can’t believe what she’s able to do. She wants Porter to know that, going forward in her life, keep her independence. Fall in love and have babies, but never lose that person. Don’t let the hard worker in her go. Then Porter can buy Sutton jewels.

The stadium is set up for the party and Erika’s concert, including white palm trees and a giant KYLE written in the middle of the floor. In Kyle’s interview, she says she wants the ground to open her up and swallow her whole. Why isn’t Kevin getting that it’s not all about her? She shades LVP, and I call her an a-hole.

Everyone gets ready, and Dorit calls PK in London. In her interview, she says, PK is still in London for work. He knew the White Party was on the calendar and knew how much it meant to her. She tells him, 8 months ago, if he’d delayed his return, it would have created resentment, but he says, back then, he wouldn’t have done that. She says, but he did, and in her interview, she says, PK says he’s starting to understand her PTSD better – we flash back to their therapy session – but his actions don’t show it. She tells him that she likes having him around, although sometimes he can be annoying. He says, sometimes, he can’t get a word in, and in Dorit’s interview, she says she has moments when she worried about them being able to stay together.

Mauricio wanders around, wondering where Kyle is, and backstage, Mikey gathers the performers together. He says, they haven’t done this in four years, so it’s extra pressure, a new look. The party guests enter by walking through a gauntlet of cheerleaders with pompoms and Sutton says, it’s freakin’ real cool. Mauricio says, they decided to throw something small, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says, for someone who doesn’t drink and would rather stay home and read, it’s a contradiction. Go big or go home. The guests include the morally corrupt Faye Resnick, Cynthia Bailey, Jeff Lewis, and Camille Meyer (formerly Grammer). Dorit says, it’s so chic, because she desperately needs a thesaurus. Kyle comes out on the field with her daughters, but her big entrance isn’t very big, since no one notices except Sutton. In Sutton’s interview, she says, where is Mauricio? They’ve been looking for him since the memorial service.

Sutton tells Mauricio that Kyle is on the football field, and he says, right now? Mauricio tells the girls that they’re slaying, and Kyle tells Jeff, f*** him and his podcast talking sh*t about her. She’s never taken a diet drug. I believe it if you believe it. The party is on a platform in the middle of the field, and the dancers on stage have disco balls for heads. I wonder how they see. Denise arrives, committing the cardinal sin of wearing a pink jacket. In Dorit’s interview, she says, the last time she told Denise that her jacket was upside down, it didn’t go well. We flash back to that, and she says she doesn’t want to be the one to tell Denise it’s a White Party. Kyle talks about the first White Party when they were on a budget, and everyone tells her how amazing the party is. Truthfully, it looks pretty boring. Garcelle asks if Sutton has heard from Steve, and Sutton says, yes, two days after he ghosted her. She decided that’s not good enough, and Garcelle says, there are other Steves in the fish… in the sea. In Sutton’s interview, she says she gives her success on getting a second date and being asked on a third date to Allessandra. She’s more confident on how she presents herself, but dating isn’t as important as she thought. What she wants to date now is her business. That’s what she’s in love with. In Kyle’s interview, she says, the White Party is sentimental for her. Mauricio thought it was in the parking lot, and it shows he’s not listening. Does she look like the kind of person who’d have a party in a parking lot? Backstage, Mikey says, they haven’t done a prayer in four years, and Erika says, it’s been a few years, and she thanks and loves them. It’s been a long road. In Erika’s interview, she says she hates what the last few years have done to her, and we flash back over all that. There were times she quit caring what she looked like, ate, or what people thought of her. She thought she’d never perform again in her life. She thanks her people for being here and says, have a great show. In her interview, she says, if she hadn’t gone through what she’d gone through, it wouldn’t have led to SoFi and Vegas.

Kyle takes the mic and welcomes everyone. She says, they need some entertainment, and Erika comes out on the field with her dancers like a boxer in a hoodie. In Erika’s interview, she says, if it doesn’t go right, the buzz and momentum comes to a screeching halt. Kyle introduces the beautiful and talented Miss Erika Jayne.

Erika hits the stage to cheers applause and performs XXPEN$IVE. Zzzzz…. Same old. No Lady Gaga here. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Erika Jayne just made her comeback, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, Erika gave the people what they wanted. She’s a real showman. At the end, a bunch of streamers come down like it’s a disco, and in Erika’s interview, she says she wakes up, smiles, and feels good about the person she’s working on. Kyle tells Erika that she killed it. She’s proud of her. We see text that says, after Erika’s success, she’s planning more. Her Bet on Blonde is playing out. More text says, PK came home after 39 days, and in her interview, Dorit says, no matter how hard she tries, PK is never going to take her seriously and be as present as she’d like. Maybe he’ll never change. Can she accept that? She doesn’t know. We read that Dorit and Kyle haven’t spoken since December, and Annemarie and Crystal haven’t interacted since the White Party. Annemarie is also retired from giving out medical advice at cocktail parties. I’m confused, since we’re only halfway through the show. In Annemarie’s interview, she says, not everybody can get along and that’s fine. She’s all about pushing herself to be a better person. The text says, Crystal is accepting Jeff living part-time in Thailand and that he has a new girlfriend. They show a clip of Jeff telling Crystal and their mom that they have to trust them. Their job is over. The text says, and Crystal finally admitted to Rob that he was right. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, her takeaway from this season was meeting people where they’re at. She’s grown with setting boundaries and as a mom, realizing the boys need different things. She’s a better version of herself. We read that Garcelle is basking in all her skills and won the ASTA Award for Black Girl Missing, and we see her acceptance speech. In Sutton’s interview, she says, when she found out Christian was moving, she was scared. In becoming independent, she tapped back into the business side of herself. Now she’s on her own and not leaning on someone. She’s making it happen for herself. We read that Sutton continues to grow her brand. Her son James is with her full-time, and she’s put dating on hold. The new man in her life is Santos. She tells us that she and her esophagus are doing just fine. The women take a group photo.

One month later. Garcelle looks at her phone, and says, oh my God.

July 23, 2023. Crystal tells Rob that Kyle and Mauricio are separated after 27 years of marriage. Dorit tells PK that Kyle never gave any indication there was trouble, and Annemarie wonders if the People magazine exclusive came from Kyle to get ahead of what people are saying. Rob wonders, who planted the story? and Crystal tells him that he’s storyboarding a movie. Sutton calls Garcelle, and says she thinks there was truth leading up to this. The exercising, not drinking, the tattoos. When they asked questions, they got in trouble. Methinks she doth protest too much. Garcelle asks if Sutton thinks Kyle was lying the whole time, and Sutton says she thinks the whole thing is sus.

One day later. Kyle says, there was no wrongdoing on anyone’s part. The rumors are not true. We see Twitter posts (yeah, I know, X, but does anyone use that in reference?) about the separation, and in Kyle’s interview, she says, when the article came out, she was with Mauricio and the girls. All of their phones started blowing up. Mauricio was focused on who gave the story, and she was focused on how it’s affecting them. Alexia started to cry, and no one knew what to do or say. It felt like her whole life was over, life as she knew it. Erika goes to Kyle’s, and in Erika’s interview, she says, when she filed for divorce, she felt overwhelmed and alone. It’s important she be here for Kyle. Kyle was always good to her. Kyle didn’t shade her or push her out or judge her. If you care about people, you show up when they need you most. Erika tells Kyle that she needs to acknowledge and apologize for not being observant at the dinner. She didn’t know. We flash back to Sutton and Garcelle asking questions, and Erika says, if she missed something or wasn’t an attentive friend, she’s sorry. Kyle says, there was nothing to be observed. They were dealing with things in private. Erika says, like what? and Kyle says she feels bad talking about it. The hardest part is that it’s not one big, huge thing. Erika says, she can’t point at one thing and say, that’s it, and Kyle says, there are things she was needing and wanting more from her marriage that she just can’t get. Since the article came out, she’s seeing things like, obviously Mauricio cheated, or she cheated. It has literally nothing to do with anyone else; it’s just about them. Erika says, she can acknowledge how painful it is, and Kyle says, Mauricio is the kind of person who pretends everything is okay. That makes it hard. Erika says, she was told, everything is fine, and Kyle says, when they met, they were opposites, but it worked. She kept him safe and because of him, she took chances. They’ve been together since their early 20s and she was proud of it. Erika says she should still be proud of it, but Kyle says she’s not proud now. Erika asks, why? and she says she feels like she’s let down Mauricio, the kids, and even people who don’t know them. Complete strangers have said they looked up to them and they made them believe in true love. Erika says, there are only two people who matter, and everyone else’s opinion can f*** off. Make herself happy. She’s raised the girls, and she’s been a good wife, mother, sister, and daughter. Kyle says, what if they can’t work it out?

One week later. Mauricio tells Kyle that they’re opening an office in Panama, and in Kyle’s interview, she says, things are more uncomfortable since the article came out. It made it more real. Mauricio jokes that he’s glad she’s having the affair for once, and in her interview, Kyle says, the kids lived a fairytale, and the article pulled the rug out from under them. Things are worse than they told them. Farrah arrives, and Kyle asks all the girls come to the living room. She says she wants an open conversation and to clear anything up. Mauricio says, what’s most important is that they didn’t tell the girls anything because they tried to protect them, and now they were blindsided by the news being made public. They ask if the girls have any questions. Kyle reassures them that there’s been no talk of divorce, but they’re no strangers to rumors. One of the girls asks, what happens now? and Kyle says, they’re taking the time while they’re working to work through their own stuff. They’re figuring out what they want and are going to work through this while living under the same roof. She doesn’t want to leave and doesn’t want dad to leave. If it’s not working out, they’ll go on to the next step, and if it’s working, great. Porsha starts crying, and Kyle says, they’re not broken, just bent. They’re a strong family and always will be.

In Kyle’s interview, she says she’s come to realize she’s taking a big chance. They might not end up together. A producer asks what the issue is. What can’t Kyle let go of? Kyle says, things happened that made her lose her trust and they haven’t been able to recover from. We flash back to Kyle and Mauricio at the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris, adding their lock to the bridge. We go down Memory Lane, and it makes me feel sad, even though I don’t care about these people. We read that Kyle reconciled with Kathy, and things are hunky dory for Whitney’s wedding. In her interview, Kyle says, Mauricio is still away. She wants to be at peace. She’s never had that. A producer asks, is she done? and she says, it’s over, and sobs.

Way to end a season. I hope I don’t have nightmares.

Next time – the Reunion – Dorit says, Kyle sent her a text, silencing her; Kyle says she’s holding a crystal and Erika says she’s holding a Xanax; Erika wants Andy to eviscerate Kyle; Sutton says, Kyle was relentlessly mean to her – watch the show; Crystal wonders if she’ll get an apology from Annemarie for the eating disorder remark; Dorit accuses Garcelle of peddling a false narrative; Andy asks Kyle if she sees herself with Morgan; Kathy joins the group; and Sutton has some kind of attack.

🚬 Dave’s Not Here…

Stop by tomorrow for some soap and a gathering of entertaining info. Until then, stay safe, stay cultivating a positive digital footprint, and stay showing up for people you care about when they need you most.

February 20, 2024 – Anna Asks Cyrus For Help, Sandoval In the Running For Narcissist Of the Year & Strange

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Diane says, Sonny has at least four people on stand-by who could do this. He doesn’t need her. He says he wants her to handle this directly. He needs somebody he can trust. Will she do this for him or not? She says she lives to serve, and leaves. Frank tells Sonny that his son is here, and Sonny asks, which one? Dante walks in and says, what does he mean, which one? Does it matter?

Walking into the MetroCourt, Nina asks if Valentin is sure he can’t sit and brainstorm with her, but he says he’s sorry. He’s booked. He goes over to a table where Laura and Robert are sitting, and Robert tells him, have a seat. Since they all know why they’re here, they can get on with it. They’re here to discuss the consequences of Charlotte’s actions when stalking Anna.

Cyrus is folding napkins at the PC Grill when he hears someone come in. He says, we’re closed, and Anna says, even for her? She moves aside her jacket so he can see her badge.

Portia brings in coffee for Jordan and Curtis, and says, now she’ll leave so they can talk, but Curtis suggests she stay. He’s sure whatever Jordan has to say, she can hear. Jordan says, technically, what she’s about to say, Portia can’t here.

Sonny asks what he can do for Dante, and Dante asks if he’s okay. Sonny says, yeah. Why? Dante says, Diane seemed a little pissed off and this isn’t the warmest welcome he’s gotten from Sonny, so he can come back if Sonny is busy. Sonny says he’ll just go out of his mind, and Dante asks, why? About the Olivia Jerome killing? Sonny says he read about that. He’s not going to shed any tears, but he had nothing to do with that if that’s what Dante is implying. Dante says he actually thinks the people who killed Olivia Jerome are the same people who are trying to kill Sonny.

Robert says, as Laura knows, the DA’s office must avoid all appearance of bias, and Valentin says, meaning what exactly? Robert says, meaning any familial ties to the mayor, minor age, injury incurred in the course of the crime negate the fact that the crime was committed at all. Several crimes actually. Valentin says, she wasn’t in her right mind. Robert knows that, and Laura says she appreciates the difficult position Robert is in, so please just tell them what his office has decided. He says his office will not pursue any charges… at this time, provided Charlotte work with a court-ordered therapist, a thousand hours of community service, and three years’ probation. Are they good?

Cyrus tells Anna that he’s sorry, but the Grill won’t open for another hour. He’d be happy to tell the maître d’ she’s looking for a table. Just let him know the number of people in her party and what time. She says she’s not here to dine. She’s here to offer him an opportunity to save lives, including his own. He asks why she’d want to save him.

Curtis assures Jordan that anything she has to say will be kept in the strictest confidence, and Jordan tells her that nothing she says will leave this room. She can’t provide all of the details, but there have been some results in the investigation of the MetroCourt pool shooting. Portia asks if the shooter’s been captured, but Jordan says, no. Portia says, found? and Jordan says, no, but they’re closer now that they know the shooter’s agenda, and they have a definitive answer as to who the target was. Portia says, they already know the target wasn’t Curtis, so who was it? Anna? Sonny? Jordan says, the shooter was aiming at Sonny, and Curtis asks if that’s definitive. Jordan says, they’re as sure as they can be without a statement from the shooter. Sonny wasn’t the only target.

Dante says, they think the same person, or people, who took out Olivia Jerome are the same people who tried to take Sonny out at the MetroCourt pool and in Puerto Rico. They also think they’re responsible for the deaths of various organized crime figures across the country. Sonny says, so Olivia was next on the list, and Dante says, that’s right. They were operating on the assumption it was a lone gunman, but they’re not working alone because Olivia’s guards were ambushed by two men, part of a bigger group or organization. Sonny says, that tracks with what Jagger Cates told him. He also advised Sonny to watch his back. He asks if Dante is telling him there’s a possibility that someone is infiltrating his organization, and Dante says, this is serious. They’ve got to find this traitor. Sonny says, Dante tells him that like there’s only one.

Diane approaches Nina, who’s working at the bar, and Nina says, the bartender should be back momentarily, but Diane says, not to worry. She takes a manila envelope out of her bag and says she’s not here to see him. She’s here to see Nina. She slides the envelope over and says, you’ve been served. Nina opens the envelope and takes out some paperwork. She says, these are divorce papers.

Jordan says, they have reason to believe the shooting is related to a series of attacks on organized crime figures across the eastern US, and Portia says she’s relieved to know Curtis wasn’t the target, but she’s still furious that he became collateral damage because somebody had a vendetta that actually had nothing to do with him. Jordan says she understands the feeling, and Curtis says, they appreciate the update. Actually, he’d begun to look into things himself. Jordan says, really? What did he come up with? He says he didn’t get to far. He had to pause because he underwent surgery. Jordan says, understandable, and Portia says, he’s been focused on his recovery. Jordan asks how the recovery is coming, and Curtis says, there’s definitely been progress. Jordan says she’s glad to hear that. She said she’d keep them in the loop, so that’s why she gave them this information. She knows standing on the sidelines isn’t how Curtis operates, but now that he’s mentioned he’s working on the case, maybe it’s time she speaks to Anna about making him a more active part of the investigation.

Cyrus tells Anna that he can’t imagine why he’d be in danger. Clearly, he’s not the man he once was. She says he considers himself reformed, but she’s not sure everyone feels the same way. His former life puts him at risk. Who’s to say he’s not the next target? He says, then he shall rely on God to be his protector, not the PCPD, and she says, what about all the other targets or collateral victims? Will his conscience be at peace with their deaths, knowing he didn’t do everything in his power to stop this violence? He says, God helps those who help themselves, and he’s not in the business of saving lives. That’s her job. He’s just trying to save a few souls. She says, that’s a very lofty goal, and he says, it’s all he’s got. She says she happens to know he retained contact with his religious acolytes at Pentenville, and he says he goes there twice a week. The new warden has seen the wisdom of allowing him to continue his ministry. She says she wants to make a proposition to him. It’s a win-win situation, because he’s perfectly placed to use his influence at the prison. He says, let’s just speak plainly. She’s not concerned about his ministry or the men who turn to him in search of a pathway to salvation. She’s asking him to exploit the very people who turn to him for guidance. Is he right?

Valentin says, a thousand hours of community service and three years’ probation. He thinks maybe Charlotte should go to court. The judge would give her a more lenient sentence, certainly more reasonable. Laura says, but they’re very grateful Charlotte isn’t going to face detention of any sort. She wants Robert to know though, Charlotte’s already in therapy. Robert says, that was factored into the decision. When it comes to juveniles, his office likes to pursue a direction of reformation over punishment. Valentin says, Victor manipulated Charlotte, and Robert says, Victor was her grandfather and an adult. She was a kid. She didn’t know any better. Valentin on the other hand… Laura says she thinks it’s time for her to get to her next appointment and thanks Robert for his fairness and his consideration in this matter. She’s really grateful, but she really should be going. Why doesn’t Valentin walk out with her? Valentin tells her to go ahead. He has more business. Robert says he’ll be in touch, and Laura says she looks forward to it. She leaves, and Valentin says, Robert has done his professional duty. Now’s his chance to get personal.

Diane tells Nina, the terms are very simple. It’s a 50/50 split of all assets accrued during the marriage. Other than that, both parties keep the toys they came with. Nina says she’s heard nothing from Sonny in all the time that’s gone by, no contact. She thought that he was cooling off, that after he did that, they might try again, but now these papers. No word to her? Nothing? Diane says she always advises clients that communication should be kept to a minimum during separation and Sonny listens to her counsel. Nina says, nice try. Sonny does what he wants. She doubts Sonny would listen to Diane’s counsel more than his own heart. Diane laughs and says, it’s true. Of course (🍷), Sonny listening to his heart over his head is what got them here in the first place.

Dante asks if Sonny is saying he thinks he has more than one mole inside, and Sonny says he takes nothing and no one for granted. Dante says, nor should he, so let him help, and Sonny asks how he’s going to do that. Dante says, for starters, they see where Sonny’s key players were during the attack on Olivia Jerome. So Brick was out of town. Frank was with Sonny? Sonny says, yeah, and Dante says, how about Dex? Sonny says, Dex is not the guy, and Dante says he knows Sonny trusts Dex… Sonny tells him, that’s not what he said. He said, Dex is not the guy. Dante asks how he knows, and Sonny says he appreciates what Dante is trying to do, but he has to go. Dante says, if they pinpoint where Sonny’s people were, then they can figure out who wasn’t where they were supposed to be, and Sonny asks if Dante thinks he doesn’t know how to run his own organization. Dante says, whoa. He thinks he’s actually trying to help Sonny. Sonny says he’s heard that before, and Dante says he gets that Sonny might be on edge with everything that’s going on, but this feels like something else, something Sonny’s not telling him. Why doesn’t Sonny talk to him? Sonny says, it’s his problem, but Dante says, what affects Sonny, affects him, okay? Sonny says he hasn’t figured out the ID of the shooter, but he did sniff out a rat. He got rid of Dex. Dante asks, why? and Sonny says, Dex wasn’t working for him. He was working for Dante’s brother, his son. Dante asks what he’s talking about, and Sonny says, Michael hired Dex, planted Dex in his organization to get evidence against him so Michael could send him to prison.

Nina says, Diane never liked her, but Diane says, none of this is personal. Nina says, please. She turned Diane’s friend Carly in to the SEC. She’s probably doing anything she can not to gloat right now. Diane says she’s had many triumphs in her long career. Nina’s failed marriage to Sonny doesn’t even rate. Nina says, it’s really sad that when Diane considers her accomplishments, it’s only in the context of her career. Profession is not a life. Diane says, Nina is concerned about her. That’s so sweet. Nina wants to play? She’s got a few minutes. They can play. Nina knows nothing about her. However, she knows boatloads about Nina. She knows, for instance, that Nina is an heiress and she’s benefitted her whole life from the sort of soft landings that money provides. (Leaving out those years in a coma where Nina had twins who were stolen from her by her mother who was trying to steal her inheritence.) So when Nina committed – she’ll just pick a random case from their files – assault and kidnapping, she did a three-month stint in a luxury mental facility and then walked out, free as a bird. Fast forward to Nixon Falls, where Sonny is living and has no idea who he is, but Nina knows. And she took advantage. Just like she took advantage of the strain between Sonny and Carly after Sonny came back to Port Charles to break them up, catch Sonny on the rebound. Nina sets herself up as the embodiment of sweetness and light, but thank God, Sonny has finally come to his senses. But don’t worry. She still has all that inheritance money. She’ll have a soft landing, again.

Valentin says, so Robert is coming after him. That’s what this is. Robert says he thinks he’ll keep Valentin guessing. He’s having lunch with a female friend of his. Valentin says he’s trying to be as optimistic as Laura was in hoping Robert isn’t taking his loathing of him out on his daughter. Robert says he thinks the word Valentin is looking for is gracious. He has so much sympathy for Charlotte and everything she’s been through. She shouldn’t be behind bars. Valentin on the other hand, should. He walks away.

Curtis says he hated giving up on his investigation. The stakes are high on this one and he didn’t like the idea of Jordan being out there digging on her own. He’s glad to hear the FBI’s involved now and that she hasn’t been hurt in the process. Jordan says, there was a sticky situation in a hotel room with a dealer who sold the sniper rifle, but she had Anna as back-up. Portia says, this all sounds incredibly dangerous. Why doesn’t Jordan just let the FBI handle this, especially since she and Curtis aren’t in law enforcement anymore? Jordan says, one of the perks of her current office is that she gets to liaise with the PCPD. They all agree that what matters is stopping this guy. And if Curtis likes, she can get the ball rolling bringing him in as a consultant. With her and Laura singing his praises, she doesn’t anticipate much pushback on that. Curtis says, thanks – he looks at Portia – but he’s going to sit this one out.

Cyrus tells Anna that he has work to do. Please respect that, and him. She says she’s not trying to strongarm him at all. She’s asking him to use his powers of persuasion and influence to gain the confidence of a certain person at Pentenville who has valuable information that could just stop this killing spree. He says, gain their confidence by deception. That’s not his way. People come to him who are scared and vulnerable. She says, you know who else is scared and vulnerable? The next person who believes they’re a target. And he may not like them – she may not like them – but she doesn’t think either of them is in a position to judge whether they should live or die. They need their help. And she’s not talking about an offering of thoughts and prayers on Searching with Cyrus. He says, so she’s heard his radio broadcast, and she says she has. He has a unique way of communicating. She might go so far as to say he’s quite gifted in his ability to persuade and instruct. He could be a real asset to them in trying to gain this intel. He says he’s sorry, but aside from everything else, he doesn’t work with cops, and she says, even for a good cause? He says he has only her word for that, when Laura walks in and says, what about her word?

Curtis says he appreciates the opportunity, but he’s focused on his family and his recovery. Jordan says she understands and respects his decision. He would have been an asset to this investigation. Did he turn up anything on his own? Curtis remembers Sonny saying, Pikeman is in bed with the WSB. Former WSB agents work for Pikeman and then Pikeman personnel work for the Bureau. Pikeman has made overtures to him, but let’s just say it didn’t live up to Pikeman’s satisfaction. Curtis tells Sonny that Pikeman may have a reason to come gunning for him, and Sonny says, anything is possible. Curtis tells Jordan, nothing comes to mind. Like he said, his priority is getting back on his feet so he can be fully present for his family. She says she’s certain he will. He’s got this. She thanks Portia, who says, of course (🍷), and Curtis says, Jordan and Anna make a pretty formidable pair. Jordan says she and Anna are working on a tactic, even if it is a little dicey, and Curtis asks, how so? She says, it requires help from Cyrus Renault.

Cyrus says, bringing in the big guns, eh, Commissioner? and says hello to Laura. Laura asks why he’d balk at stopping more killings, and Anna says she has some calls to make and leaves. Laura says, Anna thought he might need a little more encouragement. She has to say she’s really disappointed Anna was right. He says, come on. She knows how he feels about law enforcement. She says, and how law enforcement feels about him? This isn’t about personal or professional animus. It’s about stopping an assassin who’s working an agenda they haven’t even uncovered yet. This is important. This person must be stopped. He says, and she’s really this wound up about saving mob bosses, and she says, he claims the most important thing in his life right now is helping his fellow man. What if it is another mob boss? He used to be one not that long ago, right? He told her that he’s turned over a new leaf now and she really wants to believe that. Here’s his chance to prove it to her.

Dante says, Dex was working for Michael the whole time? and Sonny says, it started off that way, then Carly got involved and it changed course. But no one decided to notify him. So here’s what happened. They sit down, and Sonny says, Carly and Michael hired Dex to protect him, like he’s a child, and Dex reports back to them if he thinks Sonny’s in trouble. Dante says he gets now why Sonny is pissed off. He relied on Dex. Sonny says, and trusted Michael. He’s not going to make that mistake again. Dante says, then Sonny is telling him that Michael had a change of heart and hired Dex to look out for him, and Sonny says, too little too late. Dante says, is it? and Sonny says, his son tried to take him down from the inside. He didn’t just say he was going to do it. He actually tried to do it. So just because Michael changes his mind, he’s supposed to forgive and forget? Dante says, no, but he does remember back then that Michael felt betrayed by Sonny, right? And he came around and opted to protect Sonny. Does he really want to write off his son who, in the end, was looking out for him? Sonny needs people close to him who care about him and it doesn’t really matter how they got there. Sonny tells him, that’s what Michael said, but there’s no room in his life for anybody he can’t trust.

Nina says, Diane wouldn’t be so callous if Diane could relate to what she stands to lose, and Diane says she shall await word from Nina’s attorney. She gets up and heads for the door, but Robert appears and takes her arm. He says, shall we? but she asks if they can get out of here. He says, happily, and they leave. At the bar, Nina tells Valentin that Diane just served her divorce papers from Sonny, and he says, Diane and Robert are infuriating, aren’t they? Reveling in the misery of others. It’s bad karma and they have a lot of it. Nina says she’ll toast to that, and they clink martini glasses.

Outside, Jordan calls Anna, who says she was just about to call Jordan. Jordan says, any word? and Anna says, yeah. None of it good. Jordan says, dammit. That’s what she was afraid of.

Jordan asks if Curtis is having second thoughts about joining the investigation, but he says he’s clear on his role. He’s a husband and father first. She says she’s so glad. She knows how much all of this means to him for him to make that sacrifice. Anna and Jordan are going to figure out who’s responsible for these shootings. They’re going to wrap it up, and they’re going to catch him, so no one else has to endure what they’ve had to endure, or worse. He says he hopes so and tells her that he has to make a call. She says, sure. She’ll start dinner. She walks toward the kitchen, and he calls her back. He tells her that he’s never felt closer to her than he has these past few days, and she says she feels the same way. He says, that’s why he feels like he has to be completely honest with her. He has to warn someone who may be the shooter’s next target. She says, warn who? and he says, Selina Wu. She asks why he’d need to warn her, and he says he’d do it as a courtesy. Because they used to be in business together.

Valentin says he’s sorry and asks how Nina is feeling. She says, miserable. She waited patiently for months and months. She gave Sonny a lot of space. The first real conversation about her marriage that she’s had was with Sonny’s lawyer telling her it was over. She doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Tell her what happened with Charlotte. What did Robert Scorpio have to say? Valentin says, he’s not pressing for jail time, but he wants her to serve a thousand hours of community service and three years of probation. She says, that’s absurd, and he says, lucky Laura was there. She kept him from blowing up. It would have made things worse. She asks him to tell Charlotte that she loves her, and she’ll call her. It’ll be okay. Charlotte has him and her, and Nina will be there for her. She just has to call. He says he’s so grateful Charlotte still has Nina in her life. And for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s sorry she’s being treated so poorly. Sonny serving her with divorce papers without any warning. She says, he probably has a lot going on. Maybe he just needs a little reminding. He tells her, don’t make excuses for that guy. He thinks it’s time she came to terms with the fact that her soon to be ex-husband is not the man she fell in love with. She gets up, and he says, hey, it’s her life. She wants Sonny to change his mind? How is she going to do that? She says she has to get his attention first.

Dante says he gets that this isn’t easy. First Sonny loses Nina, then Spencer, and now it’s Dex and Michael. That’s a lot of loss. Sonny says, it’s different situations, but Dante says, it’s all the same in that these are people who were close to him. Sonny says he guesses not that close, and Dante asks, where’s Dex now? Sonny says, he’s not a problem, and Dante says he obviously can’t just leave that at that, can he? Sonny says, he’s alive, but they both agreed it’s best for him to leave town. He’s telling the truth. Dante doesn’t trust him? Dante says he trusts Sonny. Does Sonny trust him?

Jordan says, if anyone can get through to Cyrus, it’s Laura, and Anna says, yeah, but she has her work cut out for her. He’s being very resistant. Jordan says, not to pile on any more bad news, but Curtis opted not to consult on the investigation. He wants to make a fresh start.

Portia says, wow, and Curtis says, for a while there, he received a cut of Selina Wu’s profits in the poker games in The Savoy’s backroom. She asks if that’s why that woman came to their home with a basket of fruit. That’s why she wanted to buy the club, right? Did Marshall know about this too? He says, yeah. He figured it out. Dad’s no fool to these kinds of things. She says, no, he’s not a fool, but clearly, she’s the fool, and Curtis says he wanted to keep the family safe. Selina Wu respected that until she came here. She crossed the line. She says, that’s what these people do, and he says, she has every right to be angry with him. He should have just told her. She says, this isn’t about anger. She’s terrified.

In Robert’s hotel room, Diane says, this is precisely why she told Sonny that she didn’t want to serve the papers. She doesn’t need the aggravation. He says he has a room service menu here somewhere, and she says, and for Nina to imply she’s some sort of soulless, cold-hearted automaton with no personal life only gets her blood up for a fight in court. He says he does call her Killer Miller. There is nothing wrong with being good at your job. She says, there’s no argument there. She’s good at other things too. He says, not cold either, and kisses her. If it’s any consolation, Valentin accused him today of personal animosity in the professional handling of his daughter. She helps him undo his tie and says, Valentin is a pompous ass. Robert is the soul of integrity. He’s a consummate professional. He’s also quite the softie. He says, every guy likes to hear that, and she says, he’s tough when it counts, but he’s also soft when it counts. He says, let him tell her where it doesn’t count. It doesn’t count what Nina and Valentin think of them. She says she wholeheartedly agrees. You know what does count? What she can give him. She kisses him, and Robert says he thinks he now knows the secret of Diane’s success. She takes rational human beings and makes them forget themselves. He almost forgot the lunch. He’s going to call downstairs and have them send up another menu. He’s famished. She says, her too. She has quite the appetite. She kisses him again.

Dante says he knows he might be the last person Sonny trusts, but he feels like he’s proven himself over the years. Sonny says, of course (🍷) he trusts Dante. And he knows Agent Cates didn’t show up at his office the other day because Cates was concerned about his well-being; he was encouraged by Dante or Anna. Dante says, because they have Sonny’s back, and Sonny says, they’re in the minority. Dante says, Sonny has more friends than he thinks he has. Misguided actions don’t necessarily mean bad intentions. Sonny says, lies and loyalty don’t mix, and Dante says he’s not going to tell Sonny who he should or shouldn’t trust. He doesn’t know, but these are dangerous times. He wants Sonny to consider that help could come from some pretty unexpected corners.

Cyrus comes in with a dish tub, and says, Laura’s still here. She says she’s not leaving until he hears her out on saving lives. She listened to his whole radio show the other day, and he almost had her believing him. Anna comes back in, and Cyrus says, everything he said in that broadcast was the gospel truth. Laura says, he values the lives of others, and he says, as the Lord commands. She says, what about the lives of his former rivals like Sonny Corinthos? and he says, she’s asking too much of him. Anna says she’s sorry to interrupt, and Laura says she thinks it was a mistake to come to her brother. Cyrus asks if he’s just supposed to forget Sonny beat him to a pulp and put him in the hospital. Where’s the concern for him? Laura says she was concerned. She was very concerned, but that was at the time Ace disappeared, and they didn’t know where Esme went… He says he’s so sorry. The Good Book tells us that not even sparrows are forgotten by our Father. So if our Heavenly Father can protect those He overlooks, so can he. He’ll try to live up to Laura’s faith in him. What does Anna need him to do? Anna suggests they sit down, and they do. She says, this all starts with his ministry at Pentenville. They want him to reach out to a certain inmate there.

Curtis tells Portia, there are no more card games in the backroom at The Savoy. His business with Selina Wu is over. She asks why he feels so compelled to warn her, and he says, it seems like the right thing to do. She says, why? She doesn’t get this. Why is Curtis so intent on helping her? She tried to steal his club from him. She tried to take The Savoy away from him. She wasn’t trying to help him. She was trying to swoop in when he was most vulnerable. He says he knows what she was trying to do, but she didn’t, did she? Because dad and Sonny fended her off. He even managed to part ways with Selina Wu amicably and he intends to keep it that way. She says, right now, she’s less worried about Selina Wu and more worried about the shooter who was targeting her. Maybe now they’re targeting him. He says his was an accident, and she says, an assassin was trying to kill a mob boss, and now he’s telling her that he’s in league with another mob boss, and he just told her that Sonny is the one that helped him with Selina Wu. That’s a lot of organized crime going on. She doesn’t get it. He says, she doesn’t have to worry. He’s out. She says she’s worried and she honestly can’t believe he isn’t. All they’ve been doing here is fighting. Fighting for their marriage again. They’ve been fighting for this perfect life together. They’ve been saying how they’re going to make it work and be stronger than ever. How are they going to do that if he’s collateral damage again? How do they know he isn’t already one of the names on the hit man’s list?

Valentin suggests they set some ground rules before Nina goes about getting Sonny’s attention. She’s too classy to grovel. She says, grovel? He should know her better than that. He says he thought he did, then she went and fell in love with a gangster, and she says, it was a very confusing time when she fell in love with Sonny… Mike, or whatever. It was the only thing that made sense. Sometimes she thinks they would have been better off if they’d just stayed n Nixon Falls. They’d still be together. He says, Nixon Falls isn’t reality. Mike wasn’t reality. Sonny is reality. Has she come to terms with that? She says she knows who she married, and he says he can’t believe he’s going to say this, but if she wants to stay married, this is how she stays married. Sometimes the best way to get what you want is by not giving someone what they want. She says, the only thing Sonny wants from her right now is a quick divorce, and he says, don’t give it to him. That’ll get his attention.

Dante asks Sonny to give what he said some thought, and Sonny says he appreciates Dante’s input, but he’s going to handle this himself. Dante says he’s sure Sonny has something he’s cooking up, and Sonny says, Dante knows how much he loves to cook. Here’s the thing. There’s a special place in hell for those who have put his family in danger. And he’s going to send them there.

Tomorrow, Brook tells Maxie, if this continues, they’re in for one hell of a quarter; Tracy says, they’ve all been deceived; Felicia tells Spinelli that it’s time to put an end to their deception; and Selina tells Sonny, now is the time for them to put their alliance to an end.

Vanderpump Rules

James says, it’s pool party day, and he’s excited. In his interview, he says, it’s their first get together in the new house. Welcome to Casa Kennedy. He bought drinks, food, and a grill for the party. He spent at least two grand. Where did it go? Yeah, we all say that. Not the two grand part, but where did it go?

Ariana tells Katie that the Lyft driver who dropped her off the other night said he remembered the house. He said, she and her husband were fighting. He was cheating on her. She told him that they weren’t together anymore, and he said, that makes sense. Good. In Ariana’s interview, she says, he was the driver from the night on March 1st. She tells Katie, he had no idea it’s a thing, and Katie says, have you heard of reddit? In her interview, Ariana says, he has no clue how many people want to talk to him. Katie says, Lala made some good points, and then Schwartz said they were ganging up on him. In Ariana’s interview, she says, a guy she hasn’t spoken to is suddenly an authority on who she is, how she thinks and feels, and how she lives her life. Just like a man. They talk about Tahoe, and Katie says she’s not abandoning work to get the shop open. In Katie’s interview, she says she’d rather eat a jean jacket. (That’s a new one, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.) They need to get permits and licenses and staff the place. They have their work cut out for them. Ariana says she’s not comfortable staying in a cabin with the Toms, and Katie says she doesn’t understand it.

Scheana and Lala go to Villa Rosa, and Lala asks if Schena wants to bet Lisa is going to say she has no clothes on. Lisa greets them holding new pup Donut(!), and remarks that Lala has no clothes on. She might get everyone here in a bit of a tizzy. They sit down, and Lisa says she wants to talk about so many things, and some of them they’re not going to like. She spent time with Sandoval and knows he’s in a very dark place. Scheana says she’s pissed off because she reached out to him when his friend passed, and he blocked her. He’s diving into villain energy and she’s not here for it. He needs to be humble and have humility. She also told him to get a therapist. In Scheana’s interview, she says, Sandoval is taking no accountability. Lisa is telling them that he’s depressed, but she hasn’t seen that. She’s seen him project. Lisa says he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but Lala says, he’s doubling down. Scheana says, he called Lala a narcissist (my bad. I thought he said Ariana), and Lala says, she should have asked more questions about Randall before getting involved. Lisa says she never held it against Lala, but Lala says, Sandoval has, and he’s talked to the press about her. He also can’t acknowledge how he hurt James. Lisa says, their lives are going swimmingly, and Sandoval’s isn’t. In Lisa’s interview, she says, Sandoval is a shadow of his former self, and she doesn’t want to see him going down that path. He’s depressed. She’s seen depression and she knows it. Her brother used the same words and it stayed with her. She tells the girls that they don’t want to be in the position that they have regret when they look back. Her brother is a trigger for her, and she doesn’t think Sandoval is a person who would say he had suicidal thoughts unless he meant it. Lala says she hears Lisa. She doesn’t want anyone to wear that for the rest of their life. She knows what it’s like. In Lala’s interview, she says she never gave Sandoval’s mental health much thought. She looked at him like her ex, someone with no feelings. She’s holding on to anger and doesn’t trust anybody. It’s not healthy. She doesn’t want to be angry all the time. It’s killing her. Scheana says, Sandoval was genuinely one of the best friends she’s had in her life, and Lisa asks if that doesn’t make it easier to forgive. Scheana asks if it’s worth losing Ariana, and Lisa says, talk to her. Don’t be a people pleaser. Go with her gut. In Scheana’s interview, she says, Ariana made it clear that anyone who chooses to remain friends with Sandoval is dead to her. We flash back to Ariana kissing off Schwartz, and Scheana says, at same time, if someone is struggling at this level, how can she keep coming for him? She tells Lisa that she’s going on Schwartz’s trip, and Lisa suggests they stop attacking Sandoval. None of them is perfect.

Pool party time! Lala and Scheana bring along Scheana’s sister Cortney, and Schwartz brings a plant. In Ally’s interview, she says, that’s the third plant Schwartz has brought them. She’ll have to get a gardener. Schwartz says he’s been on a sober curious journey, but he’s having a few. In his interview, he says, his conversation with Katie and Lala didn’t go well, and we flash back to that. He says, they tarred and feathered him. He wasn’t an accessory to the affair. There’s more to him than that. James goes to the porch roof and jumps into the pool (it’s not that high). Schwartz follows because, as we know, he’s a lemming.

Sandoval and Billie go to the IntoMeSea quantum wellness studio. WTF? The woman at the desk asks if they’ve done a cold plunge before, and in Sandoval’s interview, he says he’s stressed out, depressed, and overwhelmed. He realizes that he has to be able to handle his emotions in healthier ways. He gets in the bath, and Billie asks how intense it is from 1 to 10. He says, a 9, and in his interview, he says, it feels especially weird since he’s never been an outsider with the friend group. He feels like Andy when he first gets to Shawshank. He wants to get back part of something that resembles his old life. It’s the people he was closest to that hurt him the most.

Lala works out with Ally, and they make a pact to do 50 squats a day. What is with the squats? They’re in every freaking workout and I hate them. Lala asks how long it’s been since James was sober, and Ally says, three months. Lala says, the first few weeks are the hardest, and wonders if James would open up if she asked why he decided to become sober. Ally says she knows, but Lala would have to ask James, and Lala says, everyone has a rock-bottom moment where they realize it’s no longer working. In Lala’s interview, she says, something about that rock bottom moment changes everything. We flash back to the Reunion where Lala talked about going to Disney World with Randall’s family and being drunk for four days straight. When she woke up, she knew she never wanted to live this way again and reached out to get help. She says she still has a lot of work to do sober. She tells Ally that she doesn’t want to trigger by asking deep questions, but Ally thinks she should ask.

There’s a fire on the grill, and Ariana has to tell James not to fan the flames, but he rescues the food and says, they survived. Lala tells Schwartz that she knows she came in heavy. She has to not be triggered and make other’s experiences her own. It’s a process. She can’t go from machetes to crying in a fetal position. There’s got to be a middle ground. Schwartz says, Ariana looked at him like he was subhuman. She’s been exalted to queen status and was giving diva energy, as opposed to someone who’s been hurt. He’s not fawning for her affection or validation. Lala says she thought he handled it well. At times, she takes things to heart, but she’s working on not being a dog in someone else’s fight. In Lala’s interview, she says she thought her superpower was calling people on their sh*t, but it’s not healthy. She has to practice forgiveness and can’t wear trauma like a badge of honor. She tells Schwartz that she’s watched him please everyone. That’s how her dad was. He hated conflict and he was bulldozed over. She believes the stress of it killed him. She wants Schwartz to be down for someone, but do what’s best for him and his family. His brother is in the fight of his life, and she’s sorry she didn’t give him grace. We flash back to Lala reaming Schwartz out, and Schwartz says he’s sorry he retaliated, but when he’s mad, it’s easy when they haven’t communicated. He sees she’s a great mom and how much humanity she has. What she’s doing is heartfelt. Maybe she could give Sandoval a little. He can’t abandon that man. He’s family.

Sandoval tells Billie that he feels great, and Billie says, he’s worthy and deserves bliss. She asks if he’s thinking about dating, but he says, no. He misses Raquel. It’s been at least three weeks since they’ve talked. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, when they spoke the last time, he didn’t think it would be the last time. We see a clip from 27 days ago where he’s talking to Raquel on the phone, and he says, in that conversation, she said she was extending her time in the facility. He told her that he loved her, and they’d talk later. He tells Billie that he had love and was addicted. He couldn’t see anything else. Hanging out with her was the best part. I’m guessing that’s when he pontificated, and she looked at him adoringly. In his interview, Sandoval says he hopes they can give it a shot. He’s saving himself for her. Billie says she’s tired of the world hating on him. There were times she thought she’d lose him. He says, it got close. He had to snap himself out of it. In his interview, he says he had all kinds of feelings – pain, anger, sadness, depression, bleakness. He lost all his friends and it felt like the best way to show he’s sorry, give them what they all want, for him to go away. I guess moving was out of the question? Oh yeah, then Ariana would get the house. He tells Billie that he just wants to be happy and he doesn’t feel like he’s allowed. She says, he’ll get there.

Some of the girls hang on a floatie in the pool, and Scheana says she’s personally struggling. She and Lala went to Lisa’s and all three of them were in tears. Lisa was emotional, saying she saw similarities in Sandoval and her brother before he passed. She’s concerned and asked them to ease up. Ariana says, Sandoval and Lisa’s brother are different people. Sandoval won’t take responsibility. Her getting on Instagram and telling people to be nice to her ex is not happening. In Ariana’s interview, she says she understands Sandoval might have had thoughts and feelings, but they’re based on a situation he created where he didn’t give a f*** about anyone else’s mental health. She knows she’s being a bitch to say this, but she feels like it’s a little bit annoying. Ariana says, Sandoval is a scary person, and she doesn’t trust him. It all feels manipulation to her. Ugh, I hate to say it, but I kind of agree. Only because of how he acts like he’s the victim, but then switches it on for someone like Lisa. I’m not so sure his dark thoughts aren’t contrived.

James visits Lala and asks if a baby bottle is hers or Ocean’s, and she tells him, f*** you. It’s not hers, but we flash back to when she had one with her on a group trip that was her own. She asks James how long he’s been sober, and he says, three months. Jumping right into it, she asks, what made him want to get sober? He doesn’t have to tell her if he doesn’t want to. He says, there’s not much to tell. When the Sandoval and Raquel stuff happened, emotions were flowing. He and Ally were fighting, and when he was drunk, he made nasty comments. After he wrote something on Instagram, Ally stayed with her sister. She was gone for two nights, and the cats were gone. The place was empty, and it wasn’t the same energy that was there before. We flash back to 2019, and Raquel telling James that he has to get his sh*t together. In James’s interview, he says, he quit, but then after he and Raquel broke up, he figured he was single and could do what he wanted. He’s doing it for himself this time. He tells Lala that he was going to do anything to get Ally back and basically, that’s the deal. Lala asks if he’s looking at it like forever, and he says he is. If he didn’t have that mentality, he couldn’t do it. He doesn’t want to be an alcoholic 40-year-old who loses everything. Lala says, he can come to her with anything, and she’ll never share anything. In Lala’s interview, she says, she’ll never have a relationship like she does with James. They started off as two kids being trainwrecks – we flash back to Lala saying she sees no one has worked on their summer bodies, and James making fun of Katie – to getting into relationships to their sobriety journeys. It’s hard to find someone like that, who you’re bonded with for life. She tells James that she makes time for the people she loves, and James says, she’s gone miles. He’s proud of her.

Jo cuts Schwartz’s hair at his apartment, and in his interview, he says, she’s the light in his life. We flash back to Schwartz telling Scheana that he and Jo are just friends. Schwartz tells Jo that everyone thinks she’s his secret romance, but he gets the optics. In Schwartz’s interview, he says, Jo was never living with him, although she was staying with him sporadically. She’s not his girlfriend and never was. They had a whirlwind romance, but they’re just buds now. Sandoval comes over, and I note how nicely the floor sweeps up as Jo takes a broom to it. Schwartz tells Sandoval about his conversation with Lisa, and says he booked a sick-ass lake cabin. Ariana and Katie won’t be there good, but he thinks it would be neutral ground for some one-on-ones if Sandoval can leave his ego at home and say he’s sorry. Sandoval says he can tell Lala that he’s sorry he gave her so much content for her podcast and she sold merchandise. She’s not understanding what she did. She showed an entire nation how to treat them. People followed their lead. Um… I don’t even listen to their podcast, and I hate these two, so, no. Schwartz says, this energy is not going to serve Sandoval well, and in Schwartz’s interview, he says, the tone of they don’t know what they’ve done to me worries him. He doesn’t want to undermine Sandoval’s feelings, but he doesn’t think it will be productive. He’s optimistic about Tahoe, but he doesn’t expect it to miraculously cleanse everyone’s memory. He’s just hoping it opens the door a little. He tells Sandoval, something cosmically changed. He’s not saying to let everyone walk on him, but he thinks people are in a place where they’re ready to talk and not necessarily coming after him. Wow. Sandoval is seriously a narcissistic a-hole.

Scheana’s friend Tory comes over to babysit, and in Scheana’s interview, she says she and Brock have dinner plans with James and Ally. As much as she trusts Tory, she’s anxious leaving Summer with someone who’s not her mom. She did call her sister Cortney to help. Trust issues. When they get to the restaurant, Brock says, she’s making progress, and she says, baby steps. James and Ally meet them, and they get some kind of wristbands to tap when they want a drink. Since it’s a self-serve set-up, I’m not sure if it just keeps the tab, unlocks the drink lever, both, or D) none of the above. Scheana says she had a conversation with Lisa before the pool party. She had tears in her eyes and said, after her brother’s suicide, she’s seen similarities in Sandoval. Lisa thinks they should go easier than they have been. James says Lisa called him and asked if he had a minute, and we see a clip of Lisa FaceTiming James and asking for ten minutes of his time. James asks if he’s in trouble, and she says, always a little. Scheana says, it’s going to be the same thing. She doesn’t want Sandoval to do something and then it’s too late. Brock thinks it’s not fair to put that on her, and Ally says she knows she’s going to feel bad. She’s nervous about Tahoe. In Ally’s interview, she says she has no personal issue with Sandoval. He’s been welcoming and kind, but she feels uneasy around him seeing how he hurt James. She doesn’t want to be fake, so she’s preparing for awkwardness. Scheana texts Schwartz to see if he invited Sandoval, and yes, he did. Brock says, there’s a hotel down the street, if need be, but James says he’s not stressing. Brock says, it’s not like they’re picking a side. They all know what Sandoval did was wrong. Ally says, they can ride for Ariana, but have empathy for someone who f***ed up their own life.  

At Vanderpump Dogs, Lisa asks the marketing director if she’s sure it’s him, and Summer (not the same one) says, 100%. James comes in, and Lisa asks if he wasn’t worried about Graham. We see a clip from two weeks earlier where James says he doesn’t know where Graham is. Graham comes down the stairs, and Lisa says, he’s been rescued. James cries and in his interview, he says, the second he touched Graham, he could see it was him. He’s got the same wiggle he’s had since he was a puppy. Lisa says she got a call that he’d been in a foster home for two months and bitten a couple of times. They were taking him to a shelter and asked if Lisa would take him. Thank God they knew Lisa, patron saint of dogs. In James’s interview, he says he feels anger and sadness and he’s confused. Graham is his best friend and it’s a dream come true that he’s back. He tells Lisa that he was expecting to talk about Sandoval and thanks her. He’d hoped Graham was in a good place. Lisa says, Graham belongs with James. Does he want to take him? James says, his first thought was of Ally, but they have to make it work. There’s a reason this is happening. It’s meant to be. In his interview, he says, whenever he sees a Goldendoodle, the most popular dog in L.A., he thinks of Graham. Then he shakes it off and gets back to his day. Now he’ll be able to hold and hug his destiny. Graham had made his way back to his true home. He leaves with Graham Cracker.

Again we see the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 988. I have no clue how that works or if it’s set up for every city.

Next time, Brock questions Scheana about why she doesn’t want to leave Summer with anyone but her mother; James brings Graham home and introduces him to Ally’s cat; Lake Tahoe; and howling at the moon.

💃🏾 Shaking It Off…

Join me tomorrow for soap and finally, the finale of RHOBH. Until then, stay safe, stay engaging in genuine conversations, and stay practicing forgiveness and not wearing trauma like a badge of honor.

February 19, 2024 – Valentin Has a Surprise For Alexis, Fraser Is Done With This On Deck & Kitchen

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly knocks repeatedly at Dex’s door and asks if he’s there. She says she’s looking for Josslyn and knocks again.

Brook tells Tracy that the Deception feature looks huge, and Tracy asks if she’d say they got maximum exposure at a bargain rate. Brook tells her that she would say just that. Tracy’s negotiation skills were awe inspiring. She got credit, Carly got a great first issue, and Deception got huge exposure. Everybody wins, except Nina. Tracy asks if she didn’t tell Brook that they’d be able to run this company with or without Maxie, and Brook says, let’s not even go there. Lois comes in and says, has she got a surprise for them.

Marshall comes out of the hospital elevator, and Stella says, hello, stranger. It’s so nice to see… Is he in there? He realizes she’s talking to him and says he’s so sorry, kissing her on the cheek. He got kind of caught up in his head there for a minute. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s perfectly fine physically. He just came from his psychiatrist. She asks how it went, and he says he was prepared for bad news. He knows how to deal with bad news. But he got good news and he’s got no idea how to handle it.

Gregory looks at The Invader headline, DEAD ON ARRIVAL, and reads, notorious criminal is shot while being transferred from Pentenville. Alexis says, notorious doesn’t even scratch the surface of who Olivia Jerome was, but it’s technically correct. He says, the headline does lean in the direction of the more lurid, but it doesn’t tip over into it, and she thanks him, taking the tablet. She tells him, it says she didn’t see her death coming. That’s unfortunate. It’s a mercy she didn’t deserve. He says, wow, and she says, it doesn’t matter what she thinks. If she can get readers who expect some sparkling headline to actually read this article, they’re going to read something that really matters. About gun control, about rising violence – Valentin approaches the office – about prison reform. Yes? Gregory says, from what he read, she got the catalyst she was looking for, and Valentin says, she usually does. There’s no one better at turning a headline into a cause than his cousin.

Carly says, come on, Dex, open the door, when Josslyn opens it. She says, he’s gone.

Trina is looking at her turtle dove, when Curtis rolls in. She asks, how was physical therapy? Was everyone blown away by him? He says, it was okay, and she says, he’s improving every single session. Everyone can see that. She and mom are amazed by how far he’s come. He thanks her for the encouragement, and she says, they’re going to throw him the biggest party this zip code has ever seen once he’s back on his feet. He says, walking over to her and her mom for a hug is all the celebration he needs. So she doesn’t have to worry about a party. She says she guesses she should cancel the caterers then, and starts to leave, but he says, she doesn’t have to hide from him. And she doesn’t have to run away from how she feels.

Stella tells Marshall that people don’t usually need her help handling good news, so she doesn’t have much experience in that area, but she’ll give it a shot anyway. Marshall says, his psychiatrist has been weaning him off his meds, and she says, for a few months now, right? He says, yes, and in all this time, there’s been no episodes. No seeing things, no hearing voices… She says, no indication of schizophrenia? and he says, it confirmed what Portia first suspected and what all this testing and observation seems to bear out. She says, back in the day, he was misdiagnosed, and he says, yes ma’am. She says she guesses there’s no sense in railing at the past, and he says, it’s not like he can track the doctor down and what? Beat him up? Sue? She says she’s not sure it would do any good if he could. So instead, why don’t they just thank the good Lord that the sword that’s been hanging over his head for 40 years is finally gone. He’s finally free. He says, that’s the thing. He doesn’t feel free.

Josslyn says, when she got here, it was too late, and Carly asks, too late how? She says, Dex was already gone, but Sonny was here and gave her this – she picks up the letter and dog tags (I’d thought he kept one, but I guess not) – as a consolation prize. She tosses it back on the table, and Carly says, so Dex left on his own. Josslyn says, it’s not like he had much of a choice, and Carly says, but Sonny didn’t hurt him. Josslyn says, not according to Sonny, and Carly asks what Dex’s letter said. Josslyn tells her that it said that he left because it was safer for everybody and that he loved her, and he was grateful for the time they had together. Carly says she’s so sorry, but Josslyn says, Dex was right. He said this was going to happen. Sonny had to send him away. He was too much of a liability. Whether it was the cops or Sonny’s enemies, they were going to come for him. He knows way too much about the organization. Carly says, he does. He’s right. Josslyn asks what she’s supposed to do. She’s supposed to be grateful that Sonny sent him away instead of having him killed? (Well… yeah.) Assuming that’s what happened. Assuming Sonny didn’t make him write this letter and kill him anyway. Carly says, Sonny wouldn’t do that, and Josslyn asks if she’s sure. She didn’t think Sonny would leave Carly. She didn’t think he would turn on Michael. (Speaking of which, why is no one angry with Michael since he’s the guy who started all this mess?) She didn’t think he would treat someone who saved his life like a traitor, but he did all of that and more. So before Carly sits here and tells her that Dex is somewhere safe, please ask herself, would she bet her life on it? Because Dex just did.

Valentin says he’s sorry. He’s interrupting? Alexis says, of course (🍷) he is, hugging him. But actually, it got her off her soapbox. He says he thought she was just hitting her stride, and Gregory says, she was. In fact, they were just in the middle of… Valentin says, running a newspaper. He understands. They should be taking a victory lap for showing restraint for running a story that in lesser hands would have become a voyeuristic tale of a vicious criminal brought down in a manner even more grisly than she herself employed. Alexis thanks him for saying that, but she doesn’t think that’s why he dropped by, and he says, not entirely. He’s guessing Shawn Butler hasn’t talked to her yet. She says she just got an email from him, but she hasn’t had time to respond to it yet. How did Valentin know he was trying to reach her? Valentin says, he and Shawn have just completed a rather substantial business arrangement and Shawn was supposed to tell her. Alexis asks, what kind of business? and Valentin says he bought The Invader.

Trina says she’s not hiding anything; she’s fine. Curtis says, okay. He has to take her at her word, but he just wants her to know if there’s ever a time she’s not fine, she doesn’t have to pretend anymore. She asks if he thinks that’s true, deep down true, and he asks what she means. She says, sometimes people will ask you if you’re okay and you can desperately see they’re hoping you’ll say you’re okay. That way they can say they checked in to see how you were doing. But God forbid you tell them the truth or give them a hint that things are not so great. They get uncomfortable. He says he knows. Then they start glancing at their watch or checking their phone, and what do you know, they’ve got a message, and all of a sudden, they’ve got to go somewhere, anywhere. And not too long ago, you were laughing, having drinks, putting something on the grill, no problem. Now it’s like they don’t know what to say or how to handle it. He knows a little bit of how that’s like, but that’s not how it goes here, and not with him. She says she does know that, but she’s afraid to let everything she’s feeling come out. He says, why is that? and she says, because she feels like if she does, she’ll fall apart and she’ll never be able to put herself back together again.

Alexis says, Valentin is joking, right? He’s never expressed any interest in The Invader, let alone buying it. He says he knows this comes as a bit of a shock given his lack of experience with publishing or the media, but she stepped out of law and became an editor and look how well that turned out. Gregory asks if she’s okay, and she says she will be once she calls Shawn. Valentin says he knows she has a long history with Shawn and should make that call, but he did make a substantial offer above market and Shawn took it. She says, Shawn doesn’t chase money. It’s not his thing. His thing is political and social issues. Valentin says, in his non-profit organization, which not only funds The Invader, it underwrites various media outlets around the world, and with this infusion of cash, it will bolster his non-profit and expand his reach. Gregory says, and he’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart? but Valentin says, not entirely. His heart’s not that good, but The Invader’s business possibilities are. Alexi says she didn’t get into this to print money. If she had, they’d still be telling stories about UFOs and celebrity diets. Valentin says he knows that and respects her incorruptibility, and she says, if he’s come here to take away her editorial control and put a corporate slant on things, she can save him the trouble of making a really difficult call because she quits.

Lois reads, it is with great joy, together with their families, Brook Lynn Quartermaine – she rubs Brook’s arm and says, that’s youand Harrison Chase invite you and a guest to the celebration of their wedding. Doesn’t it just get them where they live? Brook says, they’re just perfect. Aren’t they, granny? Tracy flashes back to Gregory telling her, no more petty fighting and arguing. All that matters is those two beautiful souls belong together and we all do everything we can to make that happen. Brook says, they’re just perfect, but Tracy says, far from it.

Josslyn tells Carly that she knows who Sonny is and she knows what he’s capable of, and he just doesn’t want to admit the fact that he was vulnerable, that he actually owes Dex. Carly says she doesn’t believe Sonny had Dex killed. Sonny let him live and he did that for Josslyn. Josslyn says, Sonny doesn’t get to play God their lives just because the rest of them let him do it with theirs. She won’t let him keep her and Dex apart. She won’t do it. She’s been here all night looking for something – she starts pulling open drawers – looking for an address, a phone number, something from Dex’s life before he came to Port Charles, something that will help her find him. She looks at the dog tags and says, he did two tours in Afghanistan, and he came back, so he can’t be gone now.

Curtis tells Trina that he gets it. She feels like if she gives it an inch, it’ll take all of her, but that pain she’s feeling, that hurt, can’t be contained forever. She can try to hide it, she can lock it deep inside her, but it’s still there. And it ain’t getting any smaller. It will turn toxic, and all that toxic grief will seep out and eventually, it will get to her heart. It’ll make it harder and that magical light inside her will dim. That’s not going to happen to her. She says, but she doesn’t know what to do with all that she’s feeling, and he says, share it. Let it out. He did and it broke him to pieces, but he was surrounded by family. His family fixed him – her mom, Aunt Stella, his dad, TJ, her. They all put him together. When he had no strength, they gave him theirs. And she, too, is surrounded by family and love, so let it out. Fall apart if she has to. They’ll catch her every single time.

Stella says she’s not sure she understands, and Marshall says, this misdiagnosis. Ever since Portia showed him that his test results didn’t show the genetic markers for schizophrenia, he’s been wrestling with this in his head. And now that he’s been weaned off his meds, there hasn’t been any reoccurrence of symptoms. It’s no longer a question mark in the back of his mind. It’s a fact. It’s real. He was misdiagnosed. She says she hopes he’s not blaming himself for believing what they doctor said all those years ago, and he says, it’s hard not to. He got one diagnosis, and he didn’t question it. She says, nobody did. Doctors were gods back then. What they said was the final word. He says he has one question. If what he was experiencing wasn’t schizophrenia, what the hell was it? And what if it happens again?

Josslyn says, every second she spends crying brings more miles between her and Dex, and Carly says she knows Josslyn is hurt. She knows Josslyn is angry at Sonny, but Dex is alive, and it could have gone differently. Josslyn says, the only reason it didn’t is because of Carly, so she has Carly to thank, not Sonny. Carly says, it’s the least that she owed Dex, but he was working for her, so some of Josslyn’s anger should be directed at her. Josslyn says she also knows that Dex was going to protect Sonny. No matter how many times she warned him otherwise, he still believed in Sonny. Just like Carly. Why, when he’s been so awful? Don’t say, because of Donna. Carly says, it is because of Donna. Because Donna loves her father every bit as much as Josslyn loves hers. It’s a really difficult question to answer and she’s probably not going to understand and that’s okay. She and Sonny have a history, and she knows he’s flawed. She knows him better than anyone. He’s hurt her and disappointed her, but she’s hurt him and disappointed him. Josslyn says, it’s not the same, but Carly says, let her tell Josslyn something. There have been people in her life who wouldn’t quit on her no matter how bad she messed up, so she doesn’t quit on Sonny, even when she doesn’t agree with him and even when he’s wrong. Josslyn says, Sonny doesn’t deserve her loyalty or Dex’s.

Valentin says he admires Alexis’s journalistic integrity, and of course (🍷) he wants to make money, because The Invader’s a business, not a hobby. But Alexis has been solidly in the black since taking over and he sees no reason to change her approach. Alexis says, it’s highly unusual for a new owner to leave everything exactly as is. Typically, they want to tinker or fine tune. Gregory suggests she hear the man out before she makes any decisions, journalistically or otherwise, and she says, fine. Please continue. Valentin says, she is the editor. He has no interest or desire to tinker with her work, and she says, that’s a relief. He says, The Invader is her baby, and he intends to keep it that way, and she says, good. Maybe they can even work together sometime within those parameters. Gregory says, that’s great, and Valentin says, that’s the spirit. But with Shawn gone, she’s going to need a publisher, someone with vision and prior experience. She says, of course (🍷). Does he have somebody in mind? Nina runs in and says she hopes she’s not late.

Tracy asks if Brook is seeing what she’s seeing, but Brook says she can almost guarantee she isn’t. Lois takes the invitation and reads, it is with great joy that together with their families, Brook Lynn Quartermainethat’s youand Harrison Chase invite you to the celebration of their wedding… Oh. Tracy says, exactly. Even Yuri rates a plus one. Lois asks, what’s that supposed to mean, even Yuri? She happens to find Yuri very handsome and charming, and that accent is to die for. Tracy says, he is free to attend the wedding with a companion of his choice, which she would be if there was an and a guest, which there is not. And she can only assume it’s Lois’s subtle way of implying that she’s not going to be able to find someone to take to the wedding. Lois says she had nothing to do with that, but if she did have something to say about Tracy’s love life or the dating apps she should be on, she wouldn’t be that subtle. Brook says, they can all agree on that, and Tracy says, there is nothing subtle about removing and a guest from her invitation. And do not try to tell her that this is just a coincidence, because years ago, she didn’t think Lois was good enough for her son, and now all these years later, Lois doesn’t think she’s good enough for anybody. Lois says, good enough, sure. Nice enough, that depends upon the day Tracy is having. Tracy says, rest assured, there are plenty of people around the globe who would be thrilled to be her guest, and Lois says she would gladly welcome any one of those lucky winners that she wants to bring. Tracy tells Lois, sure, she says that now, and Brook says, nobody is trying to slight her. It was a misprint. The and a guest was accidentally dropped from her invitation. See for herself. Here’s the master they sent to the printer. Tracy looks at the paper, and Lois says, see? So bring whoever she wants. Tracy says, fire the printer, but Lois says she’s not firing anyone. It was an honest mistake. Tracy can bring someone. She can bring a boatload of someone’s. Just let her know so she can make sure there are enough chairs. But just between us girls – and Tracy knows she can tell Lois – who’s the lucky guy? Come on.

Nina asks if Valentin told Alexis, and he says he was just about to, but her entrance kind of speaks for itself. Gregory asks if Alexis is okay, but she says, hell no. He knows Nina Reeves, the former editor of Crimson magazine. Valentin says, Nina may have been editor… Nina says, she’ll take it. If Alexis is thinking she accepted Valentin’s offer with the intention of pushing her out as Editor-in-Chief and taking over, then… Alexis says, did she? and Nina says she likes that, getting straight to the point instead of beating around the bush for half an hour. Alexis says, did she? and Nina says she was as surprised as anyone when Valentin proposed that she become publisher of The Invader, and once the surprise wore off, she got really excited because she’s watched what Alexis has done here. She’s taken this common tabloid newspaper and turned it into a vehicle for serious journalism. Alexis says, that was the point. It’s what she and Shawn Butler agreed upon from the beginning. Nina says, and she’s so honored to be part of this team. She’ll do anything she can to help Alexis hone her vision. Alexis says she appreciates that very much. What she would like to know is why the person she’s now taking orders from got fired from her last job.

Trina tells Curtis that she doesn’t know if this feeling is ever going to go away. She hates it, but she can’t make it stop. It’s like, without Spencer, all the color in the world is gone. It’s just grey and she feels like a zombie just going through the motions. Everything she thought was important, like art or good grades or the Sorbonne, she looks at it now and none of that is important. And it’s not like she doesn’t care. It’s like she doesn’t care that she doesn’t care. Curtis says he hears her, and she asks if he thinks it will go away with time. He says he’s not thinking anything, just listening, and she says she keeps getting emails from PCU asking if she’s coming back for the fall semester, and she doesn’t know if she can do that. He says, so don’t. Don’t do it. She says, but what if she never can?

Carly says, Josslyn doesn’t need to remind her that Sonny often hurts the people he cares about, then rationalizes it by saying he’s following some code. She’s watched him do it for years. Hell, she’s watched him do it to her. But she knew what she was getting into when she chose to be a part of Sonny’s world. So did Dex. Josslyn says, so this code just justifies everything Sonny’s done? and Carly says, no. It just explains it. It’s his world. It’s how he operates. It’s what he’s done for years. By now it’s a part of his DNA. Josslyn asks if loyalty is a part of this code. Why is it everybody, Dex included, has to be blindly loyal to Sonny, but he doesn’t have to be loyal to them? Carly says, Dex isn’t stupid or naïve. He’s ex-military. Adapting to situations is what he does. He’s lucky he was dealing with Sonny, and he’s even luckier he had Josslyn. Josslyn says, no. She’s part of the reason Dex is in this mess, but Carly says, she’s not. She’s probably the only reason Dex is still alive. Her and the fact that Sonny loves her. Josslyn says, he doesn’t, but Carly says, he does. Or Dex wouldn’t have gotten the option to leave. Josslyn says she doesn’t want Sonny’s kind of love. She just wants Dex back, so can Carly please help her find him? Port Charles is the only true home he’s ever known. Carly says, before Josslyn takes off and blows up her life trying to find Dex, she needs to ask herself a very important question. Josslyn says, what if she doesn’t find him? but Carly says, what if she does?

Trina tells Curtis that she can’t think of doing the things normal people do in college, not after losing Spencer. She’d just be pretending, and she doesn’t even have enough energy to pull that off. She can’t even bother trying. Curtis says, it may be one of those times where fake it til you make it doesn’t apply. If she’s not feeling college, don’t go. She says, try telling that to mom, and he says, that’s going to take some time, but she’ll get there. No matter how old, dependent, or self-sufficient Trina becomes, she’s always going to be her mother’s child. And he mom wants what every parent in the world wants, and that’s for her to be happy. Trina says she doesn’t think she’ll ever be happy again, and Curtis asks if she has an idea of what it would take to be happy again. She says, a miracle, and he says, barring that? She says she just needs to find a way to keep Spencer present in her life because she feels like she’s losing a little bit of him every day. And what if one day, the only thing she has left of him is this? She shows Curtis the turtle dove.

Marshall says he wasted half his life because some doctor thought he knew what was wrong with him, and Stella says, but doctors know more today than they knew back then. He says, but he may never know what happened to him and he has a hard time letting go of that one. She says she thinks he can be forgiven for that. What happened to him back then was a mystery and people need a mystery solved. He says, and as much as he wants answers, he’s not sure he can afford to spend the limited time he has left on this earth trying to find them. Is it fair to his family? Is it fair to the people he cares about? She says, only he can answer that.

Josslyn says she knows exactly what she’s going to say when she finds Dex. She’s going to tell him, the hell with Sonny. He’s coming back home with her. Carly says she doesn’t doubt Josslyn has what it takes to find Dex, but Dex isn’t in Sonny’s world anymore. He’s not under Sonny’s thumb. Isn’t that what Josslyn always wanted? Let Dex start a new life.

Valentin says, Nina’s exit from Crimson but Nina says she’s got it. Alexis asked a very valid question. She deserves a response. She tries to keep her personal and professional worlds apart. Drew chose to merge the two. He put Carly in place as Editor-in-Chief solely to get back at her. So if anyone put Crimson and its staff at risk, Alexis should be looking in Carly and Drew’s direction, not hers. Alexis thanks her for being so forthright, and Nina says she’ll always be like that. Any more questions? Alexis says, not at the moment, and Nina says she knows her exit from Crimson was a little dramatic, and the whole drama between her and Carly and Drew is a little scandalous, but a little scandal does not need to get in the way of serious journalism. Ask Woodward and Bernstein. Gregory says he knows it might not be his place to point this out,  but Woodward and Bernstein investigated a scandal; they weren’t a part of the scandal. Nina says she knows she hasn’t run a daily before, but she has years of experience in publishing. Perhaps a little bit more than Alexis. Alexis says, that’s true, and Nina says she knows how this industry works. She can get things done and she’s prepared to make this work. Is Alexis?

Curtis says he wishes he had something different to say, but his advice is the same. If Trina wants to keep Spencer present, then share her memories of him. Tell her mom, tell Josslyn, tell him. She says, but even he’ll get tired of that, and he says, try him. And she can start with that figurine. What makes it so special? She flashes back to both she and Spencer bringing their doves to Paris, and Spencer saying that he takes it everywhere with him. She tells Curtis that it’s a turtle dove. There’s a pair of them, like in the Christmas carol – two turtle doves. Spencer originally wanted to give her this for Christmas, but so much happened, he gave it to her months later. She didn’t care about the delay. She loved them, like she loved him.

Marshall says he guesses he’ll just have to learn to live with the fact he may never know what was wrong with him, and Stella says, better than the alternative. They laugh and she asks how he’s doing now. He says, better. Better than he has in years. The symptoms haven’t shown any signs of returning and the stress… He’s waiting for it to happen again. He didn’t know how much it was weighing on him until it was gone. She says, he’s been carrying a heavy burden for a long time. Is he ready to put it down? He says, the past is the past. Let’s focus on today. He’s been focused on yesterday and he hears today is where the good stuff is anyway. She asks if he’s sure about this, and he asks, what other choice is there? How can someone take a look at him and diagnose a condition he had 40 years ago that hasn’t reared its ugly head since? He’s got to let it go. She says, you can’t stop a man with a plan, and he says, she-bop-du-bop-bam (or something like that)! Not this man. Not this plan. He can’t tell her how much he appreciates her listening to him. He appreciates her more than she knows. She says, it’s what she does, but he says, it’s a lot more than that. He kisses her cheek, thanks her again, and leaves. She calls Felicia and asks if she can trouble Felicia with something.

Tracy says, at the moment, there is no one in particular she wants to take to the wedding, and Lois asks if Tracy wants her to introduce her to someone. Or she could help Tracy set up her dating profile for that apps. Tracy says she really doesn’t. She’s actually quite content being single. Lois says she’s talking about someone pleasant for the wedding. Someone who will open the door for Tracy, or take her coat, give her a little dip on the dance floor in the middle of the reception. Tracy says, pass. She thanks Lois though. Brook says, Tracy Quartermaine and a guest, and hands Tracy the invitation. Better? Tracy says, much, and takes it. She leaves, and Lois says she can see it in Brook’s eyes. She’s worried about her grandmother. Don’t be. Tracy doesn’t need anyone but Tracy. Brook says she’s not so sure about that. For all granny’s bravado, there’s a loneliness inside her. It’s been there ever since she lost Luke. Maybe this wedding will be a way for her to feel a little less lonely. Lois says, yeah.

Alexis shakes Nina’s hand, and Valentin says he knew she’d make the right decision. It’s for the best for The Invader. Alexis says, that’s what they all want, and Valentin says, they’re going to take off. He knows Alexis has some work to do. Nina says she also has some work to do, familiarizing herself with the operation. Alexis says she’s just a phone call away and she’ll do everything she can to make this arrangement work. Nina says, that makes two of them. It’s unanimous. They leave, and Alexis says she knows what Gregory is thinking. Just go ahead and say it. He says he’s thinking she’s taking a risk, but she already knows that. She says, of course () she knows that. She sees what’s going on. She’s not ready to leave The Invader. She wants to see what those two have going on.

In the hallway, Nina thanks Valentin for having her back and he says, of course (🍷), but make no mistake. He’s expecting great things from her and Alexis. That is, if she meant what she said. Nina tells him that she meant every word. The Invader can be a bit self-righteous, but Alexis does great work. But the newspaper could use a little sexing up. He asks how she intends to do that, and she says, it’s simple. You just focus on the stories that the readers are hungry for. He says, such as? and she says, such as Carly and Drew.

Josslyn picks up the dog tags and tells Carly that she can’t let Dex go. She’s sorry. He just means too much to her. She’s going to find him and if he doesn’t want to come back to Port Charles, they’ll go somewhere else. Together. She leaves the apartment.

Tomorrow, Laura asks Robert what his office has decided; Cyrus wonders why someone wants to say that to him; Sonny asks if someone is going to do this for him or not; and Diane serves papers to someone.

Below Deck

Port Louis Marina, Grenada. Barbie and Cat agree to try to work together peacefully, and in Cat’s interview, she says she was excited to work with girls, but… In their respective interviews, both she and Barbie say, this girl is a bitch. Fraser says he needs a drink. The crew starts drinking on the boat, then go to the restaurant. They talk tattoos on the way, and Max tells Fraser that two years ago today, his dad died. After drinks are served, Fraser toasts to a great charter, and Xandi tells them, the way to toast in French is sens mon cul, which translates to smell my ass, but they don’t know that. Barbie says she had three nannies growing up. One cooked, one cleaned, and one did her hair. I’m sure this will endear her even more to everyone. Jared tells the crew that he and his girlfriend weren’t getting along, when she got pregnant and moved to Alaska, not telling him about the baby until well after his daughter was born. Now, he FaceTimes with her twice a week. The last thing he wants to be is a deadbeat dad. On the boat, Captain Kerry eats dinner while he FaceTimes with his girlfriend. In his interview, he says he adores her, and he’s going to learn Turkish so he can ask her to marry him. He’s not single. Sorry, ladies. The crew moves on to do some dancing, and Sunny says she’s in paradise with a hot guy – i.e. Ben. She’s not expecting anything, but she’s thinking of something. Kyle says that Barbie is the kind of girl he’d take home to his mom, which surprises me, and the crew heads back to the boat. Jared says he finds truth in Barbie’s eyes. Back on the boat, it’s hot tub time. Fraser realizes he spent 300 f***ing dollars, says, what a bunch of lunatics, and goes to bed. In Kyle’s interview, he says, Xandi is pissed as a fart. A fart goes everywhere, so she’s pissed as. The first time a British friend said she was pissed as a fart via Facebook, it took me a minute to realize she didn’t mean angry. Sunny texts Ben that she wants to kiss, and he tells her to meet him in the cabins. They kiss for a while, and Ben jets.

In Jared’s interview, he says, the first charter was rough, and we flash back to his many mistakes. He says he’s been f***ing up. Slow down, calm down, and breathe. Think past the tip of your nose. Kyle thinks he’s in love with Barbie, and in Cat’s interview, she says, in the boats she’s worked on in the past, she was close with the crew. This crew is hard to connect with, and she feels super alone. It sucks. Captain Kerry is surprised the boat looks like no one was there the night before, and Jared says, that’s because he was up at 6 tidying it for the captain. Apparently, past the tip of his nose is brown. Fraser has an interior meeting and says he’s going to mix things up. Cat will be on housekeeping, Xandi on service, and Barbie wherever he needs her. In Ben’s interview, he says, everything he said he was not going to do, and here we are. This could be trouble. In Sunny’s interview, she says she separates work and play, but she likes him. The captain calls for a preference sheet meeting.

The primaries are Tara, an event planner, and her husband Steven, a contractor. They’re bringing friends Michelle and Robert who are engaged, as well as another couple. Fraser reads that the guests want to go to a waterfall where two of the couples will renew their vows, and one will be married. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, Annandale Falls is absolutely enchanting. He can’t think of a more perfect setting. We see the Falls and right he is; it’s stunning. Fraser reads that the guests want surf and turf the first night, and then an old Hollywood themed dinner, as well as a wedding cake. Fraser radios Cat to meet with him, and in his interview, he says, it’s evident Cat is a sensitive soul. He feels that she might want to be heard more. He never had someone to look after him when he started in yachting, and he wants to be that someone to someone else. They sit down and have a beer, and Cat tells him that her dad passed away when she was 9 and her mother passed away when she was 13. She and her brother were thrown into the system and separated. The family she went to was involved with a cult religion and wouldn’t let her talk to her brother. In Cat’s interview, she says she lived in Orange County from 13 to 18 years old, and was part of her family’s culture, life, and dynamic. She felt like a prop. She tells Fraser that it was extreme, and in her interview, she says she wanted to forget her past life. At 18, she chose her brother and living her life for herself. She became independent, and now she and her brother are close. He’s her best friend.  

Provisions come in, and after going up and down the stairs with boxes and bags, Anthony says his ass is going to be a badass ass. Fraser calls another interior meeting in the master cabin and says his standards haven’t been met. This is not how you roll a towel. It’s unacceptable. The high standard not being met puts them back where they were, so he’s putting Xandi on housekeeping, Cat wherever, and Barbie on service. In Fraser’s interview, he says, maybe Cat is overwhelmed. Super yachting is very intense, but if you want it bad enough, you’ll do what you have to in order to get there. His first job was the crew mess stew, the crew member to the crew, the bottom of the barrel. His first day, the chief engineer found out he was gay, and the engineer was homophobic. While Fraser was doing dishes, the engineer poured the boiling tea Fraser just made him on Fraser’s hand. This was his first day in yachting, but he told himself, just keep f***ing going. One day, none of this will matter. He’ll be at the top and get the engineer fired. And one day he did. Unfortunately, he does not tell that story, but I’d like to hear it. Fraser asks Barbie to be extra sensitive with Cat, and Barbie says she’s sorry she’s so terrible, but he says he doesn’t want to hear that. In Barbie’s interview, she says, what the f***? She has no filter, but she apologizes and owns her sh*t. She’s making an effort, but he’s stuck on, don’t hurt Cat’s feelings.

The guests arrive, and Fraser gives the tour. In his interview, Fraser says, the guests seem a bit tacky, but fun. In the captain’s interview, he says he sees a quality team, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. They’ll go step by step until they operate the vessel how he wants. They head out to sea, and there’s a whole big to-do between Fraser and Barbie on how a margarita is made. When Barbie leaves, he tells Cat that he wants a margarita made in less than 30 seconds and don’t give him attitude anymore. In Barbie’s interview, she speaks in Spanish, saying, she’s five minutes from losing control. He’s such a d*ck.

In Anthony’s interview, he says, it was amazing growing up France, but school wasn’t for him. He didn’t dream of having a Ferrari, but dreamt of making his mom happy (aww!). He wanted to take care of her so she wouldn’t need to work and went to culinary school. Fraser tells Barbie not to ignore him, which is becoming her M.O., and she says, yes, sir. He says, she’s giving him attitude, and she says he’s jabbing at her. She feels underappreciated. In Fraser’s interview, he says, Barbie is great at service, but if she can’t compose herself, it’s a serious issue. If she can’t learn quick, he’ll filter her out of the crew. Lunch is served and we get our first dose of food porn. The entrée is cordon bleu, which I don’t even like, but I’d make an exception here. Guest Robert wants Fraser to tell the chef they hated it to f*** with his emotions. (This was in a funny way, not a mean way.) In Ben’s interview, he says, Jared is picking up his game, but they’ll see how long it lasts. The guests play in the water, and the crew runs out of food in the crew mess. Fraser talks to Barbie about her attitude again, and Barbie says she feels like she’s trying and not being appreciated. He tells her, that’s her paranoia. It’s how she responds to him, if she responds at all. Her attitude isn’t going to fly. Barbie says, he’s treating her like a bitch, and he says, she’s being a bitch to him.

Fraser says, Barbie is giving him attitude and she’s rude to him. He doesn’t like working with that. She says, fair enough and she’ll work on it, but she’s not happy. He says he’s sorry that’s the case and hopes it changes. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s thinking game night equals steakhouse, his way. His way looks pretty damn good, and the table is very cute with those red and white popcorn containers that look like bags in the centerpiece. In Fraser’s interview, he says, car park tailgating football is the theme, and he’s going with it. For service, he dresses like a referee and wears a whistle. Anthony says he’s reinvented French onion soup, and I’m in. Primary Steven prays before the meal, and thanks God for the food, asking that it makes them better and makes them do awesome sh*t. Ha-ha! That’s kind of how I pray.  While cleaning cabins, Cat tells Xandi that she’d like someone who makes her laugh, but there’s been no genuine banter between her and any of the crew members. The entrée is surf and turf, and I think about how long it’s been since had that. Robert thinks the filet is chewy, but it’s not the chef; it’s a bad cut. Barbie tells Anthony about the steak and asks if he has any A1. In Anthony’s interview, she says, it’s not his fault. They’re in a little island. Do they think the islanders make filet mignon every day? Barbie grumbles about Cat not doing the toilet paper right or something, and in Cat’s interview, she says, growing up with trauma makes you insecure. Her foster family did things to make her feel like she wasn’t perfect, and she had to be. How her work ethic is viewed is important to her. If she’s made to feel weak, it gives her anxiety.

The captain tells Anthony that they need more food put out for the crew. The deckhands alone could eat a whole chicken breast. Nothing extravagant. It can even be sandwiches. In his interview, Captain Kerry says, all chefs are artists and strive for perfection. But the crew needs fuel, not something amazing. Fraser mumbles that he just doesn’t like Barbie. Barbie sits with Kyle, and they have tea.

Second day of charter, Halifax Harbour. Jared sees Sunny on a jet ski without a life jacket, and calls her back in. Jared feels the need to broadcast Sunny’s mistake, and in her interview, she says she’s annoyed. She knows she made a mistake, but he made her look bad on the radio. The problems in the team should be dealt with within the team. The captain doesn’t need to know the mistakes. She tells Ben he can f*** off, and Ben thinks she’s having a day. Fraser goes to the bridge and tells Captain Kerry that he had a talk with Barbie about being harsh and disrespectful to one of the other girls, and he’s been getting attitude. He requested she be nice to Cat, and she thinks it’s something against her, but that’s not the case. Now she’s being vile to him. He’s a very kind and caring person, but he’s said his piece and he’s done with this.

To be continued…

🍦Admitting I’m Powerless Over Ice Cream…

Stop in tomorrow for soap and VanderNonsense. Until then, stay safe, stay navigating social media with care and contributing positively, and stay focused on today. It’s where the good stuff is.

February 16, 2024 – Sonny Gives Dex a Choice, Her Response, Two Firsts, No Salt, Bad Crew, VanderFave, New Chefs, Reunited Ones, Last News, Vamping, Throne Report, Big Change, Just Over 8 Quotes & If

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Doc says he just got off the phone with Martin, and Laura asks if his office got the paperwork. He says, they did, and he beneficially added to the adoption petition, which means everything is on track for them both to become Ace’s parents. She says, music to her ears, and they kiss. There’s a knock at the door, and Laura opens it to Cyrus, who says, hello, sister.

Anna asks what Dante’s got, and he says, Pentenville confirmed that they were relocating Olivia Jerome. CSI says the transport van was sabotaged and two guards were restrained, but unharmed. This is just an overview until they get the crime scene report. Jordan says, sounds like a prison break gone wrong, but Anna says, with Olivia Jerome, nothing’s ever that simple.

Sam lets Alexis into her apartment and says, she didn’t have to come over, but Alexis says, Sam seemed a little frazzled when she bailed on lunch. Not to mention vague. So she thought, why not meddle? Is she okay? Sam says, yeah. She’s just keeping an extra eye on Danny. Alexis asks, why? and Sam says she’s going to tell Alexis, and then Alexis is going to tell her that she’s worried over nothing, and nothing serious is going on with her kid.

Ava tells Josslyn, Sonny isn’t here, but she’s more than welcome to come in and wait for him. Josslyn asks if Ava can call him because he’s not picking up for her, and Ava says she’s sure he’s just busy. Josslyn says, but she’s Avery’s mom, so he might not be as busy for her, and Ava says, maybe she can help, but Josslyn says, no. It’s really Sonny she needs to speak to and it’s very important. Ava tells her, like she said, Josslyn is more than welcome to wait, and Josslyn asks if she knows when he’ll be back, and Ava says, not precisely, no. Josslyn says, then she’s going to look for him, but Ava says, wait. Don’t do that.

Dex lets Sonny in, and Sonny says, he didn’t run. He didn’t even start packing. Dex says, Sonny has at least one guard stationed nearby, and Sonny says, Dex knows how he operates. That’s why he’s carrying. He also knows his only way out is through him. What’s he going to do? Is he going to take a shot?

Laura asks, what happened to the ground rules? Cyrus is supposed to call her before he comes over. He says he knows, but he was in the neighborhood and just wanted to say hello to his sister and his grandnephew. Doc says, now is not a good time. They just put Ace down for his nap. Cyrus promises this will just be a quick visit. He has another engagement immediately after. Doc says, and yet he found time to stop by, and Cyrus says, one should always find time for family. Doesn’t he think? Laura looks at Doc, who shrugs, and tells Cyrus, come in. They hear Ace coo on the baby monitor, and Cyrus asks if he can just have a glimpse of him, but Doc says he’s afraid even a glimpse is out of the question. Naps are just so important at his age. Doc goes to Ace’s room, and Cyrus says, it seems Ace isn’t the only one in need of a nap. She says, don’t let them keep him from his next appointment, and he says, before he goes, has she been in touch with Nikolas since he left for Pentenville? She says she has, and he says he knows how hard this must be for her, and Ace. She thanks him, and he asks how they’ve taken to being Ace’s temporary guardians. She says she guesses there’s no reason she shouldn’t tell him. She and Doc have decided to legally adopt Ace. He says, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations. She thanks him and says she’s pleased that he’s so pleased, but she’s a little bit surprised. He asks why his happiness at her good fortune should surprise her, and she says she supposes it shouldn’t. He says he can’t think of two better people to shepherd their little angel through this world, and she says she thinks there’s something they need to get clear right now. Ace’s adoption does not guarantee Cyrus a bigger role in Ace’s life. As a matter of fact, or any role.

Josslyn asks why she doesn’t want to look for Sonny. Ava knows where he is, doesn’t she? Ava says, Sonny doesn’t apprise her of his movements, and Josslyn says, but she knows what he’s doing. Ava says, what she knows is, it’s a waste of time scouring the city looking for him when the one place they know he’ll show up is here. And if what Josslyn has to say is so important, then stay. Josslyn asks if Ava can just call her when he gets back, and Ava says, she’s obviously very upset and Josslyn can tell her; has something happened? Josslyn says, it’s personal, and Ava says she sees. So this must be about Dex. Or Michael.

Dex says he doesn’t want to hurt Sonny, but he’s not going down without a fight, and Sonny says, if he wanted Dex dead, he’d be rotting in the ground right now, no matter what Carly said. But he’s right about one thing. Dex says, what’s that? and Sonny says, Dex joined his organization under false pretenses, working for Michael the whole time. Dex says, his job was to protect Sonny, and he did, and Sonny says, Dex knows too much about his business and about him. And all he knows about Dex is that he can’t trust him. So if Dex was in his position, how would he handle this?

Dante says, they’ve got the crime scene report, handing it to Anna, who asks, what do they know? He says, the transport van hit a spike strip that blew out the tires. They pulled the van over and they were ambushed by two masked men. They tied up the guards and took Olivia Jerome. Shortly thereafter, they heard a gunshot. They freed themselves, one of them called for help, the other went into the woods in the direction of the gunshot and found Olivia’s body. Anna says, did they pick up the gunman’s trail yet? but he says, not yet, and she says she needs to see the body.

Alexis says, Danny was drinking? Danny? Sam asks if she’d be less surprised if it were Rocco or Scout, and Alexis says she couldn’t be more surprised. Danny? She never in a million years. Sam says she knows. Here they are. Alexis asks if Sam flipped out. She would have flipped out. She has flipped out. The trouble Kristina used to get into took years off her life. Sam says, actually, no. She was angry, but she didn’t really raise her voice or give him a long lecture or anything. Alexis asks if she gave him a short one, and Sam says, they had a really good conversation about it. Alexis says, good, and Sam says, it was actually quite mature… of her, not him. Alexis asks if she grounded him, and Sam says, hell yes. Alexis says, how long? and Sam says, until he learns responsibility. Alexis says, so she guesses Sam didn’t want to tie herself down to a specific timeline, and Sam says she didn’t think of it that way, but she likes the way Alexis thinks. She thinks somewhere between one month and forever sounds good. Alexis says, sounds reasonable, and Sam says, they got to a good place. Alexis says, okay. Is Sam ready for her to be honest? Sam says she doesn’t know. Is it something she’ll want to hear? Alexis says she thinks so. She thinks what Sam did was very normal parenting. Actually, it sounds like excellent parenting. But it sounds like Sam is still bothered. Sam says, taking the you’re grounded, but if this ever happens again and you find yourself in this position, you can call me or Dante and we’ll come and get you, no questions asked route is a normal course of action, right? Alexis says, last time she checked, and Sam says, but Danny is Jason’s son and he’s getting more and more like him every day. And Jason was drawn to danger. What if Danny is too?

Cyrus says, of course (🍷) he’ll respect Laura’s wishes as Ace’s adoptive mother, and she says, good idea. She moves to open the door, and he says, but he must ask… She says, that was fast, and he says, why would she want to deprive Ace of family after he’s already lost so much? She says, it’s because he’s lost so much that she wants Cyrus to keep his distance. She wants Ace to have some kind of stability in his young life. Cyrus says he would only bring stability. He’d be a constant presence in Ace’s life. As constant as she deems appropriate, no more, but certainly no less. She says she appreciates his good intentions, but he has to just rest assured that Ace has a lot of family who really love him. He says he knows that, and it gives him comfort, but it’s a family he’d dearly love to be part of. It’s one reason he stopped by today, to offer her what comfort he could after losing Spencer and seeing Nikolas go to prison. He cares about her. She says, he keeps telling her that, and he says, and she keeps doubting. How long is she going to distrust him? He thinks he’s proven by now that he’s turned over a new leaf. She says, it wasn’t that long ago, when he expressed his distress over somebody else’s misfortune, when what he was really doing was rubbing their nose in it. He doesn’t deny that, does he? He says he does not. He owns his misdeeds and carries the shame of them. She says, okay, but the rest of them remember it, and he says, okay. She tells him that if he wants the rest of them to believe he’s turned over a new leaf, then it may take more than just his word. He may have to forgive them their trespasses if they need more time to forgive his. He says he understands, which is why he asked her about Nikolas. Not to rub her nose it in, but because he wants her to know that he’s arranged for Nikolas to be protected in Pentenville, so that she can have the peace that comes in knowing he’ll be safe. She says, this is exactly what she’s talking about. How can he expect her to believe that he’s turned over a new leaf when he’s offering to pull strings in prison?

Josslyn says, what makes Ava think this is about Michael? and Ava says, Michael came by, and he confessed to Sonny. She happened to overhear. Josslyn says, shocker, and Ava says, come on. This can’t be the first Josslyn’s hearing of this. Josslyn asks what Michael confessed, but Ava says, he didn’t mention it. And she doesn’t think it occurred to Sonny that Josslyn and Dex are too crazy about each other to keep secrets, especially big secrets. Like the fact that Michael hired Dex, first to spy on Sonny and then to protect him. Josslyn says, fine. Yes, she knew. Ava says, that’s a heavy burden to carry. She empathizes. If Josslyn would like somebody to talk to… Josslyn thanks her, but says she thinks she’d rather talk to her mom, and Ava says, of course (🍷), but it looks like she needs somebody to talk to right now. And since she’s here right now… Josslyn asks why she cares so much.

Dex says he expected Sonny to handle it the way he almost did, and Sonny says, in Dex’s opinion, what should he do now? Dex says, if it were his call? and Sonny says, yeah. Dex says, start over. All the cards are on the table. He’s fresh out of secrets. It feels good. Yes, if it were up to him, he would keep working for Sonny, but he knows that’s not possible. He’s become a liability Sonny can’t afford. Sonny says, perceptive as usual, and Dex says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he didn’t just learn about Sonny’s business. He learned about Sonny and the man he is. When Michael hired him, this was just a job, but then he got to know Sonny and his family and realized Sonny had a code and principles that guide him. He knows Sonny has no reason to believe him, but he wasn’t lying when he said he admired Sonny. Even now. He knows he shouldn’t, but he does.

The morgue attendant slides a body out, and Anna looks under the sheet. She says, yeah, that’s Olivia. Shot point blank in the back of the head. Olivia Jerome was executed. (We don’t see her, so I guess it was too expensive to bring her in just to lie there.)

Cyrus says he’s long since cut ties with the criminal element and those who kept him trapped in the dark far from the Lord’s love, and Laura says, if it’s not his henchman who would be looking after her son in jail, then who is he talking about? He says he found another group of men in prison, lost souls seeking redemption, just like him. Well- intentioned men living with the consequences of their mistakes. His mission is to provide them an example to live by, to offer counsel to guide them through their sentences, so they can turn their life around in prison and out. She says, right, but they’re inmates, criminals. He hasn’t said they’re not dangerous. Cyrus says, of course (🍷) they’re dangerous. They wouldn’t be able to provide protection if they were meek little lambs. She says she guesses she was hoping he bribed a few guards or something, and he says, with what? He has no riches to bribe anyone. She says, maybe with those hidden riches he uses to bribe people secretly? and he laughs. He says, if only he were half as colorful as he is in her imagination, and she says, then he’d be wearing half an orange jumpsuit. He laughs again and says, she’s so funny. All she needs to know is that after his release, he never abandoned his flock. Nor has he abandoned his cause. She asks, what is his cause? and he says, with the Lord’s blessing, his flock is about to get bigger. This afternoon is the inaugural broadcast of his radio show. Soon, very soon in fact, he’ll be spreading God’s word to everyone in Port Charles.

Sam tells Alexis, on Valentine’s Day, she and Dante decided to have a date night here at the house. He cooked for her. They thought all of the kids were in their rooms, and then there was a knock at the door just as they were about to get romantic. And Dante opened the door and there was a cop with Danny. Alexis says, perspective. Danny isn’t the first teenager to sneak out of the house with his friends and go drinking. Sam says, sneaking out is one thing, but sneaking out by a fire escape that’s suspended to the side of a building on a penthouse floor? Alexis says, clearly, Danny doesn’t have any fear of heights? and Sam says, gee, I wonder who he takes after? What if Danny hadn’t gotten caught and he would have tried to sneak in the same way? Up the building? What if he slipped or lost his balance? Alexis says, okay. She’s right to be asking all these questions and she’s right to be extra vigilant. However, one incident is not a pattern necessarily. Sam says, so this is normal teenage stuff? and Alexis says, all she knows is what Kristina did to her. Sam says, Kristina’s an angel right now compared to those things, and Alexis says she never raised a boy, so she has no idea what’s normal for boys. Sam says she gets that all teenagers take chances, but what if Danny’s hardwired to take bigger chances? And if so, how does she keep him safe? Because if he’s anything like his father, the more she tries to control him, the more he’s going to fight to be free.

Anna closes the morgue vault, when Dante comes in. He says he debriefed the detectives on the scene. They found this nearby. He hands Anna a plastic evidence bag, and she takes out a gun. She looks it over and says, oh yeah. Jordan asks if she found something, and Anna says, see that marking right there? The WSB put it on all the guns they seized. That means, whoever tried to kill Sonny is also behind Olivia Jerome’s murder.

Sonny says, Dex had a lot of potential. More than he’s seen in anyone in a long time. Dex proved his abilities to him, but Dex reminded him, being capable and trustworthy don’t really go hand-in-hand. He wishes he could just let Dex go; forget he ever existed. But he’s too big of a liability. Dex says he understands there’s a risk Sonny’s enemies might use him to get to Sonny, but he was willing to take a bullet rather than give up Carly and Michael. Sonny knows he can hold up under pressure. Sonny says he has kids to consider. Dex said himself that he’ll do anything to protect his family. Dex says, so what now? and Sonny says, the only way he sees it, Dex is going to have to disappear.

Ava says she knows she’s not Josslyn’s favorite person, but Josslyn still went out of her way to get Spinelli and Dex to find her when Mason took her. Josslyn says, of course (🍷). She did that for Avery. Ava says, Josslyn still did it. She owes Josslyn her life for that. So if there’s ever anything she can do for Josslyn, no matter what it is, all she has to do is ask. Josslyn asks if she really means that, and Ava says, absolutely. Josslyn says, then please help her find Sonny, but Ava says she told Josslyn, she doesn’t know where he is. Josslyn says, then call him or get the guards to summon him home. Steering Josslyn toward the door, Ava says, she really thinks it’s best… but Josslyn shakes her off and says, Sonny is going to kill Dex. Ava knows that and she knows that. She needs to speak to him before he does something drastic. She might have helped, but Dex is the one who rescued Ava. Twice. Once at the Quartermaines when Heather Webber attacked her and once in Pautuck. Ava owes him her life twice over. Please help her protect him.

Dex asks if Sonny is going to kill him, but Sonny says he expects Dex to leave town. He’ll have Frank take Dex to one of his safe houses and tell Brick to set him up with a new identity, passport, driver’s license, and then once he’s gone, they’re going to cover up his tracks and set him up with money. Dex says, what about Josslyn? and Sonny says, the way this works, he and Brick are the only ones who have to know what’s going on. They bring Josslyn in, she’s going to drive Sonny’s enemies to Dex. Dex says, they know how to be careful, and Sonny says he knows Josslyn loves Dex. She loves her family too. But if they involve Josslyn, it’s all for nothing. Dex says, then shoot me, putting Sonny’s gun to his stomach. It’s not worth it. Joss made his life worth living. Without her, Sonny might as well finish him off here.

Ava says she would absolutely help if she could, and Josslyn says, but she won’t. So everything Ava just said, if she ever needs anything, that’s all crap. Ava says she meant every word, and she is aware of how unsparing Sonny can be with those who cross him, but Josslyn says, Dex didn’t cross him. Literally the opposite. How many times did Dex almost give Sonny his life and that counts for nothing. Ava says she knows it seems unfair, but Josslyn knows as well as she does that Sonny can’t risk fairness when it comes to his family’s safety. Josslyn says, so Ava is telling her that there’s nothing she can do, and Ava says, yes.

Laura says, Cyrus has a radio show? Who would put him on the air? Cyrus says, someone who sees the value in his message? She says, no, something is deeply off here, and he says, it saddens him that she still doubts his intentions. Fortunately, the Lord provides him strength to continue proving he’s changed. He knows he can never erase the terrible things he’s done, but he can at least counteract them by putting some good out in the world. That’s his purpose. She says, but what is his motive? and he says he can only hope one day she believes the change he’s showing the world and accept the man he’s become. He must take his leave. He goes to the door and says his debut is but fifteen minutes away on KZPC radio. He does hope she’ll tune in. He leaves, and Doc comes back. He says, it’s a miracle that Ace is still down. Then again, maybe he was trying to avoid their company. What did Cyrus want? She says, the same thing he always wants. Her trust.

Sam tells Alexis that she tried to shield Scout and Danny from Jason’s life, and when she realized she couldn’t, she broke up with him. Alexis says, Sam seems to give her kids stability despite all that, and Sam says, what if she wasn’t enough? Danny always wanted more time with his father. Jason was in and out of his life, then all of a sudden, it wasn’t enough. Danny took Jason’s death really hard. And what if in a way to get closer to his father, Danny is starting to take the kinds of chances Jason used to take? And if so, how long has this been building up in him and why hasn’t she seen it before? Alexis says, listen to her. She understands how Sam feels. At some point, every parent does in one way or another. But Sam didn’t cause this. Does she understand that? Sam says, yeah, and Alexis asks if Sam believes her. Sam says she wants to, and Alexis says, whatever Danny is going through, Sam will get him through this because she’s a wonderful mother.

Anna re-bags the gun, and Jordan says, Olivia Jerome’s long history with the mob certainly tracks with their gunman’s pattern, targeting organized crime leaders. Anna hands the gun to Dante and says, absolutely. See if they can confirm that the bullet that killed Jerome matches that gun. Dante says he’ll see if they can put a rush on it, and she says, they need to move fast. As soon as the Feds are apprised of this development, Agent Cates is going to want to take over, and they all know how thrilled he was they didn’t back off in the first place. Jordan says, it’s not like he can be any less cooperative, and Anna agrees and says, it’s common knowledge there won’t be any tears shed over Olivia. But those guards could have been injured or worse, and Curtis already got caught in the crossfire. Agent Cates needs to understand that they need to put a stop to this before any more innocent bystanders are hurt.

Sam thanks Alexis for the encouragement, because she doesn’t feel like a good mom, much less a wonderful mom. Alexis says, you know who thinks they’re wonderful moms? Terrible moms, that’s who. Sam says, so it’s good to doubt, and Alexis says, yeah. It’s like if you think you’re going crazy, the fact that you’ve asked that question means you’re way ahead of the game. Sam says, that’s good to know, and Alexis says, in the meantime, just take it one step at a time. This is just one incident. Sam says she knows, but what if it was just the first? and Alexis says, then she will know. If she sees it escalating, she’ll do something about it. She’ll take care of him just like she always has. And she doesn’t have to do it alone. Sam can count on her. Sam can always count on her. And they will figure it out. Is that a deal? Sam says, it’s a deal. Alexis’s phone rings and she says, it’s one of her reporters. She says, what’s up?… Sam asks if everything is okay.

Jordan says, their best lead is the gun dealer Philip O’Neal. His lawyers want a deal, but the FBI isn’t biting. Anna says, he’s still not talking? and Dante says, this doesn’t make any sense. It’s like this guy has a target on his back. He can ID who he sold the guns to. Anna says, it is concerning, but interestingly, whoever it is who’s after the organized crime figures, waited until Olivia was out of prison before they made their move. Dante says, that just makes him think, whoever this is doesn’t have access to anyone on the inside, and Anna says she thinks she’s going to talk to Agent Cates. She’s going to try and persuade him to keep O’Neal in Pentenville, rather than moving him out of their reach. Dante asks if she thinks they can get something out of O’Neal, and Jordan says, just because he’s not talking to law enforcement, doesn’t mean he won’t talk to anyone.

Josslyn says she should have known better and thanks Ava. This conversation was a big help. Josslyn opens the door, and Ava says she didn’t mean to upset her. Josslyn says she just wants someone to help her. She loves Dex. Does Ava understand? She cannot and will not give up on the people she loves. She won’t do it. She leaves, slamming the door behind her, and Ava takes out her phone.

Sonny says, if he pulls this trigger because Dex asked him to, he won’t be breaking Josslyn’s heart; Dex will. Dex pushes the gun away and says he loves her. He thought it had been beaten out of him. He thought it would never happen for him, but it did. Sonny says, Dex knows the best thing for Josslyn is for him to leave town. Sonny’s enemies are going to be tracking Dex down for the rest of his life. Does Dex want to put her in danger? Does he want her to be the target? Dex says he can’t lose her, and Sonny says, here’s the deal. If Dex wants to keep his life, he’s never going to come back here again. He’s not going to have any contact with anyone again. It’s up to him. Sonny’s phone rings, and he tells Dex that he needs an answer – now.

Jordan says, O’Neal might not talk to them, but he might talk to someone in Pentenville, and Anna says, she means, plant an informant? Jordan says, could work, and Dante says, seems like a long shot. Given this guy’s line of work, you’d think he’d have to be pretty tight lipped, no matter who he’s talking to. Jordan says, exactly. Right now, he’s probably more surprised than they are that he’s still alive. There might be something he wants to get off his chest just in case. Anna says, they’d have to find someone who’s good at extracting that kind of information. And also someone Robert would be willing to offer a deal to. Dante says, a lesser sentence in exchange for some information? That would be pretty good incentive. Jordan says, yes, but no one who poses a significant threat to the general public upon release, and Anna says, on top of finding this person and making a deal with the DA’s office, the informant also has to establish some kind of trust with O’Neal in order to make this work. This is all going to take time. Dante says, it’s time they don’t have, and Anna says, until they think of something faster… Jordan’s phone dings and she says, it’s from Laura. Anna asks, what is it? and Jordan goes over to a very convenient radio, turning it on and finding a station. We hear Cyrus say, this is KZPC radio and welcome to Searching with Cyrus. You’re probably asking, what can I have in common with you…

Laura and Doc are also listening, and Cyrus continues. After all, I’m an ex-convict who was serving hard time in Pentenville, but one thing I learned there is, we are all prisoners. But if we give our burden to the Lord, He will set us free. That’s why I’m here, to help you share that burden and give voice to your troubles, so that you may live a life of peace. Ace starts to cry and Doc says he’ll get Ace. He’s heard enough of this guy. Cyrus says, I’m living proof that God never gives up on any of us, and Doc suggests Laura turn it off, but she says she’s going to listen to every word. She needs to understand what Cyrus is really saying. Doc tells her, good luck with that, and leaves. Cyrus says, if I can find my way to a better place, so can you.

Josslyn runs to Dex’s apartment and sees the door isn’t closed all the way. She pushes it open and sees Sonny sitting there. She says, where’s Dex? and Sonny says he’s sorry. Dex is gone.

On the phone, Alexis says she definitely intends to run it in the morning. She just wants to be able to check it first before it goes to press. She glances at the guard outside Sonny’s penthouse, and says, but she’s going to have to call them back, because there’s something she has to do first.

There’s a knock at the door, and Ava opens it to Alexis. She asks if Alexis is looking for Sonny, but Alexis says, actually, she’s here to see Ava. Ava’s phone rings, and Alexis asks if she needs to get that. Ava says, it’s Pentenville. She’s sure it’s Alexis’s darling nephew, calling collect, but Alexis says she doesn’t think that it is. May she come in? Ava says, please. Is this a social call or are they on the record here? Alexis says she heard it from one of her reporters and she thinks Julian would want Ava to hear it from someone she knows. Ava says, conjuring her late brother’s name can’t be good. Julian would want her to hear what? Alexis says, her sister Olivia is dead, and Ava says, is that so? Alexis says she’s sorry for Ava’s loss, and Ava says, is she really? Because after what she did to Alexis, she thinks Alexis is probably wondering what circle of hell she’s roasting in.

Josslyn says she wants to see him, but Sonny says, that’s not possible. She says, where is he? What did Sonny do to him? He says, Dex is alive, but he’s not coming back to Port Charles, and Josslyn says, he’s a liar. Dex would never leave her. Sonny says, Dex did what he had to do, what was best for everyone, and Josslyn cries, saying, not for her. Sonny says, especially for her. He picks up an envelope and says, Dex wanted him to give her this. He holds it out and she snatches it from him. She takes out a note, a dog tag on a chain falling to the floor. She reads the note and says she hates Sonny. He’s a criminal and a liar and she will never forgive him for this. (When you think about it, it’s really Michael’s fault.) Sonny says he knows, and leaves. Josslyn looks at the note again, picks up the dog tag, and sinks to the floor, crying.

On Monday, Lois says, has she got a surprise for Tracy; Marshall tells Stella that he has no idea how to handle it; Nina hopes she’s not late; and Josslyn tells Carly that she and Dex are not going to be kept apart.

👠 How She Really Feels…

Apparently, she died and came back once before. That explains why I kept thinking she was dead before she died. And again, who knows? We didn’t see a body.

Tonja Walker Responds to Olivia Jerome’s Death on GENERAL HOSPITAL

📹 From Soap to Cinema…

They’re branching into new milieus.

🧂 Won’t Back Down…

I actually believe her. They probably laid a trail of breadcrumbs for Heather to find too.

🛟 Walking the Plank…

Not exactly the best way to stand out from the crowd.

https://www.dexerto.com/reality-tv/below-deck-fans-accuse-producers-of-hiring-bad-crew-for-more-drama-2531397

And will she be the first to go?

https://screenrant.com/below-deck-season-11-barbie-pascual-fired

🍸 Breakout Star…

Give that woman a raise immediately.

🔪 They’re the Top…

Here’s hoping Padma’s shoes can be filled.

https://ew.com/top-chef-season-21-cast-premiere-date-trailer-8559815

https://parade.com/tv/top-chef-season-21

⚰️ Reuniting the Dead…

Not too long now.

https://ew.com/walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-on-set-rick-and-michonne-reunion-8576529

🌁 News Of the Last…

Season 2 of the show.

https://comicbookmovie.com/spider_man/madame-web/madame-web-star-isabela-merced-on-filming-her-first-scene-as-dina-for-the-last-of-us-season-2-a209371

https://comicbookmovie.com/spider_man/madame-web/madame-web-star-isabela-merced-on-filming-her-first-scene-as-dina-for-the-last-of-us-season-2-a209371

Chapter 3 of the game.

https://www.ign.com/articles/neil-druckmann-teases-concept-for-the-last-of-us-part-3-theres-probably-one-more-chapter-to-this-story

🧛🏽 On Tap…

Cutting their teeth on Season 2.

https://ew.com/interview-with-the-vampire-season-2-premiere-date-new-cast-third-anne-rice-tv-show-announced-8559740

🐉 It’s All In the Game…

New spin-off.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-aegon-conquest-spinoff-reported-8574988

Throne serendipity.

https://www.etonline.com/sophie-turner-reacts-to-game-of-thrones-reunion-with-kit-harington-in-new-movie-the-dreadful-219622

🐶 After the Bowl Is Over…

This is the best story.

https://people.com/how-20-years-puppy-bowl-changed-pet-adoption-8575625

🐦‍⬛ Quotes of the Week

Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow. I have a place in the pattern, and so do you.T.A. Barron (So don’t step on any butterflies.)

Better to stay quiet than get hit with a rock. – Manuel Vëlez, 90 Day Fiancé

On truth: *I suppose there are two views about everything,* said Mark. *Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there’s never more than one.*C .S. Lewis, from That Hideous Strength, compiled in Words to Live By

Goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. – Jim Rohn

Goals are the thing you talk about instead of the thing you do. – Cherry (Rose McGowan), Planet Terror

We must all learn not only to not fear change, but to embrace it enthusiastically and, perhaps even more important, encourage and drive it. – Tony Hsieh

Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. – William James

Humor worked with pickles, but pickles are funny. The way beans are funny, we can’t use that. We have to fight it actually. – Raymond Geiger, Heinz rep (John Sloman), Mad Men

It’s not easy having a good time. Even smiling makes my face ache. – Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), The Rocky Horror Picture Show

🍹 Presidential Day Drinking…

Return on Monday really Tuesday for soap and what’s doing on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay enjoying the long weekend if you have one, and stay keeping in mind that one incident is not a pattern necessarily.

February 15, 2024 – Michael Tells Sonny Everything, All About That Soap, Brilliant Move, Two Stooges In Jersey, Golden Boy & One

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava walks into the living room to find Sonny staring at the fire. She says, he’s home, and he says he lives here. Is there somewhere else he should be? She says, of course (🍷) not. It’s just that he wasn’t here late last night when she went to bed. With everything going on, she was just worried something happened. Where was he? He says, out, and she says, the guards were pretty quiet about where he was. Please tell her Dex was with him at least. He says he doesn’t want to hear that name.

There’s a knock at the door, and Dex grabs his gun. Josslyn asks if he’s in there, and he puts the gun in his back waistband and lets her in. She says she’s been so worried. She hasn’t been able to reach him. He grabs her and hugs her, and she asks where he was last night. He says, she didn’t talk to her mom today? but she says, no. She’s been busy and hasn’t been able to call her mom back. Why? What happened last night?

Kristina tells Blaze that she’s so sorry. She woke up not feeling well and fell back to sleep. She’s so sorry. She forgot they had plans. Blaze says, that’s fine. Don’t worry about her. She does look a little green around the gills. How is she doing? Kristina says, morning sickness is no joke. She thought she’d be able to handle it and it would be fine, but her head will not stop pounding and the room is spinning. It feels like the ground is actually moving beneath her feet. Blaze says, it sounds awful. Kristina should lie down, and she’ll make some tea. Kristina says, that would be great, but before Blaze leaves, she has something important to tell her. Blaze says, whatever Kristina has to tell her can wait. For now, just let me take care of you. (Hell, I’ll date Blaze.)

On the phone at the MetroCourt, Nina tells Kira that she got here a little bit early. She got them a spot in the alcove. Do they want her to order them a coffee or… No. Of course (🍷) she understands. That’s fine. They should reschedule soon because she has an opportunity that’s going to be great for… Hello? Kira? Drew says, stood up again?

On the phone at a table in the restaurant, Anna says she’s coming by the station to see him… Okay, but Jordan’s coming in because she wants an update on the investigation into the stolen WSB weapons… Right, and she thinks they have to move on that ASAP because she thinks there’s urgency in this situation… Dante says, let him guess. The FBI is cool with the PCPD investigating until they’re not. Is that it? She says, exactly. She doesn’t know when they’re going to pull the agreement. She sees Valentin come in, and Dante asks if she’s still there. She says, yeah. Sorry. She has to go. Valentin comes over to the table, and she says, it’s been a while. He says, it has, and from the look on her face, it hasn’t been long enough.

Ava says she has to make a work call. She’ll be in her room if Sonny needs her. He says he’ll be fine, and she starts to leave, but he says, hey. Thank you. There’s a knock at the door, and a guard tells Sonny that someone’s here to see him. Michael comes in and Sonny says, hello, Judas.

Jordan tells Dante, good morning. She’s here to get an update on the MetroCourt shooting investigation for the mayor’s office. Have there been any new developments? He says, Anna is going to be here soon, but he doesn’t think she’d mind him telling Jordan that there’s been nothing new from the FBI. She says, why does that not surprise her? They’re not going to give up any of their intel unless it helps them. He says, they’re keeping their cards pretty close to their chest. They know Sonny was the target. They know the only person who could identify the shooter is O’Neal because he sold the shooter the illegal weapon. And he is Pentenville, at least for now. She asks what that means. Is O’Neal going somewhere? He says, not that he knows of, but it wouldn’t surprise him if Agent Cates had him transferred out of their jurisdiction so the Feds can have sole control over him. She says, as disappointing as that would be, there’s an argument for O’Neal to be in protective custody to keep him safe, and he says, that’s pretty convenient for Cates. She says, it’s pretty obvious Agent Cates isn’t too happy to have to work with the PCPD on this, and he says, according to O’Neal’s lawyer, he’s refusing to cooperate with them on his gun trafficking. But Dante still feels there’s a deal to be made there. This guy’s facing some pretty serious charges. Maybe his self-preservation instincts will kick in. She says, they need to offer him something in return, which as of now, the FBI won’t offer them, and he says, which is too bad, because given O’Neal’s line of work, he’d be a pretty valuable witness against a lot of criminals. Criminals who are in prison right now who might know he’s talking to them. Dante doesn’t know if O’Neal would want to take that chance going in there, and Jordan says, if something happens to O’Neal, there goes their only lead.

Valentin says he didn’t expect to see Anna here, and she says she lives here now. Again. Until she can find somewhere more permanent. He says he guesses that makes sense, and she says she doesn’t know if he heard, but she just got reinstated as Police Commissioner. He says he heard. Congratulations. It must be nice to have a badge back. She says, yes, it is. Anyway, she wanted him to hear it from her. He says, why? Because of what happened to Charlotte? She says, yes, and he sits down. He asks if she wants an update on Charlotte. Is that why they struck up this conversation?

Nina tells Drew that one of her contacts has canceled a meeting. No big deal. It happens all the time. He says, contacts? Doesn’t she mean friends? Trusted writers, editors, photographers. People she’s been working with for years. People who would always jump at a call from her before. Has she been able to get any of them on the phone recently? She asks what he did, and he says, it was simple really. All he did was put the word out that they’re absolutely free to work with her on her new endeavor, but if they do, they’re never going to be working with Aurora ever again. She says, so he forced them not to work with her, but he says, no. He just gave them a choice. And judging by the fact she’s sitting alone at this table, he thinks it’s pretty clear that they’re not as inclined to play with fire as she is. She says, he must not have a lot of faith in Carly running Crimson and beating her fair and square. Is he really that threatened by a little competition? He laughs and says, what competition? Speaking of Carly, all she wants right now is for Nina to be out of their lives completely. So if he can make that happen and make her pay at the same time, all the better. (Drew has officially turned into a 14-year-old mean girl. I’m wondering if it’s because Jason’s coming back.)

Blaze brings out a tray (seriously, I’ll marry her) and says, here we go. Ginger tea should help settle Kristina’s stomach. Kristina thanks her and says, that actually smells amazing. It’s a really good start because it’s not making her nauseous and everything is making her nauseous. So it’s a step in the right direction. Blaze tells her to give it a second to cool down. In the meantime, hold out her arm. Kristina asks, why? and Blaze says, just trust me. Kristina says, okay, and holds out her arm. Blaze presses on her hand and asks if the pressure is okay, and Kristina says, yeah. That is really relaxing. Blaze says, let her try another place, and presses on Kristina’s forearm. She says, how’s that? and Kristina says she thinks that actually made the room stop spinning. Where did she learn how to do this? Blaze says, on the road, and Kristina says, dealt with a lot of pregnant women, did she? Blaze laughs and says, hardly. A lot of hungover musicians. All lights and glory on stage and then there’s hell to pay the morning after. Kristina says she’s genuinely glad Blaze learned to do that because it made her feel so much better really fast. So thank you, miracle worker. Blaze says, let’s not get carried away. But now that the room isn’t spinning anymore, what does Kristina have to talk to her about? Kristina says, it’s about Molly, and Blaze says, is everything okay? They didn’t get into a disagreement about Kristina’s pregnancy, did they? Kristina says, nothing like that. Molly knows about us.

Josslyn says she knew something was wrong when she couldn’t get ahold of Dex last night. This was exactly the kind of thing she was afraid of since she learned he was working with Michael. Is he okay? Did Sonny hurt him? He says, not really. Sonny’s men roughed him up a little bit, but it could have been a lot worse. He thought he was never going to see her again. If her mom hadn’t shown up when she did… She says, thank God, she figured it out. She saved his life. He says he’s never been so happy to see anyone. Not that Sonny made it easy. He tried to get his men to take her to her car, but she flat-out refused to go. Josslyn says she’s really sorry. She knows Dex believed in Sonny, but this is who he is, and this is what he does. He uses people, and he thinks everyone else should forgive him over and over again, but the second he thinks someone’s betrayed him, he will turn on them. Dex says he gets it. Sonny knew he’d been paid off. He just didn’t know by who. Sonny pointed a loaded gun at him and tried to get him to talk. The only reason he was still breathing when her mom got there was because Sonny wanted to get the information from him. She asks if her mom told Sonny that he was originally working with Michael, but he says, no. Sonny figured it out. Sonny knew her mom didn’t have the money to pay him the bonuses that Michael had. All her mom did was confirm it. Josslyn says, Sonny’s never going to trust Dex again, and Dex agrees. She says, which means he’s free.

Michael says he’s not coming in here with excuses, and Sonny says, there is no excuse for what he did. Michael says he hired Dex from a security firm and paid him to infiltrate Sonny’s organization and gather incriminating evidence against Sonny and give it to him. He wanted to be the one to send Sonny to prison. Sonny says, because Michael wanted him to suffer, right? He gets it, but why? Michael says, because his mom risked her life and her freedom to run Sonny’s organization when he was in Nixon Falls. Sonny says, he had amnesia in Nixon Falls. Why does everyone forget that? Michael says, when Sonny came back, he cheated on her with Nina. And not only that, he sided with Nina when she was suing him and Willow for visitation with Wiley. He didn’t recognize Sonny anymore. He didn’t see his father. He convinced himself that Sonny needed to pay. Sonny says, he didn’t go through with it, and Michael says, in the end, he couldn’t do it. Because sending Sonny to prison would tear the family apart, and he couldn’t do that to his siblings. He couldn’t do that to Sonny. In the end, his loyalty to the family was stronger than his need for revenge. Sonny asks what he knows about loyalty, stabbing his father in the back?

Nina says she knows Drew and Carly wish she would just vanish into thin air, but how exactly is Drew going to manage that, because she’s not leaving Port Charles anytime soon. He says, of course (🍷) she’s not, because that would be the decent thing to do, just kind of slink out of town and never come back. She says, Port Charles is her home. He might have caused a little setback to her plans to start her own magazine, but this hotel is hers, so she doesn’t want to hear any more threats from him, idle as they may be. He says, she misunderstands him. He’s not threatening her. He’s offering to buy her share of the MetroCourt. (He has a funny way of doing that.)

Michael says he knows Sonny feels betrayed and he has every right to, but he was in the position to get the revenge he wanted and didn’t go through with it. Sonny asks if he wants credit now for a change of heart Michael still tried to take him down, and Michael says he knows and he’s admitting to it. Sonny says, then why didn’t Michael come to him as soon as he called it off? Own up to it instead of bringing his mom into the equation. Michael says he didn’t plan that. She just figured it out. He already decided he wasn’t going to turn Sonny in, so his mom came up with a plan for them to work together to keep Sonny protected and safe. That’s what they all wanted, Dex too. Sonny says, what about last night? What kind of man sends his mother in to clean up his mess? Michael says he didn’t send in his mom. He had no idea Sonny was closing in on Dex. Sonny says he doesn’t want to hear any more. Michael had every chance to tell him the truth. Michael was in his office, and they were hugging. Michael said he hated the distance, but it wasn’t about the distance. Michael was out to get him. Michael says he wasn’t out to get Sonny. He was out to protect him. Sonny says, what about his sisters, Donna and Avery? How does he think they would feel growing up without a father? They’re his sisters. Michael says he did think about that, but at the time, he thought they’d be better off with Sonny behind bars. Sonny says, it’s not his call to make. What about Wiley and Amelia? How does Michael think they would feel without him in their lives anymore?

Josslyn says she doesn’t know what she’d have done if something happened to Dex. Watching Trina go through this with Spencer, it’s terrible. She’s not even herself. She couldn’t do it. She can’t lose him. He says he loves her, and she says, last night, she had this pit in her stomach when she couldn’t find him, and to know she was right to feel that way… All she wants is for him to be safe. Not just today or tomorrow, but always. He says he wishes it were easy to make that happen, and she says, her mom had to have told Sonny that Dex was protecting him, not betraying him. He says, she did, but it doesn’t matter. In Sonny’s eyes, he still lied. Now he knows way too much about Sonny and his organization. How can he make a clean break? Sonny will never let him walk away knowing everything he knows.

Kristina says, this isn’t easy for her. She’s really trying to respect Blaze’s privacy and be patient, but hiding how they feel about each other when other people are around isn’t really a way to build a relationship. Blaze asks if that’s what they are, a relationship, and Kristina asks if Blaze thinks she would let just anyone see her like this. Blaze laughs, and Kristina says she thinks it’s safe to say they’re in a relationship.

Drew says, just think about it. Nina wants to start her own magazine. That’s going to take some capital. The kind of capital she would get if she sold half of a hotel. This offer isn’t coming out of nowhere. It wasn’t that long ago Nina offered to sell her shares to Carly. Nina says, that was before he and Carly took Crimson away from her and she found out how vindictive they are. He says, she did all that herself. She has to take responsibility for her choices. Nina says, oh good, another lecture, and he says he’ll pay her fair market value for her half of the MetroCourt. She says, not a chance. Now if he wants to buy something nice for his girlfriend, besides a magazine she has no earthly idea how to run, she suggests jewelry. She’s not going anywhere.

Valentin says he’s not comfortable giving Anna all the details. Just know that Charlotte is home and she’s settling in nicely. And he promises they’ll keep her informed. She thanks him, and he sees Nina come in, Drew following her. He asks Anna to excuse him, and leaves the table.

Drew tells Nina, calm down. There’s no reason to get so worked up. She says, don’t dare tell her how to behave, when Valentin joins them and asks Nina if everything is all right. She says, no. Drew thinks he can take her share of the hotel from her.

Jordan says, there’s got to be another way to get access to O’Neal and keep him in Port Charles under their custody, but Dante says he doesn’t see that happening. The Feds want them to stand down as it is. She says, on the gun charges, yes. They need to come at it from a different angle. He says, like what? and she says, maybe they get him on charges unrelated to the shooting. Something that doesn’t involve the Feds and would be solidly in their jurisdiction. He says, like unpaid parking tickets or something? and she says, preferably a felony. What is the likelihood that an arms dealer has been involved with another crime here in Port Charles? Dante tells her that he’d say the likelihood is pretty high. You don’t go from upstanding citizen to arms dealer overnight. She says, exactly. So they need to go over every case in the last six months involving firearms. Track all the weapons and see if it leads back to their friend in Pentenville. He says, they’ve been there and done that. Nothing. She says, then go back even longer. A year or more. Do whatever he has to do, because even if O’Neal is placed in protective custody, he’s still got a target on his back. Dante’s phone rings, and he answers, Detective Falconari… Wait. What?

Michael tells Sonny, again, he changed course. Dex was already inside. So he and Carly made sure Dex was keeping him safe. Sonny says, that little rat lied to him, and Michael says, Sonny can hate that he paid Dex to keep him safe all he wants, but he has to admit that if it wasn’t for him, Sonny would be dead… Sonny says he doesn’t have to admit anything. Michael says, Sonny came to rely on and trust Dex. For him to say something would have accomplished nothing. To tell the truth, it would have ruined everything. Sonny tells him to stop making himself look good. Michael didn’t just lie because he was worried about him. Michael lied to protect himself. Plain and simple. Admit it. Michael says, yes. He came to really like that their relationship was good again. He didn’t want to lose that. Sonny says, he lost it the day he hired Dex to destroy him, and Michael says he gets that Sonny is angry, and he hopes eventually, Sonny will be able to see why he did what he did and be able to forgive him. But this isn’t just about their relationship. Sonny asks what it’s about, and Michael says, it’s about Sonny and how he’s pushing everybody away. Because without Dex, without him, and especially without Carly, who does he have? Does he want to end up alone?

Dex tells Josslyn that there are no good options for him here. Sonny will never trust him again, so his time in Sonny’s organization is over. Josslyn says, exactly. So maybe this is the clean break they’ve been waiting for. He says, it’s not that simple. Does she think Sonny is just going to forget what he did to him? She says, Sonny hates a lot of people. She can live with that if he can. He says, it’s not about what they can live with. Sooner or later, one of Sonny’s rivals is going to realize Sonny’s cut him loose and try to take advantage. All of these guys talk. When they try to use him to get to Sonny and he refuses, they’re going to have it out for him too. She says she hadn’t considered that, and he says, if it’s not the mob, the DA or the Feds could find an excuse to bring him in and try to get him to flip on Sonny. The only way to guarantee he won’t talk is to eliminate him. She says, if that’s true, why did Sonny let him go last night? and he says he doesn’t know. Maybe Sonny is just telling her mom what she wants to hear. He knows she won’t let anything happen to him because of him and Josslyn. Regardless, he wouldn’t want to involve her in a crime. Maybe Sonny decided to walk away last night and finish the job later, without any witnesses. She takes his hands and says, he’d do anything for her, right? and he says, yes. She says, then run.

Blaze tells Kristina that her mother has been wanting to visit her in Port Charles, and she’s been putting her off, but she’s finally run out of excuses. She’ll be here next week. Kristina says, that’s fine. Don’t worry about them seeing each other when her mom is here. She has a lot of stuff to get done at the pub, and she could certainly use the time to get caught up at the center too. So they can just take a little break and then pick up where they left off when her mom is back on the plane heading home. Blaze thanks her for being so understanding, but somehow, it’s just making this worse. She doesn’t want Kristina to feel like she has to hide. Kristina says she’s not the one hiding.

Drew tells Nina, good luck getting her magazine up off the ground, because he loves rooting for the underdog, and leaves. Nina says, so much for Mr. Nice Guy, and Valentin says, he thinks he has Nina wrapped around his finger. She doesn’t have to sell him the MetroCourt. She knows that, right? She says, who knows? He basically crushed her idea to start her own magazine, and he barely had to try.

Drew says hi to Anna, and says he saw her sitting over here and wanted to say congratulations on being the new Police Commissioner. She thanks him and says, actually, she was just going to the station. He says he’s not going to hold her up. He just wants to tell her that he’s happy for her that things are going well. She says, and him? and he says he’s making progress. She says, what kind? And at what cost?

Josslyn tells Dex, go, today, right now. Get a head start before anyone even realizes he’s gone. He can hide without Sonny finding him, right? He says he’s not leaving. He can’t lose her. She says, he’s not going to lose her. She’s coming with him. He says, absolutely not. They talked about this last year. She’d be giving up her family, her friends, her future as a doctor. He won’t let that happen. Her whole world is here. She says, it’s her life, so it’s her choice. She can’t lose him. Not after everything they’ve gone through. He says, she’s everything to him, but she’d be giving up her life for nothing. He’s not going to run, with or without her. She says, that’s insane. They were just trying to protect Sonny, and now Sonny wants to kill him for it. He hugs her.

Michael says, somebody tried to kill Sonny twice now. And whoever gave that shooter inside information on his security, it was not Dex. Dex isn’t the traitor. It’s someone else inside Sonny’s organization. Sonny asks why he should hear anything Michael has to say, and Michael tells Sonny not to put himself in any more danger just to get back at him. Sonny will isolate himself, so he’ll have no one to confide in. He needs somebody around him that he can trust. Sonny says, that’s none of Michael’s concern, and Michael says, Sonny’s his father. Sonny says, is he? (and I say, isn’t he?) and Michael says, Sonny can push him away. He can push all of them away. But he’s going to need someone to talk to. He can’t go through this alone. Sonny says nothing, and Michael leaves. Ava comes back, and Sonny says, catch all that? She says, unfortunately, she did. She’s sorry. It must hurt a lot, what Michael did. She can go if he wants, and they can pretend she was never here. She starts to leave, but he says, wait. Can she stay?

Kristina says she didn’t mean that. She’s not judging Blaze. She doesn’t even know Blaze’s family. Blaze says, they’re great actually. They’re just religious and old-fashioned. They were raised a certain kind of way not to talk about these kinds of things, and there’s a part of her that feels she needs to protect them. Kristina says she gets that. She actually thinks a lot of people are in Blaze’s position. She just hates that Blaze feels she has to protect them from the fact that she’s gay. She’s personally thrilled Blaze is gay, and she knows a lot of other people would be too. Blaze says, thank you? and Kristina says, what she means is, she’s glad Blaze is living her authentic life, being her true self. And if that happens to include her being gay, then all the better, because Kristina happens to think who Blaze is, is pretty damn wonderful. Blaze says she feels the same way about Kristina, and Kristina says she does want to respect though, that coming out is Blaze’s personal choice, and she can’t pressure Blaze or anyone into making that decision. That’s her own to make whenever she’s ready. Blaze says, but that’s no way to build a relationship, and Kristina says, no, it’s not. Blaze says, then she knows what she has to do. She’s going to tell her mom about her and Kristina. It’s time her family knows the truth.

Nina tells Valentin that she can’t believe how she let Drew get to her, even that little bit. That’s what he wanted, but she couldn’t help herself. Valentin says, Drew can really push her buttons, huh? and she says, it’s not that he offered to buy her share of the hotel. It’s slowly dawning on her that she’s never going to get a magazine to rival Crimson off the ground. It’s just not going to happen. It’s too much. Even if Drew hadn’t scared everyone away from working with her, it’s just too huge of an undertaking. She’s just going to have to swallow her pride, and as much as it hurts, accept defeat. He says he can’t believe she’s giving up this easy, and she says, on the magazine? He says, on evening the score with Drew and Carly. Because he’s been thinking, there may be another way.

Anna tells Drew that she shouldn’t have said that. It’s none of her business. He says, she clearly has an opinion on him, and he values her opinions. So please let him hear it. She says she doesn’t really have an opinion, but she just was going back to the last conversation they had where he said he had regrets and that he wanted to get toxicity out of his life and move forward. He says, which is exactly why he offered to buy Nina’s half of the MetroCourt to get her out of their lives completely. Anna says, she seemed pretty upset by his approach, and he says, that’s just part of getting the best deal possible. That’s the cost of doing business. (What is? Upsetting the person you want to make the deal with? That makes zero sense.)  Anna asks if it’s worth it, and he says, she’s a big girl. She can take it. Anna says she’s not talking about Nina. She’s just going to say this. He seems harsher to her than he once was, and he has every right. It’s understandable, especially where Nina is concerned, but making her pay isn’t going to bring him back everything he’s already lost. He says, so he’s been told. And she’s not the first person to tell him that he’s changed recently. Her phone rings and she says she has to take this. Will he just think about what she said? Then they can pick up this conversation later. He says, okay, and she says, okay, and pats him on the shoulder. She leaves and he looks at Nina.

On the phone, Dante says, there’s been a development. He can’t get into it over the phone, but it concerns a prisoner at Pentenville. Anna says she’s on her way and gets in the elevator.

Drew stomps over to Nina, who says, oh God, and he says, let’s try this again, shall we?

Ava asks how Sonny is doing, and he says he knew Michael would come here. He even knew what Michael was going to say and all his excuses. It still hurts, those words coming out of his mouth. Ava wonders why he even dared to show his face here, and Sonny says, he insists that Dex did nothing wrong, that he still needs Dex’s protection. Ava says, he might have a point there. Dex did save them in Puerto Rico. Without him, she doesn’t know if either one of them would have gotten off that island alive. They still don’t know who the shooter was, so they’re still vulnerable. He asks if she thinks he should still have Dex in his organization after Dex betrayed him the way he did, and she says, it’s his call, of course (🍷). She was just wondering though, where Dex would go if Sonny cut him loose. She imagines he’s seen a lot of things, heard a lot of things, things that could hurt Sonny if they got out. She’s sure there are a lot of people who would love to get that information that’s rattling around in Dex’s head. He says he knows he has a problem. There’s a leak in his ship. She says, he’s far from shore. How much water can he take on? He says, before they all go down?

Josslyn tells Dex that they’re not just going to wait around until Sonny decides to punish him for a betrayal that didn’t even happen. There has to be another way. He says, not that he can think of, and she says she’ll talk to Sonny. She’ll make him understand. Dex says, he’s already made up his mind, but she says she doesn’t care. She has to talk to him. She has to try. She’ll go right now. Let her do this for him, for them. He says he knows better than to try and stop her when her mind’s made up, so go ahead. But if it goes badly, just get out of there. He doesn’t want Sonny getting angry at her too. She says she can handle Sonny. She’s going to fix it. Just watch. He kisses her, and she tells him, stay here. She’ll be back as soon as she can. She leaves, and he double-locks the door. He checks his gun and makes sure it’s loaded.

Drew says, despite what Nina obviously believes, he made his offer to buy the MetroCourt in good faith. She says, so he says. What she wants to know is, why do he and Carly insist on underestimating her? He says, do they? and she says, over and over and over again. And she’s sick of it, so listen to her carefully. Not only is she refusing his deal, he’s going to regret he ever messed with her in the first place.

In a hallway on the phone, Valentin tells someone that he has a proposal for them.

Kristina tells Blaze, wait. It was never her intention to pressure Blaze into coming out to her mom or force her in any way… Blaze says, stop. Kristina didn’t pressure her. If anything, Kristina being so patient with her is what helped her make this decision. Kristina says, okay… good, and Blaze says she’s grateful for Kristina’s support. For someone whose family was so accepting of her for who she is, Kristina understands her situation far more than she would have expected. Kristina says she tried to think about how she’d want to be treated if she was in Blaze’s position, and Blaze says, she appreciates that. But this isn’t only about her feelings for Kristina, and it can’t be about living a lie to keep the peace in her family anymore either. What Kristina said today made her realize she’s happy. Really and truly happy, and that’s nothing to hide. Kristina takes her hand, and Blaze puts her other hand on top of Kristina’s.

Anna joins Dante and Jordan, and asks, what’s going on in Pentenville? Jordan says, the prison transport was attacked today, and a prisoner is dead. Anna says, who? and Jordan says, Olivia Jerome. (I’ve kept forgetting she wasn’t dead for years, so no change here.)

Ava comes out and hears Josslyn tell the guard that she will get Dante up here and Sonny will not like it. This is an emergency, and she needs to speak to Sonny. Ava opens the door and asks if there’s something she can do for Josslyn. Josslyn says she needs to speak to Sonny now, but Ava says, she’s sorry. Josslyn just missed him.

There’s a knock at Dex’s door. He picks up his gun and unlocks the door. (Why none of these people check peepholes is beyond me, and Dex doesn’t even have one.) He holds the gun behind him and opens the door. It’s scary looking Sonny.

Tomorrow, Anna thinks whoever tried to kill Sonny is behind Olivia Jerome’s murder; Doc says, even a glimpse is out of the question; Cyrus tells Laura that his flock is about to get bigger; and Sonny tells Dex, the way he sees it, Dex is going to have to disappear.

🧼 All the Soap That’s Fit To Print…

She’s been mentioned periodically, and every time, I think, isn’t she dead? Although her actually being dead doesn’t mean it’s a sure thing either.

I can definitely see her as Blaze’s mother.

A few side gigs.

Check Out Steve Burton’s Wild New Look!

How they celebrated.

See How Soap Stars Celebrated Valentine’s Day!

The headline that nearly gave me a heart attack.

🍑 Stirring It In Hotlanta…

She’s come a long way from thinking the Underground Railroad was really a railroad.

👀 He’ll Be Watching You…

This guy is ridiculous. And shame on Bo Dietl. He’s the one I learned never go to crime scene number two from.

🐕 Another Star In the Family…

Of course their dog is awesome too. Is it too late for them to adopt me?

https://ew.com/goldie-hawn-and-kurt-russell-dog-budweiser-super-bowl-commercial-8576002

And he’s already got his first gig.

https://people.com/goldie-hawn-kurt-russell-dog-now-repping-wyatt-russell-cocktail-brand-8580671

👑 Queen Of Kings…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a presidential extravaganza. Really just the usual variety pack. Until then, stay safe, stay using adversity as an opportunity, and stay understanding that payback isn’t going to bring back everything you’ve already lost.

February 14, 2024 – Valentine’s Day In Port Charles, A Mother’s Day Brunch With Jewelry, Quick Thought, Valentine Pup (!) & Ashes

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase leads a blindfolded Brook outside in the dark. She says she doesn’t want to sound like Leo in the car, but are they there yet? He says, they will be soon. In his defense, he told the defendant to get some boots. She says, now she’s committed a crime? What did she do? He says, she’s been accused of looking too gorgeous tonight, and she says, guilty as charged. FYI, your honor, I’m wearing boots. He says, yes, designer and impractical ones, and she says, well, yeah. He helps her up a step and says, we’re here. She takes off the blindfold, and sees a table set up with a picnic basket and champagne outside the boathouse. She asks when he did all this, and he says, happy Valentine’s Day.

At The Savoy, Sasha and Maxie raise their glasses, and Maxie says, Lucy. Lucy says, what? Oh. Hi. Maxie says, they can’t cheer her up if she won’t have a good time, and Lucy asks how she can have a good time when it’s Valentine’s Day and Martin’s not returning any of her calls. Sasha says, focus on the positive – Maxie says, excellent ideaand hang out with the people who care about you. Maxie says, kicked off by a toast, and Lucy says, if they toast to love, the contents of this drink will end up in both their faces. Maxie says, that’s the spirit, and Sasha says, to friendship. Lucy and Maxie say, to friendship, and they clink glasses.

Spinelli comes into The Savoy with Cody, and Cody asks if he’s ready to have a good time. Spinelli says, of course (🍷). He’s a single man with no romantic attachments. Who knows? Tonight, he may find the woman of his dreams. Cody says, he could, and he just might. Spinelli looks over and sees Maxie, who waves to him.

Dante kisses Sam and says he got her something. She tells him, they said no gifts, and he says he knows, but he lied. She opens his gift and takes out a black leather jacket. He tells her that she said she wanted to get back into riding, so options are a good thing to have. She says she loves it and thanks him. She says, options are good when it comes to jackets, but when it comes to boyfriends – she puts the ribbon from the gift around his neck – she only has eyes for one. There’s a knock at the door, she kisses him, and he says he knew that was going to happen. She says, he knew what was going to happen, and he says he knew his cheesy lines were going to rub off on her. He opens the door and Officer Daniels is there. Dante asks, what’s up? and Daniels says he has a delivery. Danny steps into the doorway.

Willow asks Michael how the kids were tonight, and he says, great. Typical nighttime antics from Wiley, but he managed to settle down, and she says, speaking of, does he need her to… He says, no. He just checked on him. The lights were on, but he’s passed out next to his open book. She asks why kids are so cute when they’re sleeping, and he says, because they’re sleeping. She says, touché. Did he tell the kids that this wasn’t a one-time thing, that he’s home for good? He says he thought that was something they could do together, and she says, they’ll be so happy. He says he knows he is. Is she? She says, yes, and he asks if she’s sure. She says, his moving in was her idea, and he says he knows, but he doesn’t want there to be any more secrets between them or half-truths or feelings swept under the rug. He wants to put it all out there. She tells him, funny he should say that, because before they do this, there’s something she needs to get off her chest.

Curtis and Portia are about to go into the house, and Curtis says he apologizes for having PT on Valentine’s Day, but Portia says she’s just glad he could fit it in. He says, him too. Every time he goes, he gets stronger than he was the session before. She says, that’s her baby. Getting stronger and stronger every day. They go inside, and Curtis says he’s going to change real quick and then they can head out. She says, sounds like a plan, and sees a vase of red roses on the table. She says, Curtis, and he says, don’t look at him. He had nothing to do with that. She reads the note: Took Trina to the Nicholas Brothers retrospective at The Forum. Won’t be back until late. Dinner will be delivered at 8:15. Curtis says, happy anniversary to us.

In the Pine Barrens, Sonny holds a gun on Dex, who’s being held by two of his men. He tells Dex to make this easier on himself. Tell him the person Dex sold him out to. Dex says he’s not taking anyone else down with him, and Sonny cocks the gun and says, wrong answer.

Brook says, so this is what Chase was up to earlier, and he says he heard her and Leo talking about a comet passing over New York tonight. She says, Leo’s very excited. He thinks there’s some sort of Valentine’s Day magic. He says he’s with Leo. What could be more romantic than a little stargazing with champagne? Brook says, and heat lamps, and he says, just the two of them, cuddled up to see a once in a hundred-year event. She says, when he puts it that way… and he says he wanted to do something special for their first Valentine’s Day together. She says, as long as he keeps her warm, and he says, she has his word. She says she’d prefer a kiss, and he kisses her.

Sam asks Danny, what happened? and he says he’s fine, stumbling a little. She says, fine and drunk apparently, and Daniels says he caught a bunch of them with booze at the park. Sam says she thought he was in his room. He didn’t even ask if he could go out tonight. Danny asks if she would have said yes, and she says, no. He says, exactly, and Sam asks if Dante heard him leave. Dante says, no, and Danny says he snuck out on the fire escape. She asks if he’s insane. He could have gotten hurt, or worse. Daniels says, he recognized Danny from seeing them around town and decided, since it’s his first offense, he’d let Danny off with a warning. Dante and Sam thank him, and Daniels leaves. Danny says, thank God that’s over. He’s going to bed. Sam says, not until they talk about this.

Spinelli says, Cody orchestrated this meet cute, and Cody says he orchestrated nothing. He swears he had no idea Maxie and Sasha were going to be here. At their table, Maxie points out Cody and Spinelli to Sasha, and Lucy says she doesn’t begrudge couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. That’s great… Cody tells Spinelli, but since they are, it would be rude not to say hello. They go over to the table, and Cody says, good evening. Sasha says, so formal, and Maxie says hi to Spinelli. Spinelli says, gracious greetings to all, and to no one in particular. Maxie asks if the guys want to join them, but Lucy says, no. Absolutely not. This is a ladies’ night. No boys allowed. Spinelli says, understood. They’ll just head to… Cody says, the bar. They’re heading to the bar. So enjoy their night. Lucy tells him, it’s not a night. Like she said, it’s a ladies‘ night. Cody says, got that, and he and Spinelli go to the bar. Lucy says, Maxie is breaking the girls code, but Maxie says, it was just a suggestion. Geez. Lucy says, besides, she thought Maxie might need a break from Spinelli, now that they’ve moved in together. Maxie says, he hasn’t moved in, and Lucy says, are they or are they not living together in the same house? Maxie says, temporarily, while all the pipes in his apartment are getting fixed. He’s even paying rent. Sasha asks, how long before his apartment is livable again? and Maxie says she’s not sure, but whenever. Georgie loves having both of her parents under one roof. Sasha says, seems like Maxie doesn’t mind it much either.

Curtis pours the wine, and Portia says, this was so lovely of Marshall to do. He says, yes, it was. He hopes she’s not disappointed that they’re not going out. She says, is he kidding? A romantic dinner at home that she wasn’t required to cook? He says, look at her. She’s living the dream. She says she is. It’s really nice. He says he can only think of one thing nicer. Let’s celebrate our anniversary properly.

Sonny is ready to pull the trigger, when he hears something and tells Frank to check it out. Dex says he hopes Sonny makes it look like he took off. He’d rather Joss hate him. Sonny says, money is more important to Dex than Josslyn, but Dex says, that’s not true. Sonny says, stop lying, when Carly calls to Sonny. Frank and another guy bring her over, and Sonny asks what she’s doing here. She says, stopping him from killing an innocent man.

Willow says she overreacted about Michael keeping the Nina thing from her, but he says, she didn’t. She says, she did, which was hugely hypocritical given that she hid having cancer from him for months. He swallowed that betrayal and moved forward. She didn’t afford him the same grace and she’s been struggling to figure out why. He says, any luck? and she says, he’s her person. He’s the safe, stable place where she puts her trust. And with her history of being lied to and manipulated, if that trust gets broken, it cuts deep. She’s not trying to make excuses… He says he knows she’s not, and she says, but him not being honest shook the foundation for her. She knows he was doing it from a place of love and was trying to protect her, but she needs to know going forward, if something terrible happens, they’ll figure out what to do together. He says he’ll never go rogue again, and she say she’s serious. He says, so is he, and takes her hand. They’re a team. He’s so sorry that he made her feel like they weren’t.

Spinelli says he thinks the most prudent course of action is to exit, and, handing Spinelli his drink, Cody asks, why? Didn’t he say he was single and ready to mingle? Spinelli says he doesn’t remember saying it in such base terms, but that was the general idea, and Cody asks if he’s worried that Maxie is going to see him talking to other women. Spinelli asks how many times he must tell Cody; Maximista is a non-issue. Cody says, then he doesn’t see the problem.

Lucy says, okay, let’s take this opportunity to come up with some ideas for the new Face of Deception campaign, and Maxie asks if they’re at the office. She could have sworn they were at The Savoy to have some fun. Sasha says, no more work talk, but Lucy says, unfortunately, they can’t afford to take the night off. No ma’ams. Because Tracy is out to decimate them. Sasha says, Tracy wants Deception to succeed, and Lucy says, ah-ha! Then she has Sasha exactly where she wants her. Maxie says, so much for girls’ night.

On a chaise lounge under a blanket, Brook asks if Chase had any luck, but he says he’s sorry. What are the odds that both space heaters are on the fritz? She says, pretty good. Since they’re usually not used at the same time, the propane probably runs out at the same time too. He says he probably should have checked that, and she says, stop. They’ve got blankets and body heat. Come. Get under so he doesn’t freeze. He says, okay, but first, champagne. He hands her a glass and gets under the blanket with her. He says, to the most beautiful woman in the world, and she says, he’s the sweetest. He asks if this is better, and she says, much. He says he promises this will be a Valentine’s Day to remember, one they’ll tell their grandchildren about. They clink glasses, and she says, the night she got frostbite. He says, what was that? and she says, nothing. He puts his arm around her.

Sam asks if Danny knows how lucky he is that Dante’s on the force. If he’d been brought in for processing, he’d have a record right now, one that would follow him when he applied to colleges. Danny says, colleges? He’s 14. She says, exactly. Way too young to be drinking or sneaking out or lying to them in general. He could have been hurt. He says, but he wasn’t, and she says, that’s not the point. He’s too young to be drinking, period, let alone in the park. Danny says, lesson learned, okay? but she says she’ll be the judge of that. He’s grounded. Give her his phone. He says, mom, and she says, phone, now. He hands it over and asks, how long. She says she doesn’t know. Maybe until he learns enough responsibility to get it back. He says, it’s so unfair, and she says, oh well. He says, it’s so hypocritical, and she asks what that’s supposed to mean. He says, like she didn’t have a drink at his age.

Carly says, Dex is not the traitor in Sonny’s organization, and Dex says, it’s okay, but she says, it’s not okay. Sonny says he knows she wants to protect Dex for Josslyn’s sake, but he has proof. Dex admitted he’s working for somebody else, but refuses to tell him who it is. She says, listen to her. Brick believed her enough to tell her that he was here. He can’t do this. Sonny says, Dex is working for the bastard who wants to take him down. What does she want him to do? She says, he’s not, and Sonny tells his men to take her out of here now. She says, no, and shakes them off. Dex is not working for some other mob organization. He’s working for her.

Brook asks if there’s an ETA for this comet or what, and Chase says he’s sorry. They can go back into the house if she wants. He wanted to show her how special she is to him. He thinks it’s the best Valentine’s Day ever. She asks if she can be straight with him, and he says, she better. She says she doesn’t even care about Valentine’s Day. It’s just a commercial money grab to make single people feel like crap. He laughs and she asks why he’s laughing. He says, because he feels the same way, and she laughs.

Sam says, as a matter of fact, she wasn’t drinking when she was 14, and Danny says he doesn’t feel too good. Dante says, that’s understandable, and Danny says he’s going to the bathroom. Sam asks if he needs help, but he says he’s got it, and she says, he knows if he’s ever in trouble or needs a ride, he can just call her or Dante, no questions asked. Dante says, there will be questions eventually, but not off the top, and Sam says, they want to keep him safe, that’s all. Danny runs upstairs, and Sam flops on the sofa and tells Dante, have kids, they say. It will be wonderful and fulfilling, they say. He says, she wouldn’t trade it for anything, and kisses her. She says, no, she wouldn’t, but she wasn’t prepared for this. Danny’s going to be a handful. Dante says, maybe he learned from his mistake, but she says, this wasn’t just some mistake. Forget about him putting himself in physical danger. Her son lied to her. He says, more like a lie of omission though, and she asks who’s side he’s on. He says, hers. Always, just her. He kisses her hand, and she says her son lied to her, and her response was to lie right back.

In a corner of The Savoy on the phone, Lucy says, it’s her for the gazillionth time. Could he please just call her back? She really misses him. She sees a couple snuggling, throws up her hands, and heads back. Sasha says she’s glad things with Spinelli are working out, and Maxie says she wasn’t really worried about it. He’s her best friend. Sasha asks, what was it like before? and Maxie says, when they were together? It was great. It just didn’t work out. Sasha asks if she’s ever thought about trying again, and Maxie looks at Spinelli and says, once or twice.

Curtis waits in bed, the bedroom lit with candlelight, when Portia comes in. They get busy and there’s a song part.

Sonny tells his men to hold Dex, and Carly says she asked Dex to keep an eye on him. He asks why she’d do that, and she says, for him. For their children. He says he needs some privacy, and tells his men to check and see if she was followed. She says, he was getting in deep with Pikeman and didn’t have anyone to watch his back, but he says he doesn’t believe her. She says she wasn’t going to let anything happen to him. She wasn’t going to let Donna lose her father. He says, someone deposited a large amount of cash in Dex’s secret bank account this past year. It couldn’t have been her because she lost all her money when the merger fell through. She says she found a way, and he says, she’s going to do anything for her daughter’s boyfriend. She says, Dex has saved his life multiple times. Hell, he saved Ava. Why would he do that if he was working for someone else? He says, to be more convincing, and she says she knows when the deposits happened. After Dex was shot after protecting him at the warehouse and after the attack at the island. How would she know that if she wasn’t the one paying him? He says, she’s covering for someone, but she says, no, she’s not. He says, and the only people she’d be protecting are her family. It’s Michael, isn’t it?

Sasha says she had no idea Maxie was interested in Spinelli, but Maxie says she’s not. Then sometimes she is. It’s really confusing. Sasha says, it’s familiar, and Maxie says, Spinelli is a gem. His giant heart, his quirky sense of humor… Sasha says, she’d learn a new vocabulary word every day, and Maxie says, any woman would be lucky to be with Spinelli. Sasha says, why can’t that woman be her?

Sam says she was no angel when she was a kid, and Dante says, no way. Get out of town. She says she was drinking when she was 14. Worse. He says, what Danny’s doing is kind of what every teenager’s done and what parent hasn’t whitewashed their past? She says she just doesn’t like not being honest with him, and he says, but she is being honest with him. Virtually about everything, except for this one thing, so Danny doesn’t take it the wrong way and use it as permission to get drunk. She says, it’s not that she thinks he’s going to be an alcoholic or anything like that. It’s a little more than that. He’s Jason’s son, and he reminds her more and more of him every day. He says he can see that, and she says, then let’s be real. Jason was an adrenaline junkie. He took insane chances, and he was drawn to danger. And in the end, it killed him. He says, that’s not going to happen to Danny, and she says she’s no stranger to adrenaline chasing either. For different reasons than Jason, but she was wild. He takes her hands and says, the fact that she’s thinking about all this, the fact that it’s on her radar, means she’s one of the good parents. Danny’s going to be all right. Not because of what his parents did, but because of who they are. And he’s going to be right there to help her out when she needs it. Capiche? She says, capiche.

Willow says she was supposed to be apologizing to Michael, and he tells her that he heard everything she said and he’s grateful, but that doesn’t make it okay that he lied to her. He didn’t want her to be disappointed yet again, knowing how hard it was for her to try, yet again, to give Nina an opening, yet again. And to share her children with Nina… Willow says, yet again, and he says, there’s another layer to it. The relationship she has with Nina is the exact opposite of the relationship he has with his mom. His mom understands him and she’s by his side. When she’s mad, she’s still with him. It’s… She says, it’s unconditional, and he says, yeah. So him going to his dad first, that was about him. He knew it would hurt less to disappoint his father than it would to disappoint her. She says, so if she’s understanding this correctly, he hid something from her because he loves her so much, and she overreacted because she loves him so much. If the underlying factor here is love, what are they doing? He says he doesn’t know, and she says she knows their life won’t always be perfect and she knows it’s unrealistic to think they’ll never fight again – they will – but this marriage, this family, means everything to her. She wants them back to the way they were. She gets up and holds out her hand. She asks if he’s ready for bed. He takes her hand, and she leads him upstairs.

Brook says, Chase doesn’t care about Valentine’s Day? Then why did he go to all this trouble? He says he cares about her. He wanted to make tonight special because she’s such a romantic. She says, he thinks she’s romantic? and he says, of course (🍷). She wouldn’t be able to write the songs she writes without such a big heart. She says, he’s one to talk. Mr. Literal Knight in Shining Armor, ever since the moment she met him. He says, when she clocked him in the head with a beer bottle? and she says, he’s shown her how much he cares about her every day. She hopes she does the same. He says, and then some, and they kiss. She says, so they don’t need to make tonight more special like it’s a stupid date, and he says, great. Let’s go home. They get up, and he tells her, look. We see the comet streaking across the sky, and he says, maybe there’s such a thing as Valentine’s Day magic after all. She says, maybe there is.

Sonny asks if he’s right, and Carly says, Michael initially hired Dex. Sonny says, to take him down? and coming out of the woodwork, Dex says, that’s how it started, but things changed. Sonny says, what things changed? and Dex says, Michael couldn’t go through with it. He said it would cause too much pain, especially for Donna and Avery. Sonny says, but Dex stayed? and Carly says, because she asked him to. Sonny says, to spy on him? but she says, no. He has to remember how things were then. He chose Nina over his family and things were way off with Pikeman. She had to get Dex in there in case things went south. He says, she continued to let this happen because she thought he couldn’t run his own business? She thought he wasn’t strong enough to take care of himself?

Maxie tells Sasha that she doesn’t know. It’s hard to imagine loving anyone the way she loved Nathan. She’s sure Sasha feels the same way about Brando. Sasha says she did until she realized she won’t love someone the same way. It’ll be different. It has to be. That doesn’t mean it can’t be great. Maxie says she put Spinelli through the wringer more times than she can count. She can’t do that again. Sasha says, then don’t.

On the phone, Spinelli says, keep him apprised and he can come home, if need be, and Cody asks if everything is all right. Spinelli says, James isn’t sleeping. He keeps making excuses to get out of bed. Cody says, Spinelli wouldn’t know that if he hadn’t called, but now that he’s apprised, why doesn’t he maybe fill Maxie in? Spinelli says, you think? and Cody says, he is her son. Spinelli says, true, and Cody says, it’s only appropriate she’s in the loop, right? Spinelli says, that’s a valid point, and Cody says, now’s his chance, now that the girls only police has left the table. Spinelli heads for the table.

Danny comes downstairs, and Sam asks if he feels better. He says, the room stopped spinning, and she says, that’s progress. He asks if she’s still mad, and she says, no, but they’ll have a conversation about this in the morning and set some ground rules. He says, okay. Still no phone? She says, no phone, and Dante gives a glass of water to Danny. He says, have about 18 of those and he’ll feel better, and Danny thanks him. Danny says, goodnight, and starts to go upstairs. Sam says she loves him, and he says he loves her too.

Sasha goes over to Cody, and he says, all good? She says, Maxie’s explaining that James has a crush on the babysitter and that’s why he keeps getting up. Cody says he’s been there, and she says, haven’t we all? He asks, who was her first crush? and she says, Mr. Rider, her fourth-grade science teacher. He was completely oblivious. Cody says, was he though? and she says she hopes so. He says, at least teachers and babysitters are unattainable (tell that to the girl who married the band director at my high school). It’s different when your crush can actually like you back. She says, like Maxie and Spinelli, and he says, what? She says, what? and he says, it’s obvious Spinelli has feelings for Maxie, but the way she just said that… She tells him that she said nothing. She would never betray a friend’s confidence like that. He says, okey-dokey. The subject of Maxie is closed. His friend Spinelli, however, he knows Sasha would never stand by and let him put his heart on the line if he didn’t have a chance. She would discourage him, albeit subtly, from risking their friendship. Right? Sasha says, sounds like something she would do, and looks over at the table. Cody says, so, is there anything she feels the need to tell Mr. Spinelli? She says, nope. Not a thing.

Sonny says, Carly and Michael went behind his back because they thought he was weak? but she says, no. He knows better than anyone, you can’t survive in this business alone. He says he’s been surviving for 30 years. Besides, he had Brick. She says, he didn’t have Brick, and the only one around him was Nina, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to trust her. He says, so she was helping him by lying to him? and she says she was trying to protect him. He says, they haven’t seen eye to eye about Nina, and he accepted all that, but he never in his life thought she would betray him like this. She says she was trying to help him. She was not trying to betray him. And if he can’t see that, then he’s further gone than she thought. He says, don’t try to justify it because she can’t, and walks off. She yells his name, but he keeps going.

Spinelli tells Maxie that he’s going to beat a hasty retreat before Lucy accuses him of sabotaging girls’ night. Maxie says, truth? She’s having way more fun hanging out with him. He says, that makes two of them.

Sasha tells Cody, anyone who sees Maxie and Spinelli together can tell they’re a good match, but it’s hard when you’ve tried before and couldn’t make it work. He says, maybe it just wasn’t the right time. Maybe someone is missing out on something great… And by somebody, he means Maxie and Spinelli. She says, of course (🍷), and he says, obviously.

On the sofa in front of a fire, Dante says he kind of wishes he knew Sam as a kid, but she says, no, he doesn’t. He says, yeah, he does, and she says she told him she was wild. She could have eaten him for breakfast. He says, is that so? and she says, wild, but lucky for him, she’s reformed now. He says he doesn’t know how lucky that is. Reformed is good, but a little wildness is good too. She says, how wild? and he suggests they go upstairs, and she can show him. They kiss and run upstairs.

Carly asks if Dex is okay, and he says, is she? She says, yeah, and he says, Sonny would have killed him if she hadn’t shown up. He can’t believe she did.

In the car, Frank says, home or the office, boss? but Sonny says, just keep driving. He flashes back to Michael saying that he’ll always have a place in Wiley and Amelia’s life, and him saying he loves those kids. He hated being estranged for months. Michael says, it will never happen again, and he hopes Sonny chooses to be part of his life too.

Chase and Brook get busy, and Chase asks if she’s still cold. She says she’s starting to warm up, and they fall onto the bed. There’s a song part.

Willow and Michael get busy to the same song.

Portia and Curtis bask in the afterglow, and Portia says, happy anniversary, baby. He says, happy Valentine’s Day, and she says, happy everything. He kisses her and says he wanted to do that so much, and she says, her too. He says, was it worth the wait? and she nods. He says, when he thinks about everything they’ve had to overcome to get here. All the challenges and the heartbreaks. She says, they’re still stronger than ever, and he says, it tells him that they’re built to last and that together, they can get through anything. She says, anything, and they kiss.

Tomorrow, Kristina tells Blaze that Molly knows about them; Jordan says, there goes their only lead; Valentin returns; Nina asks Drew if he’s really that threatened by a little competition; and Sonny says, Michael lost it the day Michael hired Dex to destroy him.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Erika has a session with Dr. Jenn and says, everything she didn’t think was possible is happening. Jenn tells her, just yesterday she said her life was over, and we flash back to Erika saying, it’s hopeless. Erika says, it was for a while. Now she’s got the residency and it’s good pressure. She wants to surpass expectation, but she’s afraid. Jenn says, last time, she had a husband and unlimited funds and resources, and Erika says, good or bad, he encouraged her to be here. In Erika’s interview, she says, Tom was her safety net so she could walk on the highwire. We flash back to her thanking him, and she says, she no longer has a net, and it can get scary. Don’t look down. Keep going forward. She tells Jenn that her legal woes are almost wrapped up, and in her interview, she says she got a favorable ruling about the earrings, and everyone was quiet. Her feelings are hurt. She tells Jenn about the ceremony to release burdens in Spain and how she was angry, and Jenn says she thinks Erika has unresolved feelings. When she was hoping to get support, she got criticism. We flash back to that, but seriously, she could have handled it better. Erika says she wants to release to past, but thinks she’s never going to get what she’s looking for. Jenn says, closure has to come from her. Something sh*tty can happen to you and you recover.

Sutton goes to ride Santos for the first time, and Santos steals carrots from Ali’s basket, which is pretty cute. In Sutton’s interview, she says she always wanted a horse. She hasn’t had one since her summers in Texas with her grandparents. She feels like a kid again. She’s nervous, since it’s the first time, but she knows Santos now, so she can ride him. It’s like when she’s dating. She gets know someone first before she rides him. Her words, not mine. Kyle joins her, and in Kyle’s interview, she says, Sutton looks like when she was riding the mechanical bull in Vegas. We flash back to that. Sutton uses stairs to get on and off, and wow, is Santos tall. They sit down, and Sutton says she thought Spain was super fun. She was emotional though, and had a rough day when she released Merce’s ashes. It was really about letting go of her marriage. She talked to Christian afterward. In her interview, Sutton says, Christian got a big promotion, but he’ll be living out of the country and it’s a lifestyle change for her. He lives down street, and now if she falls, she’s falling by herself. Kyle asks if they’d tried couples therapy, but Sutton says, no, and Kyle tells her that she’s going therapy with Mauricio.

Kyle says, their work has been keeping them apart, and Sutton says, that’s what happened to her. Christian’s career rose and she stayed where she was. Kyle says, they started out with nothing. Mauricio had lost his job and she suggested getting real estate licenses. In Kyle’s interview, she says, she’s made sacrifices and compromises. She’s a good wife and great mom and she’s been supportive. She wants Mauricio to prioritize her like she did him. She tells Sutton that now she has the freedom to do for herself, and she doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. The kids will be gone, and she wants to have her life too. Sutton says she has to figure out the balance.

In her interview, Garcelle talks about cyberbullying and how Jax had gotten horrific messages. We flash back to the Reunion where it was discussed, and she says, Cybersmile asked if they wanted to partner. By doing that, Jax is helping himself and other kids. She and Jax do a PSA, and present their GoFundMe, while Jaid works the cue cards, although he has a hard time standing still and not making faces. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, when her kids aren’t being pains in the ass, she’s proud of them. They’re respectful, they have manners, they’re kind, and outspoken. She tells Jaid that he can get a job at SNL, and tells Jax that he’s taken the negative and made a positive out of it. She’s proud of him. She’s also glad that they discussed her needing to parent him and his brother differently. It was a big learning curve for her. Since Jaid has asked for more freedom, she agrees that he can take and Uber to meet his friends. In her interview, she says, they’re getting more independent, so she needs to put herself first. She tells Jax that she can trace the car, but she still wants him to text when he gets there.

In Sutton’s interview, she says, the heavens opened, and she has a second date with Steve. The first date is to see if they’re not fresh out of prison. After Spain, she feels like she put away a lot of baggage from her marriage and she’s ready to move on. She hopes to find love again, and thinks Spain did her good. She meets Steve at the Surly Goat and takes her Ocean Spray out of her bag. He says he likes her purse and notices it’s Celine. He wonders if Celine Dion makes purses, and Sutton plays with him for a minute, but eventually tells him it’s a designer and not the singer. In her interview, Sutton says, starting over in your 50s is super tough because… you’re 50. They play darts, and Steve decides to throw with his eyes closed, getting a near bullseye. In Sutton’s interview, she says, regardless of the outcome, it feels like a new chapter, and it feels good. Steve is also easy on the eyes. They’ll see where it goes. I agree that he’s very good looking.

In Kyle’s interview, she says, her sessions with Jamie are a source of comfort. She thought couples therapy was important because it’s been difficult to communicate. She tells Mauricio that she wants to be able to talk outside of therapy, and he says he thinks therapy is fun. She says she thinks what he’s going for is, it makes him feel good, and he says, they’re gone through a tough year. It helps him be more in tune with himself and he thinks it’s helping. He thinks they’re in a way better place. They’ve been married 27 years and they’ve never had so much going on. It’s become hard. He’s opening two offices a month, and tomorrow will be here fast. In her interview, Kyle says she’s frustrated because she doesn’t feel heard. She’s not staying in a situation she’s not happy in. She’s not accepting for herself what she wouldn’t accept for her daughters.

Annemarie is throwing a Mother’s Day Diamond & Champagne Brunch. She wants them to come together as moms and feel pampered. She also needs to talk to Crystal. She doesn’t don’t like the negative energy and needs to try and fix it once and for all. As she gets ready, Crystal tells her glam squad that she and Annemarie had conflicts, but when she went to the hospital, Annemarie was supportive and helpful. It gives her hope. Seriously though, how would it have looked if Annemarie hadn’t been supportive and helpful? Like maybe she was a monster? Dorit calls PK and tells him that Mother’s Day is coming up. She’s wondering when he’s coming back. He says, as soon as he can, but he has to be there for this deal. Besides, Mother’s Day isn’t a big deal in England. She says, it should be acknowledged, and he says – wait for it – she’s not his mother. She points out that she’s his children’s mother and would like him to make a concerted effort for them to be together for it from now on.

At Annemarie’s, there’s a magnificent spread of food porn, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says, lots of food, beautiful people, and a jeweler. It’s so Beverly Hills. I assume the jeweler is there for them to buy stuff, but if I want to go to a Tupperware party, I’ll go to a Tupperware party, not a Mother’s Day party. In Kyle’s interview, she says she doesn’t drink champagne anymore, but she’s here for the diamonds. Erika puts a massive ring on Garcelle, who asks where she’d go with that. Erika says, everywhere, and Garcelle says, for that ring, you’d have to give a BJ every day. Erika says, gladly. Annemarie tells Erika that Crystal’s been on her mind. They haven’t come to a resolution. We flash back to that whole debacle.

Sutton struggles going up Annemarie’s many steps with no handrail, and says, what’s wrong with these people? I’m with you there, sister. She’s obviously indulged slightly before arrival, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, tipsy Sutton is here to liven up the party. Erika suggests they get her to buy them stuff, and says she loves diamonds, but she doesn’t want any more fights in court. Crystal asks how Erika is feeling, and Erika says, Crystal is the only person who said she was sorry and she’s grateful. She would like some other people to say it. Annemarie asks to talk to Crystal, and in her interview, Annemarie says she doesn’t want to harbor resentment toward her. She asks how Crystal is doing, and Crystal says, her doctor told her that she needs to work out more. She thanks Annemarie for her help, and Annemarie thanks her for coming. She says she doesn’t want Crystal to mistake her passion for anger, and Crystal says, they need to be able to agree to disagree. Her intention was and is to move on, but if Annemarie is feeling something different, she has to tell her. The others watch from a distance, and Erika says, we’re not nosy. Sutton tells them to mind their biscuits. Annemarie tells Crystal that she wants to have fun, and in Crystal’s interview, she says she thought Annemarie would move on when pigs flew. She looks around, wondering where the pigs are. In Annemarie’s interview, she says she’s over it. She has to be okay to agree to disagree. Kyle says she’ll pretend to get fruit, and saunters closer. Annemarie and Crystal hug it out, and Erika announces, they’re hugging. Kyle comes back and says, breaking news, but realizes she’s been scooped, and Erika says, they’re walking toward the cheese. Dorit asks Sutton about her date, and Sutton says, they played darts and she wore jeans. She looked cute, but she got a text from him this morning that said she looked beautiful and reminding her that they haven’t kissed yet. Erika says, he wants a BJ, and the jewelry guard tries to hide his smile. Sutton says, he wants a kiss, and in her interview, she says she likes to know someone first. And get a health certificate.  

Annemarie tells the group that she and Crystal have agreed to move forward, and Erika says she’d love it if they supported each other more. She went through something tough and she’s good now, but she’s disappointed in certain people and the group as a whole wasn’t there for her. Half of her wants an apology from certain people who didn’t believe in her, but the other half thinks, if they wanted to apologize, they would have. Dorit says she doesn’t think she wasn’t supportive, and Erika brings up a comment Dorit made at Kathy’s dinner about them all being dragged into it. We flash back to that, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, Erika did not make it easy. She had no empathy, she couldn’t talk about it, and every two seconds, an article was coming out. She and Kyle blindly supported her. Kyle says she took issue with how Erika was handling it, but never doubted she didn’t know anything. Garcelle says she didn’t want Erika to fall, but she had an opinion and she’s sticking by it. Sutton says she already apologized, but she thinks she caused a lot of hurt. The blame isn’t Erika’s. We flash back to Sutton’s questioning Erika’s knowledge of Tom pocketing settlement money, and Erika says she appreciates Sutton acknowledging that. Erika starts to cry and says, it didn’t have to be this way. In Sutton’s interview, she says, seeing Erika cry made her realize that maybe Erika needed an apology from her a long time ago. Maybe they’re leaning into a better relationship. Kyle says, if Erika feels she didn’t support her enough, she’s sorry. In Erika’s interview, she says she’ll never get the apologies she wants from everyone, but she’s received a lot of closure. It went better than she expected and it’s nice that Sutton acknowledged her behavior. She didn’t think that was coming. She appreciates the acknowledgement. That’s all she wanted. She thanks them for hearing her. She has let go and she’s moving forward. Now fight about somebody else.

Next time – finally, the finale – PK extends his trip; Erika performs at a stadium; all the women see something in People that shocks them; and Mauricio says he and Kyle didn’t tell their daughters because they’re trying to protect them.

💭 Thought: Yeah, it all looks good on paper right now, but I’m waiting for Erika and Annemarie’s other shoe to fall.

🪹 Lean Wednesday…

Circle back tomorrow for soap and things that must be true because they’re on the internet. Until then, stay safe, stay looking for a positive statement before addressing the negative, and stay not looking down, but keep looking forward when you no longer have a safety net.

February 13, 2024 – Sonny Takes Dex On a Ride To the Pine Barrens, Sandoval Makes Narcissist Of the Year, Six Degrees Of Vanderpump & Mambo

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn comes in with a box and says he’ll put it in Gregory’s room. Gregory says he wishes Finn would let him help. He’s the one moving in and Finn and Chase are doing all the work. Finn says, that’s the way it should be. Sit down and relax. Chase comes in with a box and says he’s in agreement with that. Violet comes in with a suitcase and tells Gregory not to worry. They’ve got him covered.

Blaze asks if Kristina has any morning sickness, but Kristina says, knock on wood, she feels pretty normal. Except for the incredible fact she has a human life growing inside her. It’s pretty amazing she got pregnant on the first try. She thinks it was meant to be. Maybe her purpose was to bring Molly and TJ’s baby into this world. Blaze says, one thing’s for sure, she’s absolutely glowing, and Kristina says she thinks that might have something to do with Blaze.

Laura takes Elizabeth’s coat and says she’s glad Elizabeth called. Spending time with her is just what she needed today. She just put Ace down for a nap, so they have plenty of time to chat. Elizabeth asks how Ace is doing, and Laura says he seems fine, but she’s worried about the long-term effects of losing his mother, and Spencer of course (🍷), and the long separation from Nikolas. But for right now, he seems to be settling in just fine. Elizabeth says she knows Laura has been here before, so she probably has everything she needs, but you can never have too many diapers. She hands Laura a shopping bag, and Laura says, you really can’t, can you? She thanks Elizabeth and says, it’s so thoughtful. Elizabeth says she’s glad Ace has Laura and Doc to take care of him while Nikolas is in prison, and Laura says, with losing Spencer and Nikolas turning himself in, everything has been so hectic. Having Ace here has really helped her… This is about more than dropping off diapers, isn’t it? What’s on her mind? Elizabeth says she’s worried about Nikolas.

Ava goes to see Carly and says, her assistant said she’d be in here. Why is she working in Michael’s office? Carly says, Nina. She gave Carly a story about pipes bursting, so the Crimson offices are an off-limits construction zone. She’s trying to make Carly miss her first deadline as Editor-in-Chief, but that’s not going to happen. Ava says, that sounds complicated, but Carly says, nothing she can’t handle. What does Ava want to talk about? Ava says, it’s about the sleepover Donna and Avery have planned for the weekend, and Carly says, Donna is super excited about it. She told Donna that they could all make chocolate chip cookies. Ava says, that sounds like so much fun, but she’s afraid she’s got to cancel, and Carly asks, why? Ava says, it’s not safe for Avery to stay over.

In the car, Dex asks where they’re going, and Sonny says, the Pine Barrens. (I laugh because we all know what that means.) He has some business he’s got to take care of.

There’s a knock at Kristina’s door and she says, that must be her sister Molly. Early bird for dinner as usual. Kristina opens the door, and Molly says she knows she’s early. She’s used to it for court, and now it’s just her default setting. Kristina says, it’s not like Molly is fifteen minutes early for everything in her entire life, and takes a bakery box from her. Molly comes in and says, it’s nice to see Blaze. Is she joining them for dinner? Blaze says, no. She didn’t realize the time. She actually has to get going. Kristina says, she can stay if she wants, and Molly says, the more, the merrier. Blaze says, sure, and Molly says, they can talk about what an amazing singer she is. She and TJ are total fans. Is she performing live anytime soon? They’re dying to see her. Blaze thanks her, but says she’s actually in the recording studio right now, working on some new material. Molly says she can’t wait to hear the new music, but please tell them when she’s performing again. It would be so fun to see her. Right, Krissy? Kristina says, yes, that would be so fun. They should definitely do that.

Elizabeth says she knows it was part of her statement that she’d testify to everything she saw Nikolas do when he held Esme hostage, but she’s so afraid of testifying against him. Laura asks if Nikolas’s lawyer contacted her, and Elizabeth says, no. Why? Laura says, because Nikolas chose to plead guilty, so there won’t be a trial, and Elizabeth says, this is the first she’s hearing of this. Laura says she’s actually very proud of him. As hard as it is, she thinks it’s great her son is finally facing his crimes and accepting the consequences for it. So Elizabeth doesn’t need to worry. Her life isn’t going to be upended by a constant rehash of all the stuff that happened at Windymere. Elizabeth says she hopes his cooperation helps him at sentencing. Personally, she’s super relieved. Laura says she is too. This is really what’s best for everyone. She and Elizabeth sit on the sofa, and Laura pours them some tea. Elizabeth moves some toys and says she almost forgot how much stuff a baby needs. She’s really proud of what her boys are becoming, but she really misses them being this little. Laura says, babies have a way of making you smile, don’t they? And speaking of babies and smiles, she and Doc have decided to legally adopt Ace. Elizabeth says, what? This is huge news. Laura says, it’s absolutely huge. Obviously, this isn’t something they expected to have happen, but with Spencer being gone and they don’t know how many years Nikolas will be in prison, it seemed like the best solution. Elizabeth says she’s so happy for Laura. She knows how much Laura loves that little boy, and having legal custody of Ace is only going to protect him. although it worries her that this adoption will lead to Heather being even more fixated on Doc. Laura asks what she means, and Elizabeth says, she visited Esme’s grave recently. Laura says, Doc told her that they both ran into Heather there, but he didn’t say anything else. What happened? Elizabeth says, as crazy as she is, Heather was surprisingly warm to her because of Franco, but she did direct all of her anger at Doc. She blames him for Esme’s death.

Ava tells Carly that she and Sonny barely got under cover. They could hear the bullets hitting everywhere. It was really terrifying. She’s just glad Avery was in her room. She missed the whole thing. Not a half hour before though, she was out on the patio. She told Avery the noise was fireworks, but she’s smart. She’s worried Avery can sense something’s wrong. Carly says she understands. She knows exactly how Ava feels, but promises her that Avery is safe at her house. Ava says she knows. Carly’s house is like a fortress, right? Carly says, it is, and she really wants to keep things normal for Avery because Donna loves having her big sister over for sleepovers. Ava says, Avery loves it too. She thinks maybe she’s overreacting. She’s just worried after everything that happened in Puerto Rico. Carly asks why she’s out and about? Why doesn’t she stay home at Sonny’s under guard? Ava says, it’s hard to stay cooped up in Sonny’s penthouse with Avery. Sonny has a guard who follows her everywhere. Carly says, it sounds like Sonny’s keeping Ava as safe as he can make her, and Ava says she thinks Sonny is hiding it well in front of Avery, but he’s really on edge. Carly says, of course (🍷) he is. Someone took a shot at him in his own home. Does Sonny have any idea who’s behind the attack?

Dex says he doesn’t want to overstep, but did something happen he doesn’t know about? Sonny says, Brick brought him some crucial information, and Dex asks if it’s a lead on the shooter in Puerto Rico. Sonny says, not a lead, a suspect, and Dex asks if they’re going to bring him in. Sonny says, already done, and Frank gets in the driver’s seat. Sonny says his rat problem will be over soon.

Violet asks Gregory how many books he has, sounding like every single person in my life, and Gregory says, one can never have too much literature. Unless one moves into an apartment that doesn’t have a library or a study even. There may not be enough room in here for all of those. Violet says he can put some in her room if he wants, and Finn says, that’s very generous, but he thinks her stuffed animal collection might have something to say about that. Violet says she can move them. She’s just so happy grandpa’s going to be here all the time. They should have a tea party to celebrate. She tells Gregory, come on, and he struggles to get up, then sits back down. She asks, what’s wrong? and he says he just stood up a little too quickly. He just needs to rest for a moment, that’s all. Violet tells Finn, grandpa rests a lot. Is he okay? Chase suggests they give grandpa a minute. He’ll help her get everything set up. He leaves with Violet, and Gregory says, they can’t put it off any longer. They have to let Violet know he’s sick.

Kristina says she hasn’t been ice skating in so long. They went to check out the new rink that just opened, and she forgot how hard ice skating is. (I haven’t. I spent more time on my behind than on my skates.) Blaze says, Kristina’s just being modest. Kristina was so much better at it than she was. She’s still sore from all the falls she took. Molly says, sounds like they had fun though, and Kristina says, they did. Don’t listen to Allie. She’s way too hard on herself. Molly says, Allie? And Blaze says, Blaze is a stage name. Her real name is Allison. Molly says she can’t imagine having to change her name for work, but Blaze says she doesn’t mind it actually. She’s a different person when she’s on stage, so it helps her get into the right headspace. Molly says, that makes sense, and Blaze says, speaking of which, she has an early recording session tomorrow, so she really has to get going now. Molly says, it was so nice to get to know her better. She’ll be right back. She needs to wash her hands. (Methinks she’s giving them some privacy.) She leaves and Kristina walks Blaze to the door. Blaze says, her sister is really nice. Talk to her later? Kristina says, definitely, and Blaze leaves.

Elizabeth says, Heather was really brutal with Doc. She blamed him for trying to help Ryan and accused him of causing Esme’s death. She really lit into him. Laura tells her that she can’t say she’s surprised. Heather likes to lash out at people and say horrible things. But no matter how horrible Heather was, try not to let it get to her because Heather is in jail. There’s nothing she can do from there. Elizabeth says she’s glad Heather can’t do anything to them, especially Ace. She still can’t believe they’re adopting that little one. She’s so happy for Laura. Laura thanks her and says, they’re very excited about having him here fulltime. Although she can’t say she ever imagined raising another child. Elizabeth says she’s sure, although he can’t be in better hands. And if Laura ever needs a babysitter, it would be her absolute pleasure to watch that sweet boy. Laura thanks her for the offer, but she doesn’t think she’ll be taking up any of what little free time Elizabeth has. It’s very demanding to be Head Nurse at GH. Elizabeth says, not like being mayor? and they laugh. Laura says she guesses she and Doc have very busy schedules, but fortunately, they’re at a point in their careers where they have a little flexibility. And they’re both committed to giving Ace a happy and stable home. Elizabeth says, if Laura won’t let her volunteer, Aiden loves kids and he’s been babysitting, and Laura says she’ll keep that in mind. Actually, if she’s being honest, it’s good to know there’s some kind of support system there and not just her and Doc in it all alone. Elizabeth says, they’re not alone. So she’ll call them if she needs anything? They’re family. They have to stick together.

Sonny says, Dex looks a little nervous. Is he uncomfortable going to the Pine Barrens? Dex says he is, and Sonny says, what’s going to happen is not going to be easy. It never is when someone you trusted to have your back betrays you. When someone chooses money over their word, they don’t deserve to live. Dex asks if that’s what happened. Is somebody in Sonny’s organization taking bribes? Sonny says, someone has been secretly working against him for months. That’s unacceptable. Dex says, of course (🍷). He knows how important loyalty is to Sonny. Sonny says, it means everything. He does everything for his people. He treats them well and makes sure they’re taken care of. Does Dex agree with that? Dex says, of course (🍷). He’ll never forget when Sonny came back for him in that warehouse. Sonny saved his life, then took Dex into his own home so he could recover. Sonny says, and he thought that would mean more than just a quick payday, but one thing he’s learned in this business is loyalty is rare and people will always disappoint you.

Molly says, that looks promising, and Kristina says, what? Molly says, her and Allie, and Kristina says she knows what Molly is doing and they’re just friends. Molly asks if Kristina is telling her that she isn’t attracted to Blaze. Blaze is hot. Kristina says, that’s not the point, and Molly says, okay, but they look cute together and there’s definitely a vibe there. Does she not see it? Kristina says she’s thought that with a lot of people, but Molly says, not like this. She saw the little looks Blaze was giving Kristina and they make each other laugh. She’s just saying she knows putting yourself out there is hard, but it might be worth it. Kristina says she’ll take that into consideration, and Molly says, good, because she deserves somebody great. Kristina says, now Molly is being just as pushy as their mother, but Molly says, Kristina is doing this incredible thing being the surrogate for her and TJ, so she wants Kristina to be as happy as they are. Is that why she’s not pursuing things with Blaze? She doesn’t want to explain that she’s having their baby? Kristina says, Blaze already knows she’s pregnant.

Gregory says he wanted to talk to Violet, because even though he’s very excited about moving in with her and her dad and getting to spend more time with her, they may not be able to play together as much as they’d both want. Violet asks if it’s because of his leg, and he says, it’s not just his leg. He has an illness. One that isn’t going to go away. She asks if it’s contagious, and Finn says, what grandpa has will only affect him. Chase says, it’s not like getting a cold. She can’t catch this. Violet says, okay. What’s wrong with him? Gregory says he has something called ALS, and she says, Als? Finn asks if she remembers when she learned what an abbreviation is. ALS isn’t a word; it’s an abbreviation. It’s an abbreviation for a disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Violet tells him, that’s hard to say. ALS is easier. Finn agrees, and Gregory says, having this disease means they may not be able to do some of the things together that they’re used to doing. Sometimes his symptoms may be very obvious, and he doesn’t want her to be scared when she sees them. She says, like what? and he says he may have a little trouble catching his breath. Chase says, it’s like when they play tag at the park, and they chase each other for too long. That’s not scary, right? She says, no, that’s fun, and Gregory says he may sound a little funny or be clumsy or trip or fall, but he doesn’t want her to worry because he’ll always have another grown-up around him, so she’ll never have to take care of him. Violet says, that’s okay. She likes taking care of him. He thanks her and she says she’s sorry he’s sick, but her daddy can fix it, right?

Ava says, Sonny doesn’t know who’s trying to kill him, and Carly knows how he hates feeling on the defensive. Carly says she doesn’t blame Sonny for being jumpy. It’s incredibly unsettling to know someone took a shot at him and got in a place he always considered his stronghold. Ava says, that’s why it’s so awful. It just feels like no place is safe anymore. And the shooter definitely had information about Sonny’s security that only Sonny would know. Carly says, that means Sonny was betrayed by someone in his inner circle. That’s something Sonny will not tolerate.

In the Pine Barrens, Sonny tells his guys to hold onto Dex, and Dex asks what he’s doing. He asks if Sonny thinks he’s the one who betrayed him, and Sonny says he doesn’t think – he knows.

Finn tells Violet that he’d love to be able to fix grandpa more than anything in the world, but it just isn’t that simple, and Gregory says, some things just can’t be fixed. Some things you have to learn to live with. Chase says, and grandpa can still do so many things with her, but there will be times he feels a little shaky and needs to take a break and rest. Violet says, that’s okay. Her teacher says, it’s good to take breaks sometimes. But she hates being sick. She doesn’t want grandpa to feel bad. Gregory says, don’t worry. He’s not in any pain. And being around her always makes him feel better. She says, it does? and he says, always. Finn says, family makes everything better. That’s why grandpa is moving in with them. They’re all going to take care of each other. Chase says he’s going to be here as much as he can to help, and Violet says, because that’s what families do. She’s sorry Gregory is sick, but she loves him. He says he loves her too, and kisses the top of her head.

Ava says she’s sorry to drop by Laura’s unannounced. She wanted to talk to Laura if she could, but she sees Laura already has company. Elizabeth says, that’s okay. She was just getting ready to leave. She tells Laura to call her if she needs anything. She loves her. Laura says she loves Elizabeth too, and Elizabeth leaves. Ava says she wanted to discuss the gallery’s contribution to the Nurses Ball this year. She knows it’s a few months away, but it’s such an important charity and she wants to give as much as she can. The gallery is getting busy, and she doesn’t want it to fall through the cracks. Laura says, Ava doesn’t have to make excuses to come over here. She disagrees with Ava’s decision to press charges against Esme, but she also understands why Ava did it. And she’s family, so she’s always welcome here. Ava thanks her, and Laura asks if she’d like a cup of tea. Ava says she’d love a cup of tea.

Molly asks why Kristina told Blaze about the baby. She thought they’d agreed on waiting until Kristina was three months along. Kristina says she’s sorry. She told Blaze about the IUI procedure because she didn’t know if she was actually going to get pregnant on the first try, and she did, and it was a miracle. It felt wrong hiding it from Blaze, so she told her, but she promises Blaze won’t say anything to anyone. Molly says, something’s not adding up here. She keeps saying she and Blaze are just friends, but she hasn’t told any of her other friends she’s known much longer than Blaze. They must be really close for Kristina to feel the need to confide only in her. Kristina says, Molly can stop interrogating her. She and Allie are dating, all right? There, she said it. It’s out there. Molly says she knew something was going on. She’s never wrong. Kristina says, all right, but it’s new. She’s not sure where it’s going to go yet, so… Molly says, from the looks of it, it’s going pretty well. They’re clearly into each other. Kristina says she kind of forgot what that feels like, and Molly says, they look happy. So why did Kristina deny when she asked? Kristina says, it had nothing to do with Molly, she promises. Allie’s family is very religious, so they don’t know she’s gay. She’s not out, so Kristina’s been respecting her privacy. Molly says, Blaze isn’t out yet. Is Kristina okay with that?

Brick asks if he’s interrupting, and Carly says, he is, but that’s okay since it’s always so great to see him. They hug, and he says, it’s always great to see her. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he went by the Crimson offices because he wanted to congratulate her on being Editor-in-Chief (like she earned it), but he saw a construction crew and found out she was here. Is she redecorating? She says, not exactly, and he says, don’t tell him. Nina. She says, but that’s not important. She wants to talk to him about Sonny, so come in. She closes the door and asks what he’s found out about the attempted shooting on Sonny’s island. He says, she heard about that, huh? He can’t say he’s surprised, but she knows he can’t tell her. She says she knows, but Ava was just here, and she implied there’s a traitor in Sonny’s organization. She needs to know how that affects her kids. He says, Sonny’s handling the situation as they speak. It’ll all be over soon.

Dex says, Sonny’s got the wrong guy, and Sonny says, stop lying to him. He’s not leaving this place. So it can be quick and easy or slow and painful. It’s up to him. Dex says he wasn’t working with the shooter on the island. He’s the one who alerted Sonny when the shooting started. Sonny says, maybe that was Dex’s plan all along. He wanted it both ways. He took the money to betray Sonny, then used the shooting to play hero. Dex says, what money? and Sonny shows him a phone. Sonny asks if this is how Dex stays in touch with his enemy. Now is he realizing he screwed up and got caught (which he pronounces cot)? Dex says, Sonny’s got this all wrong, but Sonny says, no, he doesn’t. Brick found two payments that were untraceable from a shell corporation that coincided with the two attacks on him. Which tells him that Dex betrayed him. Dex says, no, he didn’t. This is not what it looks like. Sonny says, then what is the second phone for? but Dex says he can’t tell Sonny that. Sonny says, he’s got a few seconds to survive, so Dex better unlock this phone so he can see for himself. He wants to know who’s paying Dex to spy on him. (Seriously? With all the talent Brick is supposed to have, he couldn’t unlock a phone or figure out who’s linked to the shell corporation?)

Finn asks if Violet has any more questions, but she says she doesn’t think so. Chase says, if she thinks of any, she can always ask them, anytime, and Gregory says, absolutely. She can talk to them about anything. She says, okay, but she thinks she needs to go process this, and Finn says he understands that. Does she want to go in her room and play? They’ll be right here if she needs them. Violet leaves, and Finn says, that was rough. Gregory asks if he thinks they overwhelmed her. That kind of thing is hard enough for adults to process, let alone a kid. Chase thinks Violet handled it okay actually, and Finn says, so does he. He knows Violet doesn’t understand what ALS is or that it’s terminal, but it’s a good first step in preparing her for what’s going to happen. He knows she’s a really smart kid and sees more than they realize, but he thinks she was just looking for some explanation about what’s been going on. Holding back tears, Gregory says he knows Finn’s right, but he hates this. He’s not going to be here to see Violet grow up and her last memories of him are going to be of him sick and in pain. It’s not fair. He was hoping for more time with her. Chase says, he will. He knows this is hard, but he’s got a lot of life left.

Molly says, Kristina shouldn’t have to hide relationships. She deserves someone who is excited to fully commit to her, not someone who’s going to treat her like their dirty little secret. Kristina says, whoa. That is not what’s going on here. Coming out is an incredibly personal decision and Allie has to do it when she’s ready. Molly says she’s sorry. She really can’t imagine what Blaze is going through. She’s lucky she doesn’t live in a time where she has to hide her relationship with TJ. That wasn’t always the case. Kristina says, no, it wasn’t, and if people didn’t approve of her relationship, would she just give up on him? Molly says, of course (🍷) not. She’s just worried about Kristina. She’s not exactly one to hide her feelings. Is she going to be okay pretending to be just friends with Blaze? Kristina says she doesn’t know. Right now, it’s casual, and if it does get more serious, they’ll figure it out, but Blaze is taking a risk too. Molly asks, how so? and Kristina says, because she’s never had a girlfriend before. She’s actually never been in a serious relationship. She’s been happy to focus on her career. Now Blaze is really happy with her and wants to take a chance and have a relationship. Blaze knows if she wants to pursue this with her, she’s got to make some changes. Molly says, changes how? Is Kristina going to have to pretend they’re just friends every time Blaze’s family visits? She can’t imagine Kristina happy like that. Kristina says she doesn’t know, but right now, they’re happy and they’re sorting through things. And at this moment, she’s fine to hold Blaze’s secret and hopes Molly can do the same. Molly says, of course (🍷). She would never out Blaze, but she does have to tell TJ.

Ava asks how Laura is doing. She knows it’s a tough time, but she’s here if Laura wants to vent or scream or throw something. Laura thanks her, but says she’s okay. Having Ace around here keeps her really busy, so it kind of forces her into the present moment. If Ace weren’t here, she might actually get lost in her grief for Spencer’s death. Ava says, Trina is handling it as best she can, but she’s having a really hard time. For Ava, seeing Trina grieve so deeply takes her back to how she felt when Kiki died. How angry she was, how lost. She’s been thinking a lot about Kiki lately. Laura says she understands. You never get over the loss of a child. The pain gets duller she thinks, but it’s always there. Ava says she had Kiki longer than Laura had Spencer, but it wasn’t long enough. A hundred years more wouldn’t have been enough. Laura says she keeps expecting him to walk through the door, and Ava says she bets. She and Spencer had their problems, but she was starting to see him through Trina’s eyes, and she could tell he was getting his life back on track. Laura says she thought so too. It’s generous of Ava to say, especially after everything Spencer put her through. She’s sure he shares some of the blame for Ava’s marriage falling apart. Ava says, he was just a hurt kid, lashing out at her and his father. She’s sorry she won’t get to see the man he was becoming. Laura cries, and says, her too. Ava says, it’s twisted, isn’t it? All this pain goes back to that one family. Ryan took Kiki from her. Esme took Spencer from Laura. Laura says she thinks Ryan played a very big part in making Esme who she was, and Ava says, that man was evil. She’s glad he’s dead. Laura says, God help her, she is too.

Carly says she always feels better that Sonny has Brick watching his back, and Brick says, his pleasure. Carly’s phone dings and she sees a text from Josslyn: May miss dinner. Can’t find Dex. TTYL. Brick says he knows she’s busy. He’ll let her get back… She says, where is Sonny? and Brick says, Sonny’s out taking care of some business, but he promises it’s under control. She asks what Sonny is going to do, and he says, don’t worry. She’s not in any danger. Sonny will always do whatever it takes to take care of his family. No matter how much it hurts. She asks if Sonny thinks Dex is the traitor.

Sonny asks, what’s the password? and Dex says, it’s a password touch ID combo. Dex touches the phone, and Sonny asks what he did. Dex says he activated a kill switch and wiped the phone. There’s nothing left on it. Sonny says, Dex just proved he’s loyal to the bankroller more than him, but Dex says he hasn’t betrayed Sonny. Sonny says, then why did he wipe the phone? What is he hiding? Dex says, the person who’s paying him isn’t out to hurt Sonny, and Sonny says, all right. Tell him his name. Dex says, it’s better for him not to know, and Sonny asks, why? He likes having a lot of friends. Sonny takes a gun from Frank and says, give him the name – now.

Kristina says she didn’t really think this through. She should have checked with Molly and TJ before talking to Allie about this. It’s their baby and they deserve to make these decisions for themselves. Molly says, it’s their baby, but it’s Kristina’s body. She completely understands Kristina needing someone else to talk to besides her about this pregnancy. Just know that neither her nor TJ will tell anybody that Blaze is gay. Kristina says he knows that. She just hopes Blaze can know she can trust Molly and TJ the same way she trusts Blaze to keep quiet about the baby. Molly says she’s sure Blaze will, and Kristina takes her hand. She says she gets that Molly has to tell TJ. All she’s asking is that Molly gives her a chance to tell Blaze first.

Ava thanks Laura for listening. She didn’t come here planning to unload on her, but she feels so much better after talking. Laura says she hopes Ava knows she’s always welcome here. And not just when she’s upset. Laura wants her to share the good times too. Ava says, let’s hope the good times get here real quickly, and Laura says she couldn’t agree more. There’s been a lot of darkness lately.

Violet comes out with a book and a blanket, and Chase asks if she’d like him to read her a bedtime story, but she says, actually, she’s going to read grandpa one. Daddy always reads to her when she’s sick, and he can use her favorite blanket. It always makes her feel better. Gregory puts the blanket across his lap and Violet snuggles next to him.

Carly leaves a message for Sonny to call her the second he gets this. Don’t do anything until he talks to her first. She tells Brick that he’s not picking up. Where is Sonny right now? Brick says, he’s probably a little preoccupied, and Carly looks like she has a headache. He says he knows this is going to be hard at first. Josslyn was so close to Dex. She says, they have to stop this, and he says, Dex had a side hustle going on. He saw the proof himself. Carly says, he has to trust her. He has to tell her where Sonny is before he makes a mistake he’ll regret for the rest of his life.

Sonny says, all he wants from Dex is the name of the person who convinced him to rat on him, and Dex says, telling him will only hurt him. Sonny says, wrong answer, and Dex says he can’t tell Sonny who it is. So do what he’s got to do.

Tomorrow, Curtis wants to celebrate his and Portia’s anniversary properly; Chase tells Brook, it will be a Valentine’s Day to remember; Spinelli is ready to meet the woman of his dreams; and Willow tells Michael that she has something to get off her chest.

Vanderpump Rules

Still at Sandoval’s birthday party, Sandoval tells Schwartz about how James said it had been the ultimate betrayal, and Schwartz says he should have just agreed. Sandoval says, James did the same thing to him, but it was way worse. James f***ed Sandoval’s ex in his bed using his condoms. Schwartz says, if Sandoval gets upset every time someone comes at him, it’s going to be a negative impact on his life.

Emo Night doesn’t seem all that emo, since everyone looks like they’re smiling and having a great time. James arrives and tells Ariana that he just left her house. It’s been six months, and Sandoval texted him out of the blue that he was having a small gathering for his birthday. He thinks it was a manipulative move. In Scheana’s interview, she says, James told people to throw tomatoes at Sandoval on TikTok, yet he’s the first person Sandoval unblocked and reached out to. Maybe he feels her friendship didn’t mean anything to him. Although after what she said on her podcast, maybe he feels like his friendship didn’t mean anything to her. James tells them how Sandoval brought up his transgression from ten years ago, and Ariana says, no one around Sandoval gives him honest feedback. He’s surrounded by people he pays. Lala says, that’s the only type that will be around him. At Sandoval’s party, he whines to friend Kyle, then bitches some more, and complains about what James did to him ten years ago.  

Ariana, Scheana, and Katie are up to DJ, and in Ariana’s interview, she says she could have a career pressing play. In James’s interview, he says he wouldn’t be caught dead pressing play on a prerecorded set. In Lala’s interview, she wonders, what band is emo anyway. Nickelback? Schwarz tells Sandoval that he’s going to Emo Night, and Sandoval says he knows being with him is a bad look. In Schwartz’s interview, he says, he feels bad, but he doesn’t have a history with the others like he and Sandoval have. We flash back to better times with the Toms, and Schwartz says, Sandoval is a doucher and everyone hates him, but you don’t come by friendships like that often, and he doesn’t want to give up on that. Scheana introduces band The 27s who are doing Good As Gold with her, and in her interview, she says she’s on Cloud 9. She never wanted to be a pop star. She preferred a Gwen Stefani or Fergie style, where she interacted with guys in a band. She’s living out her dream and it’s so fun. They do a remix of the song, which is not bad, and Schwartz shows up just afterward. He tells Scheana that he’s sorry he missed her song, and Scheana says, that’s what he gets when he chooses Sandoval; he misses the fun. At Sandoval’s party, Billie Lee brings out a cake, and in Sandoval’s interview, he says he can’t express how grateful he is to the people who stuck around. They’ve put up with so much hate for what he did. Billie had to endure transphobic remarks and threats were made against Jason. It means a lot to him. He wipes his eyes, which might tug at our hearts if he didn’t cry all the time. Billie says she’s seen him suffer not just over the break-up with Ariana, but also Raquel. Sandoval says he wants to connect, and in his interview, he says he and Raquel had been talking every couple of days. He thought because it was his birthday she’d reach out, but he’s heard nothing. He considered her his best friend. He loves and misses her. Billie says, now comes his healing. He needs to focus on himself and not a girl. That’s the journey they’re on. 😴

Katie comes over Ariana’s house, and says, the last time she was here, two Toms were here. Ariana says she came home to a quiet and empty house, and Katie says, it looks pretty neat. Ariana says, that’s because Ann’s been cleaning, and Katie asks if Anna gets paid extra for that. Anna says she wishes, and I wonder why she’s working for these cheapskates. Two women come with IVs for Katie and Ariana, and in Katie’s interview, she says she and Scheana are at a turning point. She’s committed to working on the friendship. The lights are on and someone is finally home. Ariana says she feels like Scheana has a soft spot for Schwartz, and Katie says she asked Scheana if she’s going to flip-flop. Ariana says, there are people besides Schwartz who will use Scheana, and Katie says, it makes her nervous to be close to energy drains.

Lisa goes to the closed PUMP, and in her interview, she says, they had a good run. It’s so hard to look around at an empty shell of the restaurant. She knew they were going to close for a while, but seeing it makes it more real. She calls Ken and says she wasn’t prepared. She’s wondering if they did the right thing. Ken asks if she’s changed her mind, but she says, only if it goes back to the original rent. Nothing lasts forever. She doesn’t know where they’re going to put all this stuff. Sandoval comes in bearing flowers and says he knows it’s like bringing sand to a beach. She asks how he’s doing, and he says he’s beat up from his time in New Zealand. She asks if he’s seen anyone. Has he seen Ariana? He says, they haven’t talked, and she says she has no idea why, since they’re in the same house. He should do the gentlemanly thing; give her some space and sell the house. Sandoval says, or one of them can keep it. He put money and work into it. He had his real estate agent send Ariana a letter of intent, but got radio silence. Lisa says, he’s got to move forward, and he says he’s trying to figure it out. It’s a lot for him. She says, he created it, and he says he knows he did. His close friend Ali died, and Scheana reached out, but she’d been releasing rumors about him and Billie on her podcast. She thinks something happened between them. Scheana needs to take the day off from kicking him while he’s down, as well as Raquel. She had a guy Nema (from Shahs of Sunset!) that Raquel dated on her podcast, and he was talking sexual things. If I was Lisa, I would be bringing up Sandoval’s comment about Ariana in a T-shirt, but she doesn’t. In his interview, Sandoval says, a guy Raquel dated for a short time claimed Raquel said he told her that he and Ariana had an open relationship. That’s not true. He went on to say explicit things, like Raquel was begging him to have sex on Scheana’s bed. Raquel called him afterword, and they were on the phone for quite a while. He was grossed out. Wow. After some of the nasty, nasty things this dude has said, that’s rich. He tells Lisa that he’s always been against mob mentality, but Lisa tells him that he should just say he’s sorry and that he knows he didn’t handle it in the best way. Sandoval tells Lisa that when he apologizes, they say he doesn’t mean it. He’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. He wants to move on. Like many men, he thinks moving on means forget about all the mess I just made. Sorry not sorry. It’s true and don’t do that. Lisa tells him to stop being angry, and he says, she’s attacking him. He seems to be having a different conversation than Lisa is, but not surprising when he only thinks about himself. She says she’s trying to help him. He says he’s not living the rock star dream; it’s grueling work. Lisa says he has to have remorse, and he tells her, when he cried, they called it crocodile tears. He thought about suicide. Don’t tell him what he felt. In his interview, he says he felt like he couldn’t dream of better days. Like, what’s the f***ing point? Lisa says he should have reached out. He knows how she feels about that after losing her brother, and he promised her. In Lisa’s interview, she says, after the Reunion, Sandoval assured her that if he ever had any thoughts like that, he’d reach out, but he’s not that person and he wouldn’t do that. It scares daylights out of her after losing her only sibling to suicide. She can’t hear that and do nothing. She tells him that she’ll help him move forward and asks if he thinks he can find a way back to his friendships. He says he doesn’t know, and she says, he has to have utter sensitivity and contrition. He says he understands, but I’m doubtful. I don’t think he’s Robert Chambers, but he’s definitely a high number on the scale of being a sociopath.

Lala and Ariana go shopping and talk about going to see James’s See You Next Tuesday. Ariana says she always thought James was better when he’s sober, but she can’t tell him what to do. Lala says she doesn’t think anyone who still drinks should tell someone not to. She can’t even do it or ask him to a meeting. He has to come to them. In Lala’s interview, she says she thinks being sober is beneficial for everyone. Your skin looks fantastic, you lean out, and you don’t engage with people you shouldn’t. The number of people she gave out her phone number to when she was f***ed up is insanity. Katie meets Scheana at a restaurant, and in Katie’s interview, she says she and Scheana used to be so close. We flash back to that, and Katie says she feels they both genuinely want to make it work. Spending more one-on-one time is the first thing. Scheana says she heard Katie has a date, and Katie says, he’s nice and he’s cute. In her interview, she says she gave her number to guitarist Kevin from Scheana’s band, The 27. She asks Scheana if it isn’t more fun to be a wingwoman for her than Schwartz, and Scheana apologizes for inviting him to Next Tuesday, but she felt bad. It’s the old Scheana who sees someone is being left out. She regretted it immediately. She’s happy where they’re at and doesn’t want Katie to be uncomfortable. Katie says, it’s not about her, and Scheana says she’s been working on self-realization and understanding boundaries with the people she wants to be in her life. Katie says, to carve out time for garbage people just because you have a history isn’t worth it, and Scheana says, if they don’t add value to her life, she doesn’t need them in her inner circle.

Dogs! Schwarz brings Gordo and Butters to Vanderpump Dogs for some grooming. Schwartz tells Lisa that he’s got bad news. His brother is back in rehab. He was rushed to the hospital, and they think he has cirrhosis. It’s his third time in rehab. In Schwartz’s interview, he says, Bert was used to be a ray of sunshine, but after he got jumped outside a bar, he was never the same and has a dependency on alcohol. Any form of addiction makes a brutal impact on the family. It made him rethink his moderation. Lisa asks, what’s happening with Schwartz & Sandy’s? and Schwartz says, they got unforeseen backlash. She says she doesn’t think the punishment befits the crime. Although maybe she’d feel differently if Ariana wasn’t living her best life. Schwartz says he thinks Sandoval is still reeling, and Lisa says, maybe people will always feel differently about Sandoval, but he worries her. He said he had dark thoughts. Schwartz says, Sandoval’s best friend died, but Sandoval didn’t tell him. He found out from other people. She says, it scares the life out of her. Her brother said similar things, and suddenly, it was too late. In Lisa’s interview, she says she doesn’t think there’s anyone who’s lost someone to suicide who doesn’t have regrets. Even if people think it’s foolish for her to reach out, she’ll take it rather than the alternative. They have to help him change the narrative. Schwartz says, he doesn’t make it easy, and Lisa suggests getting them all together in Tahoe. In her interview, she says she’s going to be opening a new restaurant on the division between California and Nevada. Wolf by Vanderpump is going to be the sexiest restaurant in Lake Tahoe. Lisa suggests Schwartz bring someone with him and get back in the groove, and he says he’d like to get the gang back together, but doesn’t want to force anything. He doesn’t think Ariana and Sandoval will ever be friends. Lisa says, Ariana probably will never be there if Sandoval is. She’ll tell him to shove the invite up his ass.  

The gang is all at SUR, minus the Sandoval, for James’s Next Tuesday. Lala asks if Schwartz was invited or is he popping in, and Schwartz says, popping in. In Schwartz’s interview, he says, Lala knows where to jab. Strangely, it makes him feel more welcome. He’ll take hate over indifference. She’s acknowledging his existence. He says he got Lala something, and Lala wonders if it’s a f*** you. He gives her a bottle of something called Neurotropic, and says he thought she’d appreciate it since she’s sober curious. In Lala’s interview, she says, she doesn’t recognize these things like sober curious and California sober, but do you, boo. Ariana and Katie arrive, and Schwartz says he’s going to mingle. He goes over to see James and tells James that he had a good conversation with Lisa. He kind of invited himself to Tahoe, and she wanted him to extend the invite to everyone. James says, not Sandoval, but Schwartz says, Sandoval. James says he doesn’t want to spend days feeling anger. Sandoval comes in with Kyle, and in his interview, he says he feels like he’s walking into a lion’s den. He’s taking what Lisa said to heart. He’s going to be apologetic and humble. With this group, it should be interesting. Scheana alerts everyone that Sandoval just walked in with Kyle.

Ariana says she doesn’t know why he showed up at SUR. It’s not happening. Peace out, dude. You suck. Sandoval and Kyle sit at a small table, and Sandoval says, it’s his first time having dinner here in a long time. In his interview, he says he feels like someone is going to accidently spill a drink on him on purpose. He says he talked to James on his birthday, but it didn’t go so well, and Kyle says, Scheana reached out when Ali died. Sandoval says, it was bad timing. After her podcast, he felt it was insincere. Server Jesse says, it’s been a long time. He was worried for Sandoval. He f***ed up, obviously. Sandoval says, there was a lot of collateral damage, and Jesse says, it’s been the worst. He told Sandoval why he had to unfollow him. He didn’t want to be attached to Sandoval’s decisions and choices. Sandoval says he doesn’t want to cause any extra stress and they hug it out. Kyle says, Sandoval has to deal with that all the time, and Sandoval wipes his eyes, saying he feels bad. They didn’t do anything. Schwartz didn’t do anything. Schwartz comes back to the group along with James and tells them about seeing Lisa at Vanderpump Dogs. He invited himself to Tahoe and she told him to invite everyone, so he is, including you-know-who. Katie says, why? and Ariana says she doesn’t want to interact with Schwartz. Schwartz says, it’s a complicated situation, but she doesn’t have to see him or Sandoval. Lala says, after how Schwartz was treated, why does he need to stand by Sandoval’s side? and Schwartz says, they have a beautiful friendship and right now, it sucks. Lala says, the day is going to come when he sees it. He’s going to look back and realize he should have gotten rid of Sandoval. Sandoval will devastate him. Schwartz says, it’s a work in progress, and Ariana says she gave up on Schwartz a long time ago, and her life is better without him. He’s a lost cause. Anything he says to anyone will fall on deaf ears. Schwartz says, she’s not the queen of the group. Her ego is getting too big. In Ariana’s interview, she says, Schwartz is clearly confusing strength and boundaries with ego. She’s not making decisions for anyone but herself. She doesn’t have to be around anyone she doesn’t want to be around. She says, its’ not going to be a situation where Schwartz bridges the gap and brings Sandoval back in the fold, and Schwartz says he misses the group dynamic. Ariana says, no one destroyed it but Sandoval, and Schwartz doesn’t know what to say.

Sandoval tells Kyle, this place has always been so tumultuous, and we flash back to that, and Lisa says, Villa Blanca is where you take your wife. SUR is where you take your mistress. Sandoval sees Scheana and asks to talk to her, but she says, not here. She’s going to the bathroom, and she’ll meet him in the back. In Scheana’s interview, she says, Ariana’s her best friend and she has her back. She has nothing to say to Sandoval that she hasn’t said already to his face. Why he wants to have a public conversation in SUR of all places is beyond her. Behind SUR, where so many server antics have happened over the years, Sandoval brings her a vodka/soda, but she says she’s three weeks sober. They sit down and the silence is deafening. Tom says she looks like she rode in on a Shania Twain motorcycle, and she says she was going for the Y2K look. He says he’s wearing a Y2K sweater, and Scheana says she didn’t expect to get blocked when she reached out after Avi passed. Sandoval says he wasn’t in a good place. He hasn’t been on a lot of days, and he felt like she was just doing it to say she did. Scheana says she’d think after 14 years he’d know her better. Her reaching out was genuine. She has a heart, but he hasn’t been acting like he has a heart. He says, everything he does is looked at in a negative way, and she says, if he’d honestly had remorse from the beginning, it would have been a different outcome. He says he can’t redo the past, and she suggests he apologize and be remorseful instead of doubling down and acting like a villain. He says he did apologize to her at her house, and we flash back to that. She says, not just to her, and he says he’d love to talk to Ariana. Out of everybody, she’s been less vindictive when she has every right to come after him, but she doesn’t get off on that sh*t. She doesn’t want to see him dragged to the point of… Scheana says, nobody wants to see that, but he says, it’s been relentless. He gets that there’s podcast money, but it’s too much. Scheana says she agrees and at a certain point, they stopped. She thinks he needs to humble himself. The next time he does a show, leave Schwarz and Raquel out of his songs. In her interview, Scheana says, someone needs to tell Sandoval to put the mic down. She tells him that everything he’s doing is literally the definition of a narcissist, and he suggests she look it up. She says, narcissists never admit they’re narcissists, and he says, that’s why Ariana would never say she is. Scheana tells him, that’s offensive. She has to get home to her daughter, but her advice is for him to humble himself and have humility. No one is wishing harm comes to him or Raquel. Sandoval says, after the Nema interview, he had to talk Raquel down, and Scheana tells him, but she said it. The interview wasn’t meant to attack them. They just wanted to put the truth out there. She’s not having people saying she’s making up a rumor. We flash back to Scheana telling Ariana about Raquel claiming Tom told her at Coachella that he and Ariana had an open relationship. (Trust, but verify.) In her interview, Scheana says she doesn’t know if Sandoval said it, but Raquel said it to Nema. Sandoval asks if it’s really her business, and she says, when her character is being questioned, it is. Sandoval says, it wouldn’t have been if she hadn’t brought it up to begin with, which leaves Scheana wide open to say, it wouldn’t have if Sandoval hadn’t f***ed Raquel to begin with. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, out of everyone, the loss of Scheana’s friendship is devastating. Scheana is all heart and she’s funny. He misses her. He gets more emo than Emo Night.

We see a text that says to call 988 for the Suicide Prevention Hotline.  

🍾 Once You Go Shah…

This was news to me. She and Gigi are like polar opposites.

https://www.distractify.com/p/raquel-leviss-nema-vand-relationship

🤹🏽‍♀️ Passing a Hail Mary…

Make this your stop tomorrow for soap and the 10th circle of hell that is this season of RHOBH. Until then, stay safe, stay tasting your food before seasoning it, and stay not carving out time for garbage people just because you have a history. Keep only those who add value to your life in your inner circle.

February 12, 2024 – A Major Decision Is Made About Ace, Dicey First Docking On Deck & There

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Doc comes into the living room to find Laura with Ace on her lap. He says, he’s in better spirits today, and Laura says, her too. She finally got him to sleep through the night. Their little baby has been shuttled between so many homes, and he’s not even a year yet. He says, she’ll give him all the love and stability he needs, when there’s a knock at the door. Laurah hands Ace to Doc, and opens the door to Martin, who apologizes for coming by unexpectedly. She says, that’s okay. What brings him by? He says he has some very important paperwork for her that concerns her and her grandson.

Tracy sees Gregory sitting at a table at the MetroCourt, and says, this is a nice surprise. May she join him? He says he supposes he could handle another cup of coffee before he starts packing. Today is his last day living at the MetroCourt. She says she hopes he’s not moving back to the west coast, and he says, no. He’s moving in with Finn. It seemed like the thing to do, considering. She says, congratulations. Not only will be living with his adorable granddaughter, Finn is a decent backgammon player. He won’t be bored. Suddenly, she’s hit with a roll, and turns to see Lucy behind her. Lucy says, that’s all the dough Tracy is getting out of her.

Ava nearly collides with Dex at the gallery and asks if he and Frank can’t be a little bit less conspicuous. They’re going to frighten her customers. Dex says, sorry. Sonny wanted her to have a little extra security right now. She says she thinks he and Frank are a little excessive. Doesn’t he? Trina comes in and asks if everything is okay, and Ava asks what she’s doing here. Trina says she’s all cried out. She needs a distraction. She knows Ava hired someone else. Ava says, she can come back here anytime. She’s putting up a new show and would really love Trina’s input. On phone in the hallway, Frank says, don’t worry. He has eyes on him. Sonny says, good. Don’t let him out of his sight.  

Sonny asks if Brick found something on Dex, and Brick says, yeah. Sonny’s going to want to hear this.

In the MetroCourt elevator, Drew says, Carly seems excited and happy about today, and she says she was unsure of taking over as Editor-in-Chief, but since she saved the Prinzer and Golden account, she feels like she’s getting into her groove. They came up with the best ideas last night. He says he knew she could do it. She’s going to be the best editor Crimson has ever seen. She suggests they not get ahead of themselves. First, she has to get the first issue out, but from what she’s seen, it’s going to be great. He says, she’s great, and kisses her. (Bleh.) The elevator doors open to Crimson, and there are tarps, ladders, and buckets everywhere. Carly says, what the hell?

Willow sits up on the couch and looks at the time. Michael comes in with coffee and tells her, no worries. Wiley’s off to school and Amelia’s been fed. She actually drank out of a sippy cup. He thinks she’s starting to get used to it. She says, he did all that? Why didn’t he wake her up? (Maybe she better check the kitchen to see if he cleaned up after all that.) He says he thought she could use an extra hour before work, and hands her a cup. She says, wow. It’s so nice when someone else makes the coffee. He says, she’s so not a morning person, and she says, guilty. (Same.) She didn’t mean to pass out here last night. Where did he sleep? He says, in the chair. It’s not the first time. He used to sleep there when she was sick. She says, he took such good care of her, and he says, she paid him back by getting better. She says, it was really nice having him here last night, and he says he liked it too. (He likes it! Hey, Mikey!)

Gregory asks if Tracy is okay, and Tracy says, she is a lunatic. She always thought Lucy would go off the deep end one day. At a nearby table, Robert tells Diane, oh goodie. The floor show is about to start. She laughs and says she has to cut this date short, as pleasant as it’s been. He says, date? and she says she misspoke. She doesn’t really equate omelets and toast with dates. Before they go, a colleague gifted her with two tickets to the Port Charles Ballet. Is he interested? He says he’s really not much into the ballet scene. Try Alexis. She says she has to confess, she asked Alexis first. She’s booked. He says he’ll try not to be too insulted, and she says she supposes she could have picked a more opportune time. Gregory Chase was in Alexis’s office, and he’s still mad at her about arguing the malpractice suit against his son.

Gregory asks Lucy, what’s wrong with her? and Lucy says, he should be grateful. It could have been much worse, because this friend of his has systematically destroyed her life. Tracy says she gave Lucy an out. Thanks to her kind companion, she went to Martin and explained that she’d been misleading him. That Lucy was, in fact, true blue. Lucy says, gee, thank you. But her change of heart came just a little too late. Tracy says, too late for what? She starts laughing and says, this is rich. Gregory asks if he’s missing something, and Tracy says, Lucy did really sleep with Scott Baldwin.

Martin says he took the liberty of drawing up the paperwork for Laura’s petition before he left. The forms are all ready for her. When she makes her decision, just put down her John Hancock. She says, a petition for what? and he says, to legally adopt Ace.

Drew yells, who the hell is in charge here? when a man in a work uniform comes out and says, it’s not safe. They shouldn’t be here. Carly says, this is her office. What the hell is going on? Nina comes in, says she’s got this and tells the man to go about his business. She appreciates him. Drew asks, what happened? And Nina says she’s so very sorry. There was a flood a few floors above and it leaked into the walls last night. The building notified all the employees on the floor to stay home today. They didn’t get the notice? Drew says, Aurora has a lease. She can’t come in here and rip out all of their offices. Nina suggests he check the lease, because as owner of the MetroCourt, she’s allowed to address all safety and health matters. The construction team needs to get into the walls to repair the damage, and more importantly, they need to dry out the water to prevent the mold from spreading. Obviously, some of the fiber optic cables needed to be temporarily replaced, so the internet on the floor is down. But not to worry because this isn’t a long-term project. The crew should be out of here in three days or so. Carly says, and the deadline for her first issue is tomorrow. But then again, Nina knew that, didn’t she?

Tossing a folder on Sonny’s desk, Brick says he did an in-depth background check of Dex last year, and it came back clean. But now it seems like Dex came into a huge windfall twice last year, through some untraceable shell corporation. Sonny says, twice? When were these payments? Brick says, the first one was after Sonny was attacked last March. The second one was just last week, the day after Sonny and Ava were targeted on the island.

Laura tells Martin that she thinks there must be some mistake. She and Doc were only supposed to watch Ace until Nikolas gets out of jail. Martin says, come on. Nikolas confessed to kidnapping. It’s going to be quite a while before he’s even eligible for parole. He’s already been talking to Nikolas about ceding his parental claim to her. She says, he what? and he says, don’t forget, Heather Webber and their brother have ties to this little guy. Doc says he did see Heather at Esme’s grave and she seemed interested in Ace. Laura says, Cyrus got out of jail early, and God forbid Heather… Martin says, yes, God forbid. She would most likely win if they ever decided to challenge her guardianship, but he thinks the best course of action is for her to have permanent custody, and the best way for her to do that is for her to officially become Ace’s parent of record.

Tracy says she’s right about Lucy. She cannot resist Scott Baldwin. Lucy tells her, zip it. Does she want to announce that to every single person in the restaurant? Tracy asks if she thinks anyone would be surprised. Lucy has been having her tawdry affair with Scotty on the installment plan. A few years on, a few years off, and now she’s back on. She’s been sleeping with Scotty. Lucy insists she hasn’t… Well, since she and Marty broke up… Tracy says she’s not responsible for Lucy’s rebound choices. But Lucy is definitely responsible for her dry-cleaning bill. Lucy says, but Tracy is responsible for orchestrating all of this. Tracy says, Lucy had Scotty romance her with the intension of swindling her out of her Deception shares, and now Lucy is whining because she paid her back. Gregory says, perhaps she can afford to be gracious in victory, and Tracy says, really? She likes gloating. Okay, if he insists. If Martin is open to it, she would be willing to try and mend fences. Lucy says, fat chance. He’s sending all her calls to voicemail. Gregory says he spoke with Martin this morning to thank him for his help with Finn. He mentioned he was going to his sister’s to drop off… Lucy says, Laura. Perfect. She’ll know exactly how to make Marty forgive her. Thank you. Ta. She leaves, and Tracy says, ta? They sit back down, and Gregory says, Scotty was romancing her? Tracy tells him that she said he tried. Only Lucy Coe would think he had a prayer of succeeding. He asks if she’s immune to Mr. Baldwin’s charms, and she laughs. She says, charms? Once, in a spectacular moment of bad judgement, she did get close to Scotty. He says, how close? and she says, close. Blame it on the 90s. The good news is, she learned her lesson. Lucy obviously never will.

Willow asks, how many of Wiley’s magic tricks did he sit through last night? and Michael says, about four, but he is getting really good with the ball one. She says she knows, right? It was good having him back home last night. It felt right. There’s a knock at the door, and Willow opens it to Josslyn. She says she’s sorry to interrupt. She was on her way to see Dex and found this in the car. She holds out a stuffed giraffe and says, Amelia’s lovie. Willow says, there it is, and thanks her. She has to get ready for work, but Michael can make Josslyn some coffee if she wants. She goes upstairs and Josslyn says, well? Michael says, well, does she want some coffee? but she says, no, she wants the tea. Spill, please. He spent the night last night? Are things back to normal? He says, they’re taking it a day at a time. There’s still a long way to go, but they’re making progress. She says she’s happy for them and the kids. Nina is not worth them fighting. Michael says he agrees, and Josslyn says she can’t wait for Sonny to divorce Nina so she’s out of their lives. He says he saw Sonny yesterday, but he doesn’t know what Sonny is going to do about Nina. She asks, how was seeing Sonny? and he says, they talked. He thinks things are better. She says, good. When there’s friction between him and Sonny, it freaks her out and she thinks it makes things more dangerous for Dex.

Trina carries a painting and stares at a heart on it. She drops it, and says, oh no. Dex rushes over and says he’s got it.

Brick tells Sonny, the shell corporation was created for the soul purpose of funneling money to Dex. He doesn’t know who set it up, but it sure tells a story. Dex gets paid to tip them off about Sonny’s location, his enemies, and of course (🍷) to highlight his vulnerabilities. Sonny wonders why he’d do this to Josslyn, and Brick says, maybe he used Josslyn to get closer to Sonny. Sonny says, it’s genuine, and Brick says, maybe Josslyn disapproves of his life with Sonny. Sonny says, she does, and Brick says, maybe he’s going to get out of this life with her. What better way to avoid a bullet from Sonny then to set Sonny up to take one?

Nina says, Carly’s not insinuating she’s trying to sabotage Carly’s next issue of Crimson? but Carly says she’s not insinuating anything. She’s accusing Nina. This has her written all over it. She is surprised Nina would jeopardize the jobs of her former employees, the ones she claims to care so much about. Nina says, editors have back-ups of all their articles, templates, and spreads on the cloud. Carly doesn’t know this? Carly says, yes, she knows that, but coordinating all the back-ups from around the cloud could make them lose a day’s work easy, which would make the issue late to the printer, which is exactly what Nina intended. (Are we using the same cloud? It’s not that hard to find something.) Nina says her focus is on the hotel. She’s just wanting what’s best for the MetroCourt. Carly says, if she talks to Olivia, the other owner of the MetroCourt, she’ll back up Nina’s story? and Nina says she has authority to sanction emergency construction. Olivia could disagree and she could overrule Nina, but the process has already begun. It could take a few days and even more to get all the offices back together even if they stopped, and it’s certainly not cost effective. So she thinks they all know it’s best to just let the repairs play out. Then they can come back when it’s all done. Carly says she thinks she’s heard enough. Nina will be hearing from her lawyer. Until then, she has a magazine to put out. Nina says, good luck, and Drew tells Carly to go ahead. He wants to have a word with Nina. Carly says she’ll call him later and leaves. Drew tells Nina, keep playing with fire and see where it gets her. (Just a thought, but Drew probably shouldn’t be threatening his landlord.)

Robert asks if Diane thought Finn was capable of negligence, and she says, uh-uh, but it wasn’t her place to decide that. It was her job to present the strongest argument possible that Dr. Finn was guilty of negligence and let the jury decide. Of course (🍷) the jury was never able to deliberate, so they’ll never know if her argument was convincing or not. He says, fair enough. The rule of law doesn’t always make for winning friends. She says, he must have come up against that, where he has the evidence to convict, but his gut its telling them that the defendant just might be innocent. He says, unfortunately, yeah. It’s happened where an innocent person has pled out. The system isn’t always fair. She says, maybe together, they could make the system a little more fair, one day at a time.

Trina says she’s so sorry she broke the stretcher, but Ava says, that’s why they have insurance. She asks Dex to take the painting to the backroom. Her assistant will send it out for repair. He leaves with the painting, and Ava says, see that? The crisis is finished. They sit down, and Trina says, but it’s not. She starts to cry and says she can’t stop crying. It’s like everything she sees, everything she hears, reminds her of Spencer. It’s like she’s losing him all over again. And there’s a pit in her stomach and she can’t breathe. She’s gasping for air. She doesn’t know how to live with this feeling. She can’t live with this feeling. She wishes it was her who died instead of him. Ava tells her not to say things like that. She knows the feeling. When Kiki died, she was in so much pain that she didn’t want to live. She would have done absolutely anything to trade place with her, to die so she could live. But she was gone, and Ava was here, and she realized she needed to stay here for Avery. Just like Trina needs to stay here for her mom and for Curtis. She has a strong, wonderful family and they’re going to get her through this, okay? And truthfully, she’s very grateful to Spencer that he did what he did so Trina could live. Because Trina is here with her. Trina and Avery are everything to her. She holds Trina as she cries.

Laura says she guesses this is the obvious next step. She just hadn’t considered it before. What did Nikolas say? Martin tells her that Nikolas gave him permission to start the paperwork. Just be honest. Is this not something she wants to consider? She tells him that she’s not saying that. It’s just a lot to consider. He says he knows. He just wanted to make sure she was set up. The paperwork is right there. She wants to make that decision, wants to cross that bridge, she’s got everything she needs. They’ll have to forgive him. He’s got to get out of here or he won’t make his flight. He’ll be gone from Port Charles for a while. He’s only a phone call away, and he’ll come back if she needs him. She says she loves him and tells him to travel safely. Martin leaves, and Doc says, so, what are her thoughts? She says, everything her brother told them makes sense. It would be better for little Ace to have a permanent parent instead of a temporary guardian, but this is not just her decision to make. Doc says, if she wants to adopt Ace, he’s totally on board, but she says, no. We would adopt him together.

Doc tells Laura that he moved some appointments around at the hospital so they could talk, and she says she hates that he has to rearrange his schedule. He says, this is so much more important, and she says, and it came completely out of the blue, but she can’t imagine doing this without him. He says, which is why they need to spend some time with it, and there’s a knock at the door. This time, it’s Lucy, who asks if she can come in. Laura says, yeah, and Lucy says she was so sorry to hear about Spencer’s unbelievably tragic… She’s sorry. Laura thanks her, and Lucy says she was just wondering if Martin was around. She heard he was here. Doc says, Martin left just a little while ago, and Lucy says, darn it. She needs to catch up with him and he’s avoiding all her phone calls. Do they know where he went by any chance? Laura tells her that Martin said he was going to visit his mother and he was going to be gone for a while, and Lucy wonders how he can leave like that, without saying goodbye. She can’t believe Tracy Quartermaine did this to her. Okay. She did it. She did it to herself. Like she always does, right? She just thought this time it was different. She thought she was different. Why does she do this? Why does she always sabotage the very best things that happen to her? Maybe she just doesn’t deserve to be happy. Laura says, that’s ridiculous. Everyone deserves to be happy. Life is too short. Marty was just here, and he was going straight to the airport. If Lucy hurries, she might be able to catch him before he gets on the plane. Lucy hugs Laura, thanking her, and runs out the door. Laura asks Doc if that was foolish, but he says, it was generous. Which is exactly what he expects because that’s who she is. Now where were they before they were so rudely interrupted?

Gregory looks at his phone, and Tracy says, breaking story? He says, no, it’s from Finn. The move is on for this evening. She asks if he needs any help, but he says he just has a few things. Books, papers, stuff like that. She says, figures. So what brought this on? He knows how fond she is of Finn, but his place has limited space. He says he’ll manage. As to what brought this on, he’s starting to feel a little irresponsible living on his own, especially since he’s trying to make it to the big wedding… Don’t do that please. She says, do what? and he says, she’s the one person in his life who doesn’t give him that look. So don’t start now please. He doesn’t want her pity. She says she doesn’t pity him, but she thinks she does know him a little, and she thinks he has reservations about this move. Is she right? He says he doesn’t like depending on anyone, even his family. He knows Finn’s just trying to help, but he hates the idea of giving up his own agency. It’s been his greatest fear ever since he was diagnosed. He knows at some point he’s not going to have control of what his body does or even what happens to him. She says, and the move? and he says, it’s forcing him to face that reality. It feels like this might be the first part of his final chapter.

Carly tells Diane that she’s sorry to interrupt. Diane’s assistant told her that Diane would be here. She needs to talk to Diane. It’s an emergency. Robert says, that’s his ticket out of here, but Diane says, don’t you move, and asks Carly, what’s up? Carly says she’ll give Diane three guesses as to who’s trying to sabotage Crimson, and the first two don’t count.

Nina tells the construction worker that she wants all these walls checked. It’s better to replace all of them than have the mold spreading. (Having had a house flood, if indeed there had been a leak, Nina would be correct in rebuilding walls.) She asks Drew if he was on the phone with his lawyer, because everything she did just now was completely legal, so don’t be threatening her with a lawsuit. He says, she made the choice to escalate, and she’s going to have to live with the fallout, but she says, it can’t be any worse than what’s already happened to her. She lost her husband and her family and her magazine. Sure, she regrets some of the things she’s done. She’s made mistakes, just like the rest of them, but she doesn’t understand why she has to continually pay for a crime Drew and Carly committed. She’s through with the injustice and the indignity of being the pariah. Legally, she did nothing wrong, and she’s not going to take it lying down anymore. He asks if she went to prison. She doesn’t know the meaning of the words indignity and injustice. He gets in the elevator and says, but believe him, she will.

Michael tells Josslyn, it’s not like Dex is working for Sonny against his will. He insists he’s found purpose in Sonny’s organization. She says, don’t remind her, please, and he says, there’s something else. This arrangement with Dex has gotten more important lately. Dex is keeping everybody in their family safe. She asks what that means, and he says, things have gotten more dangerous lately. She asks if he’s talking about the shooting in Puerto Rico, and he says, the fact that somebody got to his dad on the island, and somehow, they were apparently able to bypass security, means they have inside access. She asks if he’s saying it’s someone inside Sonny’s organization, and he says, sometimes the simplest explanation is true. Someone who Sonny trusts sold him out.

On the phone Sonny asks if Dex has made any calls or sent any texts… All right. He’ll be in touch. He tells Brick, Frank said Dex is just doing his job, protecting Ava. He’s not jumpy, he’s just… Brick says, look, he was just presenting a theory, and Sonny says, but he’s got a lot of evidence. Brick asks what they’re going to do about this.

Drew joins Carly, who says she was just telling Diane about how Nina was trying to undermine Crimsonagain. Drew says, great. Tell him how they can strike back and teach her not to mess with them again. Robert says, this really does sound like his cue. He’ll talk to Diane later. He leaves, and Drew says, that’s probably for the best. Any talk about retaliation should be kept between attorney and client privilege, right? Carly asks, who’s talking about retaliation? She just wants to get their offices open as soon as possible, so they can get the issue out on time. He says, so Nina can sabotage the next issue? They’ve got to shut her down. Carly says, they can’t focus on Nina. She’s a distraction and she’s getting what she wants. They need to think about the magazine. His magazine. He tells her to do that. He needs to take a break. He leaves, and Diane asks why she has the feeling Carly’s frustration isn’t just with Nina, but also with Drew.

Trina tells Ava that she’s really sorry about the painting. She thought she was ready to get back to work, but she guesses not. This grief, the sadness, is it ever going to go away? Ava says, no, but it dulls and somehow you get used to it. Between Trina’s mom and Curtus, Marshall, Stella, and her, they’ll get her through it. Count on it. Dex brings them chamomile tea, telling them that Josslyn says it helps calm her down. He thought it was worth a try. They thank him, and Frank tells him, let’s go. Dex says, they’re supposed to watch Ava, but Frank says, change of plans.

Josslyn says, if there’s a traitor inside Sonny’s organization, Dex is in trouble, right? but Michael says he doesn’t know. The thing is… Willow comes back and asks if everything is okay. Josslyn says, yeah. She’s meeting Trina at the gallery, but it was so nice to see Willow. Willow says, her too, and they hug. Josslyn tells Michael that they’ll talk soon, and she leaves. Michael says, not that Willow asked, but he and Josslyn were discussing a family matter that involves Sonny. She asks if it’s something she needs to know about for the kids’ safety, but he says he doesn’t know. He promises if there’s something she needs to know, he’ll tell her. Although she has every right not to believe him. She says, of course (🍷) she believes him.

Martin waits for his flight at the airport, while Lucy goes to a desk and says, her boyfriend is on a flight to North Carolina, and she really needs to talk to him. They won’t let her through security without a boarding pass and she needs to tell him something. The clerk tells her that she can’t go through security without a boarding pass, but she says she has to apologize. Just let her run down there. She won’t delay the flight. He can send a little guard with her. He says, she can’t get through security without a ticket, and she hears Martin’s flight being announced. She says, okay, fine. She’ll buy a ticket. When’s the next flight? He asks where she’d like to go. They have a flight to Bora Bora, Duluth… She says, eww. Not Duluth. They were so rude to her. She lost an earring at a Coco Cosmetics convention, and they were not helpful at all. She puts her credit card on the counter and says, Duluth it is.

Laura says she knows Doc didn’t sign up for this, the idea of having a child. And having a baby at their age? It’s going to be a daunting task. He says she’s right, for both of them. She’s been a parent. She knows what it takes. For him, outside of a brief stint as a stepparent with Lucy, this would be a new experience for him. She says, if they become the parents of record, Ace will grow up with them. He’ll rely on them. It’s a huge responsibility. If he has any hesitation, he should say so now.

Laura brings Ace into the room, and says, from the shortest nap ever, and Doc says, all right. She asked for the truth. Here it is. He’s never felt more a part of a family as he has since he married her. He’s seen her capacity for love and her children and her grandchildren. And her love for him has opened his heart in ways he couldn’t imagine. But adopting a child at this stage of their lives is complicated. She says, it’s a little crazy, and he agrees. But it feels right. It feels like them. She says, so like them, and he says, if this is what she wants, he’s in. He’s all in. He asks what Ace thinks, and says he thinks Ace approves. They kiss.

Martin boards the flight, and the airline employee closes the door. Lucy calls to him, and yells, wait! She says, it’s too late. He’s gone. He’s really gone.

Tracy says, Gregory has a lot of decisions he’s going to have to make about his future. Some sooner rather than later. But moving in with his family doesn’t have to be something that holds him back. She comes and goes time and time again, but always ends up back at Monica’s. Why? Because as much as every single person in that house infuriates her, living under the same roof as them, it feels like… He says, home? and she says, home.

Carly tells Diane that she can’t blame Drew for hating Nina and wanting revenge for everything she’s done to him, but she wants that parasite out of her life. Diane says, that’s easier said than done. Nina has considerable resources and she’s obviously willing to devote all of them to undermining Carly. Carly says she knows. She’s still grieving her mom, and the last thing she wants to do is go to war with someone she doesn’t care anything about. And every move that Drew makes to go after Nina just keeps pulling her back into Nina’s twisted orbit.

On the phone, Drew says he wants a list of everyone that’s done business with Aurora who’s interested in working with Nina Reeves… It’s time they drew a line in the sand.

Nina asks the worker how long it will take to put all this back together, and he says, they’re making progress. They should be done in another day or two. Nina says, that won’t do at all. She wants them to take all the time they need to make sure this job is done correctly. She hands him a wad of cash and says, understood? He smiles and tips an imaginary hat.

Willow says she believes Michael regrets the way he handled things. And she believes he wanted to protect them and that’s why he did what he did. He says he should have believed she could handle it. They’re always so much stronger when they work together. He’s sorry he forgot that. She says she appreciates him giving her the space she needed to process everything, but last night having him here felt right. She’s not saying she wants everything to go back the way it was; they still have things to work out. But maybe he doesn’t go back to the main house. What if he comes home for good? He says, that would mean the world to him. Is she sure that’s what she wants? she says she’s willing to try if he is and kisses him. She says she’s really got to go, or she’ll be late. She’ll see him later. He says he’ll be home, and she leaves. He sighs with relief.

Josslyn comes to the gallery and asks Trina, how’s it going? Trina says she thinks she came back to work a little too soon, and Josslyn hugs her. Josslyn says, something smells good, and asks if that’s peppermint tea. Trina says, Josslyn’s boyfriend made it for them, and Josslyn says, Dex is here? Ava says, he was. She just missed him. He and Frank left in a hurry.

Frank brings Dex to a car and tells him, get in. Dex gets in the backseat next to Sonny and says, boss. What’s going on? Sonny says, how about you and I go for a little ride?

Tomorrow, Gregory tells Finn that he can’t put it off any longer; Molly asks Kristina if this is why she’s not pursuing things with Blaze; Brick says, it’ll all be over soon; and Dex asks if Sonny thinks he’s the one who betrayed him.

Below Deck

La Phare Bleu, Granada. Primary Rebecca tells Fraser that dinner is delicious, but they need to speed it up. Fraser asks Chef Anthony to get the next course out asap, and Anthony says, French people spend an hour on a bite of steak. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s got to be that bitch, and finally, at 10:55, the Tomahawk steak entrée comes out, and it literally is just a bite. Rebecca wants more wine, but guest Leigh suggests water might be a good idea and it would be best to focus on that. Kyle realizes one of the stews is stacking plates while clearing, and in his interview, he says, don’t put a plate on a plate. This is not the Waffle House. There’s poached pear for dessert and guest Lyne says, it’s the best pear she ever drank. No more for her. In Anthony’s interview, he says, day one was a crazy motherf***ing day. He loves to take his time. He’s making love on the plate. Rebecca tells Fraser that everything is delicious, but they need it quicker. The guests get in the hot tub, and Barbie bitches about Cat not stocking the bar. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Cat is a sweet girl, but she’s taking her sweet time. The guests decide to let the crew off the hook and go to bed, except for the newlywed primaries Brian and Rebecca, who stay and get nakey. Barbie tells the others that she’s pretty sure they’re f***ing upstairs. In her interview, she says she promised her dad and herself that she wouldn’t hook up on the St. David, so she’s not hooking up on the St. David. In Kyle’s interview, he says he doesn’t have much trouble with the ladies. The accent turns them on. In Barbie’s interview, she says, especially not Kyle. She can barely understand what he says.  

Fraser compliments Xandi on her tablescape and asks if she’s interested in going on the kayak excursion. In Xandi’s interview, she says she doesn’t go in the sun. She’s like translucent. F***ing Twilight. She doesn’t need sun or human contact. Jared goes over priorities with the captain, and Kyle wishes Lune a happy birthday. He tells the guests that the table is ready for breakfast, and Rebecca announces to the table that she and Brian got nakey in the hot tub. In Kyle’s interview, he says, good for them, but now he has to drain it. Dirty bastards. In Sunny’s interview, she says, Jared is a complete mess, but she has to respect him as a superior. That’s what yachting is. Maybe she should tell some of the others (especially Natalya) about that. Fraser talks with Barbie and says, Cat needs to be given a sense of urgency. Fraser asks if Ben will make sure the refreshments go over to the beach and explains everything in detail. In turn, Ben tells Jared to tak the bags, but when the guests get to the beach, they have no refreshments. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, it’s a bit what the f***. When it’s an excursion with stews, it’s their screw up. He tells Fraser that the refreshments were forgotten, and he says he gave the information to Ben. His mistake. He thought it was done. In his interview, he says, now this is the captain’s first impression of him. He looks like an idiot because Ben didn’t do what he asked Ben to do. He stupidly trusted someone else to help facilitate his job, and it won’t happen again. Jared hustles the bags over to the beach.

In Jared’s interview, he says he was diagnosed with ADHD, but never gave the medication a chance to work. When he’s under stress, his attention is at a deficit. Once in a while he’s like, a squirrel! but then he’s right back to it. Xandi gets the bags from him and says, the party’s here. The guests do some kayaking, while back on the yacht, guests Michelle and Leigh have stayed behind and wonder if the bar is stocked. Leigh says, it could be better if she was on a steady beer diet. Fraser radios Cat and Barbie, telling them that he’s leaving for the beach and to keep checking on the guests that are still there. Fraser gets to the beach, and in his interview, he says, it’s an absolute travesty. The next time, he’ll go first. The set-up is horrific. But Kyle looks like a rugged farmer and my crops need cutting. He’ll turn this around. Barbie asks where Captain Kerry is from, and he says, southeast Asia. He shows her where he’s been on a wall map. Cat tries to find out if Barbie has checked the guest cabins, but Barbie is snippy with her, and in her interview, Cat says she doesn’t understand the attitude. In Barbie’s interview, she says, Fraser knows that she knows her job. Cat is the kind of girl who will make a burn book, but to your face, it’s all good. In Cat’s interview, she says, Barbie is giving her Regina George vibes. Fraser tells Ben that because of him, the captain now thinks he’s sh*t. In Ben’s interview, he says, Jared hasn’t worked on a big boat and he’s missing the mark. It’s just a cooler, and now he put a wave through the whole boat.

Cat tells Fraser that she doesn’t feel respected by Barbie. She wanted to get their tasks lined up, but when she asks what Barbie is doing when she’s not doing anything, Barbie asks why she wants to know. It’s disrespectful. Fraser says, her telling him is helpful to them as a team, and in Cat’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to deal with Barbie all charter. She’s stressed enough with the guests already. She doesn’t want stress with the crew. The lunch set-up is super cute with conch shells and the Cuban sandwiches are a hit. Back on the boat, Xandi shows off her sunburn and in her interview, she says, it looks like she was burned at the stake.

It’s 80s Miami night, and in her interview, Barbie says she’s from Miami and went to school for design. Now she gets to show what she does best. She loves aesthetics. Brian falls getting into the tender to go back. I only mention this because it’s pretty damn funny watching him fall on his drunken face. Fraser tells Ben that Cat finds it difficult to take direction and criticism from Barbie, and I wonder how he got that from the conversation they had. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s bringing a Latino vibe tonight. When he was 21, he opened his first restaurant, and it had Miami vibes. It’s going to be mucho caliente tonight. Ben tells Barbie that Cat is unhappy with her. What is wrong with these people? Better question, how many times have I said that about a reality show? Barbie says she was schmoozing with the captain, but she’d worked her ass off the day before. Barbie tells Fraser that Ben told her Cat was talking sh*t about her, and Fraser wonders why Ben is meddling. Barbie tries to blame Cat, but Fraser is like, no. Ben’s been watching all day. In Fraser’s interview, he says, he doesn’t know what Ben’s game plan is in stirring the pot with the girls. He’s getting the attention he so desires. He asks Ben not to get involved with interior drama. He’s riled Barbie up and she’s fiery. In his interview, Fraser says, Ben doesn’t give a sh*t what he does to them as the interior team or the crew. F*** off and leave his girls alone.

Everyone gets ready for Miami night. The stews agree Ben is only deckhand worth checking out, if he shaved his head. I could agree that he doesn’t have the best haircut, but why so extreme? For dinner, Anthony makes Venezuelan chicken, and Cuban beef stew (Ropa Vieja), and the cutest cake ever with a flamingo sitting on top. No, not a real one. The crew dons wigs, even Captain Kerry, and they bring in the cake, singing Happy Birthday. The deckhands chat, and Kyle says, he’s been single for six years. In Jared’s interview, he says he’s separated from his daughter’s mother. His daughter is the love of his life, but he and her mother’s lives took different directions. When you love someone, you have to let them go so they can flourish and fly. He tells the other deckhands that he’s now port to port.  

This is so boring, I can’t stand it.

Anthony announces, the stove is a piece of sh*t. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says his kids are the best kids. His son is a huge character with a big heart and sensitive, and his daughter is a firecracker. They’ve had a close bond since the children were small. He’d been gone for ten months, so when they got a little older, he found jobs where he was there more often. He’s a family man 100%. He tells Xandi that when he’d fly with his kids, he’d apologize to the people sitting around him in advance and buy everybody drinks. Xandi says, when she’s on a flight with kids, she considers birth control. Then, in the most glorious food porn moment of all, lobster benedict is served. It’s total art and I have no doubt it tastes like heaven. The captain has a docking meeting, and the deckhands pretend to listen. In the captain’s interview, he says, he hopes they’re good on the radio. It’s a tight area, and the crew isn’t familiar with the boat. There are no airbags on boats. Brian says, leaving is breaking his heart. He doesn’t want to go. Barbie tells Cat to speak to her instead of everybody on the boat, and in Cat’s interview, she says, the only person who could have told her is Fraser and she’d be shocked if he gossiped. Barbie says, if Cat has any complaints about her, she’s here. During the docking, Kyle spaces out or gets confused or something on stern and isn’t giving the distance. Captain Kerry says, he’s sh*tting himself. He’s in trouble.

Kerry flies around boat and yells for fenders. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s not getting calls back, and he’s a bee’s d*ck away from bailing out. In 20 years, he’s never been in that situation. We see each deckhand in their interview all saying the same thing – f***. It’s time for guest departure and Brian says, the food was awesome and otherworldly, and the tablescapes were on point. He gives Captain Kerry the tip envelope, and says, they also brought a bit of Texas, giving two food baskets to the deckhands and stews. Afterward, the captain says, the guests had a fabulous time, and he wants to see the deck crew in the wheelhouse. Fraser tells the stews to do a quick wash up, and Ben says, the captain was not happy with the docking. When they get to the wheelhouse, Captain Kerry says, first docking. He’s not real happy. Actually, he’s pretty pissed. He can’t have people on deck if they’re not going to tell him what’s going on. Jared says, he didn’t have it set up the way he wanted. He’s still scrambling. The captain says, not enough time isn’t an excuse. If Jared isn’t ready, tell him. He needs to know the distance since he can’t see the stern. In his interview, the captain says, Jared is used to a smaller boat, but he’ll get there. Fraser says he wants all the bathrooms to be stunning.

It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Kerry says he’s like a dog with two tails. The guests were happy with the food and the service was amazing. It was incredible. Well done. Excellent work. They need to eliminate the schoolboy errors, the little stuff they’re getting wrong, but he believes they’re a great team and can make the season successful. Surprisingly, even with the slow food issue, the tip is $25K or $1923 each. They clink glasses and get ready to turn the boat over. Fraser tells Cat and Barbie to meet him on the sundeck, and in his interview, he says, last year, he focused on his team as individuals, but it’s important they see the team as one. It’s not about you; it’s about us. And success calls. He tells the stews that they want to try and treat each other with respect and care, like they were all at the level of captain. Barbie says, on the first day Cat was slow, and that’s why she was talking to Cat the way she was. She wasn’t up to par. Then Ben told her that Cat had said negative things about her. She was wondering why Cat was talking about her when Cat was working at a snail’s pace. Cat says, the first day, she was stuck in the pantry with non-stop dishes. She’s levering different roles and has to change directions when asked. The last person that was a floater had the same complaint, so maybe it’s not her. Fraser says, they wouldn’t have known this if they hadn’t had this conversation. Cat could also make the decision to finish a task and then move on, because she’s doing a fluid job. Fraser thinks it’s all good, but Barbie says, Cat came down before the picnic and said they were supposed to be working. Cat says she didn’t, but we flash back and she kinda did. Barbie says, Cat needs to be sensitive about how she speaks, and Fraser says, this is going nowhere constructive and it’s getting petty. He has no time to be petty. So they can be good stews and they’re going get along. If they can’t, they’ll both be gone.

Next time, Ben says, everything he told himself that he wasn’t going to be doing, and here they are; Captain Kerry tells Anthony that they need crew food out more often and faster; and Fraser tells Barbie that she’s rude.

💭 Thoughts: This season is starting off as a real snooze. And why is it only the female deckhands seem to understand that your superior is your superior at work?

🐶 Team Ruff For the Win….

Make a U-ey back tomorrow for soap and the latest Rules. Until then, stay safe, stay taking it easy on yourself for that holiday weight gain (but maybe take it easy on the Valentine’s candy too), and stay knowing that grief and sadness might never go away, but they dull and somehow you get used to it.

February 9, 2024 – Sonny Welcomes Jagger Back, Golden Girl, His Two Cents, Miami Looks, Returning Wives, Super Info, Puppy (!) Bowlers, Nine Concise Quotes & Heart

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Willow straightens up the living room, when there’s a knock at the door. She opens the door to Michael and says, he didn’t have to knock. This is his home too.

At the Hatchet Range, Spinelli throws his hatchet, and it bounces off the target. He says he must have miscalculated his variables. Which one? Angle or centrifugal force… Maxie says they’re not here to reprogram a satellite or recode the internet, and he says, you can’t recode the internet. She says, to be honest, she didn’t know if recode was a real word. Look around. Does he see any children they’re related to? Does he hear any sounds of emotional children yelling? He shakes his head, and she asks if he sees a sign for Deception, or the sounds of highly emotional grown-ups healing? He says he does not, and she says, that means they’re not at home and she’s not at work. So let’s lighten up and not take this too seriously. He says he knows, but precision and accuracy are kind of a needed… She says, no. They’re here to have a good time and throw pieces of sharpened steel at a wall. He says, she’s right. So let the unwinding begin. She thanks him. Cody and Sasha join them, and Cody says, okey-dokey. This is fun, and he loves turning walls into kindling as much as the next guy, but what do they say to raising the stakes a little? Sasha asks what he has in mind.

Josslyn and Drew look at her phone, and he says he loves that one of Spencer. She says she couldn’t tell at the time, but looking at all of these, he was so cute. It’s no wonder everybody let him get away with all sorts of stuff. Drew suggests they take a break, but Josslyn says, it’s fine. She’s fine. He asks if she’s sure, because it’s not a race. They could come back to it after they get a snack or something. She says she doesn’t even know if she should be doing this, and Carly asks, why? Josslyn says, because her posting all of these photos of her and Spencer, it’s like she’s making it about herself. Her loss, her grief. He was her friend, and he was Laura’s family, and he was the love of Trina’s life.

At The Savoy, Dex sits at the bar, when Brick and Jordan come in. Brick says, one drink and then he’ll let her get on with her regularly scheduled life, and Jordan says, when he called in a favor from the mayor’s office, she didn’t expect it to begin and end with her and a drink. He asks, why is that? Did she see him as someone who needed zoning remediations? She says she imagines he could solve those all on his own, and he says he thinks she should consider the bigger picture. This drink is all part of the plan. She says she didn’t take him for someone who plays the long game, and while watching Dex, he says, people aren’t always what they seem.

Sonny says, Jagger Cates. It’s been a long time. John says, yet still not long enough. And it’s John now. Sonny asks if that’s on his identification, and John shows Sonny his ID. Sonny asks what he calls John, Agent Cates or my old pal, and John says, they were never pals, but maybe they can change that.

Cody says he was thinking they split into two teams. Whoever gets the most points, wins. Sasha asks what they win, and Maxie says, please not a gift certificate. She has enough junk on her fridge already. How about bragging rights until the people she brags to get bored with her bragging about her triumph? Cody says he was thinking that the losing team pays for the winning team to have a night out on the town, and Spinelli asks why everything has to boil down to a competition relying on brute strength. Cody says, ax throwing isn’t about strength. It’s about finesse and teamwork, togetherness. Sasha says, yeah, come on, Spinelli. It will be fun. Maxie asks how they separate into teams, and Cody says, obviously, the two Faces of Deception have to stick together. Sasha says, absolutely. The more they’re in sync, the better for Deception’s marketing. Maxie says, fine by her. She’s happy to do her victory dance in both their gorgeous faces. Spinelli says he sees her competitive streak hasn’t diminished, and she tells him that he wouldn’t say that if he knew how many games of Go Fish she’s purposely lost to their kid. What does he say?

Michael tells Willow that he debated with himself the whole way here. Should he knock or just let himself in? She says, that’s okay. She’s been picking up for the last half hour, then she loses track of what she’s doing, and she has to start over. He says, if she’s rethinking the invitation, that’s okay. He can just pick up the papers Drew left him and go. No harm, no foul. She says she’s not rethinking it. She’s happy he’s here. He says, so she still wants him to stay the night. She said the kids wanted him here in the morning, but is it just for tomorrow or is she asking him to come home for good?

Josslyn says she was doing the dishes and one minute, she’s totally fine and the next minute, she has tears streaming down her face. Carly says, there’s nothing wrong with that. She has to feel how she feels. Josslyn says she knows, and she knows she has her own loss to grieve, but she doesn’t know how to do that and be a support system for Trina. If she posts these photos, won’t that be shocking to Trina when she’s scrolling through social media, and bam, there’s Spencer? She doesn’t want to make things worse for her. Drew says he thinks it says a lot about her friendship with Trina that she’s being so considerate about this. When Oscar died, a lot of people reached out and told him how much they missed Oscar, and there were times when that was the only thing that got him through the day. Carly says, Trina knows that she suffered a loss too. Trina wouldn’t want her to hide it. Josslyn agrees, and Drew says, what she wrote about Spencer is straight from the heart and it’s so beautiful. It’s a message to be shared.

Brick asks Jordan to excuse him for a second. He’s going to the bar. She says, the server should be here any second, and he says, a woman such as herself should never be kept waiting. He’ll be right back. He walks up next to Dex and says, good to see him. Dex says, him too, and Brick asks if he can buy Dex a drink. Dex says, not tonight. He’s on call with Sonny, so he’s sticking to soda, but how about if he buys Brick one instead? Brick looks at the champagne behind the bar and says, what he’s planning on sipping tonight might be above Dex’s paygrade. Dex says, maybe, and puts a credit card on the bar. Let’s find out. We see it’s a platinum card.

Sonny tells Frank, this won’t take long, and Frank leaves. Sonny closes the door, and Sonny says, he and John had their problems back in the day. John says, if that’s what he wants to call them, and Sonny says, whatever you want to call it, that was a long time ago. Things change. John says, it may have been a long time ago for Sonny, but for him, it was yesterday. Sonny says he did some things back then that he regrets. Losing John’s brother… John says, after everything, Sonny can’t say his name, and Sonny says he named his son Stone as a middle name because he considered Stone family. John says, wow. Well, God help Sonny’s family. Sonny says, be careful, and John says he’s not here to talk about Stone or Karen or any part of their past. Sonny says, so what is he here to talk about? Is John here to tell him that the Feds are looking into his business, or is John coming after him? John says, nothing would make him happier than to see Sonny behind bars. They both know that’s where Sonny belongs, and they both know the reasons why. Past and present. (I wish they’d tell me. In all the years I’ve watched this show, Sonny hasn’t really done anything all that bad.) Sonny says, then stop talking about it and take his best shot. John says he’s not in Port Charles to take Sonny down. He’s here to save Sonny’s life.

Josslyn closes her tablet and says, okay then. It’s out there. Carly says, it’s a beautiful post. It really is. It captures who Spencer was and her relationship with him. Josslyn says she was really lucky to know him for so many years, although sometimes he annoyed her so much she didn’t even like him. Carly says, that means they were really friends. She really saw him; the good, bad, and everything in between. Josslyn says, yeah, but the good was really good. Carly’s phone dings and she says, oh no. Not you too. Drew asks if it’s another advertiser pulling out, and she says, Triton Luxury Hotel and Cruises. She’s not dealing with it. He says he’ll handle this one. He knows the CFO. Let him handle this. It’s going to be okay. She thanks him and he leaves. Josslyn says, Trina saw all her posts and she loved it, and Carly says, she told Josslyn. Josslyn says, now everyone is sharing their memories of Spencer and it’s great. Drew was right. Carly says, he frequently is, and it drives her crazy because sometimes she wants to be right, but since it’s Drew, it’s okay. Josslyn says, when she thinks of everything he’s done for their family and the fact he can even make Carly smile through times like this, it’s amazing. Carly says, he’s an impressive guy, and Josslyn says she’s very grateful he’s in their lives.

Maxie asks if this night out includes free babysitting, and Cody says, sure. She says, and what is she potentially paying for, an entire evening or just a dinner? Cody says he was thinking four hours, enough for dinner and a movie, and Maxie says, or one night at a spa, but Cody says, the event has to be something both parties will enjoy. Spinelli says he doesn’t enjoy greasy hands poking him in the name of healing, and Maxie says, then think of something else. What about tips and parking? Someone should be writing this down. Cody says he thought a bet would be fun, not involve lawyers, and Maxie says, fine. He’s on. Spinelli asks if he might have a word with Cody, and Cody says, sure. As they step away, Cody says, no lawyers.

In the hallway, Spinelli asks what Cody is doing, and Cody says he’s helping Spinelli get a date with Maxie. Spinelli says, stop helping, and Cody asks, why? The two of them have been talking back and forth between parent mode and roommate mode for way too long. Tonight, Maxie needs to see another side of him. His sexy side. Spinelli says, his sexy side has at best been described as subtle, and Cody says he bets Spinelli’s got some moves. He’s seen how Spinelli works a keyboard. Spinelli says he doesn’t know where Cody is going with this, but please stop immediately, and Cody says, he’s an information guy, right? Does he have some incredible playlists? He bets Spinelli’s got stuff no one’s ever heard of, right? Is he an aromatherapy wiz? He’s got to have something. Spinelli says, before Cody derails his train of thoughts by detailing his failed dating profile, he was trying to relate he’s not interested in Maximista. Cody says he doesn’t believe Spinelli, and Spinelli says, so that’s it then? He says it and it must be so? Cody says, he’s a good guy, he’s a good dad, he’s a genius with tech. He’s a total catch. Why doesn’t he just go for it? Spinelli says his relationship with Maxie is purely platonic. There was a time when they tried to make it more than that, and it became very clear that they’re better off as friends. So despite Cody’s cupid-ed-ness, it’s going to stay that way. Sasha tells Maxie, in the interest of full disclosure, this isn’t the first time she’s been to a hatchet range. Spinelli watches them.

Sonny says he’s not sure he’s hearing John right. John comes into his office tossing around things that happened more than thirty years ago. John says, they were more than accusations, and Sonny says he doesn’t remember them having angel wings back then. John says, Karen did, and Sonny says, yeah, Karen did. John married her, he cheated on her, and she divorced him. He guesses none of them did right by her. John says, Sonny did a hell of a lot worse than cheating, and Sonny says, there were things he did back then that he would have done differently, but here is when John’s going to shut his mouth, because he let John come in here, get in his face, and take a couple shots because he thought John was entitled to a couple shots. But he’s done. His freebies are used up. If this were thirty years ago – and John knows this – he wouldn’t have given John this latitude. John says, he’s mellowed with age? and Sonny says he’s gotten smarter, and he doesn’t have to prove it to John. John says, that much is true, and Sonny says, then what is John doing standing here, talking about saving his life? John says, trust him. It’s nothing he wants to be doing. He’d rather see Sonny rot. That’s what he deserves, but as an FBI agent, it’s his duty to notify Sonny that he’s in danger. Sonny says, you know what? He doesn’t care. He’s doing just fine. He doesn’t need any help from the Feds. John says he guesses he’s got it wrong then, and Sonny says, he’s got what wrong? John says, imagine his concern when he and his colleagues discovered he was the target of a very public attack in an action area filled with civilians. Sonny asks if he’s talking about… John says, the MetroCourt shooting. Trust him when he says they know more than Sonny thinks. They know Curtis Ashford was a bystander, collateral damage. They know Sonny or Anna Devane may have been the intended target, but their assessment is, that bullet was meant for Sonny.

Dex says he’s been saving for a rainy day, and Brick wonders how much rain they’re going to get. It looks like Dex is fixing to build an ark. Dex says, you never know, and Brick says, that’s true, you never know. He thanks Dex for the drinks, and Dex tells him to enjoy his evening. Brick goes back to the table and says, sorry to keep Jordan waiting. It won’t happen again. The server brings them glasses of champagne, and Jordan asks what they should toast to. His secret plan? He says, they can toast to whatever she’d like – they clink glasses – and he won’t be keeping any secrets from her. She says, so much for the secret part of the plan, and he says he knows she’s only here with him because she thought she owed him a favor, but she says, that’s not true… Not entirely true. He says, that’s okay. He doesn’t mind a bit. How many chances does a guy like him get to be seen with a woman like her? Beautiful, intelligent, accomplished. He considers himself quite a lucky man, but not that lucky. But it’s all part of the plan. He smiles.

Maxie asks Sasha to tell her everything before they get back. Did she and Cody finally admit they’re crazy about each other and should be dating? Sasha says, Maxie’s romance-colored glasses are distorting her vision, and Maxie asks if she’s sure. Maybe Sasha should get herself a pair. Sasha says she and Cody did actually talk about it and they both decided it’s better they stay friends. For the time being. Maxie says, congratulations. That sounds very adult and mature of them, but she doesn’t get it. If a great guy were into her, she’d be with him in a heartbeat.

Cody says, quick question. How good is Spinelli with a hatchet? Spinelli says, how good is anyone? and Cody says he just meant Spinelli wants to have fun and not stress out about it. Okay? Spinelli says he won’t because he won’t be participating in this charade, and Cody says, what he wants to do is have kind of a firm, but loose grip on the handle. Spinelli says, that’s contradictory, and Cody says, bring it up past his ear. He doesn’t want to tilt left or right. Aim with your elbow, lead with your chest. (I do this a few times, sans hatchet, to see what he means.) Spinelli makes a feeble attempt, and Cody says, maybe he’ll find his inner Viking once they get going. He’s going to be siting this one out. Spinelli asks what that means, and Cody says, nothing. He feels an off night coming. Spinelli says, Cody’s going to cheat. That’s dishonorable. Cody says, dude, do you want a date with Maxie or not? They go back into the main room, and Cody says, ladies, pick up your hatchets and may the best team win.

Carly says, Drew was so wonderful when Josslyn’s grandmother passed away. She’s sure she could have handled it all on her own, but she didn’t have to. He was with her every step of the way. One more reason to be grateful for him. Josslyn asks if she’s okay, when Drew comes back. He says, crisis averted, and Josslyn says she’s sorry, but she has to go. She’s meeting Dex at The Savoy. Carly says she’s surprised Josslyn is up for that, and Josslyn says, so was Dex, but one of his favorite bands is playing and honestly, just being with him and listening to music is exactly what she needs right now. Drew says he hears that, and Carly and Josslyn hug. Josslyn hugs Drew and thanks him. He says, of course (🍷), and she leaves. Carly says she wishes she could spare Josslyn this kind of grief, and he suggests they add it to the list of things they want to spare their kids from. She says, it’s a long list, and he says, it’s getting longer every day. She says she appreciates what he said to Josslyn earlier. Josslyn thinks the world of him. He says he thinks the world of her too. He hopes he can always live up to her expectations. She says, if he managed to talk Triton off the ledge, he can be her hero too. He says, about that, and she asks if they’re going to extend their contract. Tell her. He says, actually, that’s up to her.

Willow says she wishes she could tell Michael, but she doesn’t know yet, and he says, that’s okay. He’ll wait as long as it takes. When… if he moves back in again, he wants her to be fully confident in her decision. She says, part of her is worried that if they rush back in and pretend nothing happened, one day they’ll end up back here in the very same position, and he says he gets it. He has the exact same fear. He doesn’t like to think about it because he dreads the thought, especially now. She says, why now? and he says, because he’s trying to put the things he wrecked back together now and do it right. Before he came here, he went to see his dad and came clean about everything. She says, that must have been difficult, and he says he owed it to Sonny to be honest, even about how he blackmailed Nina. She says, that couldn’t have been easy for Sonny to hear or for him to say, and he says, it wasn’t. It’s going to take a while for him and his dad to get back to where they were again, but at least they’re being honest with each other. She says she’s glad to hear there’s hope. Hope is where it all starts. He says, there wouldn’t have been any without her. If she hadn’t encouraged him, he wouldn’t have talked to Sonny. He thought it was a lost cause. She says, maybe she doesn’t believe in lost causes, and he says, lucky him. She says, what he did was misguided, but she knows him and nothing is more important to him than protecting her and the kids. She knows his intentions were good. He says, it’s just his methods she has a problem with, and she says, at the end of the day, it’s not what you’ve done, it’s about what you’re doing to make things right.

Sonny says, John is telling him that he’s got this string of mob hits across the country, and he thinks they’re all connected. John says, they know they’re all connected, and Sonny asks why John is talking to him. He’s a coffee importer. (Ha-ha! But I’m starting to think so.) John says, he was the target of a shooting, and Sonny says, well, the coffee business has been pretty rough the last few years; the climate changed. (A bigger ha-ha!) John says, the FBI knows the pool shooting was connected to the others. The same M.O. from the shooter, the same type of firearm, the same target profile. Sonny says, sounds like they know everything. Why don’t they go catch the guy? John says, give him a break. He knows Sonny’s not sitting around doing nothing. He’s looking for the shooter too. But John has the resources to catch this guy. Sonny says, then do it, and John says, if Sonny cooperates and tells him what he knows, they can end this quick and neat. Sonny says, Jagger, you want my help? All you’ve got to do is ask.

Drew and Carly sit across from each other with the moss bowl🎍in between them in case a referee is needed. Drew says, whenever there’s a change at the top, advertisers get a little bit nervous. He was expecting some phone calls, but there haven’t been that many. He sang her praises to the guy at Triton and explained that the hit piece Gemma wrote for the Gazette was just that, a hit piece. Carly says she hates that he has to do this for her, and he says, what? Tell the truth? She’s the right person for the job. The fact that she got Salvadore back to Deception for the cover shoot proves just that. Even Triton knew who Salvadore was. Carly says she’s not surprised, and he says he may have been a little too convincing to be honest. Drew says, Triton is going to stay at Crimson only if she’s going to be Editor-in-Chief for the long haul. She says, that was not the plan, but he says, that doesn’t mean it’s not a good plan. They show a united front, show stability. They get a little bit of growth and they’re on their way. She says she doesn’t know, and he says, she’s the right person for the job. He knows it’s early days, but he can tell she likes the work. Admit it. She says, the more she settles into the role, the more she enjoys it, but Nina’s not going to make it easy. She’s got connections in the fashion industry. Nina’s already seizing every opportunity to sabotage her. (How are they blaming Nina for this when Drew just said advertisers get nervous about a big change?) Drew says, Nina sends him to prison and nearly gets him killed, and she’s still not satisfied. Carly says, that’s because she’s Nina. She’s petty and vindictive and she’s not going to stop. He says, until they stop her. He’s going to get Michael on the phone. He bets Michael reconsiders once he hears all this. She says, reconsiders what?

Willow tells Michael that she and Drew had a chance to talk when he brought the papers. If you spend five minutes with him, you can see the kind of pain he’s in, and that pain is changing him. Michael says, he just needs some time, but she says, it’s more than that. There’s this cruel streak that wasn’t there before. He wants Nina to suffer like he suffered. Michael says, can you blame him? and she says, no, of course (🍷) not, but she also knows that payback isn’t going to help Drew heal. He says, that’s for Drew to decide. All he knows is, he can’t have any part of it. She and the kids mean more to him than anyone, and she can decide what kind of relationship she wants with Nina. He’ll accept whatever she decides. Willow says she hates what Nina did. Petty, vindictive. His mother makes Nina feel insecure and she wanted Carly out of the way. She didn’t care how much damage she did. Because at the end of the day, Nina only cares about herself. But they can’t let Nina destroy their relationship the way she’s destroyed hers with Sonny. He says he has no idea what his dad is going to do. He doesn’t even know if his dad does. She says she doesn’t want that uncertainty for them, but trust is rebuilt slowly, and they have to respect each other enough to be honest. Michael says he agrees, and she says she promises to try if he will.

Brick says he believes in positive energy. Some might call it luck. It all starts with one drink with a beautiful, gorgeous woman, but who knows what happens next? She says she’s not sure she gets it. Is he planning on winning the lottery on his way home? He says, no. It’s the little things. You get home from a long, hard day at work, and the leftovers are still good, and your favorite movie is playing. She says, so a latte from her favorite coffee shop on the house because they mixed up the order or daffodils on her birthday, and he says, see? There you go. The unexpected pleasures, like being here with her tonight.

Josslyn hugs Dex and says she’s so happy to see him. He says he saw her post about Spencer. It had to be hard to write. Is she sure she’s up for this? She says she’s fine. Fine-ish. She just wants to be with him. He says, him too, but if she changes her mind, they can go whenever. She says, okay, and he says, cranberry soda? She says, yes, and he orders.

John says, if Sonny wants to play games, fine with him. He’ll tell his boss that Sonny turned down the ask, which is what he expected. Sonny says he’s sorry John wasted his time, and John says, when they take Sonny out – which they will – he’ll have a clear conscience. Sonny says he wishes he could help John, but he can’t because he doesn’t know anything. Even if he did, why would he tell somebody who’s hated him for two decades? John says, because he’s putting all that behind him (could have fooled me). Why can’t Sonny? Sonny says he appreciates it, but this is the end of their conversation. John says, if Sonny won’t save his own skin, what about the people around him, including his esteemed colleagues who are in the line of fire? Curtis Ashford can’t walk. How does Sonny think he’s going to react when he finds out Sonny won’t do everything he can to find out who shot him?

Carly tells Drew, Willow was blindsided when she found out Michael blackmailed Nina. He’s not staying at the gatehouse. Drew says he knows, and she says, then she’s surprised. Why would he ask Michael to go after Nina? He says, because Willow was upset because Michael went behind her back instead of telling her everything Nina had done. Willow isn’t in any hurry to defend Nina. Carly says she knows that. Willow loves Drew and she’s appalled by what Nina did. He says, so why not make Nina pay? and she says she doesn’t want to make Nina pay. Focusing on Nina only gives her more power than she deserves. She doesn’t want to that. The best revenge is to make Nina irrelevant, to move on with their lives. He says, and let her get away with everything she’s done? and she says she’s not letting Nina get away with anything. She just wants to focus on what’s right for the magazine and what’s right for them. Looking a bit like a madman, Drew says he’s not sure he agrees that’s what’s best, and Carly says, is he kidding? Nina is living proof that revenge can backfire. She got everything she said she wanted. She was engaged to Sonny and found out Willow was her daughter. She could have focused on that, but instead Nina came after her. And yes, Drew was damaged in the process, but Nina was damaged. She’s all but lost Sonny and Willow too. He says, she’s got more to lose, and believe him, she will, and Carly says she understands more than he knows how he feels about Nina, but if he wants her to stay on at Crimson, he’s going to have to leave Nina alone.

Michael says he’s in 100%, and Willow says, good. He says he knows moving back in doesn’t mean they still don’t have work to do, and he’ll do all of it. She asks if it has to be all work though, and he asks what she has in mind. She says she doesn’t know. Maybe they could talk, catch up, have a glass of wine. He says he would love all that, when Wiley comes stomping down the stairs, saying, daddy. Michael asks what he’s doing awake, and Wiley says he has to show Michale his new magic trick before he goes. It’s incredible. Willow says, guess what? Daddy’s staying tonight. Wiley says, in that case, his three new magic tricks, and Michael asks if they’re all incredible. Wiley nods, and Michael says, now? Wiley says, now, and Michael says, ask his mommy. Willow says, it’s more than okay, and Wiley says, it’s really four magic tricks. Michael says he had a feeling. Lead the way. They head upstairs, and Willow says she’ll wait up until after the show.

Cody tells Sasha that they have a lot riding on this bet. He can give her some pointers if she wants. She says, sure. What’s he got? He says, the thing people don’t know about hatchet throwing is, it’s all about mind/body connection, and it’s spiritual. She laughs.

Spinelli tells Maxie, in order to come through for her, he’ll do everything in his power, including – but not limited to – prayer and soul selling. She says she really doesn’t care if they lose. She’s just happy to get out of the house. He says he’s trying to stay out of her way at home, but he can do more if she tells him. He’s so beholden to her as a tenant. She says she was worried about how their living together would work, but it’s been kind of great, right? She’s almost hoping the pipes in his apartment never get fixed. That’s crazy, right? He says, no.

Sasha says Cody should build a hatchet range on that estate he wants to buy, and he says, at Serenity? Sure. If he’s ever in a position to buy that place, first thing to go in will be a hatchet range. She asks why he’s doubting it. She knows he can make it happen. He says he sure hopes so. These good looks aren’t going to last forever. She says, there’s a lot more to him than his good looks, and he says, like what? Maxie asks if they’re going to throw the hatchet or what, and Cody tells her to chill out and wait her turn. Sasha gets a bullseye, and Maxie says, what? They’ve been hustled.

Sonny tells John, what happened to Curtis is a tragedy and whoever did that is going to pay. But he’s been around long enough to know when a Fed is trying to provoke him. John says, then let him give Sonny a warning. Whoever this shooter is, he knows Sonny’s world. He knows how Sonny moves. If he’s come for Sonny, that only means one thing. It means he’s already in Sonny’s house. So watch your back.

Dex asks Josslyn to tell him the truth. Does she really want to be here?

Brick says, so, Jordan mentioned daffodils, and she says she did, didn’t she? He asks if it’s her favorite flower and she says, it’s definitely on the list. His phone dings, and he asks her to excuse him. He looks at the phone, then looks at Dex.

Josslyn says she wants to be with Dex, and he says, here, with all these people? She says, no, and he says, then let’s get out of here. They leave as Brick watches. He gets up and tells Jordan that he hates to do this more than she knows. He has to go. He can’t tell her what a wonderful evening it was. She says, maybe their paths will cross in the future, and he says, that’s the plan. He hands her a card and says he has her number. Now she has his private line. Maybe his luck will hold. He leaves.

Sonny says, this is the last time he and John are going to be alone together like this. If John wants to talk to him, he has to call Sonny’s lawyer Diane Miller. He’ll like her. John says, so that’s it? That’s the way it’s going to be? Sonny says, that’s the way it’s going to be, and John heads for the door. Sonny says, hey, Jagger, and John says, for the last time, it’s John. Sonny says, hey, John, welcome back, and Jagger John leaves.

Michael comes downstairs, apologizing that it took so long. He doesn’t think Wiley’s magic act is quite ready for Vegas yet. He sees Willow asleep on the couch and covers her with a blanket.

Cody says, Sasha did pretty good on that last one and she says, it must have been his tutelage. Also, she comes here a lot. He says, really? He wouldn’t have pegged her as a frequent thrower. She says, it’s been a tough couple of years. Some days she would come in here and she wouldn’t even care about throwing. She could have just chopped up the furniture or anything else she could get her hands on, but she’d settle for throwing the hatchet as far as she could. He says, she means at the target, and she says, does she? They laugh and she says, a few visits later, voila. He says, thankfully, one of them had a good night. He’s sorry. He feels like his game let them down. She says she noticed that his game was off. It was almost like he didn’t want them to win.

Maxie throws, and she and Spinelli get all excited. Maxie says she doesn’t want to brag. Who is she kidding? Of course (🍷) she wants to brag. She’s on fire tonight. She tells Spinelli that it’s his turn, and Spinelli gets a bullseye. Maxie squeals and they hug. Cody gives Spinelli a thumbs up.

Drew says, if it’s that important to the moss bowl🎍and Carly, he’ll put a pause on anything to do with Nina, but he doesn’t want Carly staying at Crimson if she’s unhappy there. She says she’s not unhappy. In fact, she’s warming up to the idea of staying on as Editor-in-Chief long term. She loves the people she gets to work with, and the fashion industry is thrilling. He says, she’s going to be blown away by the artists she gets to meet, and she says she can’t wait. She just wants to stay for the right reasons. Not to get back at Nina, but to build something great with him. He says he loves the sound of that, and they hug.

Dex and Josslyn spoon in bed, and she turns to him and says she’s sorry about him missing the show. He kisses her and says he’s right where he wants to be. She goes back to being the little spoon.

Brick walks into Sonny’s office and says he found something. Someone in his organization has an offshore bank account. He counted too many zeros. Three guesses as to who it belongs to. Sonny says he just needs one. Dex?

Smelled that one coming as soon as Michael paid Dex.

On Monday, Carly needs to talk to Diane and says, it’s an emergency; Trina tells Ava that she can’t live with this family; Michael tells Josslyn, someone Sonny trusts sold him out; and Drew tells Nina, keep playing with fire and see where it gets her.

🌹 She Could Be Handing Out Roses…

At best it was just hinted at by somebody who told somebody, but it’s a great idea. I never watch these shows as I always feel embarrassed for the contestants, but I’d watch it if she was on it.

🩺 She Botched It…

And he’s a real doctor.

🌴 What They’re Wearing…

Apparently, they’ve learned something since that top photo was taken. It looks like they’re going on a picnic in outer space.

💰 Longest Hiatus Ever…

Good to hear they’re getting a second chance, since they weren’t that awful… yet. Caroline Stanbury has always been one of my favorites.

🏈 Bowlin’ It…

First, the boring stuff.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-the-2024-super-bowl-8572420

Cliff Notes version of the boring stuff.

https://www.cbsnews.com/essentials/when-does-super-bowl-start-end-2024-timeline

The fun stuff.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2024-performers-usher-halftime-reba-mcentire-national-anthem-8546391

🐕 A Bowl Full Of Cuteness…

Not so boring when it’s puppies.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-puppy-bowl-2024-where-to-stream-8559167

I just thought it was funny that this was in the Sporting News.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/puppy-bowl-2024-schedule-time-channel-stream/2d2d79415a95fc57f37625aa

The Bowl turns 20!

https://apnews.com/article/puppy-bowl-2024-20th-anniversary-fe5ab3507eb72f24e170d1cb23c28b52

You, too, can have your own Bowler.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/adopt

A spin-off success story.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-referee-dan-scahaner-adopts-his-first-dog-8558579

🧧 Quotes of the Week

If I don’t go into that office every day, who am I? – Freddy Rumsen (Joel Murray), Mad Men

There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.Amanda Gorman

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. – Søren Kierkegaard

What’s the matter? You guys can’t do regular crack?Judge Mathis to guys doing combo drugs, Judge Mathis

Take the attitude of a student. Never be too big to ask questions. Never know too much to learn something new. – Augustine “Og” Mandino

We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing and inclusion. – Max de Pree

Life is about making an impact, not making an income. – Kevin Kruse

Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.Potter Stewart

When she says jump, you say, I wish I could. – Peggy Biggs (Rondi Reed), Mike & Molly

🐲 Dragon In the New Year…

Enjoy a Bowl this weekend even if it’s a cereal bowl, then join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not taking any game too seriously (unless you’re a professional player), and stay knowing the best revenge is to make someone irrelevant by moving on with your life.