(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Nathan goes to Claudette’s room. He doesn’t want small talk, espresso, or a walk down Memory Lane. He just wants to know what she wants. She tells him she’s in trouble and he’s the only one who can help.
Scotty is outside on the phone talking to a reporter about the prosecution’s case falling apart and how he didn’t even need to put Julian on the stand. Griff overhears him and tells Scotty that he’s Duke’s son. He wants to know what happened.
Olivia confronts Alexis while she’s trying to have coffee, and accuses her of being drunk on the stand. She tells Alexis that her actions might set Julian free.
Ava visits Julian in his cell, and tells him the jury will do the right thing and let him go.
Carly asks Sonny how Michael is. Sonny tells her he’s staying at the Quartermaines. Carly tells him how badly she feels about what told Michael about Sabrrrina. She said she didn’t think they belonged together, but certainly didn’t wish her any harm. Sonny wonders who would be heartless enough to murder her.
Paul is! Dillon sees him sitting in an empty courtroom and asks if everything is okay. Paul says no, it’s not, and he did a bad thing.
Alexis tells Olivia if she’s going to berate her, at least sit down. Olivia says it’s all over the news that Alexis was drunk, but Alexis says she only had one glass of wine. Something was wrong and she doesn’t know what or why. She asks if the news told Olivia how the confession she risked her life for was tossed out. Olivia asks Alexis to make her understand.
Ava tells Julian not to be a pessimist. His fate is in the hands of a jury who never heard his confession, only Alexis’s convoluted testimony. Julian wonders why she isn’t surprised. She says Alexis has always been a mess and finally cracked, and maybe the stars aligned just for him. Julian says maybe someone gave the stars a push. Ava says if everything works out, she’ll owe him big. Quid pro quo.
Dillon asks Paul to be more specific. Paul says if Julian goes free, it’s his fault. Dillon tells Paul about Sabrrrina being killed at GH and that the hospital is closing. Paul says it will have serious repercussions throughout the city, but Dillon says the board thinks it’s the best way to keep everyone safe. Dillon says he’d appreciate it if Paul would reassure Tracy that he’s doing everything in his power to catch the killer. Paul says he will.
Sonny says he thinks Sabrrrina found something out about the hospital killer and was silenced. Carly says it’s not his fault, and he promised her the killing stops now.
Nathan asks Claudette how her being in trouble makes it different from every other day. She says for the record, none of this was her fault. She says after they split up – he corrects her, saying she cheated on him and he left – she hooked up with the wrong, dangerous man. Nathan tells her about there being no online record of her. He asks for the guy’s name and she says he’s in prison. Nathan laughs about her getting involved with a cop, a priest and a crook. (A cop, a priest and a crook walk into Claudette…) She says the guy was following her from prison and she made herself untraceable, but it didn’t work. She saw Nathan’s engagement announcement and thought he could help her. She thought that it would be easier if they rekindled things, but she realized that playing games wasn’t going to get her anywhere. She goes on about him being a good guy and the memories coming back. He tells her to stop spinning the same line and asks if she’s forgotten about Griff, because he hasn’t.
Scotty tells Griff that nobody knows anything until the jury has its say. Griff says as far as he knew, there was a strong case against Julian. Scotty says he’s not the one Griff should be talking to. Griff wants to know how Scotty got around the taped confession. Scotty passes the buck to Alexis or Sonny.
Sonny says the killer has to be stopped before it happens again. Carly says let the professionals handle it and he says yeah, the same ones who just screwed up Julian’s trial. She wants him to promise not to take the law into his own hands.
Ava tells Julian that she performed a miracle. He hopes she didn’t perform one too many miracles today, and asks if she had anything to do with Sabrrrina getting killed. She says her hands are clean there, and she was going to ask him about that. She says it’s tragic and sad, but it helped his case. He says Sabrrrina’s death could be the reason he gets convicted.
Ava’s not following him. She says Sabrrrina not testifying is a good thing. He says juries aren’t ignorant and they know who he is. He thinks they’ll believe he had something to do with it. He wishes he’d started thinking differently a long time ago. If he had, none of this would be happening. He wishes he’d never told Alexis his secrets. A little late for that.
Alexis says it was like she was watching herself and she couldn’t comprehend what Paul was saying. Olivia says the nightmare is just beginning if the verdict is not guilty, because Julian can’t be tried again. He’ll be free to show up at her door and Alexis’s door and anybody else’s door he wants to show up at. She tells Alexis that he married her and tried to kill her; he has no morals or ethics and all he cares about is himself. He doesn’t even care about Leo.
Carly tells Sonny if he goes after Julian, Ava will return the fire, and what if another family gets involved? The best way to stop it is to not start it. Sonny tells her to drop it, but she says there’s too much at stake. She doesn’t want to wonder about retaliation. She wants him to promise that if Julian is found not guilty, he’ll let it go.
Paul says he’ll do whatever he can to resolve the hospital situation. He thanks Dillon for coming to him, saying he understands things have been strained between them. Dillon admits he said some harsh things about Paul’s ambition, but he’s proud of his work as DA. Paul apologizes for not being there when Dillon grew up. Dillon says they can’t change past, but they can make a better future.
The jury has reached a verdict. Everyone gets a text.
Scotty tells Paul he looks a little pasty and should have gone outside. Paul says some of us have work to do. Scotty probably is the laziest lawyer in the world. Any time he wins a case, it’s just pure luck. Everyone trickles back into the courtroom. Ava asks Alexis how she’s doing, and Olivia tells her to leave Alexis alone. Olivia asks if Ava can not be a bitch for like 30 seconds, and Ava says she just wants justice served. Alexis says her too. Everyone makes soap opera faces at each other in the courtroom
Claudette says she didn’t know Griff lived in Port Charles until she saw him, and then the feelings came back. Nathan says, oh, like the feelings for him. She says that’s not the issue – the bottom line is she’s in trouble and needs help. Nathan says she’s not going to get it from him.
The judge asks for the verdict. I hold my breath. Probably Julian is too. And everyone else. The judge shakes her head a little and takes an incredible amount of time, enough for everyone to make as many soap opera faces as they want.
The judge asks if all jury members agree with each count. They do. Solicitation: not guilty; theft of evidence: not guilty; obstruction of justice: not guilty; not going well; conspiracy to commit murder of Duke: not guilty. Carly yells, no! and the judge says no more outbursts. No surprise the verdicts for both Carrrlos’s murder and the attempted murder of Alexis are not guilty. Olivia gets up and yells that he’s guilty of everything and they all know it.
Claudette tells Nathan to listen to her. He tells her that’s all he’s done since they’ve known each other. He says it’s been endless lies since she got to Port Charles. He says she ruined his life before and wanted to do it again. He tells her to go to the authorities, but never contact him again. She says if he won’t do it for her, do it for us.
Again, the judge says no more outbursts. She releases the jury and tells Julian he’s free. Alexis leaves the courtroom in tears and sobs in the hallway. Olivia goes out to help her. Alexis says she needs to be alone and runs off.
Scotty pats himself on the back and Julian thanks him. Julian doesn’t look too happy though. Scotty tells Paul he put up a good fight and maybe next time. Dillon tells Paul he’s sorry and knows Paul did what he could. Paul wants to be alone too. Ava hugs Julian, saying how happy she is, and thanks Scotty. Scotty says they have some formalities to take care of and then Julian can go home. Ava hugs Julian, whispering in his ear that he owes her.
Sonny, Carly and Julian are left in the courtroom. Sonny looks at Julian ominously. I have the feeling he’s not going to keep his promise.
Claudette says she’s desperate. Nathan says she’s crazy and there is no “us.” She says she’s talking about her and her daughter. Thought it was going to be something like that.
Olivia tells Dillon this is a real mess, which is an understatement.
Alexis is at the bar talking to herself. She’s going over her testimony as it should have been, playing both parts. She says that’s all the jury needed to hear, but she couldn’t say what she needed to say. She asks for another drink.
Ava sees Paul outside. She thanks him for a job well done. She tells him there’s a letter in someone’s possession that will go to the authorities if she meets with any accident. He says how magnanimous of her. She says she doesn’t get why he’d kill complete strangers. He says she wouldn’t understand and she says try her. He says no, but he understands her better than he realized, and her need to protect her brother. He says family is supposed to take care of family, and she says she pegged him as a lone wolf. He tells her she’d be surprised. She tells him to stop while he’s ahead and get out of town before someone else figures out what he’s done.
Griff prays for his family, relatives and friends. He prays that his father has peace in God’s presence, and that his family has peace and is united to live a life that glorifies God. He prays for mercy for those who brought harm to his father and says in the end, only God can pass final judgment. He adds that in the end, he knows there will be justice.
Scotty and Julian wrap it up at court. Julian tells Sonny he wanted justice and it got served. Sonny tells him it will be when he sees Julian in hell.
Tomorrow, Finn goes nuts, Joe tells Morgan that Michael is nothing to Teddy (and it looks like Morgan punches him out) and Epiphany apologizes to Dr. Hardy’s photo.
If Loving You is Wrong
Travis continues to force himself on Kelly. She says he’s not going to take advantage of her. He wants her to beg like she made him beg. She keeps apologizing and saying anything to get him off of her. Justice comes out on the porch and asks if his mother is okay. Travis says she made a mistake and daddy is going to forgive her. Kelly herds the kids back into the house and shuts the door behind her.
Justice asks if Kelly is all right and if Travis hurt her. She says everything is fine. She sends the kids back to bed. After they’re out of the room, she sobs by the kitchen sink and creepy Travis knocks on the window. Ew! He’s tracing hearts on it or something. She calls the police and he slips away into the night. Wait, he’s slipping past the windows. Why is it taking so long for someone to pick up at 911? Finally, he drives away and Kelly puts the phone down. Maybe she was just pretending to call.
Esperanza asks Julius what he’s doing in jail. He says he got arrested and she says good. She asks Andrew what happened and Andrew says drinking and driving. He asks if she knows him and if he’s who he says he is. She says yes, and be careful.
Ben calls Andrew an idiot for arresting a cartel. A whole cartel? It’s just Julius. Ben tells Andrew that Julius is the leader now that his father is dead. Ben asks if Julius wants some coffee, but Julius says he just wants out. Ben says he’ll make that happen and apologizes for Andrew’s incompetence. Julius asks Ben about his hand. Julius says he knows Ben and asks if he was shot. They have some weird exchange and Julius tells Ben to get his coffee.
Andrew asks what the blip Ben is doing. He says Julius refused a breathalyzer. Ben doesn’t listen to him and gives Julius the coffee. Julius says Andrew needs to know who people are around here and Ben says he does. Esperanza tells Ben to get a move on. He and Julius say they’ll talk.
Julius tries to get Esperanza to engage. She says she doesn’t want to talk to him and he says she just did. BA-DUM-CHH! Then he tells her how great she looks and she says she knows. Everyone is very sassy today.
It’s Randal in a box! He asks if someone is there and says he can hear them. The voice of Alex’s father asks if he likes being in the box. Randal starts to freak and yell for help and Rusty says no help is coming.
Alex is still freaking out after her encounter with a bloody Louise. She calls Lushion and leaves a message. No wonder she got herself into this position in the first place. Apparently, she’s not very bright. She keeps saying she can’t. Can’t what? Call an ambulance? Finally, she calls 911 and tells Esperanza her baby has been kidnapped. Holy Christmas, is she not going to say anything about Louise??? Esperanza asks what happened and Alex says he’s gone. She asks if Alex is hurt and if she should send an ambulance. Alex says she’s not hurt, but to send an ambulance for Randal’s mother. Esperanza says a car and an ambulance are on the way, and asks how Louise got hurt. Alex says she doesn’t know. She says she heard a noise and went outside, but she’s hard to understand because she’s crying and keeps saying I don’t know. Esperanza asks if she thinks Randal took her son, but she doesn’t know that either. She says the baby was in his car seat on the table and when she came back, the door was open and he was gone.
There’s a knock at Kelly’s door. She thinks it’s Travis, but it’s Alex. This town doesn’t seem all that big, so I’m wondering what’s taking the police so long. Alex tells her something happened and she needs Kelly to go to her house and stay with the kids. Alex says he took the baby and babbles incoherently. She tells Kelly the police are coming and drives away. Kelly yells, “What’s happening!” like that kid in Poltergeist.
Meanwhile, back at the aftermath of the shootout, Lushion tells Natalie that he’ll take the kids to her mother’s house and hustles her away. Steven says there’s one dead and two wounded and he wants a statement from Lushion. Eddie pops out of nowhere and Lushion gets livid, asking what he’s doing there. Lushion leaves and Steven asks Eddoe if he knows the kid and tells him to wipe the smile off his face. He tells Eddie to keep pushing him and he’s going to find out what can happen. Eddie tells him to walk away and he does. Eddie tells the dead kid that he’s lucky because he was going to blast him, and thanks for saving him the trouble. Steven tells him to have some respect. I’m guessing the dead kid is the one who tried to rob Faun, since it sounds like she and Joey went to the hospital.
Brad gets home and Marcie asks where he’s been. He says he went for a drive and she asks if that’s why his boots are muddy. He says he got stuck in the mud. She asks about his drive and he says he went to some mountain to look at the stars. She asks if he was alone and he says she wouldn’t have gone with him. She asks how he would know and he says let’s go now. She has to work in the morning, but tells him not to assume she’d say no. He says one minute she’s throwing him out and the next she’s flirting with him. He says while he was driving, he wondered if this all happened so they could be together, and what if this is all about them? Marcie says their spouses had an affair and lied to them about their baby, and now the two exes are living together. She says it’s too much drama and she doesn’t want it to be her narrative. He suggests they rewrite it and move somewhere else. Marcie thinks they should just leave well enough alone. She tells him she found some places he might like.
He says he stayed out as late as he could, hoping she’d be asleep when he got back. He asks why she’s up anyway and she says she ate something funky. He asks if she needs anything, but she says no. They half-smile at each other and he wants her to sit next to him. He says he just wants to talk, but she says that’s not what his eyes are telling her and tells him goodnight. He tells her she’d better lock the door. We hear it lock after she closes it. Brad looks grim. Just wait.
Kelly gets a collect call from prison. In Ohio. Is that where they are? No name or anything. I guess it’s Justice’s father. He asks how Justice is and what she told him about his father. She says not much and he gets specific, asking if Justice knows he’s in jail. She says no, and he tells her he’s up for probation and he wants to come live with her. He wants to be a father to Justice. She’s like, we can’t pick up from nine years ago. They have 30 seconds and he asks her to think about it. He says he’ll see her soon. Not if she sees you first.
Esperanza calls Kelly and asks what’s going on. She tells Esperanza about Alex being all crazy. Esperanza tells her the baby and Randal are missing and something happened to Louise. Kelly assumes Randal took the baby and says she knew something crazy was going to happen. Esperanza asks if she heard anything like screaming or banging, but Kelly says she was asleep until Alex barged in. She says that Alex left in her car and Esperanza asks if Kelly can talk to the police when they get there. Kelly wants to go watch the kids, but Esperanza tells her Louise is hurt and to please go over to Randal’s place.
Kelly takes the phone with her and says she never knew so much drama would be going on in this neighborhood. Esperanza suggests Kelly get Ramsey to go with her, but she says he hasn’t spoken to her since their misunderstanding. I finally find out how to spell his name, but I like Ramses better. Esperanza says this isn’t about her and to get over there. Kelly sees a note on Ramsey’s door saying he’s gone back to Utah. She tells Esperanza he’s not there. Esperanza tells her to call him, but she says no. She leaves out the part about the note and says she’ll call Esperanza back.
Kelly calls Ramsey, but the number is no longer in service. Kelly tells Esperanza that Ramsey didn’t answer and he’s gone back to Utah. Esperanza says she needs for Kelly to check on Louise and the police will be there any second. In my world, it’s been nearly an hour since the they were called. Kelly sees a trail of blood going into (or out of) Randal’s house. A lot of blood. She follows it, telling Esperanza it’s all over the place. Esperanza tells her to keep going and asks where the blood leads. Kelly says she doesn’t want to know. Esperanza says she needs to know where the trail leads, saying the baby could be hurt. No emergency operator in their right mind would asks a civilian to do this. Kelly says the blood is coming out of Marcie and Randal’s house. She says the door is kicked in and she can’t go in there. Esperanza tells her to go in, but Kelly says she’s waiting for the police. Esperanza tells her to look in and tell her what she sees. A bloody hand sticks out from behind an ottoman.
Kelly tells Esperanza she sees a bloody body.
Next time, Andrew threatens to go to the captain, Justice’s father bugs Kelly some more, Esperanza tells Eddie his days are numbered, and Julius asks Ben if he wants someone killed.
Below Deck
The crew gets ready for a new charter. Nico video chats with a girlfriend and complains about his altercation with Trevor. Kelley does exercises. He wants to keep Trevor motivated, but he’s still going to have to deal with his attitude. Ben makes another amazing breakfast. Nico talks to Sierra about what happened with Trevor. Trevor stumbles out of bed. In his interview, he does that “we were all drunk” thing that I hate. No. You were drunk.
Trevor sits down to breakfast and there’s silence. In his interview, Kelley says that crossing personal boundaries, even in your off time, is uncool. Kate tells Emily about what happened. Frankly, I think Trevor is a few bricks short of a load.
Lauren asks Nico how sleeping in the guest quarters was, and he jokes champagne popping. He wonders how the argument even started in the first place, and why Trevor felt the need to be insulting when they were supposed to be relaxing.
Emily burns a sheet because she left the iron on. Kate isn’t mad, but doesn’t want it happening again and thinks they might need a needlepoint sampler with instructions on the back of the door.
The primary guests also own yachts. There are two couples, some friends, and a poodle named Scupper. Ben isn’t thrilled about cooking for a dog. The guests want to have a clam bake, which Ben isn’t thrilled about either.
Ben says he’s making a nine-course tasting menu for the dog and Kate suggests they focus on the dog and give the guests the leftovers. Captain Lee informs them that the clam bake will be at 4:30 because at dusk, the bugs come out. Ben wants to call it an early dinner so the guests won’t want dinner later.
Kelley calls Trevor to the deck. He says Trevor’s behavior was unacceptable and he’s no longer a senior deckhand. He’s not allowed to boss anyone around. From now on, he just does the deck chores he’s supposed to. Kelley says if Trevor makes another misstep, he’s going to push for him to be gone. Trevor says he’s down, but not out. I’d call him a few clowns short of a circus.
Sierra tells Emily about how her father died when she was younger. She says everyone grieved in their own way and the family kind of drifted apart. In her interview, she tells us that she found what she needed in yachting.
Kelley tells Captain Lee about how he demoted Trevor. In his interview, the captain thinks Kelley is doing a great job.
The captain calls everyone on deck for a delivery. Whatever it is, it’s heavy
Scupper arrives! Douglas is the main dude after Scupper. Kate does the tour and asks the guests about their own yachts. Is this like a bus-man’s holiday? In her interview, Kate says she’s pretty sure Scupper gets treated better than 90% of the children in the US. Douglas asks to have Scupper’s tuxedo steamed. Douglas tells Kate not to stress Ben. He must have seen the show before.
They have to dock in a small marina and the wind is blowing against the yacht, making it harder. The guests concur that the captain knows his way around a boat. The crew takes the supplies to shore and Scupper throws up some yellow stuff. To his credit, Douglas offers to clean it up.
It’s time for the clam bake and I can’t stand it because I’d love to be a guest on this boat. These people don’t seem like heavy drinkers either, which is probably easier on the crew. The guests ask for dinner at nine when they haven’t even started on the clam bake. Apparently, the flies are being a pain and Ben apologizes. Ben thinks Kate must have called the clam bake something other than dinner when he finds out he has to cook another meal. She says there are three certain things – death, taxes and Ben getting angry when he has to cook food. She tells him even if she’d called it their last meal ever, they’d still get hungry later.
Ben gets testy and Kate explains to Sierra that he’s having a diva moment. Ben complains to Kelley about the guests thinking there’s going to be a sit-down dinner later. One of the guests picks up on Ben being pissed because of the dinner move up. Not a good look.
Sierra asks Trevor to ask Kelley for more trash bags. When Kelley tells him to say the magic word, Trevor gets angry and insults Kelley to the girls. Lauren tells him to let it go, but he says he’s going to f-ing lose it.
They get back to the boat and Ben says he’ll talk to the guests. Kate says he’s being a total d*ck and trying to do her job. Ben suggests it would be more fun to have something informal like a tapas option, and the guests are afraid of him, so they agree. Ben and Kate argue in the galley. He says if she can’t communicate with the guests, he will. Kelley suggests closing the galley door if they’re going to argue. Why? The guests are finding this very entertaining.
Douglas or whoever, helps prepare Scupper’s meal since Scupper also takes 75,000 supplements. The crew brings the supplies back and Kelley wants to talk to Trevor again. Kelley tells Trevor he’s the only problem Kelley has and next time just go with the flow.
I love the table setting! It’s very zen with colored glass pebbles all over. A guest asks for a gin and tonic, and Sierra asks if they want alcohol in that. He says, um, that would be the gin part. First up is a crab cake that I desperately want to taste. Seared tuna! One of the guests says something to Kate about Ben, and suggests they ask for a full breakfast at 6 am. Kate says they’re only there for two days so they should be able to eat what and when they want. Hear! Hear!
Captain Lee tells the crew to get ready for departure. Trevor sits around looking at his feet. The water is incredibly blue and beautiful, as is the day. Scupper is having the time of his life. Eggs Benedict Florentine with turkey bacon! Ben asks Kate if they’re happy and she says the only one who isn’t happy is him.Captain Lee says he needs four shots dropped and I get out the Wild Turkey. Scupper has to make poopie, which Trevor calls using the restroom, because he’s a few beers short of a six-pack.
Ben asks Kate to make an agreement. She tells him see you next Tuesday, and he says she’s a Tuesday. She says she’s a Tuesday every day of the week. In his interview, Ben says he hates arguing with her because he can’t ruffle her and basically she’s better at it.
The crew is trying to set up some kind of pool thing – the thing that was delivered at the beginning of the episode. It’s got some kind of net so the guests can swim without coming in contact with sea creatures. Okay, but isn’t that part of the fun?
Scupper dresses in his tux for dinner – seafood on a heavenly cloud. Kelley calls his sister, Amy, who is on another boat with a captain she’s dating. We flash back to when she was on the show. He tells her about Trevor and his altercation with Nico. She says something about three dudes in a hot tub arguing over a tattoo and it sounds like the start of a joke. Or a porn movie.
Dessert is I don’t know what, some kind of fluffy, frothy thing in a tall coffee glass. Just keep ’em comin’. Some of the guests use the hot tub and Kate texts her girlfriend. The guests ask Trevor to have a shot. In his interview, he says what’s one shot to a guy like him who can drink a whole bottle? Because he’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Emily says this is a huge no-no, but she’s not into tattling.
The last breakfast is so good, there isn’t even conversation because everyone is concentrating on eating. Time to go. The guests are pleased and glad they could just kick back without having to deal with their own boats. When the crew cleans up, Trevor examines his feet again. Because he’s a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
Captain Lee gathers everyone for tip time. He suggests they work on communication. Ben says it’s diabolical. The haul is $12,000 or $1,085 a piece. They can go out tonight, but tomorrow’s a work day. The crew tries to get as much done as possible before relaxing. Emily does some yoga on the deck and Kelley reminds us that it’s been five months. I remind him that I don’t want to know.
The crew goes out for dinner on shore. Lauren makes a toast and says let’s get weird. Trevor chugs a martini and gives Kate hair advice because he was a Paul Mitchell model. The crew plays on a swingset while Trevor orders 10 different drinks. He falls off of a swing that’s totally still.
Kelley chats up Emily, who is newly single. They play a large-sized game of Jenga. In his interview, Ben says Trevor is past his inebriated threshold. Trevor calls Kate a bitch and Ben says he’s the only one allowed to do that. Trevor tells him to chill out. At this point, Trevor is so incoherent, there are subtitles. Ben tells him no more for you.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 