Category Archives: walking dead

February 11, 2022 – Valentine’s Day Part 1, New Gig, Through Laura’s Eyes, News Jersey, a Book, an Update, Wouldn’t Listen, Dead Tales, Puppies (!), OctoQuoteapus & Basement 

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

VALENTINE’S DAY PART 1

Terry says she has something to tell Elizabeth, and Elizabeth says she’s listening. Terry says she has her first date with the guy she’s been messaging from the dating app, and Elizabeth says, on Valentine’s Day? Terry says, she knows; aggressive. Elizabeth says, or extremely romantic. She wants to know everything about him, and Terry says, later. Elizabeth says, Terry is going to leave her hanging, and Terry says she has a patient. Elizabeth says she’s excited for Terry, and Terry says she is too. Terry leaves, and Elizabeth puts her head in her hands. Finn comes in, and tells her that she has no business being tired. He’s the one who slept on the bench… he means, couch. That is a couch, isn’t it? Elizabeth says, not up to his standards? and he tells her, he’s just saying she might want to think about an upgrade. Just a suggestion. She says, lucky for him, there’s no need for another sleepover. They checked all the ships leaving Port Charles last night, and no sign of Peter. Looks like he found his way out of town. He says, with that guy, anything is possible, and she says, careful. It almost sounds like he wants to crash on her couch again. He asks if that would be so bad.

Taggert meets Portia at the MetroCourt, and she thanks him for coming. He says, anything for Trina, and they hug. She says, maybe it’s nothing, and she’s overreacting. She’s been acting fine… He says, but Portia’s mom radar is going off? and she says, it is, big time. Trina went on this trip with all of her friends, and ever since she’s been back, Trina hasn’t said a word to her. That’s not normal for her, right? He says, dinner tonight was a good idea. They’ll figure out what’s going on with Trina, and get their girl back on track.

Sonny walks into Charlie’s with a bouquet of flowers, and sets them on the bar. Phyllis says, for her? and he says he just wanted to see how she was her first Valentine’s without Lenny, but – he looks around, seeing the decorations and crowd for the Anti-Valentine’s Day party – it looks like she’s doing pretty good. She says, Lenny hated Valentine’s Day. Every year, she got chocolate, flowers, and a rant about how he didn’t need some greeting card company telling him how and when to express his love. He says, sounds like Lenny, and she says, doesn’t it? She thought this could be her way of honoring him; not to mention, it makes good business sense. So many people feel left out on this holiday. Lonely hearts need a place to go too.

Nina visits Ava at Windymere, and says, Ava looks incredible. Hot date? Ava says, with her hot husband, and Nina asks why Ava didn’t say she had plans. Ava says she sounded kind of upset when she called. Besides, she figured Nina would know she had plans for tonight. Nina asks, what’s tonight? and Ava makes a heart with her hands, and says, it’s February 14th. Nina says, it’s Valentine’s Day, and Ava says, oh boy. Nina doesn’t even know what day it is. Something big must have gone down, huh?

Carly tells her assistant JoAnn, sorry for keeping her so late, and JoAnn says, Valentine’s Day is always busy here. Carly flashes back to telling Sonny that they’re over and it’s on him. JoAnn says, if Carly needs her, she’ll be in the office, but Carly asks her to wait. One more thing.

Nina tells Ava, she’s so sorry. She forgot there are some people who still celebrate Valentine’s Day. She’ll just go. Ava says, she’ll do no such thing, and invites her in. She says she did hear about Maxie. Nina must be so worried. Unless there’s something else going on. Nina says, no. Maxie and Peter’s trail has gone cold, and she’s losing her mind wondering where they could be. The only consolation, thank God, is that Maxie’s daughter was found safe. Ava asks if Peter had her this entire time, and Nina says, Ava remembers. Peter showed up in Nixon Falls, and tried to blackmail her into helping him find Louise. Ava says, right, and he threatened to tell the truth about Sonny, and Nina says, there’s more to that story – a lot more.

Finn says he’ll get Elizabeth a cup of coffee, and she says she doesn’t know what’s wrong with her; she can’t snap out of it today. He says, that’s understandable. She’s worried about Maxie; they all are. It’s Valentine’s Day, and also her anniversary with Franco. She thanks him for remembering; it means a lot. He tells her to go easy on herself, and she says she’ll try. Amy and brother Chet walk in (wow. we haven’t seen Chet in years), and Finn says, it’s been a while. How’s everything going? Amy says, things are terrible.

Trina joins Portia and Taggert, and Portia thanks her for making time for her parents. Trina asks if Portia shouldn’t be on a date right now, and Portia says, she will, a little bit later. She had to spend some time with her original Valentine. Taggert asks why Trina isn’t asking if he has any plans, and she says, does he? He says, no, and she says, that’s why she wasn’t asking. Portia says, sit, and Trina says, they’re acting weird, but she’s hungry, so… They sit down, and Taggert says he’d like to propose a toast. To Trina. She’s strong, intelligent, and kind. Portia says, beautiful, not that it matters, and Taggert says, it’s true. She’s kicking ass at PCU, and she just organized her very first gallery exhibition. Portia says, which was a huge success, and Taggert says, if this Spencer Cassadine can’t see her for the star that she is, it’s his loss. Portia tells him, that’s real smooth, and he says, what? Trina asks if that’s what tonight is about, Spencer, and Portia says, it’s really not. Not completely. It just seems like Trina is having kind of a rough time dealing with this young man. Trina says she can’t believe this. Her own parents think she’s pathetic.

Carly picks up a paper heart from the bar, and rips it in pieces. Sam comes in, and says she sees Carly’s not a fan of Valentine’s Day. She sits at the bar, and Carly asks if she’s meeting Dante here. Sam says she wishes. He’s searching for Maxie and Peter. Carly says she heard he took Maxie hostage; that’s awful. Sam says, that sums Peter up in a nutshell. Carly hopes they find that guy, and Sam says, her too, then says, so? and Carly says, what? Sam says she didn’t think she’d have to ask, but how did things go with Sonny? Carly says she walked in on him in bed with Nina.

Phyllis says, the flowers are beautiful, and thanks Sonny. He says, if he’d known about the chocolates, he would have brought them too, and she says, don’t think she didn’t buy some for herself. She swears she could feel Lenny’s spirit when she paid for them. Sonny says he misses Lenny, and she says, she misses him too. So how’s he doing? Still on his meds? He says, yes, ma’am, and she laughs. She asks how things are going with Carly. Last night seemed so hopeful. He drains his glass and puts it on the bar, saying, yep. She says she’s guessing things didn’t go as planned, and he says, he and Carly are as far apart as they’ve ever been.

Ava tells Nina, good for Maxie. That plan took smarts and guts. And good for Nina, playing along with Peter to keep him away from Port Charles. To be able to tell people she had motivation, other than hiding the truth about Sonny, is a vindication of sorts. Nina says, she’d hardly call herself vindicated, and they sit down with martinis. Ava says, any updates on that front? Her and Sonny? Nina asks what she’s heard, and Ava says, nothing, but obviously there’s something. Nina’s acting like she doesn’t want to talk about it, but Ava thinks she does want to talk about it, or she wouldn’t have come all the way out here. Nina says, they’re friends and she wanted company. Is that so hard to believe? Ava says it is, and Nina says, she and Sonny slept together, and Carly walked in on them. Ava asks, how was it? and Nina says, which part? Ava says she’s sorry; never mind. Carly walked in on Nina and her husband in bed together. That is… Nina says, horrible; 100% fully and completely horrible. Ava says she’s sure it was excruciating at the time, and Nina says, it’s still pretty excruciating, but Ava suggests Nina look to the future. Doesn’t this mean she and Sonny can be together? 

Chet says, as Finn and Elizabeth can imagine, they’re pretty worried about Maxie, and Amy says, it’s all she can think about; where she is, how she is, when is she coming home? Elizabeth says she knows. It makes her grateful for work; she needs the distraction. Amy says, her too, and Chet says, he came in with Amy so she could help with the clothing drive. They just loaded up the donations. He can’t believe how many there are. Elizabeth asks if Finn’s seen the bins all over the hospital, to benefit veterans in need, and he says, of course (🍷). He didn’t know it was Chet’s doing. Chet says, after the explosion at The Floating Rib, he was down to one job, and Amy says, the best manager Beradino’s ever had. Chet says, with all that free time, he thought he’d volunteer for a non-profit that helps veterans with physical and mental injuries; make sure they have clothing, food, shelter, and medicine. Finn says, sounds like an amazing charity, and Chet says he credits Amy for getting the hospital involved. Amy says, the clothing drive has been a big hit, and Elizabeth says, that reminds her. She has a box of stuff she left home this morning, but her son is bringing it by any minute. Chet says, getting the whole family involved; he likes it. Elizabeth says she has a patient she needs to see, and leaves, and Amy asks Finn how it’s going with him and Elizabeth.

Carly tells Sam, Sonny gave excuse after excuse as to why they fell in bed together, and Sam says, as if there’s any plausible way that would be okay. Carly says, Sonny’s still in love with Nina, and is clearly compelled to act on those feelings, and Sam says she’s so sorry. Carly says, she’s not. Seeing them together gave her the clarity she needed. She’s been wrestling for months about moving forward, and if it was even possible. Now she has her answer. It’s no. Sam says she figured, and Carly says she’s not going to sit around while Sonny prioritizes the woman who destroyed their family. She’s moving forward. Her assistant is calling a divorce attorney as they speak. Sam says, divorce? That’s… Carly says, necessary, and Sam tells her, she was going to say, more like fast. Is Carly sure she’s making the right move?

Sonny says he doesn’t want to burden Phyllis with this, so he’s going to sit down. She follows him to the table, and says, it’s no burden unless he doesn’t want to talk about it. He says he wants his wife, and that’s not going to happen. She says, why not? and he says, because Carly made it clear they’re done. She says, maybe it seems that way now… and he says, that’s the way it is. Nothing’s going to change it. He sits, and she says, something must have happened; what was it? He says, he’ll tell her what happened. He made his grand gesture because he need a signal that Carly was willing to fight for their marriage. Phyllis says, she didn’t show up? and he says, she did, but it was very late, and he’d done some thinking. Carly would say he’s defending Nina because he had feelings for her, and he guesses it’s true, but he can’t shut it down. She says, and as long as they’re there, Carly refuses to be with him, and he says, no matter what. He told her he loved her, that he didn’t want to lose her, but it doesn’t matter. He guesses he should just accept that his marriage is over. She says, bull. He hasn’t done everything he can for his marriage and he knows it. She loves him and she loves Nina, but she’s afraid she hasn’t been a very good friend to either one of them. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says she hasn’t been very forthright. He says, she’s not responsible for his actions any more than she is for Nina’s, and she says she knows that, but part of being a friend, is saying the hard truths. He tells her, say it, and she says, he claims he’s tried everything to fix his marriage. Does that include telling Carly that he went off his meds, and Nina was there to get him help? He says, no, and she says, so he’s still not being honest with his wife. He rationalizes, just like he rationalized not telling Carly that he and Nina fell in love in Nixon Falls. Relationships need trust. If he keeps repeating the same mistakes, how is he going to rebuild the trust he lost? He says, how can he rebuild anything if Carly refuses to hear him?

Carly tells Sam, the sooner she puts this mess behind her, the better. She really needs to get on with her life. Sam says, that is a natural reaction, healthy even. When something hurts, you want to get as far away from it as possible. Carly says, hurts? The image of Sonny and Nina in bed is torture. Sam says, either way, the place Carly is in is not the place she should be making decisions from. Take a second, a minute, days even, to process what this means for her and her family before she puts something in motion she can’t take back. JoAnn returns, and Sam says she’ll give Carly some privacy. She leaves, and JoAnn says, the attorney does have one appointment open tomorrow, but it’s in the morning, right after Carly’s visit with Donna and Avery. Carly says, that doesn’t give her much time, and JoAnn asks what she wants to do.

Finn asks how they knew about him and Elizabeth, and Amy says, they work in a hospital. Everyone knows. He says, everyone? and she says, everyone. So is he going to give her the scoop or not? He says he’s thinking not actually, and Chet says, excuse his sister. She’s got a Valentine’s bug. Amy says, if she can’t have her own romance, she might as well help other people with theirs. Finn says, he’s good, and she says, he sounds just like Chet, refusing to let her set him up. Chet says he doesn’t need to be set up, and she says, tells that to his gaming console. Ever since he and his last girlfriend broke up, he’s been in a total rut. Chet says, thanks for that. By the way, he gets out plenty. She says, casual dates, sure, but she could find his soulmate. Finn tells Chet, good luck with all that. He’ll see Chet around. He leaves, and Amy says, Chet knows she only meddles because she loves him, right?

Portia tells Trina, after everything she and Trina’s father just said, how does she come away with them thinking she’s pathetic? Trina says, they thought she’d be spending tonight pining over some guy, and Portia says, no. It’s just that she’s been so quiet lately, ever since she came back from the trip. Taggert says, her mom is worried something happened on that trip, and Trina says, so they didn’t just ask? Portia says, they don’t want to pry, and Trina says, this is better. Portia says, she’s right. A manufactured sneak attack was not the way to go. They just want her to know they’re here for her and love her. Taggert says, if Trina has anything to get off her chest, they’re listening, and Trina says, it all started with Spencer’s girlfriend. Taggert says, that punk has a girlfriend? and Portia pokes him. He says, please go on, and Trina says, Esme pulled a mean girl stunt at the cabin, and she got upset, but she’s fine now. Portia says, of course (🍷) she’s fine now, but it’s no fun to deal with Esme’s nonsense all the time, and Taggert says, what’s this girl’s name now? Portia says, Esme, and he says, again? She says, Esme, and Trina says, it’s French. Portia says, that girl is jealous of Trina and threatened by her, and Trina says, Portia thinks so? Portia says she knows so.

Nina tells Ava, she doesn’t know where she and Sonny stand. She doesn’t know where Sonny and Carly stand for that matter. Ava says,  surely they’re over now, but Nina says she doesn’t know. She doesn’t even know if she’s rooting for that. The only reason she and Sonny slept together is, they both believed his marriage was over. He was, and is, in so much pain, she doesn’t want to see him hurt like that again. Ava asks why Sonny thought his marriage was over, and Nina says, Carly was supposed to meet him as some sort of sign she was willing to work things out, and Sonny got the impression she wasn’t coming, then Nina showed up, and things just… progressed. Ava says, they sure did, and asks if Nina thinks it was revenge sex. Nina says, no. Say what you want, but she and Sonny have real feelings for each other. It was more like they were repressing these feelings and couldn’t deny it anymore. Ava says, Nina’s wanted this; she got it. Now what is she going to do with it?

Elizabeth brings a box into the locker room, and sees Terry fixing her makeup at the sink. She asks if Terry is heading out, and Terry says she sure is. Elizabeth says, wow. She looks gorgeous. (She does.) Terry asks if Elizabeth is sure it’s not too much, but Elizabeth says, definitely not. Her date is going to be blown away. Terry says, whoever he is, and Elizabeth says, about that. If the dating app doesn’t allow them to exchange photos, how is she going to know who he is? Terry tells her, he said he’d be waiting at the bar, wearing a teal shirt, and Elizabeth says, mysterious. Terry says she’s trying not to get her hopes up. Blind dates are statistically disastrous. I’ve contributed to that statistic. The one I went on was definitely disastrous. That’s why I never did it again. Elizabeth says, but it’s no pressure, right? Just drinks? Terry says, at Charlie’s Anti-Valentine’s party. They’ve been messaging for weeks. She knows everything about him, and he knows everything about her. They just don’t know what each other looks like. Elizabeth says she has the feeling it’s going to go really well, and Terry says, from her lips. Terry says, for the clothing drive? and starts looking through the box, and Elizabeth asks if she’s a veteran. Terry says she’s making sure there’s nothing in there that she gave Elizabeth, and pulls out a garment bag. She says, nice job, donating the fancy stuff, and takes out a dress that has rips in it. She says, or not. Yikes. What happened to this? Elizabeth says, that’s the dress she wore when she got married to Franco.

Nina says, she wants to go to Sonny, but she can’t, and Ava says, why not? Nina says, his marriage just exploded, and Ava says, so? Nina says she doesn’t want to be one of those women who says, what about me? That’s kind of tacky, isn’t it? Ava says, she slept with a married man, and Nina says, she told Ava; she slept with him because she thought his marriage was over… Okay, point taken. Ava says, forget morality and go for it, but Nina says, she’s not doing that. She’s going to stop and think about what’s best for Sonny. Ava says, if it were anybody else, she’d tell Nina to give him space, but Sonny and Carly have survived a lot, and with enough time, they could survive this. So do not give them time.

Carly asks JoAnn to set the meeting, and thanks her. Sam comes back, and Carly says, meeting set. Sam says, okay, and Carly says, that’s it; okay? Sam says Carly might as well hear all her options. That doesn’t mean she has to act right away. She is known for her impulsiveness. Carly says, that’s always worked out like a charm for her, hasn’t it? and Sam says she hopes Carly doesn’t think she’s trying to tell her what to do. Carly says she doesn’t. She thinks Sam’s trying to be a friend. Sam says, good. And as a friend, she thinks she should warn Carly that if Sonny finds out she’s taking the divorce route so quickly, he’s going to be hurt. So hurt, it might be the end for the two of them. Is she prepared for that?

Sonny tells Phyllis, he wanted Carly to meet him halfway, so he’d know she was willing to fight for the marriage. Phyllis says she doesn’t know Carly well, but it’s clear she loves him. Is he sure there’s no way to salvage things? He says, he’s pretty sure, and she says, if he’s waiting for her permission to give up on his marriage, he’s wasting his time. He says, not everyone is as perfect as her and Lenny, and she says, she and Lenny didn’t have some magical romance. Some days were easy, some days were hard, but they worked on it. When you’re committed to someone, that’s what you do. You don’t just throw in the towel when things get difficult. He says he’s glad she decided to stay in Port Charles. He doesn’t know what he could have done without this tough love. His phone dings, he looks at it, and tosses it on the table. Phyllis asks, what’s wrong? and he says, Carly is meeting with a divorce lawyer tomorrow.

Nina tells Ava, she never meant for any of this to happen. If she would have just stopped for a second and considered the ramifications. Ava says, it’s a little late for that now, and Nina says, ya think? She’s in love with a man she’s caused nothing but trouble for, but she doesn’t want to do that anymore. Ava says, she doesn’t have to. If she knows Sonny, he’s off somewhere, nursing his wounds, and spiraling out. Nina could be the one to steady him. Nina says, she’s not going to take advantage of his pain, and Ava says she’s not suggesting Nina seduce the man; just be there for him. Nina loves Sonny, she wants a future with him. Be somebody he can count on. Nina says, she’s caused too much damage by being impulsive. If she cares about Sonny, and she really does, she’s got to stop that destructive behavior. Ava takes it that’s a no; Nina’s not going to go to him then. Nina says, it’s no. For once, she’s going to do the right thing. She’s not going to seek out Sonny. However things land, she’s going to accept it. Ava says, suit herself, but she thinks Nina is making a big mistake.

Terry hands Elizabeth the dress, and asks if it looked like this when she put it in the box. Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. It’s been in the garment bag for months. She hasn’t looked at it. Terry says, donating this is a big step, and Elizabeth says, in the moment, it felt important in helping her move on. Terry says, when she last saw it, months ago, it was still intact? and Elizabeth says she doesn’t know how this could have happened. Terry wonders if razer toothed moths are a thing, but Elizabeth says, there are no holes in the garment bag. Somebody shredded this, but who would have done something like that? Terry says, maybe it fell apart when she had it dry-cleaned, and Elizabeth says she thinks she’s looked at it since then. She guesses it’s a possibility… Terry tells her, say it, and Elizabeth says, today is Franco and her anniversary, and having the dress torn up like this seems like some kind of an omen. She doesn’t even know what she’s saying. Terry takes the dress, and says, let’s get a drink. She’ll reschedule her date. Elizabeth says, absolutely not, but Terry says, it’s no big deal. Elizabeth says, my God, and Terry says, what? Elizabeth says she remembers. She did look at the dress when it came back from the cleaners. There was a tear, but she just didn’t realize the extent. She’s sorry. She’s really tired and her brain is like mush. Mystery solved. Go on her date; have fun. She can’t wait to hear the details. Terry says she loves Elizabeth, and Elizabeth says she loves her too. Terry leaves, and Elizabeth looks at the dress again.

Trina says, she’ll be right back, and leaves the table. Portia sees Taggert staring at her, and asks, what is that look? He says he’s taking it all in, and she says, taking what in? He says she used to be on this singular track, focused on balancing motherhood and her career. She says, and now? and he says, now she’s just different. She hopes in a good way, and he says, in a great way. He’s not saying she wasn’t happy before, but she seems lighter. She says she thinks it has to do with her seeing Curtis. Is that terribly awkward? He says, no. She deserves joy after everything he put her through. She says she did her share of hurting him too, and he says, look at them now. Coming together when it counts for their little girl. She says, not so little anymore. Taggert needs to get out there. He says, he is out, and she says, with his ex-wife and daughter. Come on. He should start dating. He says, here we go. She’s all happy and coupled up, so she wants to see everybody else couple up. She says, maybe. Life does seem full of possibilities right now; brighter and more vibrant… She sounds like a complete idiot. He says, no. She sounds like a woman in love. Her phone dings, and she says, there go her Valentine’s plans. He says, patient emergency? and she says, yeah. Tell Trina that she had to go to the hospital, and give her this. She hands Taggert a card, and says, along with a big hug. He says, of course (🍷). Good luck with her patient. By the elevator, she calls Curtis, and says, she’s so sorry… Yeah. It’s a patient emergency, and she’s going to be at the hospital all night. She promises to make it up to him.

Sam tells Carly, she’s not defending Sonny, nor does she care if the two of them stay together, but as Carly’s friend, she’s just asking if Carly is sure. Carly says, Sonny isn’t going to know she met with a lawyer. Sam says, if Carly decides to pull the trigger, and he finds out, Carly needs to know there’s no going back. Carly says, this needs to be over. She’s done with this situation, and feels this is the only way to do it. She needs to reclaim her life. Sam says, okay, but promise her one thing. Carly says, maybe, and Sam says, go in with an open mind. Listen to what the lawyer has to say, and decide if now is the time to talk divorce. Carly says, what if it is?

Sonny tells Phyllis, it hasn’t even been 24 hours, and she’s already calling a divorce attorney. And not just any attorney. He knows this woman; she’s ruthless. Phyllis says, slow down. He doesn’t know what’s going on in Carly’s head. Don’t jump to conclusions. He says, what other conclusion can there be? Carly didn’t tell him anything. He just got a notification. He looks at his phone, and says, it’s on the calendar with Donna and Avery. Carly probably made a mistake. Talk about honesty. She says she’s not excusing Carly, however, she was deeply hurt be the revelation that he and Nina lied. And whatever happened last night must have compounded that. So don’t write them off yet. He says, Carly is writing them off, and Phyllis says, she may reconsider once she’s had a chance to cool off. He says, listen to him. Carly is calling the shots, and he ain’t having it.

Taggert tells Trina, her mom feels badly about the change in plans, and Trina says, the good news is, it brought the parental pep talk to an early close. He says, Trina does know they mean well, right? and she says she does, and she loves them for it, but they don’t have to go overboard. The waitress puts a dessert in front of Trina, and she says, like bringing her chocolate to cheer her up. He says, it’s the Valentine’s Day special.  Can he help it if he wants to celebrate how proud he is of her? She takes everything life throws at her with courage and grace, and he wants her to know, if she ever needs it, he has her back, always. He has a lot of friends in the police department. She says, got it, and takes a bite. He says, good? and she says, so good. She thanks him, and he says, anytime, and they share the dessert.

Elizabeth is looking at the dress, when Finn comes in. He says, Amy’s not in here, is she? She says, no; why? He says, no reason. What’s she got there? She says, it’s just for the clothing drive, and he says he just wanted to say goodbye. He’ll call her tomorrow. Happy Valentine’s Day. He starts to leave, and she says, wait. She knows they didn’t make plans for tonight; this day isn’t easy for her. He says, he knows it’s not, and she says, she thinks a nice mellow family dinner with him, Violet, and the boys is exactly what she needs. They can just order a pizza, and watch a movie. He says, that sounds perfect. He’ll see her later. He leaves, and she looks at the dress again, and we see how very slashed it is.

Terry is sitting at Charlie’s bar, when Chet comes in. He asks if she minds if he sits here, and she says, not at all. He takes off his coat, and she says, teal shirt. He sits, and they smile at each other.

Carly tells Sam, it’s on her, and thanks Sam for her advice. Sam says, sound advice or crappy advice? Carly says, Sam’s right. It’s best to hear what the lawyer has to say before taking action. Sam says, options are a good thing, and Carly says she’s keeping hers open.

Phyllis says, Sonny knows as well as she does, marriage is complicated. He’ll see there’s more than one way to resolve things. Or as Lenny would put it, it ain’t over until it’s over. (I think Yogi Berra said that, but okay.) She goes back to the bar, and Sonny looks at the entry on the family calendar that says Carly added an appointment with a divorce lawyer. Nina walks in, and they lock eyes.

To Be Continued….

On Monday, TJ tells Molly that someone may be coming home sooner than planned, Terry says she’s not disappointed at all, Brad tells Britt that it will be worth it, and Nina tells Sonny that they both know she has a vested interest.

☎️ A Wanted Woman…

She may no longer be running the PCPD, but Vinessa Antoine isn’t lacking for work.

🏥 Laura Colored Memories…

Great interview with Genie Francis.

👠 What Happens In Jersey…

Bill’s affair.

What Jackie says the guys think about Bill’s affair.

Teresa and Marge’s brewing feud.

https://www.cinemablend.com/television/real-housewives-of-new-jerseys-teresa-giudice-on-whether-she-and-co-star-margaret-josephs-could-ever-be-friends-again

📖 Not Telling All…

Jackie’s writing a book, but it’s not about what you think.

💎 Thanks For Sharing…

Seriously. Who could stay away from Mr. Puppers for very long?

🤦🏽‍♀️ No Reason Is Good Enough…

She doesn’t seem like an idiot. Maybe he knows where the bodies are buried.

⚰️ Spinning Dead…

I guess they’re not counting Origins as a spinoff. Or as I call it, a cheap way to extend the franchise.

🐶 Kicking Off…

Your guide to the best Bowl of all.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/see/puppy-bowl-xviii-ulti-mutt-fan-guide

🎧 Quotes of the Week

Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Think before you speak. Read before you think. – Fran Lebowitz

If you retain nothing else, always remember the most important rule of beauty, which is: who cares?Tina Fey

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.)

Love is something sent from heaven to worry the hell out of you. – Dolly Parton

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible. – Maya Angelou

I guess Walmart had other plans. – a woman, who ordered ice cream on Instacart, but got sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast rolls as a substitute

Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary. – Oscar Wilde

🏈 Out Of Bounds…

Whether you watch a Bowl, go bowling, or just consider a bowl something to eat ice cream out of, enjoy the weekend; or the next two sunrises for those off the work grid. See you on the Valentine’s flipside. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping your heart and mind open, and stay knowing, it ain’t over until it’s over. No matter who said it.

February 1, 2022 – Vow Renewal At the Quartermaines, New Jersey Pool Party, Who’s Who, New Nose, Abandonment, Housewife Tease, Called Out, Sad News & Brighter

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase finds Brook getting coffee in the nook, and tells her that Bailey is conked out. She says she wishes Bailey slept this much at the beach house, but Chase says, she’ll get used to the new digs; just give her a minute. She says, they’ll probably be out of there by the time that happens, and Chase says, then Peter will be locked up, and Bailey can go home. She says, and they can officially stop pretending. They hear Bailey cry on the monitor, and touch hands as they’re both reaching for it. Chase says, he’ll go, and leaves.

Michael says, Wiley is excited to see his cousin Bailey today, and Willow says, he misses her. Michael asks if she’s ready to go to the house, but she says, she’s actually waiting for her mom to drop by. She still can’t find any record of her birth certificate, and needs to get her passport application in. He says, oui, oui, and she asks if that’s the only French word he knows. He says, oui, and she laughs, saying, she really hopes her mom has a copy. He says they can’t go to Paris without one, and kisses her.

Kristina shows up at Alexis’s office with coffee, and says, stop the presses. Local editor’s down, unharmed, coaxed from behind the desk with caffeine. Alexis reaches for the cup, and says, bless you. She takes a sip, and says, hello, my daughter. Kristina says, hello, mother. She came to observe Alexis in her natural habitat. She picks up a placard from Alexis’s desk, and reads, truth never damages a cause that is just. She says she likes it, and Alexis says, Harmony gave it to her. Kristina says, just the person she wanted to talk about.

Britt meets Austin in Kelly’s, and he says he wants to get a female perspective. What does it mean when a woman kisses a man?

Maxie adjusts the chairs for the vow renewal at the Quartermaines, and flashes back to kissing Austin. Brook asks if she’s ready. Guests are arriving; it’s time to open the doors. Maxie says, first, she has to tell Brook something, and Brook says, uh-oh. Unless it’s not an uh-oh. Maxie says, it’s definitely an uh-oh. Austin remembered something. Brook says, something as in… and Maxie says, he remembered hearing them talking the night Louise was born.

Dante tells Leo that he’s looking sharp (we’re back to the usual Leo), and Leo says, it’s not itchy. Ned says, Leo is wearing a T-shirt under his shirt instead of a button-down. Dante says, button-downs can be itchy; what’s with that? Leo shrugs, and Dante says, it doesn’t matter. Once Leo’s mother walks in the room, no one is going to notice them anyway. Ned tells him, you can say that again, and Olivia walks down the stairs, smiling at Ned.

Drew sees Carly alone in one of the rooms, and asks what she’s doing there. She says she’s hiding, and he says he hates to break it to her, but she’s not going to be very successful looking like that. She says, still the charmer, and he says, it’s the truth. He tells her, hiding isn’t usually her style, and she says she doesn’t feel like herself these days. She’s nervous to see Sonny. How ridiculous is that? He asks what exactly she’s nervous about, and she says she doesn’t want their issues to cast a shadow over Olivia and Ned. He says, she doesn’t think Sonny gets that? and she says, here’s hoping.

Sonny comes in as Ned is thanking Laura for officiating today. She says, it’s an honor. She wouldn’t have missed it for the world. She’s so sorry Doc couldn’t be here, but there was another patient emergency. Olivia says they’re sorry too, and excuses herself. She goes over to hug Sonny, and he tells her that she looks good. She thanks him, and asks how he’s doing. He says he’s good, and asks if Carly’s there, and Olivia says, Carly came early to help her get ready. She would have understood if he couldn’t make it today. It’s hard to celebrate someone else’s happiness when you’re not exactly in the best place yourself. He says, he and Carly will be back together before she knows it. Just you bet on it.

Britt says, Austin was a doctor last she checked, and he says he still is. She says she’s pretty sure human sexuality was covered in his studies, and he says, it was, but he’s a grown man and she’s a grown woman, so he’s asking her. If you kiss a man who’s your friend, why would you apologize? She says she assumes they’re talking about… He says, Maxie, and she says, was it good? He says he thought so, and she says, why didn’t he ask Maxie what she meant? He says, her mom kind of interrupted them, and she says, so this happened in high school? He says, she’s hilarious. What happened was, he and Maxie went to Pawtuck with Anna and Felicia to try and jog their memories about what happened the night Louise was born. She says, oh wow. And? Did either of them remember what happened? He says he doesn’t know. That part’s even more confusing than the kissing.

Maxie tells Brook, she tried to convince Austin that he was misremembering – if that’s even a word (FYI, it is according to spellcheck) – but she doesn’t think it worked. Brook says she has to try harder, and Maxie says, she did everything she could think of. She even kissed him. Brook says, that is an interesting and creative strategy. They’ll revisit that later. Maxie says, it wasn’t a strategy. Austin’s gone above and beyond to help her out. The problem is, what he thinks is helping could probably ruin everything. Brook says they shouldn’t panic. They just need to come up with a plan. Maxie says, ya think? when Tracy comes in, and asks, what’s going on in here? The two of them having their heads together doesn’t look suspicious at all, while the guests are milling around outside. Brook says, they have everything under control, and Tracy says her confidence knows no bounds. Maxie thanks her for keeping all of this under wraps, and Tracy says, Peter August is a despicable human being, who doesn’t deserve to be a father, and she’s very sorry Maxie has to be separated from Louise. Maxie says she knows Louise is in good hands, but she can’t wait to have her daughter back in her arms.

Harmony arrives at the gatehouse, and says, she was so happy to get Willow’s call. What did she want to talk about? Willow says she needs a copy of her birth certificate, and Harmony asks, how come? Willow says she can’t find hers. It must have gotten lost in all the moving around. Normally, it wouldn’t be anything urgent, but she needs to get a passport. Harmony asks where she’s headed, and Willow says, Michael is taking her to Paris. Michael comes in, and Harmony says, how wonderful. Are they taking Wiley with them? Michael says, not this time, and tells Willow that he’s heading to the house; he wants to see how his mom and dad are doing. Willow says she’ll be right behind him with Wiley, and he says it was nice seeing Harmony. (Since when?) She says, him too, and he leaves. Willow tells Harmony, the first step to her getting a passport is getting a copy of her birth certificate, and she can’t find any record of it online. How can that be?

Alexis says, just so Kristina knows, Harmony is a non-issue. They won’t be spending time together anymore. Kristina says, because of her, and Alexis says, she and Harmony both think it’s best. Kristina says, so that’s the end, but she really wants Alexis to hear her out on this. Sam way overstepped when she told Harmony to stay away from Alexis. Sam just assumed the friendship would make her uncomfortable. Alexis says, it doesn’t? and Kristina says, whatever she feels, it wasn’t Sam’s place to speak for her. Alexis says, Sam was just protecting her, and Kristina says she’s sure there was a sincere desire to protect her, but Sam was also avoiding focusing on her own mess of a life.

Ned says, Olivia takes his breath away, and she says, stop. Dante says, it’s true; she looks beautiful. Right, Leo? Leo says he loves her sparkly dress, and Olivia says, that’s why she wore a sparkly dress. She’s so grateful to have all her guys here with her today. Ned says, they’re a lucky crew, and she says, they sure are. Tracy comes in with Brook and Maxie, and Maxie says they can come in. Tracy says, hopefully, they’ll deem it worth the wait. Olivia tells Maxie, it’s just gorgeous, and Ned says she captured the mood perfectly. Brook asks, what mood would that be? and he says, you know, bliss, gratitude – he takes Olivia’s hand – love. Brook hugs him, and says she’s so glad this day came. She’s so sorry… Olivia says, they’re not doing any of that today. Today, they’re all looking forward; they’re not looking back. Ned says, it means everything to them that they’re all here together, and Brook says, it means everything to her too.

Sonny asks Laura if there’s any word on Cyrus, but she says, all’s quiet on that front. She asks how he is, and he says, things were a little bumpy for a little bit, but things are back on track. She says, good, and he says, things are definitely looking up. She says, with him and Carly? and he says, he just has to prove they belong together. He sees Carly standing in the doorway.

Britt tells Austin, feelings can be tricky, and aren’t always accurate. Maxie suffered severe emotional trauma that night, and Austin was knocked unconscious. She’s not shocked the recall is a little fuzzy. He says he guesses, and she says, back to that kiss. He says, what about it? and she says, only Maxie can tell him what it meant. So he has to put on those big boy pants and talk to her. He asks if there’s a B option, and she says, call her. He says he can’t; she’s coordinating at the Quartermaines. She’s in charge of Ned and Olivia’s vow renewal. She says, to which he was invited, and he says, to which he declined. She says, he might want to revisit that decision, and he says, just to see Maxie? She says, there isn’t even the tiniest part of him that wants to get to know his family? and he says, he already knows them. She says, get to know them better. Maybe even get close. He says, maybe she’s right. Maybe he did decline that invitation a little too quickly. She laughs, and Brad walks in. He says he’s fifteen minutes late, so technically, he’s on time. Britt says, that’s not what technically means, and he says, for him, it’s still on time. He and Austin say, hello, and Austin starts to get up. Britt says he doesn’t have to leave, but Austin says he has somewhere to be, right? She says, he does. Good luck. He leaves, and Brad sits down. Brad says, he seems nice, and Britt says, he’s straight. And she just sent him off into the arms of another woman.

Maxie says, according to Britt, Peter’s getting transferred to Pentenville tonight, and Brook says, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Once Peter is finally locked away, this whole thing is going to be over. Once that happens and this nightmare is behind them, what is Maxie going to do about Austin? Maxie asks what she means, and Brook says, it’s pretty obvious Austin is into her. Maxie says, obvious to who? and Brook says, everyone. The question is, is Maxie into him? Maxie says she thinks so, but it’s hard to tell when all she’s doing is lying to his face. Brook says she can see that being an obstacle, and Maxie says she can’t think about Austin right now. Brook doesn’t think he’s going to show up there, does she? Brook says, with her family? It’s the last place he wants to be.

Willow gives Harmony a cup of coffee, and Harmony says she’s sure she has a copy of Willow’s birth certificate with her important documents. She’ll look for it right away. Willow thanks her, and says, it was so strange she couldn’t find it online. Harmony says, maybe not every piece of information is on the internet, and Willow says, not to rush her, but time is of the essence if she wants to get a passport. Harmony promises to look for it right away, and Willow asks if she wants to see Wiley. She says she’d love that, and Willow leaves to get him.

On the phone in the nook, Dante says, keep him posted. Chase comes in and asks if something is up, but Dante says, it can wait. His mother will kill him if he misses the ceremony. Chase asks if it’s sad that just hearing the words keep me posted makes him nostalgic. He hands Dante a cup of coffee, and Dante says, kinda. Is he missing the job? Chase says, big time. He hates being in limbo. Dante says he hears that, and Chase asks if Sam is coming. Dante tells him, she said she was, and Chase wonders why he’s saying it like that. Dante says, never mind, but Chase says, come on; tell him. Dante says, ever since Drew came back… Chase asks if they’re having problems, but Dante says, no. That’s the problem. It’s nothing as tangible as that. They had some good momentum going for a while, then Drew came back, and it stopped. They were full steam ahead for a while there. Chase says, but now they’re stuck in neutral.

Alexis asks what mess Sam’s in now, and Kristina says, maybe mess is too harsh. Let’s say, Sam seems conflicted. Who can blame her, torn between two men? Alexis says, Kristina… and Kristina says, if she were Sam and had to choose between Dante and Drew, it would be tough. Both are charming, both are handsome, and both are sincerely good guys. Drew is Scout’s father, so he has that in his favor, but Dante’s been with Sam for months, helping her rebuild her life when she and Jason split. Alexis hopes she didn’t share any of this with Sam, and Kristina says, of course (🍷) not. None of this is really any of her business, but Alexis is their mom, so… Alexis says, that’s true. She is Kristina’s mom, and as such, she gets the feeling Kristina is talking about Sam in order not to talk about what she came there to talk about, and she thinks for once, they need to talk about it. She wants Kristina to tell her how she feels about her friendship with Harmony.

Carly walks over to Sonny, and he says she looks gorgeous. She says he cleans up pretty well himself. Tracy asks if she can borrow Laura for a moment, and as they walk away, Laura asks if something is wrong, but Tracy says she just wanted to get Laura out of the line of fire. Laura says, good job. Sonny says he misses Carly, and she says she just saw him this morning for breakfast. He says she knows what he means. He’s not trying to pressure her, or tell her how to feel, but they can still be honest with each other, right? She says she hopes so, and he says, they’re still seeing each other tonight, right? She says she told him that she could give him an hour or so to talk. She’s not going to back down. Michael comes in, and Carly hugs him. She asks, where’s Wiley? and he says, he and Willow should be coming. Carly says she’s going to check if Olivia needs anything, and leaves. Michael asks if everything is okay, and Sonny says, it’s not like they’re a bomb ready to go off. Michael asks if he’s sure, and Sonny says, yes. He just wants to work things out. He’s got everything under control.

Ned offers Sonny some champagne, and promises it will be pathogen free. Sonny says, Leo is a trip, and Ned agrees. Sonny says he has to decline. He has to stay sharp tonight. Ned says, right. The bold move he was talking about with Carly, and Sonny says, that’s the one.

Willow walks in, and Michael says, no Wiley? but she says, he was intercepted by Monica; they’re in the playroom. She sees his parents are here; have they crossed paths? He says, yeah, and she says, and? He says, it was painfully polite, which is the best thing they can expect right now. He asks how it went with Harmony, and if she was able to help Willow with her birth certificate, and Willow says, she thinks she has a copy, so Paris, here we come. Michael says, oui, oui, and she kisses him.

Kristina says, Alexis doesn’t need her permission to be friends with someone, but Alexis says, it’s not just someone, and Kristina knows it. It’s Harmony. Kristina is her daughter, and Alexis loves her. Hurting her is clearly not an option, but she needs to know how Kristina actually feels about this, so let her give an example. If Kristina came home, and Harmony were there for dinner, would that make her uncomfortable? Kristina says, maybe give her a heads up until she gets used to it? and Alexis says, so yes, she’d be uncomfortable. Kristian says she doesn’t know what Alexis wants her to say, and Alexis tells her to say what she really feels. Kristina says, seeing Harmony brings up a lot for her, like everything that happened at Dawn of Day, how utterly stupid she was… Alexis says she wasn’t stupid; she was trusting. That’s different. Kristina says, Shiloh was a master manipulator, and intellectually, she knows Harmony was just another one of his victims. Alexis says, but Kristina can’t forget what she did.

Laura asks when Tracy is going back to Amsterdam, and Tracy says, later today. Laura says, and after the next memorial, then what? and Tracy says she has some ideas, and was actually able to remove a piece of the Ice Princess that she’s going to use to fund her future endeavors. Laura says, Tracy knows how she feels about that diamond, but she wishes Tracy the best, and Tracy thanks her.

Austin comes in, and thanks Ned for his kind invitation. He hopes it still stands. Ned says, of course (🍷), and Olivia says they’re glad he’s here. He shakes hands with them, and Leo runs up, saying, he knows Austin. Austin says Leo has the best memory; he’s Dr. Austin. Leo brings out his fidget spinner, and Austin says, oh wow. He still has it; that’s great. He’s good at looking after his things. Ned says, the things he cares about, and Leo asks if it’s time yet. Olivia says she guesses it is, and suggests he round everybody up. Leo yells, we’re starting, and Ned says, that’s one way to do it. Austin waves to Maxie, who waves back, and Ned says, they heard the man. It’s time for him to marry the woman of his dreams – again.

Kristina tells Alexis, she wants to get to the point where seeing Harmony doesn’t bother her, but she doesn’t think she’s there yet. Alexis says, fair enough, and Kristina says, Sam told her that Harmony stopped Alexis from drinking on New Year’s Eve. Alexis says, when she was in prison, Harmony was there for her when she needed someone to be there for her, and Kristina says, sounds like a good friend. Alexis says, she is, and Kristina says, then Alexis should hang out with her. Alexis says she wants Kristina to be sure; is she sure? Kristina says, Shiloh preyed on Harmony like the rest of them, and let’s be real. She wouldn’t want someone holding her past against her, so permission granted. Alexis deserves a great friend. Alexis says she has a really great daughter, and they hug.

Brad says, so Austin was the new wing man Britt was telling him about. First clubbing, now a coffee date; is there something he should know? Britt says, no. He has eyes for another woman. Brad asks, more important, does he have BFF competition? She says, never, and he says, good answer. She says she’s surprised he wanted to meet here. Isn’t this a little public? He says, Kelly’s? His aunt would never come to a place like this. She says, so she’s a snob and controlling? and he laughs, and says, dare he ask about Peter? He hasn’t relapsed or anything, right? She lowers her voice, and says, does he mean did he end up killing Peter with that poison? No, Peter’s fine. Enough to be heading back to Pentenville tonight anyway. He wonders if his Aunt Selena will let Peter get there alive.

Laura says, they’re here to celebrate something really wonderful – the persistence of love. Every couple gets tested. Every couple has problems. It’s how we come through them that matters. Ned and Olivia have come through theirs stronger, and more committed, and more in love than ever. Olivia says, they have, and Laura says she has the sneaking suspicion they have some things they want to say to each other. Ned says, ladies first, and Olivia says, Ned, Ned, Ned. He says, oh boy, and she says, it’s all good, she promises. She also promises to love him, cherish him, and honor and keep him for the rest of their lives. They will celebrate together, commiserate together. They’ll watch movies and eat Chinese food together. They’ll raise their son together. He says he likes the sound of that, and she says she looks into the future and sees him; the three of them. All of them. She can’t believe how blessed she is. He asks if it’s okay if he makes some promises, and she says, copycat. He says, his beautiful, extraordinary, animal loving wife. He too, vows to love, cherish, honor and keep her the rest of their lives. He’ll fight the good fight with her, and celebrate with her. He’ll sing duets with her. She says, slightly off key, and he says, hey, that’s his wife she’s talking about. And he will raise their son with her. He loves her endlessly. She says she loves him too, and he says, how he got this lucky he’ll never comprehend, but he’s holding onto her, and he’ll be damned if he ever lets go again. He puts a wedding ring on her finger, above the set she’d wearing, and she says, they weren’t doing new rings. He says, he couldn’t resist, but it’s not a replacement ring; it’s a companion ring. She says, it’s perfect, and Laura says, by this renewal of vows in front of family and friends, they’ve once again proclaimed their commitment to their life together. Olivia says, Ned better kiss her if he knows what’s good for him. He asks Laura, may I? and she says, she thinks he better. They kiss and everyone applauds, all happy for a hot minute.

Maxie says she never expected Austin to be here, and he says, Ned invited him. She says, that she expected, but she didn’t expect he’d come. He tells her, he said no at first, but then realized he wanted to know his family… most of them anyway. Plus, he knew she’d be here. She says, an added draw? and he says, maybe. Who is he kidding? Definitely.

Monica congratulates Ned, and hugs him. She says she knew he and Olivia would find their way back, and he thanks her for believing that, even when he had his doubts. She says, some couples are just built for the long haul. They bend, but never break. Ed and Lila were like that; so were she and Alan actually. She thinks he and Olivia fit that pattern, and he says, then they’re in good company, and they hug again.

Dante says he’d ask how Olivia is doing, but she’s absolutely glowing. Sam says she looks beautiful, and she thanks them. She says she had no idea how official the whole thing would feel. She really feels like a new bride all over again. Dante says, Ned better treat her right, or Ned’s going to have to answer to him, and Olivia says she couldn’t love Dante any more than she does. He says he loves her too, and they hug.

Carly looks out the window, and Drew says, they meet again. Is she okay? She says she needed a breather. They were perfectly civil, and that’s what makes it so awful. He says, she means her and Sonny? and she says, there was no screaming; there was no yelling. Clearly, they can be in the same room together. That should make her happy, right? He says, that’s a pretty low bar for happiness, and she says, that’s where she is these days, just trying to keep the peace for their family. He says he’s going to do his part and steer clear of Sonny, just to be safe. She asks, why? Did something happen between him and Sonny?

In the nook, Brook tells Chase, her dad was practically levitating, he’s so happy. She’s so glad everything worked out for them. He says, Ned and Olivia seem like the real deal, and she says, they definitely are. He says he forgot to tell her, she looks great today, and she thanks him, and says, he looks pretty good too. They hear Bailey cry on the monitor, and he says, someone is awake. Why don’t they both go? She says, deal, and they go upstairs.  

Drew tells Carly, he walked in on Sonny and Curtis having… let’s call it a heated discussion. She says, at The Savoy? and he says, yeah. He tried to intervene, but he just made everything worse. He flashes back to Sonny saying, Drew is just a poor shadow of his brother, and tells her, Sonny was acting pretty erratic. She says, in what way? And what was he doing there? Drew says, he was determined to buy out the club for the night, and she says, she told Sonny that she needed time, not some big, romantic gesture, and he says, Curtis shot him down; it’s not going to happen. But she says, he knows Sonny. Once Sonny sets his mind on something, it’s really hard to talk him out of it.

Kristina says, Alexis has hardly talked about her time in Spring Ridge, and Alexis says, it was prison. Lightyears better than Pentenville, but still prison. When she was paying her debt to society, it was hard, and lonely sometimes. Kristina says, and Harmony helped, and Alexis says, she did. Because Harmony had also done time in prison, she could meet Alexis where she was, as an equal. There’s tremendous relief in that kind of shorthand. She didn’t have to explain anything to Harmony. Harmony knew where she was coming from, and knew what she’d be going through when she got out. She thinks the most interesting realization for her was that, like Kristina, Harmony was Shiloh’s victim. Like Kristina, she was desperate for some enlightenment, and he weaponized it against both of them. She gives Harmony a lot of credit for recognizing her mistakes. She testified against him, and didn’t do it in exchange for anything. She got no deal. She went to prison and took her lumps. She did it because she knew it was the right thing to do. Kristina says, kind of like Alexis pleading guilty, and Alexis says, kind of like that. She knows they thought she was out of her mind for doing that, but Harmony understood why, and it’s nice to be able to be that honest with someone, and have someone get you. Isn’t that the essence of a good friendship, to be honest with somebody? Kristina says, sounds right to her.

Britt asks if Brad thinks his aunt is going to try and kill Peter again, but he says he doesn’t know her plans, and doesn’t want to. She says, good, because he needs to be the perfect parolee. He asks if she cares, and she says, if he went back to prison? He says, no, if Peter died, and she says, the world would be a far better place, but she will say this. If Peter meets with an accident of some kind, she doesn’t want GH involved in any way. Get that guy out of her hospital. Brad says, amen.

Sonny says, sorry to interrupt, and congratulates Olivia and Ned again. He says, he wishes he could stay, but he has to get going. Olivia says, he has something more important than them? and he says he’s got some details he needs to take care of. He leaves, and Ned laughs, and Olivia says, okay. When did Ned and Sonny start sharing secrets? He says he’s not quite sure, and she asks, what’s the secret? He says he doesn’t know much, but evidently Sonny is planning a big surprise for Carly. She says, oh no. What is he doing? Carly thinks they’re just getting together to talk. He says he told Sonny it was a bad idea, but he wouldn’t hear it. Olivia says she’s got to warn Carly, but Ned says, maybe they should stay out of this. Olivia says, ha! and goes over to Carly. She says she just heard something she thinks Carly should know about, and Carly says, Sonny is planning something really big, isn’t he? Olivia says, apparently Carly already heard it, and Carly says, she’s on it, and leaves.

Carly asks if she can talk to Sonny a minute in private, and Michael says, no one is at the gatehouse; they could go there. They leave, and Willow asks what he thinks that’s about. Michael says, based on his mom’s tone, nothing good.

Austin says, Maxie disappeared, and she says, she’s in charge, and she needed to take a break. He says, she’s not avoiding him? He’s not a creeper. She says she knows, and he says, she kissed him. She says, she did, and he says, then her mom interrupted, and they couldn’t talk about it. Think they can talk about it now? She says, sure, and he says he knows how he feels. Does she want to tell him what that kiss meant to her?

Harmony knocks at Alexis’s office door, and Alexis says, good. Harmony has impeccable timing; Alexis was just about to call her. She looks at Harmony, and says, what’s wrong? Harmony says she needs Alexis’s help. It’s Willow.

At the gatehouse, Sonny tells Carly, don’t try to get anything out of him, because he’s not talking. She says she already knows he has something planned, and he asks, who ruined the surprise? She says, the surprise was realizing he’s still not listening to her, and that stops now.

Ned and Tracy are alone in the living room, and Tracy closes the doors. Ned says, worried about witnesses? and she says, no. She just wanted a little privacy. They’ve barely had a chance to talk today. He says, it has been a hectic day, and she says, that was not a criticism. Everybody wanted to wish him well because they love him. She just wanted him to know that she loves him too. He says, mother, are we having a moment? She says, they could have, but he ruined it. The doors open, and Michael and Brook come in with some official looking guys. Ned asks, what’s going on? and Michael says, they asked for Tracy. Tracy asks the head official guy if she can help him, and he says she’s under arrest. She says, for what? and he says, felony fraud; trafficking in counterfeit goods. She says she did no such thing. What did she counterfeit? He says, the Ice Princess. By now, everyone else has come in, and Laura looks horrified.

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Austin, not yet; Harmony says, Alexis might not want to be her friend after she hears this; Anna thinks she knows all she needs to know; and Carly says, as far as grand gestures go, it’s pretty perfect.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

We get a preview of the season, and it looks to be a lively one, full of yelling, screaming shrews.

Teresa talked with her daughters about blending families with Luis, who has two sons. She’d always wanted sons, although only one would be living with them; the other was twenty and on his own. She was having a summer kick-off party, and told the girls that she’d invited Melissa and Joe #2. The girls were pissed at Joe #2 for talking smack about Joe #1, and in her interview, Teresa said she and Joe #2 had made peace, but her daughters wanted him to take it back.

Frankie was working for Luis, and said Luis was a good worker and had a good heart. The house was still being renovated, so Dolores had rented a townhouse, but then Frankie graduated from college and Gabby from vet school. In Delores’s interview, she said, Frank’s priorities were off since he had a new young girlfriend, so she hassled him until he said he’d get some things finished.

Some video came out with Luis in it, and we saw tweets that said everything from, it was horrifying, to what the hell is this? Marge said Teresa was going to loose her mind, and I felt out of the loop, since I had no idea what this video was all about. Jackie came over to Marge’s to discuss the video, and described it as, Luis being in the middle of a pack of men, and they were all naked. It looked like Luis had been dragged through the river, and was begging for forgiveness. He was apologizing for something, and obviously had done something wrong. They showed it, but I’m guessing a lot was cut out. It actually looked like someone being artistic and not doing the best job. Like maybe it was the first video they made. Joe #4 said Theresa had to get a clue, but Marge said he forgot they were talking about Teresa. Marge told Jackie that it looked like Luis was on an apology tour in the video, and there were allegations out there. We flashed back to Watch What Happens Live where it was mentioned that Kim D said Luis had been abusive to past girlfriends. Marge said, Jennifer was an unhappy liar who was all smoke and mirrors, and had talked all kinds of smack about her.

Melissa and Joe #2 were glad to get out after quarantine. They met with new Housewife Traci and her husband Tiki Barber. In Melissa’s interview, she said they’d met through a mutual friend, and Joe had been excited about meeting Tiki because of his Giants background and being a sports commentator. Traci asked if Joe and Melissa had gotten a house, but Melissa said they were temporarily living in a rental until their new house was ready. Teresa had just bought a house nearby, and it seemed like Melissa had mixed feelings about that. She said, Luis was like a knight in shining armor to Teresa, but Joe wasn’t so sure. They’d seen Joe #1 make her happy too, and there were a lot of rumors about Luis. In Traci’s interview, she said she didn’t put much stock in rumors. She and Tiki had been married nine years, and he was already separated from his wife when they met. His wife had been eight months pregnant, and it was a media circus with rumors swirling. In Joe #2’s interview, he said, Luis told him about the camp depicted in the video, but when the video came out, he said he wasn’t into that kind of camp. That’s when the lightbulb came on for me. The video was from some kind of men’s retreat, where no doubt they did drum circles and such. In other words, all these horrified, freaked out people were making something out of nothing. On top of it, it had been privately sent to his girlfriend at the time.

Jennifer gotten her nose and chin done when she was in Turkey for her nephew’s christening. In her interview, she said, when she’d gotten her tummy tuck, Bill said she was the worst patient ever, and he was never doing surgery on her again. During the past year, Jennifer had been in a bad place with her mom, because Jennifer’s ailing father had moved in with Jennifer and Bill. Her mom was in Turkey, so Jennifer approached her when she was there, and they hugged it out, her mom crying, and saying, let’s be done with this. Bill said, some issues were better off not being fully addressed, and Jennifer said she wished it was as easy with girls. Marge had a Pride party, and hadn’t invited her.  

Joe #2 had been part of a comedy show in Atlantic City, and when asked about Luis, he hadn’t wanted to talk about it, so he just said something funny. Now Luis was upset with him. Melissa said he did Luis a favor, but Joe said he thought it best if he stayed away, and wasn’t going to Teresa’s pool party. Marge told Joe #3, the last time Teresa had a party, Jennifer was a drunken mess. We flashed back to that, and Joe told Marge that Bill had to pay two grand to get the vomit out of his car. Marge said, some behavior wasn’t forgivable, and Jennifer was getting there.

Dolores said she didn’t know how Luis couldn’t be nervous, but if everyone knew what was good for them, they’d keep their mouths shut. It was the pink elephant in the room. Just for the record. A pink elephant is what you see when you have the DTs; an obvious thing that everyone refuses to talk about is the elephant in the room. In Melissa’s interview, she said they weren’t going to come, but Teresa called Joe #2 the night before. Melissa thought if they didn’t go, it would create more tension. She felt for Joe. He and Teresa put things under the rug, but sh*t never went away. In Jackie’s interview, she said it was better to be friends than enemies with Teresa, because that woman would come for you. Oh yeah, that’s another thing. I hate watching adults behave like middle schoolers.

Dolores told Teresa, when Joe #2 had done the show in Atlantic City, someone asked how he felt about Luis. He’d told them that he was missing Joe #1. Teresa threw Dolores a curveball, and said it was nice of him. In Teresa’s interview, she said, nobody should be getting in Luis’s business. Jackie told Marge that you couldn’t have all this sh*t out there and not expect people to talk about it. When you addressed things, they went away. Joe #3 said, the video was creepy. In Joe #2’s interview, he said, Luis was acting like they were a big happy family, and it was all bullsh*t. In Marge’s interview, she said when someone pretended not to care, and lied about it, that made it seem like they did care. Yeah, she lost me too. She thought Luis needed to address the video, but Teresa said he didn’t owe anybody any explanations. It was part of his past. She said it was her party, and asked that they both be given respect. Okay, I’m definitely down with that. What I hate about all of the Housewives shows are how these women bring up issues at inappropriate times, like someone else’s party. And it’s never just an argument. It’s always a rip-roarer with lots of screaming and yelling and throwing things. Other people’s things. Not acceptable. I had a family member once create a scene at a party I was hosting. Albeit, she was drunk, but her boyfriend (now husband – good luck with that) steered her out and took her home.

Marge told Teresa that everyone loved her and was concerned, but she said she was a big girl. Wow. When Teresa is the voice of reason, I don’t know whether to take notes, or run before there’s an explosion. Jennifer and Bill arrived, and Marge the last time Jennifer was there, her face was on the pavement. Bill told Jennifer, just water. Jackie told Marge that Jennifer had tried to destroy her friendships, and called Melissa and Joe #2 crooked. Marge said Jennifer hadn’t supported her about being sexually harassed. Jennifer had been wearing a bandage, and her party entrance was also her nose reveal, but I wasn’t so sure I liked it. Apparently, I had company because both Dolores and Marge agreed with me; she’d looked better before. Jackie walked past Jennifer, but barely said hello, and no one else talked to her, so Jennifer whined to Teresa. She said she knew Marge was still mad at her because she hadn’t invited Jennifer to her party, but she’d thought she and Jackie had let bygones be bygones. Teresa wasn’t having it, and dragged Jackie over. Jennifer asked if Jackie was mad at her, and said she thought they’d ended on a good note. Jackie said Jennifer had tried to drive s wedge between her and Marge, and Jennifer said she regretted what she said, but it was like all three of them – Jackie, Marge, and Melissa – were against her. Jackie said Jennifer did it to herself, and Jennifer said that she was friends with Teresa and Dolores, but they didn’t stick by her like the other three. She got all weepy, and Jackie said she was a forgiver, but thought Jennifer needed to talk to the others. Marge had already headed over to them, and said Jennifer had called her a snake on social media. Jennifer said, it was tit for tat, but Marge said Jennifer didn’t know when to stop. She thought Jennifer was unhappy. Jennifer insisted she felt blessed, and said Marge was jealous. Marge said Jennifer wasn’t being honest. Jennifer had attacked her from beginning, and called her mother a slut. She made like she was better than everyone. We flashed back to all that, and Marge said, Bill left his job because he’d had an affair with the office manager. Jennifer told her to get it right, it was a pharmacy representative.   

Quote of the night: The chances of her going nuts are pretty high. – Dolores referring to Teresa

There was no preview for next week, because it was a rerun/encore performance/second showing.

👠 Refresher Course…

Prep for this season of RHONJ.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-season-12-cast-updates-spoilers

👃 You Decide…

Check out the new nose for yourself.

⚖️ Not So Sweet…

I dunno. Any ambulance chaser attorney who calls himself Sweet James is suspect to me.

https://people.com/tv/rhoc-noella-bergener-says-estranged-husband-abandoned-autistic-son-he-denies-claims/

🗺 Foot Back In the Door…

I’m sure she’ll make it nice.

💎 On the Warpath…

Garcelle is not letting Erika off the hook.

https://radaronline.com/p/garcelle-beauvais-calls-out-erika-jayne-refusing-to-return-1-million-diamond-earrings-tom-girardi-victims/

🥀 Gone Too Soon…

A member of The Walking Dead family has walked his last, and was way too young.

https://ew.com/tv/moses-j-moseley-dies-walking-dead-actor/

🍕 Midnight Snacking…

Hope to see you tomorrow for some soap and OC doings. Until then, stay safe, stay distinctive, and stay remembering that the essence of a good friendship is to be honest with someone.

January 21, 2022 – Memorial To an Anti-Hero, a Return, Reunion Woes, Baby #2, Summer Tea, Moving, Loss Of a Legend, Dead Talk, Close To 10 Quotes & Objects

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Laura looks at a portrait of Luke behind the bar on the Haunted Star. Curtis comes in, and says, hello, friend. Laura says she didn’t know he was going to be here, and he says, Doc called and said he had a patient emergency. Laura says they talked about it, and she’s fine with it, and Curtis says he knows memorials can be hard. He wanted her to know he’ll be here for her, assuming she doesn’t object. She says, not at all. She’s prepared to do this solo, but she’d rather do it with a friend by her side.

Dante finds Sonny in Charlie’s, and Sonny says he and Phyllis are going to have a shot in memory of Luke. Does Dante want to join them? Dante declines, and Sonny asks if Dante is keeping tabs on him, but Dante says, no. He saw Frank outside, and figured Sonny was in here. Dante says, he knows how important Luke was to Sonny, and Sonny throws back a shot. Dante says, Luke was important to him too, as Lulu’s dad. Sonny says he knows Dante can’t be with Lulu because she’s in a coma, but he can be with Carly, and thinks they should be together when they say goodbye to her Uncle Luke.

Bobbie meets Carly at Kelly’s, and says she couldn’t bring herself to wear black. Luke would hate that. She thanks Carly for meeting her, and says she doesn’t think she could get through this memorial without Carly by her side. Carly says she was just thinking about Uncle Luke and how he always called her Caroline. He insisted on it, and not because he was trying to make fun of her. It was a reminder that he knew exactly who she was, and to never forget where she came from. She asks how Bobbie is; Luke was her big brother. Bobbie says she’s a little wobbly, but just like when Aunt Ruby died, they’ll get through this together. Carly hates that Lucas has to work; he should be here. Bobbie named him after Luke. Bobbie says she thinks Carly’s brother hasn’t quite gotten over losing Wiley, and she thinks working is easier for him than facing his family. Carly says, yeah, but they need him too. Bobbie says she needs Carly by her side, but something tells her that her bright, beautiful, incredibly brave daughter might need her even more. Carly says, more than she knows, and Bobbie takes her hand.

Felicia and Anna arrive at the memorial, and Anna says, it’s very Luke. Laura says Anna should really be saying that to Tracy. It’s her event. Laura is just here to pay her respects and see her friends. Anna says she keeps half-expecting Luke to show up (as we all do), and Felicia says, the man is a legend. Anna says, in so many ways, and Laura thanks them for coming. She tells them to help themselves to a drink. She doesn’t know where Tracy is right now. Anna and Felicia go to the bar, and Nikolas comes in with Ava. He asks how Laura is, and she says, better now that he’s here. Ava says she’s so sorry to hear about Luke, and Laura thanks her. Nikolas asks if she’s heard from Lucky and Ethan; are they going to make it? Laura says, unfortunately, they’re not. There was an outbreak of cholera in the village where Lucky is volunteering, so for him to come home, he would have to quarantine in Africa for two weeks, but Tracy is having another memorial in Amsterdam in a few weeks, so hopefully Lucky and Ethan will both be at that. Nikolas says, it’s nice for Lucky and Ethan to have each other, like he’s here for Laura now. Ava and Nikolas go to the bar, and Spencer says, hello. grandmother. Laura says she’s happy to see him, and he tells her, Esme sends her regrets. She’s interning at Spring Ridge, but he’s here for her. He hugs Laura, and Victor tells him, well said. Tonight they are indeed all one family, despite their differences. Oh Luke. In life, he always cast a large shadow. To die in such a random accident just doesn’t have the sense of poetic beauty one would have expected of him. Laura tells Victor, get out of here, and – she gestures toward his bodyguard – take his burly Doberman with him. Victor says, Yohan isn’t just there for him; he’s there for all of them. Luke may be dead, but he has a long list of enemies, and they’re all still very much alive.

Tracy stands on deck, holding a beautiful covered urn. Alexis approaches her, and asks if that’s what she thinks it is. Tracy says, yep. Luke.

Dante says he knows Sonny wants to be with Carly, and he knows it’s hard, but she’s asked for space and he has to respect that. Sonny says, Carly moved out. How much time does she need? Luke is her uncle, and his longtime friend, and they should be together. They lost almost a year of their lives. They can’t get that time back. What does Dante think Luke would do to get just a couple seconds of that time back? He’s not wasting any more time.

Alexis asks if Tracy is okay. Would she like Alexis to call Ned? Tracy asks if Alexis doesn’t think she’s capable of calling her son herself. And why wouldn’t she be okay? She’s holding Luke in a jar. Everything is peachy keen in her life. Alexis says she’ll see Tracy inside, and Tracy says, wait. She’s sorry. She didn’t mean to snap at Alexis. Alexis says, Tracy is having a hard time; she understands. Tracy says, does she? Because she wouldn’t after what she did to Alexis.

Anna says Victor knows he doesn’t belong here, and Luke would be the first to tell him that, so get out. Victor says, unless Luke is silent, and likely to remain so, and Felicia says, Mac will be happy to send a patrol car to get Victor off the boat. Victor asks if calling the Police Commissioner isn’t a bit of an overreach, and Felicia says, not when he’s her husband. Curtis tells Victor to ask himself if he really wants this to escalate. The time to tap out is before things get broken. Spencer says, a gentleman shouldn’t stay when he’s been asked to leave, and Victor says, he’s so right. He tells Yohan that they’re leaving. Do give Luke his best. Laura says, hopefully, Victor can tell Luke himself, in person, the sooner the better. Victor laughs and leaves.

Bobbie tells Carly, so much of her history with Luke is so dark. Carly knows their story. Their dad was an alcoholic and beat their mother. When mama died, she and Luke just took off; they went to Florida. They moved in with dad’s sister Aunt Ruby. They loved that woman. She did the best she could, but honestly, she and Luke raised themselves as much as Ruby did. Then when Bobbie came back to Port Charles, Luke followed her. It was like a second chance for them to make something of themselves. Carly says, and Bobbie did it. A nursing degree, a career, a family; she should be so proud of herself. Carly is extremely proud of her. Bobbie thanks her, and says, if she managed to survive, even thrive here, it was always because she knew her big brother had her back. She was the one who recruited Luke to come back to Port Charles. Granted, her plan was to have him break up Scotty and Laura, so she could have Scotty all to herself; that wasn’t exactly noble. Carly laughs, and Bobbie says, but she called Luke to help her, and he came running, just like he always did. Now she doesn’t know what she’s going to do next time she needs Luke’s help. Carly tells Bobbie, look at her. Bobbie is going to call her, or Lucas, or Josslyn, or Michael, and they’ll come running. Bobbie says, okay. That’s a two-way street. Carly says she knows, and Bobbie says she has the rest of her life to grieve her big brother. Meanwhile, her daughter is living in a hotel, trying to figure out how to save her marriage. Talk to her. Carly says, that’s the thing. She doesn’t know whether there’s a marriage left to save.

Dante says, Sonny may have lost time in Nixon Falls, but he wasn’t alone. Sonny says, Nina is not the problem, but Dante says, she is to Carly. Sonny’s got to see that. Carly’s got to know that it’s over between Sonny and Nina. When Sonny got on the witness stand and said he wasn’t a victim, that didn’t help things. Sonny says, it is over between him and Nina. What does he have to do to prove that to Carly, so she’ll give him a chance?

Robert and Scotty walk into Charlie’s, and Robert asks what they’re doing there. When they left the courthouse, the idea was to go to the Haunted Star for Luke’s memorial. Scotty says, Robert got an invitation. He’s going to have to crash that thing, so he needs a couple of cocktails to do it, and if anybody’s boo-hooing over Luke, he won’t care. Robert says, if Scotty ever loved Laura, he strongly advises against it. Dante and Sonny watch them, and Robert says, he knows Scotty hated the guy, and he probably had his reasons. Let’s just go. Scotty tells Dante and Sonny, if life was a horserace, it would probably be neck-and-neck as to who he hates more; Luke Spencer or Sonny Corinthos. Guess what? Sonny wins, by a photo finish. Sonny says he doesn’t know if Scotty knows or not, but he owns this bar, and nobody comes in there and insults Luke. Dante says he has an idea. Why doesn’t Robert take Scotty to the memorial? and Robert says, sounds like a great idea; let’s go. Scotty says he’s not going anywhere until he’s had a couple of drinks. So why doesn’t Dante take daddy here and vamoose? Sonny laughs, and tells Dante to go ahead without him. Dante asks if he’s sure about that, and Sonny says Dante should be with Laura. Dante says he wants to be with Laura, but remember, it’s a about Luke. Sonny says, yeah, and Dante leaves. Sonny tells Phyllis to give these two gentlemen whatever they want to drink on his tab, but Scotty says he doesn’t think so; they buy their own drinks. Sonny walks up to Scotty, and says, Scotty thinks he scored a touchdown at the hearing for Nina. Robert suggests he and Scotty go to the MetroCourt; he’ll buy the drinks. Scotty says he kind of feels bad for Carly, but it made his day that Sonny got caught stepping out on his wife. He pokes Sonny in the lapel, and Sonny tells Scotty not to put his hands on him. Scotty asks what he’s going to do. Come on.

Bobbie asks if Carly is going to return home, but Carly doesn’t know. The man who disappeared over a year ago is not the man who came back to her. Bobbie says, losing his memory, and living as another man changed Sonny. Carly says she gets that, but in the past, she and Sonny would have a knock down drag out fight. She never doubted that Sonny loved her. Bobbie says, now she does? and Carly says, Sonny refuses to acknowledge that what Nina did to them was awful. He refuses to acknowledge the damage, and the hell Nina put Carly and her family through for her own selfish reasons. Sonny claims Carly comes first in his life, and she told him the way he could prove it was to kick Nina to the curb, and he won’t do it. Maybe he can’t do it. And that’s a dealbreaker for her. If Sonny can’t put her and her family first, then all his promises mean nothing.

Nikolas says, with Victor mercifully gone, they can focus on the celebration of Luke’s life, and Laura agrees. Spencer says, Nikolas really is shameless. He’ll use anything, even Luke’s death, to make himself out to be the good guy. Laura asks if they can drop this for one night, and Ava says she’s going to do Laura a favor. She’s going to take these two guys out of here. Spencer protests, but Ava says, too bad, and steers them away. Curtis asks if Laura is okay, and she says, honestly, she could use some fresh air. He says, luckily, they’re on a boat; a boat with several decks. Let’s go.

Anna tells Felicia, she feels like Luke would have loved this, and Felicia says, 100%. The only thing Luke would have loved more is if someone would have punched Victor Cassadine in his smug face. Anna says she was so close.

Robert says, emotions are running rather high at the moment. Let’s all go to our respective corners. Phyllis says, he’s right. Aren’t they all honoring someone’s memory tonight? Sonny says she’s absolutely right. In memory of Luke, he’s going to teach Scotty a lesson. Scotty says, all right, then shut up and fight, and Frank asks Scotty if there’s a problem. Scotty says, there it is. Same old story. A stooge does all the fighting for you, chicken. Sonny tells Frank, back off, and takes off his jacket, saying, it’s about time he teaches this guy… Robert says, now listen, he is the DA. They don’t want to be doing this in front of him. Scotty takes off his jacket too, and says, then get lost. Phyllis tells Sonny, she’s asking, as her friend, please stop this now, when Victor comes in with Yohan. Victor says, look what we’ve just walked into, and Robert says, a Cassadine, just what they need. Victor says, the mob boss and the ambulance chaser. Too bad Luke Spencer isn’t here. He was just crass enough to enjoy this sort of thing. Sonny says, who’s he calling crass? and Scotty says, who’s he calling an ambulance chaser? Sonny tells Scotty, what do you say? and Scotty says he thinks he hates Victor more than he hates Sonny. He’s in. Victor takes his jacket off, and says, it’s time they were taught a lesson. Sonny shoves a table aside, and Phyllis yells, stop it now. They start slugging each other, and Phyllis runs out from behind the bar, yelling for them to stop.

On deck, Curtis says, better? and Laura says, definitely. He says, life sure has a lot of twists and turns, doesn’t it? and she says, tell her about it. She and Luke were quite a team. He was a part of her, and she was a part of him. Curtis says, must have been hard to let him go, but Laura says, he’s been gone for a long time. Not all at once; it was in stages. First they got separated, then divorced. Luke fell in love with Tracy, then she met Doc, thank God. She mostly feels sad about the grandkids. The only way they’ll know Luke is from pictures and stories, and some of those stories will be true.

Ava takes Spencer and Nikolas to a state room, and says, get in there, both of you. Spencer says he resents being treated like a wayward adolescent, and she says, then don’t act like one. He says she doesn’t get to tell him what to do, and she says, enough. Can the two of them please just set aside their differences for one night, and think about somebody else? Nikolas says, she’s right. He should be focused on his mother, not himself. Spencer says, with all due respect to grandmother’s loss, Luke Spencer was a grifter; he was a con man. Ava says, Luke Spencer came from nothing, and he made something of himself. People loved him, respected him, admired him. Spencer came from everything. He had everything handed to him on a silver platter, and he throws it all away.

Dante comes in to the memorial, and asks where everyone is. Did he miss it? Felicia says, they’re just walking around the boat; the memorial will start soon. Anna says, since they’re here to remember Luke, she thinks he should expect the unexpected. They hear a crash, and Felicia says, what was that? Anna says she doesn’t know, and they all go to investigate.

Tracy says she knows if Alexis had chosen to testify against her, she’d be headed to trial and quite possibly to a stay at Pentenville. And because she didn’t, Tracy gets to be a free woman and come here and say farewell. Alexis says she did what she did for Luke, because she knows he was better off with Tracy than without her. She also did it for herself, and she did it for Tracy, because everyone deserves a second chance. Tracy thanks her, and Alexis says she’s welcome. Now how about if they go in there, and get the party started? Tracy asks how she sums up a life as complicated as Luke’s, and Alexis says she can’t, but if Tracy doesn’t do it, someone else will. She understands Lucy might be making an appearance, and she has a 42 page speech prepared. Tracy asks what they’re waiting for, and they go inside.

Sonny asks what Victor is waiting for, and Phyllis pulls him away. She asks if he’s happy now, and he says, yeah. He definitely feels better. Scotty says, so does he, and Robert dabs at his mouth, saying, that’s what he gets for trying to mediate. Scotty tells Sonny that he has a helluva right cross, and Sonny says Scotty did pretty well himself. Phyllis asks which one of them is going to pay for the damages, and Sonny says he owns the bar; he’ll make up the cost. Victor says he’s got this. He insists on paying for everything, but Scotty says he’ll pay. Victor says he’s heard Scotty is as tight as a bad oyster with his money, and Robert asks if they’ve all forgotten there’s a memorial to attend. Sonny tells Frank, let’s go, and they all walk out, leaving Victor and Yohan behind. Victor tells Yohan, nice work. It looks like all those hours at the gym are paying off. He’s got a nice fat bonus coming to him. Outside, Sonny looks through the window, and says, they’re laughing. He’s going to smack Victor right now. He starts to head back in, but Robert says, enough. Carly is waiting. Sonny says, that’s right, Carly. Whatever.

Tracy puts the urn on the bar, and Ava comes back in with Nikolas and Spencer. She wonders if they missed something, when Laura and Curtis come back in. Laura hopes she didn’t keep everybody waiting, and everyone gathers. Everyone is wearing black, and even Bobbie has dark purple on. They look so solemn, and I’m thinking, Luke wouldn’t have wanted them to wear black. Tracy says they should get started, but Anna asks if she can wait a minute. Tracy asks, why? and Dante wonders if someone is trying to send them a message. Who brought in the giant TV? Tracy says she didn’t order it, and Anna says, they heard a crash. When they went to investigate, they found an envelope with a DVD and a note. Felicia takes the note out, and tells them, all it said was, play me. Nikolas says, maybe Lucky sent a message from Africa, but Laura says, he didn’t mention anything on the phone, besides, he’s in a very rural area. She doesn’t think so. Alexis says, her money’s on Luke. He always did want to have the last word. Anna says she wonders if he had an inkling this day was going to come sooner rather than later, and Dante asks what Tracy wants to do; this is her event. Tracy says, if it’s from Luke, she wants to hear it, and Dante puts the disk in the TV. Helena appears, and says, hi. We meet again. Alexis says, oh my God, and Laura says, Helena.

At the dock, Scotty asks Robert if he looks presentable, and Robert asks, why start today? He suggests they board the Haunted Star, but Sonny says he’s going to wait for Carly. Robert asks if Scotty is in, but Scotty says he doesn’t think so. He was at the Luke and Laura wedding. Robert says he remembers, and Scotty says, he caught the bouquet; he got a black eye then too. Robert says he’ll see Sonny over there, and he and Scotty go in separate directions. Carly arrives at the dock with Bobbie.

Helena asks if she surprised them, and laughs. Nikolas says, leave it to his grandmother to upstage a man at his own memorial. Helena says, if they’re seeing her now, it’s because she went first, and Luke Spencer has finally done the world a favor by following her into the Great Beyond. Tracy says, she hates that woman, and Helena says she hopes they’ll pardon her if she gloats, but she always told Luke that she would have the last word. And now, she’s going to have it. Nikolas says, here she goes, and Helena says she always considered Luke a parvenu, and since none of them is familiar with that word, let her explain. A parvenu is somebody who’s suddenly reached the level of unaccustomed power and wealth, but has not yet gained the prestige and dignity associated with it. Luke was a cheap, tawdry rhinestone, even though he fancied himself a diamond in the rough. The truth is, Luke Spencer was always destined to lose in the end. Laura pulls the plug on the TV, and says she doesn’t know about the rest of them, but she’s heard enough out of that woman to last her a lifetime. Dante says, here, here, and Anna says, thank you.

Bobbie tells Carly, they’re going to be late, but Carly tells her to go; she’ll meet Bobbie there. Bobbie goes past Sonny, giving him a look, and gets on the boat. Sonny tells Carly, he knows he’s not her mother’s favorite person at the moment, but he’s here, and she’s here, and that’s all that matters. Why don’t they go say goodbye to her uncle? He tells Frank to go get in the car, and asks Carly if she’s ready. He holds out his arm, and she asks, what happened to his hand? He says, Luke happened, and she says, he has to go to GH after Luke’s memorial and make sure he didn’t break any bones in his hand. He says, it’s fine. The night wasn’t a total loss. Does she know why? She asks, why? and he says, believe it or not, he and Scotty teamed up, and ripped Victor a new one. Forget about that; they’re here for Luke. He holds out his arm again, but she walks past him onto the boat, and he follows.

Tracy thanks everyone for coming to honor a man they all loved. Well, she guesses some of them loved him. Some of them probably hated him, but she bets most of them did both. It doesn’t matter what they thought of him. The truth is, they’re never going to forget him. Luke made her promise if this day ever came, that nobody would call him a hero, or even a good guy for that matter – no danger of that. So he was just Luke, a walking, talking contradiction. He could be cruel, then turn around and dazzle you with his kindness. He was cunning, yet caring. He was generous at the same time as impossibly selfish. He brought out the worst and the best in all of them. And she thinks ultimately, he changed them. Every one of them. Forever.

Scotty sits on a bench at the dock, and says he hopes Luke’s enjoying himself on his beloved Haunted Star… All the people singing his praises, including Scotty’s wife Luke stole from him 40 years ago. Luke is dead and gone, and Scotty’s still standing. So you lose, you son of a bitch.

Standing on the deck with the urn, Tracy tells Luke that she did it. She got through the speech. She thinks they appreciated it. Now it’s just them… She has no words. She opens the jar and dumps out the ashes. The wind carries them away.

On the docks, Scotty says, so long, Luke Spencer, and gets a face full of ashes. He says, what the…?

Sonny tells Laura that he knows it’s not the right time, but he got confirmation on the warning Cyrus gave her. She says they’ll talk later. Bobbie asks Carly is she’s sure she doesn’t want to join them, but Carly says, Avery and Donna were looking forward to their sleepover with Bobbie. She doesn’t want to crash the party. Bobbie says, it will be lovely to be surrounded with all that youth. Maybe she won’t miss her big brother so much. Bobbie leaves, and Sonny watches as Carly follows.

Laura thanks Curtis for coming, and he says he can hang out a little longer if she wants, but she says, he’s got a club to run, and she has a life to get on with. He says he just wants her to know he’s there if she needs him, and she thanks him, and says, she knows he is.

Ava tells Nikolas, this was a fitting sendoff for Luke; the roving rascal. She does have a soft spot for rascals. He says he can’t stop thinking about the way Victor left. He was so angry, even hurt, and you know what they say, a wounded tiger is twice as dangerous.

Felica says, Sonny and Scotty fought on the same side? Who would have ever thought? Robert says he guesses they hated Victor Cassadine more than they hated each other, and Anna says, good point.  

Victor helps Phyllis right a table, and says if she won’t let him pay for the damage, at least let him offer her a more conventional transaction. Give him a bottle of her top-shelf Napoleon brandy please, and a couple of glasses. She says, that will be $55. He puts a hundred dollar bill on the bar, and says, keep the change. She puts the bottle and glasses on the bar, and he says, and his apology. He pours two brandies, and puts one at the empty seat next to him. He says, here’s to you, Luke Spencer, champion of Port Charles. He should just tell Luke, the good people of his fair city are in for a big surprise. He clinks the other glass with his, and says, cheers.

Bobbie sees Scotty, and asks, what happened to him? He says, he caught the bouquet.

Alexis says, she can’t believe she’s saying this, but does Tracy need a ride home? She can be the designated driver. Tracy laughs, and says she deserved that. She has one thing to do first. She goes over to Laura with what looks like a jewelry box. Laura says, it was a very moving speech, and Tracy says, she has something that was a keepsake of Luke’s that she thinks really belongs to Laura. Laura says, if it’s the Ice Princess, she wants no part of it, and Spencer asks if it’s the actual Cassadine diamond.  Laura says, that thing has never done anyone any good, and tells Tracy to throw it into the sea when she scatters Luke’s ashes. Tracy says she can’t do that, and walks away. Laura asks Spencer if he’s disappointed, and he says he wouldn’t mind seeing it, or maybe holding it just once. She says, trust her, that thing never did anybody any good, and he says he won’t argue with her; not tonight of all nights. She thanks him for being there, and says she knows he’d rather be with his friends, but he says, of course (🍷) he wanted to be there with her. He knew tonight was going to be difficult for her, and wanted to be there. Once the bad stuff is over with, he hopes he can make her proud of him. She says she’s proud of him now, and they hug, and she says, let’s go home. They start to leave, and she looks back, and blows a kiss to Luke’s portrait. She says, goodbye, my love. A woman in a black veil comes in, and stands in front of Laura. She removes the veil, and Laura says, Jennifer Smith?

Carly stands on the deck, and says, Luke. Are you out there? Sonny comes out, and puts his hand on hers.  

On Monday, Maxie tells Brook that she’s there for her daughter, Curtis asks Marshall to stop by, Victor says he and Valentin are going to need each other for what’s coming next, and Sonny says he’s going to show Carly how much he loves her.

🕶 Old Villains Never Die…

Told you she’d be back. I don’t think Luke is dead either.

🧂 Salty Reunion…

I hear if you ditch the Reunion, you won’t be asked back. Except for LVP, who can do whatever she wants because she’s Queen of the World and can do no wrong.

Maybe she didn’t have a dress horrible enough to wear. Although I don’t think the outfits are all that bad. Except for what Meredith is wearing. What is that?

👶🏽 Friend Of Shahs Baby…

I didn’t even know about baby number one.

🏖 Summer Choices…

Paige spills the tea about Lindsay and Carl.

And about herself.

🎶 It’s Off, It’s On, It’s Moved…

The newest news about the Grammys.

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/grammy-awards-moving-to-las-vegas-on-april-3-1235156447/

🎤 Goodbye To a True Artist…

I had the pleasure of seeing Meat Loaf in concert a few times, meeting him a couple of times, and being in the audience of a special he did for VH1. (Hint: If you wear black because you think it’s slimming, you will just blend into the crowd. Go bold.) He and Jim Steinman will be forever missed.

⚰️ Look At the Flowers…

Watch your back when Carol goes domestic.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-11b-trailer-carol-cookies/

BTW, Walking Dead is sort of returning this Sunday, with something called Origins. I’ll be watching, but not recapping this one. First up is Daryl’s Story.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-origins-stories-air-amc-season-11b-daryl-carol-maggie-negan/

📋 Quotes of the Week

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be road blocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.Michael Jordan (Or kick it down.)

Sometimes you have to do what you don’t want to do to maintain the life you’ve created.Judge Lynn Toler in explaining to man why he has to work to feed his children (sigh).

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. – Corrie  ten Boom

And that, my dear, is how you run an asylum. – Matron Grady (Judith Light), Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. – Alice Walker

Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness. – Earl of Derby (I don’t have time for illness either.)

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. – Amelia Earhart

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela

The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King, Jr

🚂 Midnight Train To Dr. Phil Reruns…

It’s that time of week where either two days off work is appropriate, or you’re living the life of the resigned. I’ll be changing writing hats, and taking down those pesky decorations before I have to dust them. (I was busy last weekend, okay?) Join me on Monday for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay inquisitive, and stay knowing that, even if you’re dead, you can still have the last word.

December 23, 2021 – Nina’s Hearing Begins, Soap’s On, Changes, New Faces, NJ Romance, Miami Mamas, Sad News, Worse News, Happy News, What Winter Wrought, Holiday Fare, Knowledge Drop, Some Christmasy Quotes & Christmas Live

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Martin wakes up in bed, clutches his head, and says, Lord have mercy. He’s wearing a robe, and his Santa hat is lying on top of him. He pulls back the covers to see a pair of well-manicured feet. He moves to the other end of the bed, and uncovers Lucy, who asks if he’s ready for another round. He puts his Santa hat back on.

Alexis lets Shawn in, and he says he brought her a cup of Corinthos Coffee. She thanks him, and asks what she’s holding. She says, it’s a course catalog from PCU, and he asks if she’s going back to college. She says she is, and asks if it’s a ridiculous idea.

At Cameron’s house, Josslyn and Cameron kiss, and Josslyn asks what time his mom took his brothers ice skating. He says, they left about twenty minutes ago. They’ll be gone a couple of hours. Unless she wants to join them at the rink. She says, let her think, and he says, right, kissing her again. The doorbell rings, and he says he has no clue who that might be. He opens the door, and Esme says, thank God she found him. The absolute worst thing has happened. Josslyn walks up behind Cameron, and says, really? Do tell.

Trina walks into Kelly’s, and says, before Spencer gets a big head, she’s there to get two coffees; one for her, and one for Ava. He says, sure, when Victor walks in. He says, there’s his nephew. How does it feel to have his legal woes a thing of the past? Spencer says, in a word, terrifying.

At the MetroCourt, Laura kisses Doc, and says, what an amazing anniversary they had. She’d take trips more often if she knew she had that kind of homecoming waiting for her. He says he’s just trying to do his part to make sure they’re never separated that long again, and she says, not if she has anything to say about it. They kiss again, and Nikolas approaches their table. He says, clearly, they need more time. Should they reschedule? Laura says, she and Kevin have all the time in the world, but what she has to say to him can’t wait.

Scotty is about to walk into the Llantano County courtroom, when his phone rings. It’s Obrecht, who asks if he’s come up with a strategy to get Willow on the stand. She’s certain Willow knows about Nina and Sonny falling in love in Nixon Falls. He says he’s working on it, and she says, work harder. Michael and Willow walk in, and Michael asks how Willow is feeling. He knows she didn’t agree with him bringing charges against Nina. She says she just wants what’s best for everybody, and he says, what’s best is for Nina to pay for keeping his father hidden from his family for months. He can’t think of anything worse. Sonny and Carly come in, and Michael introduces Willow to DA Sheridan. Carly tells Sonny, Michael is confident the DA Is going to cement his case against Nina today, and Sonny says, that’s up to the judge. He’s sure if Scotty loses today, Nina is going to cop some kind of plea. She says, she hopes so for their family’s sake. She just wants this whole Nixon Falls saga to be over with, and wants Nina out of their lives. Nina walks in, and goes to the defense table. Willow approaches her, and Nina says she really appreciates Willow not saying anything about her and Mike. Willow says she’s not doing it for Nina; she’s doing it for Michael and Wiley. Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s really sorry for everything. Willow goes back to Michael, who asks, what was that about? Willow flashes back to Nina asking if she wants to drive a wedge between Carly and Sonny, and tells Michael, family. Michael says, Nina may be biologically related to Wiley, but her actions made it clear she’s not part of their family.

Obrecht says she’s confident Scotty will find a way to protect her niece, and Scotty walks into the courtroom. Sheridan tells Michael, the hearing is basically a formality. It’s not a trial, but technically, Miss Reeves’s attorney can cross-examine anyone he calls. Scotty tells Obrecht that he thinks he just got a flash of inspiration.

Shawn tells Alexis, it’s only natural to feel adrift when you get out of prison. He struggled himself. She says, but now he’s found his direction. Using his non-profit to take over The Invader is a perfect path to his future. There’s a knock at the door, and Alexis opens it to Dante, who apologizes for the impromptu visit. Is Shawn there? This is his last address. She opens the door, and Dante sees Shawn. He says, this is official police business.

Laura tells Nikolas that Doc filled her in on everything about Spencer. She’s upset… She’s concerned. She was pleased to see the two of them managed to co-exist at Christmastime, but she’d hardly call it warm and fuzzy. She knows it’s a step in the right direction, but… He says, he and Spencer have had their setbacks; they both feel betrayed by the other. She says she was heartbroken when she found out it was Spencer who was stalking Ava. It doesn’t excuse Nikolas’s behavior at the party that night, but his instincts about his son were correct. He wonders if that’s why she asked him here, to apologize, and she says she is sorry. He was right about his son, but now she wants Nikolas to do right by him.

Victor says he doesn’t understand. What does Spencer have to be afraid of? Trina says, when her coffee’s ready, she’ll be at the counter, and Spencer introduces her to Victor. Victor says it’s nice to finally meet her. Did Spencer tell her that his plea deal was finalized this morning? She says they didn’t get a chance to talk about it, and Spencer says he signed the paperwork this morning. It’s official. He changed his plea to guilty, he’ll do 500 hours of community service, make restitution to Ava, and do 30 days in Spring Ridge. She says, so no trial, and Victor says, exactly. So what about this plea deal is troubling Spencer? Spencer says, Spring Ridge is minimum security, but it’s still prison. When Victor said he’d take care of Spencer’s situation, Spencer thought that meant he’d go free. Victor says, what Spencer got was a slap on the wrist. No one could have gotten him a better deal. Spencer says he’s truly grateful for everything Victor did. Forget he said anything. Victor supposes, even though it was a long time ago, he does remember being 18 years old, and supposes a month long confinement would have seemed like a death sentence to him. But Spencer is a Cassadine. He’ll keep a stiff upper lip, and when he gets out, he’ll have his whole family waiting for him. Spencer says, not his father, and Victor says, perhaps not, but Spencer will have him. Now why doesn’t he make Victor a cup of tea to go? A heady brew. No one likes a weak leaf. Spencer goes to make the tea, and Victor tells Trina that he’s glad to see his nephew chooses his companions so well.

Esme says she wasn’t expecting to see Josslyn, and Josslyn says, Esme is surprised to see her at her boyfriend’s house? What is Esme even doing here? Esme says she promises nothing nefarious. Spence took the plea deal; he signed the paperwork this morning. Yes, his sentence was lighter than it could have been, but he wasn’t expecting to go to prison at all, and he’s totally freaking out. Cameron says he can understand that. Spencer has to spend a month in prison, and after that, he’s going to have a criminal record for the rest of his life. Josslyn says, and worst of all, despite the fact that Esme is every bit as responsible for stalking Ava, Spencer has to take this whole punishment alone.

Scotty tells Obrecht, this is exactly what they need. He has to go, and Obrecht tells him, good luck, Liebchen. Victor comes out of Kelly’s, and says he remembers when she used to call him that.

Willow asks if Sheridan is still considering a run for Attorney General, and Sheridan says, after visiting their gorgeous home in October, he was concerned about low recognition outside of Llantano County. Scotty puts his briefcase on the table, and listens as Sheridan says, recently, his numbers seem to be going up. Scotty sits, and Nina asks why he looks so happy. He says her aunt has that effect on him.

Lucy says, that was unexpected, and Martin says, he’d call it a Christmas miracle. She hopes he means that in a good way, and he says he means that in the most flattering way possible. He asks, how about some breakfast? He doesn’t know about her, but he managed to work up a very healthy appetite. She asks if he’s serious. He wants to take her down to the MetroCourt for breakfast, and she’ll be wearing the holiday outfit she wore for Christmas that everybody saw her in. Just so he knows, folks will talk. He says he hopes so. He was raised in the South where gossip is sacred, right between Friday night football and Sunday morning service. She thinks he’s forgetting he’s an upstanding lawyer. Not to mention the fact he’s the brother of her ex-husband’s wife, the mayor of Port Charles. He says Lucy is a very accomplished woman, and she thanks him, and says she aims to please. He says her aim could put him in the hospital, but that’s not what he was talking about. Don’t get him wrong, she makes one Olympian Santa’s helper, but he was referring to her role as the co-owner of Deception. Not to mention everything she’s accomplished with the Nurses Ball. She says, he looked her up on the internet? and he tells her, let’s just say he’s noticed her. She tells him, let’s just say, she’s noticed him too, and they kiss. She says she’ll let him buy her breakfast. She hasn’t done that walk of shame in a long time. He says it will be his pleasure to take that walk with her.

Josslyn says, so much of the stalking was clearly Esme’s idea, not Spencer’s. Anyone can see that. She has no idea why Spencer is protecting Esme. Esme says she loves Spence, and as much as he might get on their nerves, she thinks they do too. Cameron was the one who got Spencer the job at Kelly’s when he needed it most. Cameron says she’s right; they care about Spencer. So what can they do to help? Esme says she plans to do what she can to keep Spencer’s spirits up when he’s in Spring Ridge, but if they could create some happy memories before he goes, it would really give Spencer some peace of mind. They already agreed to a weekend getaway, so can Josslyn ask her father if they can use his cabin as soon as possible? Before Spencer has to report to Spring Ridge for his sentence? He really needs this.

Nikolas tells Laura, he’ll be there for his son, but only when he fully owns up to what he’s done. She agrees completely. Spencer needs to take responsibility for his actions, but he’s already trying to do that. Doc says, not only is he working at Kelly’s, he’s started helping around the house. Spencer was mystified as to how to use a dishwasher, but once he showed Spencer how, he started pitching in without too much complaint. Nikolas says, it sounds like there’s progress, but it sounds like Spencer still resents him, and refuses to accept his help. Laura says, what his son needs more than ever is a loving father who can help him make up with Ava, who will set him on the right course. If not Nikolas, whose influence will step in to fill that void?

Obrecht says, the only name she can remember calling Victor is schwein, which is what he is. He says, there’s that fiery minx he fell in love with. He’s so glad the information he provided to the WSB led to her rescue. She says, he’s taking credit for her safe return? He’s the one who had her kidnapped in the first place. Then he tossed her beloved Scotty out of a plane. He says perhaps they could discuss it over dinner. Scotty is, after all, his attorney. She says she’d rather eat glass.

Nina asks Scotty to be honest with her. What are her chances of avoiding a trial? He says, better than she thinks, and she asks what he’s up to. The bailiff tells them, all rise. Court is in session, the honorable Judge Milford presiding. The judge calls the preliminary hearing to order, and tells them, please be seated.

Josslyn tells Esme, there’s been a lot going on, and she hasn’t asked Sonny about the cabin yet. Esme says, but she will, right? and Josslyn says she will, as long as Esme stops asking about how many bedrooms there are, and who’s sleeping where. Esme says she only wanted people to be comfortable, but what’s important now is that Spence has a great time. She’s sure his Uncle Sonny will be happy to support him. Why doesn’t Josslyn call Sonny now? Cameron says, he and Joss will talk it over and get back to her, and she thanks him. She says, it will mean the world to Spence, and to her. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a great time. She leaves, and Josslyn says, she can’t. Cameron says, whatever they think about Esme, she’s not wrong here. Spencer is going to need all the support he can get before the reality of a month at Spring Ridge hits him. She says, fine. She’ll ask about the cabin, but she’s not changing her opinion about Esme. He says, that’s totally okay. He’d never want to change a single thing about her, especially her mind. She says, now he’s trying to butter her up, and he asks if it’s working. She kisses him.

Spencer brings Trina the coffee, and says, sorry about the wait. She says she knows he put on a brave face for his uncle, but there’s no shame in being nervous about going to Spring Ridge. He says, his uncle is right. He needs to man up. He took the action and needs to face the consequences. He knows he got a lighter sentence because of his privilege. Trina has made it more than clear she thinks he’s a spoiled, entitled baby. She says, true, but she also thinks he’s human, and it’s nice to see.

Doc tells Nikolas, in the new year, Spencer goes to Spring Ridge. Prison is rife with opportunities to make bad choices, align with the wrong people. He needs a strong foundation now. Laura agrees, and says she knows Spencer feels indebted to his Uncle Victor for getting that plea bargain for him. Nikolas says, Victor’s presence in Port Charles concerns him too, and Laura asks why Nikolas helped him in the first place.  

Dante tells Shawn, they got an anonymous tip a while back about a body. They followed it up, and found human remains in the Pine Barrens. A John Doe was identified using dental records, and he was a known felon, a gun for hire. Shawn says, a hit man; who was it? Dante says, his last name was Giles, but he went by other aliases as well. They conducted ballistics on the gun that was buried with Giles, and they were conclusive. It was the same gun that shot Hayden Barnes.  

Judge Milford tells the court to proceed, and Sheridan says he’d like to call his first witness; Sonny Corinthos.

Lucy and Martin come giggling out of the elevator, Martin looking disheveled with his Santa suit coat falling open. Lucy says she finds it exceptionally charming that he chose to leave his Santa suit on his body in solidarity with her walk of shame, but he needs to know something else. If he’d continued his research on the internet, he would have found she’s been a spectacle many times before. He says he’s delighted join her in causing a commotion, and they walk into the MetroCourt.

Laura says, Nikolas had to have known Victor was hiding out in the compound in Crete. Did he know Victor was working with Peter too? Nikolas promises he had no idea about Peter, and Laura says, so he was just offering Victor a hiding place, or does his involvement go deeper? Nikolas flashes back to Victor telling him that Hayden needed to be dealt with, along with those close to her. He suggests he and Laura talk about this in private, and she asks if he doesn’t think she’s going to tell Doc everything he tells her. Nikolas says, after Valentin shot him, and left him for dead, it was Victor who nursed him back to health. If not for Victor, he might not be here. He returned the favor, and let Victor use the compound in Crete. Martin comes up to their table with Lucy, and says, morning, family. Fine day. Laura says, what a surprise, and hostess Trish tells Lucy that her table is ready. Lucy says, excuse them, and they leave. Nikolas tells Doc and Laura, and they say Christmas only comes once a year, and they laugh. GH is quite naughty today.

Spencer tells Trina, humans are terrible; flawed, selfish, and indulgent. She can’t like seeing that in him. She says, humans are also vulnerable, worthy of love, capable of change. He says he wishes he could see himself through her eyes, and she says, he’s perfectly imperfect, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a person of value. She sees him. He just has to take responsibility for his actions, and give people a chance see him too. He takes her hand, and thanks her. She says, anytime, and Esme watches from the doorway.

Sheridan says, they all know the basic facts. Sonny was on a bridge that collapsed, and fell into an icy river. When he regained consciousness, he had no memory of who he was, or even what his name was. Sonny says, that’s correct. No license. He was wearing a watch that was engraved with the name Mike, so that was the name he used. Sheridan asks how long Sonny was away from his wife and children, who presumed he was dead, and Sonny says, nine months. Sheridan says, when did he finally get his memory back? Sonny says, there was a fire at the Tan-O, and Sheridan says, that was the bar owned by the late Lenny Caulfield and his wife Phyllis, right? and Sonny says, he didn’t know who he was or where he belonged, and they were kind enough to take him in, give him a job and a place to live. Sheridan says, when Sonny recovered his memory, was he aware that someone in Nixon Falls already knew he was Sonny Corinthos? and Sonny says, yeah. Sheridan asks, who was that individual? and Sonny says, it was Nina Reeves. Sheridan says, to Sonny’s knowledge, did Nina Reeves deliberately and intentionally conceal his identity? Sonny says, yeah, and Sheridan says he has no further questions. Scotty asks if Sonny ever alerted the authorities that Nina concealed his identity, and Sonny says, no. Scotty asks, why not? According to the DA, Nina kept him from his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his whole life. Why didn’t he press charges?

Nikolas says he has business to attend to, and Laura says she’s sorry if she came on too strong. She knows he and Spencer want to have a relationship with each other. Nikolas says he’ll think about it, and Laura says, his relationship with Ava is so solid, he can afford to spend some time with Spencer, and restore the bond he has with him. Please don’t do anything to undermine that. Nikolas half-smiles, and leaves.

Dante says, he’s there to officially notify Shawn that they found the person who committed the crime Shawn was wrongfully convicted of. Shawn says, the truth is out, finally, and Dante says, in the eyes of the PCPD, Shawn is in the clear. Alexis says, congratulations. She knows how important this is to Shawn. Dante says, the best to him, and Alexis thanks Dante. Dante leaves, and Alexis says, anonymous tip her posterior. Shawn says, nobody could ever accuse Nikolas of being sloppy, when his phone rings. He says, speak of the devil, and he means that literally. He steps away to take the call.

Steam comes out of Esme’s ears for a second, but then she slaps her fake smile on. She tells Spencer that when he hears what she has to tell him, he’s going to love her more than he already does. He asks, what’s up? and she says she was telling Joss and Cam that he has to report to Spring Ridge soon, which moves their time frame up for a couples weekend. He says, it’s not just for couples, right? They want Trina to feel included. Esme says she’s so sorry. She misspoke. Of course (🍷) they want to include Trina. Esme’s phone rings, and she answers, saying, Joss. They were just talking about their weekend getaway. Josslyn says she and Cameron agree. They should have their weekend getaway before Spencer goes away. Esme says, great. They won’t be sorry. Josslyn looks at Cameron.

Lucy says, tell me, Mr. Claus, are you regretting this now? Martin says, spending time with a beautiful, sophisticated woman? Not for one second. She says, uh-oh. Oh boy, incoming, and Doc and Laura approach their table. Laura asks if Lucy would mind if she had a word alone with her brother, and Lucy says, absolutely not. Mr. Claus is all yours. Martin leaves with Laura.

Martin asks Laura if everything is okay. Is everything all right with his nephew? She says she certainly hopes so. There’s something she didn’t tell him about her meeting with Cyrus. He says, apart from the bit where he finds religion? and she says, Cyrus was adamant that he didn’t put out the hit on them; that somebody else arranged for the killer to go to the safe house.

Lucy asks Doc if Laura sicced him on her because Laura hates the thought of her brother being seen in public with the likes of her. He tells her, don’t be silly. They’re talking about something entirely different. Her and Martin… She says, spit it out, and he says, how’d that happen? She says, Martin asked her what she wanted for Christmas.

Martin asks if Laura is saying she actually believes Cyrus, and Laura says she woudn’t go that far, but she thought she should tell Martin about it. Better to be safe than sorry, right? He says, message received and noted; he’ll be extra careful. Is there something else? She says, Doc has a great dry cleaner who’s a wiz with Santa suits.

Obrecht says, Victor’s presence can only mean Sturm und Drang, and he says, let’s not forget that he was the one who saved her life when Peter wanted her dead, even after she held a knife to his throat. She asks if he’s waiting for a show of gratitude, and he says, perhaps she should consider whether threatening him means it’s more or less likely for him to intervene next time. She says, there won’t be a next time, but he says, with you, mr dear Liesl, there’s always a next time. He brushes her hair back, but she jerks away. He says, he adores her, but just don’t get in his way.

Sheridan objects, saying, whether or not Mr. Corinthos chose to press charges has no bearing on the validity of the case. The judge says, this isn’t a trial, and tells Scotty to proceed. Scotty asks again why Sonny didn’t file charges against Nina. It’s a simple question. Sonny says, then let him answer it. Because he lost too much time already… and he wanted to spend time with his wife and his family. Scotty says, but his son Michael doesn’t share the same viewpoint. In fact, Michael and his ex-wife Willow Tate gave a sizable donation to the DA’s campaign just days before his client was arrested. Willow puts her hand on Michael’s arm, and Scotty says, maybe those two should be on trial for bribery.

On the phone, Nikolas tells Shawn to check the balance. The funds should have been transferred. Shawn says, he’ll do that, but Nikolas might want to know, he just got a visit from the PCPD. It seems they found Hayden’s shooter, or his dead body anyway. The crime has been removed from his record; his name has been restored. Nikolas takes it their business is concluded, and Shawn says, Nikolas fulfilled his part of their agreement, so yes. Nikolas says, great. Have a good day. They hang up, and Alexis asks if the money is all there. Shawn says, and then some. Her nephew thinks this all over. She says, isn’t it? and he says, not by a long shot.

Esme tells Josslyn that she’s with Spencer at Kelly’s. He’ll be so happy when she tells him the news. Josslyn says, that’s why they said yes, for Spencer. She’ll asks Sonny about the cabin today. Esme says, great. They’ll work out the details later. Spencer says, what’s the good news? and Esme says, Joss and Cam just committed. Once his Uncle Sonny signs off on the cabin, they’re good for a getaway. Spencer says, that’s amazing news! It’s incredible. He actually has something to look forward to now. He asks Trina if she’s going to come, and Esme says she’s sure Trina is much too busy with her job and college. Trina says she’s always busy, but she’ll make time for a friend. Count her in. She doesn’t want to pass up the chance to give Spencer the send-off he deserves. Spencer says, this is going to be monumental, and thanks Esme, who says, it’s going to be a send-off for the ages.

Martin goes back to the table, and says, ho-ho hello. Lucy says, let her guess. His sister warned him away from her, but he says, nothing of the sort. Lucy says, oh, it’s worse. She’s biting her tongue; the silent treatment. They had so much fun together. That’s enough. She gets up, but he stops her, and says, it was fun. It’s more than he’s had in a long, long time. He doesn’t know about her, but he doesn’t want the fun to end just yet.

Doc says, so, Laura’s brother and Lucy, and Laura says, she’s just as surprised as he is. Between Martin forging whatever this is with Lucy, and Spencer having to make restitution to Ava, and Nikolas getting  tangled up with Victor, it’s going to be one helluva new year

Obrecht says, she’s not afraid of Victor, nor is she impressed. He didn’t compare to Faison in the past, and doesn’t compare with Scotty today. He asks if she really thinks Scotty is that powerful, and she says, stay away from her or he’ll find out. He has no idea what Scotty is capable of. She leaves, and Victor ponders that.

Sheridan says, opposing council’s accusation is outrageous, and Judge Milford asks if Scotty has evidence of a quid pro quo. Scotty says, campaign contributions are public record. They know Michael and Willow gave a huge chunk of money to the DA for his campaign. The timing seems a little fishy. The judge says, Mr. Corinthos doesn’t have to answer, since he’s not one of the parties named, and Scotty says, no further questions. Sheridan says, because Scotty tried to impugn his character, he asks permission to call an additional witness. The judge asks Scotty and Sheridan to approach, and Sheridan says, the defense council is making unfounded accusations against him, and he would like to answer them. The sooner they clear this up, the sooner they can focus on the charges against Miss Reeves. The judge asks Sonny to step down, and the prosecution calls Willow to the stand. Willow gets up, and Nina looks worried.

No preview, just Deck the Halls and full credits.

🎅🏽 In Case You Were Wondering…

The soap schedule for Christmas Eve.

⛹️‍♂️ New Kids On the Soap…

Danny:

Charlotte:

Wiley:

💎 Swimming Pools, Movie Stars…

Some fresh, and no doubt Botoxed, faces in Beverly Hills.

👉🏼 Next…

It’s about time she dumped that guy who was never around. I assume Frank approves.

🌴 What Happened In Miami…

The latest on RHOM.

😢 Not So Happy Holidays…

Don’t read if you’re sad already. No one wants a gift like this for Christmas.

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/-walking-dead-actress-alicia-witts-parents-found-dead-home-rcna9704

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10339869/Parents-Walking-Dead-star-Alicia-Witt-died-suspected-hypothermia-officials-say.html

😲 Yikes…

It’s a sad world out there.

💃🏽 On the Plus Side…

It’s good to hear NeNe is moving forward.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 It’s Official…

I honestly hadn’t seen this coming, but they’re cute together.

Nice picture.

📺 What’s On…

A list of Christmas TV in the US.

https://www.mostlychristmas.com/christmastvschedule

And… somewhere else. The UK? Canada? I stumbled on this accidentally, but it looks like they have some good shows.

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/christmas-tv-2021/

🎄 The Real Deal…

Everything you wanted to know about Christmas.

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

Merry Christmas!

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. – Edna Ferber

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality. – Washington Irving

Christmas can’t be bought from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more. – Dr. Seuss

Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa. – Bart Simpson

It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. – Mother Theresa

Christmas is a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart. – Freya Stark

If you want to experience the true meaning of Christmas, give something to someone who can offer nothing in return. – Toni Sorenson

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

And I Heard Him Exclaim As He Drove Out Of Sight…

Since GH is repeating tomorrow, I’ll see you for soap on Monday (nothing new on Deck). Have the merriest of Christmases if you celebrate the holiday, and if not, celebrate something and have a merry day! Until next we meet, stay safe, stay picking your battles wisely, and stay knowing that, even if you’re perfectly imperfect, you’re still a person of value.

December 5, 2021 – Alicia Comes Face To Face With Victor, Talk Tease, Walking Trailer, Ending the Beyond & Making It

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

In the past, Teddy tells Alicia, good luck, as he locks the door. She screams, he can lock her in, but she’s not going to make the world what he wants it to be. He says, that’s what he’s counting on, and leaves. She bangs on the door, and says, let her out. She rips off the ropes on her wrists, and cries.

Alicia sits on the floor in front of the door, crying. She walks through the halls, and a shower spray hits her in the face. She goes downstairs, and looks around. She opens a door, and cautiously goes in the room. She hears the click of a gun behind her, and a man’s voice says, don’t move; turn around. He drags her to the zombie tree, and she asks if he knows what Teddy is doing. He says he found another straggler, and moves her toward the tree, pushing her close to its snapping mouth, saying, fresh compost for their garden  Arnold comes in, and tells dude that Alicia is the one waiting they’ve been waiting for to lead them to a new beginning. Alicia says she’s not leading these psychos, and Arnold tells her, Teddy warned them that she’d say that, but he said she’d come around. Alicia pushes dude into the zombie tree, and the zombie is like, mmm, plant food. She gets dude’s gun, and holds it on the people in her way, making them move, as she goes out the door. Arnold says, let her. She’s not going anywhere.

In the present, Alicia yells for everyone to go; leave everything. Morgan says, they have to stay ahead of the smoke. Zombies come into the camp, and as they run, Morgan asks where Alicia has been. She says, it’s a long story, and now is not the time to tell it. She yells for her people to move.

On horseback, Sherry says, all clear, and Dwight relays that information, saying, masks off. She asks if he got a head count, and he says, twenty-eight, minus Mickey, who’s on patrol. She tells him to see if he can find Mickey before they get back to camp. Morgan tells Alicia, if the people who set the explosives are telling the truth, her camp is done. She says, food, supplies, everything they had is back there. He says he can’t stick around. He and Victor had a falling out, and he has things to take care of. Victor will let her and her people in. She says she doesn’t want to see Victor, and Morgan says, Victor didn’t think she would. Grace and the baby are there; he’s holding them hostage. She asks if he’s going hurt them, but Morgan doesn’t think so. Victor needs Grace to help him. Alicia says, then he can wait. There’s a reason she needed to find him. She needs his help. A guy comes out of the woods, pushing along a zombie on a stick lead. The zombie snaps at Alicia, and Morgan asks, who is that? He tells Dwight that he doesn’t understand: is it somebody she lost? Dwight says, she won’t tell them. The guy who attacked Victor didn’t want her finding him. Morgan asks, why? but Dwight says he has to ask Alicia. Alicia says, get him ready. 

In the past, Alicia is banging at the door with an ax. Will comes out, and tells her to wait. Don’t… She knocks him down, and he says, she’s not getting out that way. He lived before those a-holes found it, and he’s been trying to get out. Alicia lets him up, and he introduces himself. She asks if there is a way out, and he says, maybe, and starts to walk. She follows him, and they go downstairs. She asks how long he’s been there, and he says, since Senator Vasquez security detail brought them here. She asks who Senator Vasquez is, and Will says, the junior senator for Oklahoma. After the hospitals got crowded, the government officials regrouped here, but they never made it. They had protocol to ensure there was continuity in government, and were supposed to keep the door locked until it was safe  She asks where everybody else is, and he says, dead. They weren’t supposed to let anyone in, but it had been years since they’d seen the living when these people showed up, and they didn’t want to watch them die through the window. The senator opened the door, and they killed everyone. She says, except him? and he says, he was doing maintenance on the air filters and could hear everything from the upper level. He hid, which is what he’s been doing ever since. She asks, how do they get out? and he says, the people activated a time lock. She asks if there isn’t another way, and he says, there might be. She asks if he hasn’t tried, and he says he hasn’t been up there yet. She says, someone up there is trying to destroy everything. She tried to warned someone, but she’s not sure he’s going to come through. He asks what she means by everything, and they hear Arnold yelling, Alicia. Will tells her to go back to them, and she asks what he’s going to do. He says, find a way out, and she leaves.

In the present, they pour something that looks like glue or honey over zombie Senator Vasquez, and Morgan asks, what the hell’s going on, and what does it have to do with him? Alicia says she needs him to help her find a place called Padre, and he says, lots of people are looking for it. What does she know about it? She says, it’s someplace safe with plans to rebuild, and the resources to do it, and he asks if she knows where it is. She says, she doesn’t, but he does, indicating her zombie friend. Senator Vasquez is pushed along, and Morgan asks, what makes her think that? She says, he wouldn’t understand; no one has. He’ll just have to trust her. He says, okay, and zombies start arriving. Morgan says, everybody up, and he and Dwight stab a head or two. Sherry rides up, and says they’ve got company; rangers on horseback. Dwight wonders why Victor is after them, and Morgan says, they’re all dressed like the people who attacked the tower. Alicia says, they’ll find place to lay low, and Morgan tells her that Victor has room for everyone. She asks Dwight about Mickey, and he says, she wants no part of it; Victor is scaring their people away. He thinks they should get everyone moving, and Morgan says, this had better work. Alicia asks if he trusts her, and he says he does.

Alicia takes some guts out of a zombie, and explains to Morgan, it’s so they don’t follow. She tells him that he might want to cover his nose and mouth; she’s seen people get sick from less. Is he in or not? She holds out a gut smeared cloak, and he takes it. The senator is released, and walks past them. I deduce zombie life is boring, and they follow him.

In the past, they go into a room, and Alicia asks, what is this place? Arnold hands her a weapon, and says, Teddy wanted her to have this. She sees a folder marked, Padre, and asks, what’s this? He says, something the old-timers left behind for her. He listens on his radio, and says, in the service area? It must be one of the senator’s people. Send him back to the earth. The person on the other ends says, they’re one step ahead of him.  

As they’re about to feed Will to the zombie tree, Alicia says, they might want to listen to him. She throws something at the guy holding Will, and he lets go. She says, Teddy is right. She’s the person who’s going to lead them to a new beginning. It starts now, and no one gets returned to the earth. Let him go, and leave them now. They leave, and Will thanks her. She tells Will that she needs a way out, and he asks if zombies remember anything. He seems shaken (understandably), and she asks if this is the first time he’s seen one up close. He says, it’s not that. Senator Vasquez knows where Padre is. She says, they don’t remember anything; just walking. When you forget that, that’s when things become dangerous. She asks about the Padre binder, and he says, it was left by people who thought they could rebuild the future. The senator said it was stocked with everything they needed to start over. She asks if it’s Padre Island, but he says, it was classified; the senator was the only one who knew where it was. The senator who is now the zombie tree. He’d messaged his family, when it became clear they he couldn’t make the trip here. She asks if they made it, but he says, they don’t know if anyone made it. They could never got a clear signal there. She asks if he thinks they could find it if they got out of there, and he says, her guess is as good as his, but if they find a way out, he’s not going with her. She says, they’ll kill him if she leaves. She shows him the St. Christopher medal and gives it to him.

In the present, the senator walks, and Alicia and Morgan follow. Alicia wonders if Morgan needs the Geiger counter, since the senator will hear it, but he says, if they follow the senator without this, they could end up like him. She stops, and he asks if she’s all right; she’s sweating. She says she hasn’t eaten in a week, or slept in twice as long. It’s about 100 degrees out here, so she thinks she’s doing well. He asks if she has any idea where they are, but she says, it doesn’t matter. They’ll follow the senator for as long as he goes. Someone starts shooting at them, and Morgan says, if Victor knows she’s here, they won’t fire. She says she doesn’t want to see Victor, and Morgan says, he doesn’t want to get shot. He yells, these aren’t the people who attacked the tower, and Victor says he’s not here for that. He’s here for Morgan. He shoots at Morgan, and Morgan says, they had a deal. Alicia goes sprinting after Senator Vasquez, who’s started wandering, and Morgan follows. He says, they’ll kill her, and she says, they’ll kill the senator. He says they’ll find another way to Padre. He’s not letting her die for something that’s already dead. He can’t lose her. She says, he can do it without her, but he says he’s not talking about her; he’s talking about everyone. They get on either side of the senator, and run with him in between them to the edge of a cliff. Morgan says, this is going to get them killed, and Victor rides up. He says, move again, and he will shoot. Alicia pushes the senator off the cliff, and into the water below, and Victor says, Alicia. Sorry. He didn’t know she was with Morgan. She looks at the water, and he tells her, don’t do it, but she jumps in after the senator. Victor says he sees Morgan found her, and Morgan says, he did. Victor was right; she didn’t want to see him. Morgan jumps in, and Victor shoots at him in vain. Morgan finds Alicia with Senator Vasquez, and Victor asks what he’s men are looking at. Get down there. His men take off after Alicia, Morgan, and their dead precious cargo.

Alicia and Morgan sit on the shore, and Morgan asks what they’re doing here. She says she knows what she’s doing here; she’s not sure what he is. Did he really try to kill Victor? Morgan says, Victor tried to kill him. Now he’s trying to keep her alive. She says she didn’t ask him to, and he says, then what is he doing here? Why did she send Dwight and Sherry to look for him? She asks what he meant when he said he couldn’t do this anymore, and he says, he needs to stop doing what they’re doing; wishing a world into existence that doesn’t want to be. He needs someone to step in and help him. She asks, what makes him think she can? and he asks if she thinks they can do worse. She says, sorry, and he asks, why? She tells him, help her find Padre, but he says, they don’t know if it exists. She says, it does, and he asks, where is it? All he’s seen is this guy who seems to have been dead for a long time, that she’s risking her life to save. Alicia says, they’re not totally gone. There’s still an echo of who they once were. He says, no, but she says, there has to be. Morgan says he thought that back then, and his son died because of it. He’s going to kill the senator. He lifts an ax, saying, it’s not worth the risk, unless she tells him why. She says, it’s their only chance to find someplace safe, and they hear, drop your weapons.

In the past, Will leads Alicia to a room with cement tunnels in it, and a lot of rats running  around. He explains about the drainage system, but she’s hesitant, saying, it’s not going work. He says, the tunnels branch out. If they don’t get past the rats, they’re not going anywhere. She knocks the senator down, and rips him open. She tells Will to cover his nose and mouth; it could make him sick. She puts guts on herself, and Will tells the senator, he’s going to find his family, and grabs an intestine. Alicia tells him that she’s sorry for not remembering. She’s spent so much time out there, she forgets there are people still alive. He says, maybe that’s why he’s there. To help her remember how it used to be.

Senator Vasquez crawls into a tunnel, and Alicia tells Will, they’ll get out, and find his people, and stop it. They’ll find Padre. She crawls in behind the senator, and follows him, then Will follows her. The tunnel starts to crumble, and everything goes black. Will calls to Alicia.

In the present, Victor rides up on horseback, as his man is asking Morgan to tell him why they’re fighting over a skinbag. Victor says, get his friends up; they didn’t have to run. Morgan says, Victor gave his word, but Victor says, that was in the tower. Out here, words are just words, which means nothing Morgan says can change his mind. He asks who the zombie is, and Alicia says, no one. He says, why is it on a leash? Who was he? Victor unsheathes his sword, and she tells him, don’t make it worse than it is already. She know what he’s done, and what he’s built. He says, then she at least knows it’s worked better than anything so far. She says, she knows what it cost him, but he says he doesn’t think so. He thought he could do it alone, but now he’s starting to realize that he needs someone, and she’s the only person he can trust. She asks if he’s sure about that? She doesn’t need his tower or what he’s offering. He says, what does she need, Padre? It’s a myth. Many ended up on his doorstep looking for it; something someone made up. Don’t make the same mistake. She says she’s not settling for what he has, or how he got it, and he asks if she’s sure about that. She says she is, and Victor tells one of his men to kill the senator. She’ll come if she has no choice. Better yet, kill Morgan, then kill it. Alicia says, no, as Victor’s man shoves Morgan toward the senator. Alicia gets in between them, and the senator bites her arm. Victor tells his men, get back… Her arm… She says, she’s fine, and Victor says, it’s not the way he wanted… She says, leave now, and Victor, tells his men to go. He hesitates, then follows.

In the past, Alicia coughs, lying among the rubble in the tunnel. She hears the zombie senator, but realizes she’s trapped. She calls to Will, who says, he’s here. Hang on; he’s going to get her out. She says she doesn’t think there’s much time; the senator is in here. She shines the flashlight around, and says, he’s turned around and coming back. She tries stacking cement pieces to block the opening, but yells to Will that she doesn’t know if it will hold. She thinks she’s got it, and tells him to see if he can get through. He says he can clear the rest. Hang in there a little longer. She thanks him, and says, she couldn’t do without him. Senator Vasquez busts through the makeshift wall, and she hits him with a chunk of cement. He bites her arm, and she kicks him back. Will asks if she’s okay. He asks again, and she says, he bit her. He asks what that means, and she says, it means it’s over. He says, no, there has to be a way to stop it, and she says, there’s nothing here for her to save anyway. He says she doesn’t know that. The people down there need her. She says he thinks he needs her, but she couldn’t stop Teddy. She can’t help anybody. She looks at her gross arm, and says, it’s spreading. He says, there’s got to be a way to stop it. She doesn’t have to rebuild it the way Teddy wanted her to. She can rebuild it the way she wants to. She needs to survive. It’s a world he wants to be a part of . She says she doesn’t know if she’ll be here long, and tells him not to say something he doesn’t mean just because she’s dying. He says she won’t be dying because she’s going to survive. She looks at her arm again, and it doesn’t look good.  

In the present, Morgan tells Alicia that he’s going to keep asking until she lets him look. She got bit; she can’t ignore it. There still might be something they can do. She shows him that she has a mechanical arm, and says, she told him that she was fine. He says he’s so sorry, and she says, don’t worry about it. He asks how it happened. Is that why she’s following the senator? It’s okay, she can tell him when she’s ready. She stands, and says she still needs the walker.

In the past, Alicia is about to cut her arm, and tells Will to promise her. If it’s been too long, promise not to let her kill anyone. She has a fever, and if it looks like she’s going to turn, kill her first; promise. He says, that’s not going to happen, and she says, promise her that. He promises, and she looks at her arm again, and closes her eyes. She cuts through it, mid forearm, and passes out

Alicia sleeps. She opens her eyes to see her arm stump dripping, and hooked up to tubes. She calls to Will, who’s sleeping in a chair nearby. He comes to her bedside, and she says, thank God. What happened? Is everyone okay? He says, one of her friends tried to stop the signal; Victor got in the way. She asks how long she’s been out, and he says she passed out after her arm almost bled out. He brought her here, but now her fever’s broken. She asks, what fever? and he says, she ran a pretty bad fever. She says she didn’t get to it in time, and he says she amputated her own arm. The infection could be anything; sepsis, tetanus… She says, or the bite, but he says, her fever broke. She says she could have killed everyone. He promised; he said he’d kill her. He says, like it or not, these people are her responsibility. She says she couldn’t save everyone up there. She’s not making the same mistake again. He says, she’s here now, and still can. He can help her. She says, no, he can’t.

In the present, Morgan and Alicia continue to follow the senator. Morgan says she can tell him when she’s ready, and Alicia says, they can’t let him out of their sight. She sees a search light, and says, this has to be it, but Morgan says, no. That’s not Padre.   

We see Victor’s zombie parking lot, and Alicia and Morgan sit on the scaffolding under the callbox. Alicia says she was supposed to lead them to a place where everyone could be safe, and Morgan says, it’s not in there. He can take her back to the sub. She’ll be safe there. She says, he won’t, and he asks her to tell him what’s really going on. Does she want to tell him? She says she didn’t amputate arm in time. The infection is still inside of her; her body’s trying to fight it, but it’s only a matter of time before she loses. He tells her to have June look at it. June can give her antibiotics… She says she tried all that. That’s why she can’t help him. She can’t be the person he needs her to be. She cries, and says she doesn’t know how much longer she has left. She thought she could find Padre. He says they’ll find someplace else, but she says, the longer she looks, the more chance she has of hurting people. That’s why she needs him. A zombie toddles up, and he tells her to stay.

Morgan whacks a bunch of zombies, and says, the light is drawing them. There’s going to be more if they stay here. Victor rides up, and I say, ugh, out loud. He says, sorry, and Alicia says, for once, it’s not his fault. He asks. what happened to her arm? and she says, it doesn’t matter. He asks where her walker is, and she says, in his moat. He says he must have underestimated her. Her walker led her to where she’s supposed to be. Doesn’t she see? She belongs there. She asks, if she brings her people, will he take care of them? Morgan says she can’t trust Victor, and Victor says she’s not asking Morgan’s opinion. Alicia says, what if she’s not here? and Victor says, but she will be. She says, promise her, and he says he doesn’t understand; is she still sick? She says, promise her, and he says he promises. Alicia looks at Morgan, then sees a zombie crawling out from behind a waste can. She realizes it’s Will, and Morgan says he’ll take care of him, but she says, no, and walks toward him.

In the past, Alicia wakes up, and calls to Will. She says she thinks she knows what they need to do. She sees a note, and reads it. He says, sorry he couldn’t keep his promise to her. He said he’d help her remember how the world worked, but now he wonders if that’s what she really needs. if he stays, he’ll remind her of a way of life that no longer exists. She needs to build something better. Don’t worry about him; he’ll figure it out. Maybe one day he’ll get to see the world she lives in

In the present, Alicia stabs zombie Will in the head, and asks if Victor knows where he came from. Did he know she knew him? Why would Victor kill him? Victor says, because he knew it would hurt her. He wanted to keep her away, so he could build the tower the way it needed to be built. She asks why killing Will would help him do that, and he says, because Will told him that he loved her. She asks Morgan how long they can hold out on the sub, and Morgan says, a week; two weeks tops. She says, that’s long enough, and tells Victor, he’s taken so much from her. Now she’s going to take something from him. He says he doesn’t want to do this with her, but she says, it’s too late for that. She’s taking the one thing that matters to him the most. She’s taking that tower. He says he’ll protect it if he must, and she says, then they’re going to war.

Next time – on April 17, 2022 – Alicia and Victor go to war.

🗣 Talking Dead had a sneak peek of The Walking Dead – back February 20, 2022. Judith and Grace fight zombies in the flooded basement, and Judith loses her weapon in the water.

⚰️ Trailer 4U…

Another peek inside the upcoming Dead.

https://www.insider.com/the-walking-dead-season-11-returns-february-2022

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Elton showed how Iris, Hope, and Silas how to sneak out. They’d decided all four of them were trekking 1100 miles. They agreed to have each other’s backs no matter what, and Elton, said, to the end whatever it turned out to be for them. He thought they should engage with the dead only as a last resort, but there was a lot of last resort engaging as they walked through the woods. Elton said, all things considered, it was still safer.

Jadis was over-confident, and gave orders to block for an 8 mile radius. Huck made it back to Dennis, who was still alive, and Dennis suggested they have an actual life together. Huck said it was a plan after they blew sh*t up. They had get the word out to the right people, and Dennis said, if anyone could do it, it was them.

Felix found Leo, but then Lieutenant Newton – I finally get his name on the final show – found the both of them. The kids got back to Huck and Dennis, and Dennis told Silas that what he’d done meant a lot. Huck told them to go meet Leo and the others. They’d be about 3 miles out when the place blew up. Hope wanted Huck to come, but Huck said the CRM didn’t know what the military had been doing outside their walls, but she was going to see to it they did. She said she was proud of Hope. Silas decided to stay, saying, Dennis and Huck would need someone to help get them there, and they had to get there.

Jadis gave the order to get her helicopter ready. She was going to find out where the gas had been moved. Elton told Silas that they’d found each other twice, and they would again. Will joined Felix, saying, he’d doubled back when he heard the distress call. Felix lured Newton away from the others, and Newton chased him through the woods. Felix ended up between zombies behind a fence, and Newton. In the meantime, back at the truck, Will tried to surprise the guard shooting at Leo, but his gun jammed, so they ended up fist fighting. Will won. Newton told Felix that people like him were worse than the dead. They were helping the dead win. He suggested they fight mano a mano. Felix said he’d kill Newton if he had the chance, and now he had it. He talked a bunch of smack about Felix and his parents, and in a surprise move, Felix opened the gate, letting the dead loose.

Huck said she had to find another way to set up the explosives, and asked about the emergency weapons cache. Silas offered to go with Dennis, and Huck said she’d stay there. She told Dennis that they’d take what they got, and make it work. Newton killed most of the zombies, and Felix did a two-for-one move with double pokey stick. He and Newton dueled with their pokey sticks, while the next bath of zombies got closer. They did a whole swordfight thing, with lots of twirling, but at the end, Felix stabbed Newton, basically disemboweling him. The zombies descended on Newton, and I thought it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

After Jadis landed, she told the guards to secure the containers, and went to the warehouse. Huck was waiting, and knocked Jadis’s gun out of her hand. They fought with some big pipes they grabbed, since the warehouse was like a poor man’s Home Depot. Jadis asked what Huck got for betraying the CRM, and Huck said they were supposed to fight for humanity, but there was nothing humane about what they’d done. Jadis said Huck couldn’t appreciate what they had or what they did, but her mother understood. Huck said her mother had lost her way, but it was always who Jadis was. Jadis said, people were a resource. She’d had someone special, who was an A, but she told the CRM that they were a B, so he woudn’t end up with Huck’s mother. She’d traded him to get into the city, and now she was going to do what Huck couldn’t.

Dennis dug around in an old, locked refrigerator, looking for a timed detonator, among other weapons. Huck told Jadis that the CRM had the blood of a hundred thousand people on their hands, but Jadis said, it was no more than Huck did. What had she thought the intel she brought back was used for? They knew where to hit thanks to Huck. They fought some more, using zombie pokey sticks, and Jadis stabbed Huck. Jadis said it didn’t have to be this way, and Huck fell to the floor. Jadis asked if Huck wanted her to finish her off, or did she want to die alone. Huck told this long story about her father’s gold watch, and said to tell her mother that it wouldn’t bring them back together this time. Jadis saw Huck’s wrist, where her watch was noticeably absent, and a lightbulb came on. She asked how much time she had, but Huck wasn’t telling, and Jadis ran out, telling the guards that they were leaving.  

The zombies just kept coming at Hope, Iris, and Elton, until Indira showed up with a machine gun on the top of a truck. She yelled for the kids to duck, and mowed all the zombies down. Huck bled out on the floor, thought about her watch, and smiled. Then everything blew up. Dennis saw the green mushroom cloud in the air, and knew he wasn’t going to be having a life with Huck.

The kids ran to the truck, and for some stupid reason (probably just because it’s the last episode), Elton and Hope paused for a hug, causing Elton to get bit by a random zombie. Silas told Dennis that Huck could still be coming, but Dennis said he didn’t think that was going to be happening. Dennis said he could still get Dennis to the Civic Republic, but Dennis said he wasn’t going to make it; he never was. He told Silas to take the truck and find his friends, but Silas said he didn’t want to give up their second chance. They heard a truck, and Dennis said he was dead one way or another. He wanted Silas to say he was a hostage who got the upper hand on his captor, and make the CRM see him as a hero. He handed Silas his gun, but Silas refused. Dennis said Silas wanted a second chance, and it was the only way. He hadn’t deserved what Huck did, or this. He deserved to have a life, and needed to convince the CRM that he was one of them. They were told to come out with their hands on their head, and Silas told Dennis that he’d find out what the CRM had done. Dennis told him, just do it, and Silas cried, saying he was so sorry. Then he did it.   

Everyone met at the rendezvous. Elton had lost a lot of blood, and was secured just in case. Hope said he’d saved her life, and Will gave Indira her medicine that he’d found in Elton’s bag. Iris decided to go with Indira’s people to warn Portland, but told Hope not to leave. The place wasn’t permanent, but it was safe. Cornell was close by, and she’d have the equipment she’d need to continue her research. Iris knew she was supposed to go with Indira, and Hope said it wasn’t about them, but the future. Will suggested he and Felix go too, but Iris said too much needed to be protected there, and Felix agreed.

Jadis met with Silas in her office, and said she bet Silas was wondering why she’d asked him there. She heard what he did, and it must have been an ordeal with Huck’s treasonous husband. She told him that his friends were part of the mutiny, but he said he didn’t want to be a part of it, and they weren’t his friends. Jadis said she knew Dennis had put him up to it, but he went through with it. He’d killed his father, and his mother had abandoned him for it. It took strength. She’d heard he was interested in the military. He said he thought he’d make a good soldier, but she said she thought he’d make a great one. She was taking him on as a special project. She saw him for who he really was, even if he didn’t yet. He would, and she couldn’t wait.    

Moving on, Jadis met with Elizabeth on a bench outside. Jadis said she hadn’t found the scientists yet, but she would. Elizabeth said she’d seen herself as an ancestor to a future world indebted to her for her sacrifice. So she’d done monstrous things in order for civilization to reign again, and others could ascend,  but what if it just wasn’t possible? What if it never was? Jadis said survivors didn’t break. Instead of making the weak strong, they waited for the strong to become weak. She’d seen the strongest person she knew become vulnerable, and used it. She was doing it now. Elizabeth was to be remanded to the health and welfare complex until she could be tried for treason. If she was looking for someone to blame, blame her daughter. Huck was a traitor, and Elizabeth should have seen it. She allowed the Bennetts to live there, and had allowed the Perimeter to be a threat. Elizabeth said she was the one who brought Jadis in for a security audit, and Jadis said she’s been brought into a world of sh*t, and Elizabeth left when it got out of control. She’d been brought in to take the fall, but as Elizabeth got worse, she looked better. Jadis didn’t have friends, or a child, but she had her ambition. Elizabeth said Bill would have her head, and Jadis asked who Elizabeth thought signed the arrest warrant. They were the last light of the world. The guards took Elizabeth away.

Iris said her goodbyes, and Hope said she’d been thinking back to how they were going to save the world together. They still would, even though they weren’t together. Iris said it didn’t change them; it had showed them who they were. They hugged, there were tears and I love yous, then they gave each other the finger, which I didn’t quite get. As Iris was about to leave, Elton woke up.

To wrap it all up, we heard Elton in a voiceover, saying, there was a time he’d thought they were all going to die, that he believed his was the last generation. We saw scientists working, and he said, for a while, he thought they were the beginning, but that ignored everything and everyone who came before. He knew for sure they were a lot tougher and harder than he thought. We saw Silas as a soldier, and Elizabeth in prison, and Elton said, most things left their mark on all of them, in a way he never expected. We saw Will and Felix holding hands, and Elton said, there was still a lot of good, a lot that was beautiful, and a lot to give them hope. Maybe there was no beginning or end. Maybe it just is. It was whatever they made it. There was no perfect model or predicting if it was the last day or they’d last forever. Maybe all they got to know was now. It would get them there in small steps, and keep them growing and evolving. Those moments put together were life, and that was everything.

We saw Iris, Hope, Elton, and Silas at the beginning, and Elton saying, they’d see who they really were. Elton opened the door.

But wait, there was more.

A woman hooked up a laptop in a decrepit lab. She copied some files, then brought up Dr. Jenner (from TWD) on the screen, talking about getting fresh samples. There were too many variables, and they couldn’t get an accurate biological picture. But in brighter news, the latest data on jumpstarting the circulatory system to cause confusion was promising. A man came in with a gun, and spoke in French, asking if she was one of those doctors. She said she was, and he asked if she’d been in hiding. She said, yes, and he asked if she was on the Primrose team. She said, no, Violet. She told him that Primrose wasn’t there when it happened. When they did what they did, they were at a conference. She’d hoped that somehow they came back; she was tired of running. She hoped they might end this after all this time. The man said, they should be dead, and if they’re not, they wouldn’t jail them like the others; they’d kill them. End this? They’d started this. Then, they made it worse. He shot her, and we saw Dr. Jenner say that he had faith the day would come when they’d beat this thing. The woman sat up, now a zombie, went to the door, and started to bang on it. We saw the sign that said La Biomedicine.

La Fin.

🌬 Blowing Out Like the Wind…

Join me tomorrow for some soap and to see what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not making the same mistakes twice, and stay being content in just knowing now.

November 29, 2021 – Thanksgiving In Port Charles, 80s Neon On Deck, How They Celebrated, Dead News, Final Bow & Remember

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sam says, Drew? and he says he’s sorry to just show up like this, but in all fairness, she never returned his call. She says, oh my God, and they hug.

Chase stands at the Quartermaine door. Brook tells Ned, it’s Thanksgiving, and Ned says, the day we remember the Pilgrims for taking advantage of people they should have respected. She says she thought he wasn’t going to blame Chase, and he says, he’s not, but he’s allowed to be disappointed, at Chase, and at Brook. Chase says, maybe this was a bad idea, but Monica comes out, and asks where are Ned and Brook’s manners. Invite the man in; he’s a guest. Olivia comes in, and seeing the door open, asks if they live in a barn. Brook tells Monica, actually, Chase is more than a guest. Monica says, a friend, but Brook says, he’s more than a friend too. As a matter-of-fact, he’s family.

Portia leaves a voicemail for Curtis, saying, she knows he’s going through a lot right now, but maybe that’s all the more reason for him to come to her house for Thanksgiving. There’s going to be tons of food, good wine… At least she hopes it’s good wine; that’s what the guy told her. But most important, being around friends and family. So just think about it, and she hopes she sees him soon. Elizabeth says, first Portia comes in to check on a patient, and now she’s racing home to prepare dinner for all of them. What is she? Superwoman? Portia says, hardly. Does Elizabeth want to know her secret? Elizabeth says, please, and Portia says, she hired a caterer. Trust her; it’s worth it. Elizabeth says she can’t wait to celebrate with everyone and count their blessings. Elizabeth gets in the elevator, and Portia says, her too.

TJ says, it sounds like Marshall has already spoken to his uncle, and Marshall says he gathers Curtis didn’t tell TJ about their conversation. He certainly made it clear he wants nothing to do with Marshall. TJ asks if he should call Curtis to explain what’s going on, but Marshall says, don’t call Curtis. Maybe his not reaching out is a good thing. Maybe he’s thinking things over, and hasn’t completely rejected Marshall yet. TJ says, his uncle is one of the smartest men he knows. If he rejected Marshall, he has his reasons. He’s tried to keep an open mind, but it seems Marshall is running some kind of hustle. If that’s the case, Curtis spotted it a mile off. Marshall says, he’s not hustling TJ, Curtis, or anybody, and TJ says, Marshall could have fooled him. He came there with a fake pain in his side. Marshall says, sorry about that. He truly regrets the way he’s gone about this. He regrets it all. He really should have done everything differently.

At the hospital, Carly gives some guys to-go bags from the MetroCourt, and says, when they’re done, come back; she has more. Elizabeth says, it smells great. It’s thoughtful of Carly and Olivia to do this. Carly says, no one works harder than the GH staff, and if they’re working on Thanksgiving and away from their families, they should at least have sweet potatoes and turkey. Elizabeth says, and MetroCourt turkey, and Carly says, a step up from the cafeteria? Elizabeth says, just a little. How about their kids, volunteering to pass out dinners? Carly says there may have been a little prodding on her part, and Elizabeth says she’s pretty sure Cameron just wants to be with Josslyn, but they’re doing it. They have a lot to be grateful for. Carly says, they do, and Elizabeth says she’ll let Carly get back to work. She leaves, and Britt comes down the hall, doing an about-face when she sees Carly. Carly notices her, and follows. She calls to Britt, and asks when she got back. Did they find her mom? Britt says, they did, and Carly says, it must have been quite an adventure. She can’t wait for Jason to tell her all about it.   

Sonny is cooking, when Anna comes to the kitchen, where we no longer have the moss bowl 🎍 to be thankful for. He says, long time, no see. What brings her by?  

Olivia says, run that by them again, and Monica says, it would seem Valentin isn’t Bailey’s father, and Chase is. Brook says, correct, and Olivia says, but Brook didn’t tell Chase, and made him sleuth it out for himself. Ned says, also correct, and Brook says, she knows this comes as a shock to everyone, but Monica says, not to her. Nothing about this family shocks her anymore, especially on the last Thursday in November. Chase wants them to know that he’s not going anywhere, and plans on being the best father he can be. Ned says, he’d better, and Chase says, he brought a pie. It’s a cake and a pie; it’s a hybrid. Olivia says, it’s a start, and takes the box from him. She says, maybe change will be the theme this year, and they’ll all actually eat some turkey. Valentin comes in, and says, that didn’t take long. Out with the old, and in with the new, right?

TJ asks what Marshall’s name is again, and he says, TJ can call him Marshall for now. TJ says, they seem to be at an impasse. Clearly, he’s distressed about something, but can’t tell TJ what it is. Marshall says, he wants to, but he’s second guessing himself in real time; everything is coming out wrong. He tends to do that. Jump in headfirst, and suffer the consequences later. He doesn’t blame TJ for being suspicious. TJ says, subterfuge is not Marshall’s game. It bothered him so much when Marshall took off, TJ mentioned it to his uncle and another doctor. Marshall says, Dr. Robinson? and TJ asks how he knew. Marshall says, he guessed. He wishes he had gone about this differently, but what’s done is done. He just doesn’t want TJ to react like his uncle did. TJ says Marshall is still talking in circles, and he’s getting frustrated. What does Marshall want? Marshall says, to be part of the Ashford family, and TJ says, he gets it. Thanksgiving can be rough. People rushing around, going to nice warm gatherings with family and friends. If Marshall is feeling lonely, the holidays can exacerbate that, but Marshall says, the holidays and loneliness have nothing to do with this. He’s finally able to reach out to Curtis, after being unable to for a long, long time. Maybe too long, and he’s going about it all wrong. He’s not sure what to do about it, but it’s not TJ’s problem, and it’s not fair to enlist his help. This is something Marshall has to do on his own. TJ asks what Marshall is talking about; just tell him who Curtis is to him? Marshall says, Curtis is his son.

Elizabeth asks Portia if she should bring anything for dinner, but Portia says, just her crew. Finn comes in with Violet, and Portia says, unless Miss Violet is allergic to pumpkin pie. Violet says, no, but her daddy says she’s allergic to bedtime. Portia says she’ll see them later, and leaves. Finn asks if Elizabeth is ready to head out, and Violet says, there’s no rush. This day is already great. They’re together.

Phyllis sees Nina at the hospital, and Nina asks what she’s doing there. Phyllis says she volunteered to in there today, and just finished. It doesn’t hurt that staying busy keeps your mind off… everything. She asks if Nina has Thanksgiving plans, and Nina says she got an invitation to join her friend Curtis, but she doesn’t know. She’s having a tough time. Phyllis takes her hand, and says, you and me both.

Sam says she can’t believe Drew is standing there, and invites him in. He says, it’s surreal for him too, and she asks if he’s okay. He says he’s in one piece, so there’s that. She says, that’s a plus, and he says, he owes her a huge thank you. He heard she dropped everything and came looking for him with Dante. She says, but they didn’t find him. How did he get back? He says he had a lot of help.

Anna says, it smells incredible, and Sonny says she can come there any   time she wants. She thanks him, and says he doesn’t think she came there to score an invitation. What’s going on?

Carly guesses the trip was a whirlwind, and asks Britt, how’s Liesl? Britt says, good. She’s actually here, getting her injuries looked at. Carly asks, what about Peter? and Britt says, he’s captured and in custody. Carly says, thank God that guy’s reign of terror is finally over. It’s long overdue, but it’s finally finished and everyone is safe… Everyone’s safe, right?

Brook thought Valentin moved out, and he says, don’t worry about it. He and Charlotte have vacated the premises. He’s there to pick up some things the movers overlooked. He pours himself a drink, and Monica says, she knows this has to be painful and shocking for him. Olivia says, all things aside, they know how much he loves Bailey. Valentin thanks her, and says, he’ll survive; he always does. He says, no Michael? and Ned says, he and Willow took Wiley to New York City for the holidays. Olivia says, they thought Wiley would get a kick out of the parade, and Valentin says, maybe they’ll be kind enough to fill Michael in. Ned says, on this, and Valentin says, yeah, be sure to detail the depths to which his daughter has sunk, but this is an ELQ matter. He’s filed a motion nullifying their agreement. Brook says, he can’t do that, but he says, he can and he did. She admitted Bailey wasn’t his daughter; that voided their contract. That makes her ELQ shares once again his ELQ shares. That gives him an insurmountable majority, and cements his position as CEO of ELQ. Happy Thanksgiving.

TJ asks if Marshall is really his uncle’s father, and his father’s father. Marshall says he is, and TJ says, that makes him… Marshall says, his grandfather. TJ asks if he’s telling the truth, but Marshall says, he wouldn’t lie about this, and TJ says, he supposedly died a long time ago. Marshall says, it’s a long story, and not a pretty one, but he’s not an imposter. He’s not playing TJ or Curtis. He’s TJ’s grandfather. It feels good to say that, and see this fine young man standing in front him. He hopes TJ accepts what he’s telling him; accepts him. He holds out his hand, and TJ takes it. Marshall laughs, and Curtis comes in, asking what the hell Marshall thinks he’s doing. Marshall says, Curtis needs to watch his language in the chapel, and Curtis says he was trying to get there first to prepare TJ, but TJ says, it’s all good. Now they can finally put a name to the face of the stranger they wondered about; he’s family. Curtis says TJ needs to do him a favor, and leave.

Sam says, Drew and Jason teaming up to take down Peter, that’s something she would love to have seen. Does Monica know he’s home yet? He says, not yet, but he’s heading over there, and Sam says, this is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever for her. Dante comes downstairs with Scout, and stops short seeing Drew. Drew says, Scout. Look at her. She’s all grown up. Sam says, she’s not all grown up, and Drew says he’s so happy to see her, but Scout clings to Dante.

Anna tells Sonny, she and Robert went to Greece. They got information that Peter was holed up on Cassadine Island. He says, Jason’s in Greece; he and Britt went looking for her mother. Anna says she knows, and asks if they can sit down.

Carly asks what Britt isn’t telling her, and Britt flashes back to the tunnel collapsing. She says she just wants Carly to know, if it wasn’t for Jason, she and her mom wouldn’t have made it home alive. Carly says, that’s great, but she’s more concerned about Jason. Where the hell is he? Britt starts to cry.

Ned says Valentin doesn’t honestly think this will work, and Valentin says he does actually. Detective Chase came forth and clamed Bailey as his own, which was very honorable of him. He tells Chase, a word to the wise; honor is in short supply in this house. He tells Olivia, brining the turkey was an inspired choice; very succulent. She says, he tasted it? and he says he got his before the dog descended on it. Annabelle II barks, and Valentin says, rave reviews all around. Brook says, really? and they all run out, except for Monica.

TJ says, obviously, he’s missing something, and Curtis says, Mr. Ashford and he need to talk alone. TJ says he’s sensing that’s not the best idea, but Marshall says, it’s okay. TJ’s uncle is right. They have some unfinished business. TJ starts to leave, and Marshall says, looking at TJ, who and what he’s become, his father would be proud. TJ leaves, and Marshall says, okay, it’s just us, son. Curtis says, stop calling him son. It’s a privilege that’s earned. Marshall got his chance and blew it. There’s no going back.

Phyllis says she wishes she had come magic words to explain why bad things happen to good people, and Nina says, they happen to bad people too. Phyllis says, Nina’s not bad. She’s had a wound inside her since her baby was taken from her; maybe before. Nina says, it doesn’t excuse what she did, and Phyllis says, no, but taking responsibility is the first step to redemption. Nina asks if that’s a quote, and Phyllis says it is. Nina asks who said it? and Phyllis tells her that she did. They laugh, and Nina says she’s putting her foot down. Phyllis isn’t spending Thanksgiving alone or at Charlie’s. She sees Portia, and asks if Portis thinks she has room for one more tonight. Portia says, absolutely. The more the merrier. Nina and Phyllis hug.

Elizabeth says she just needs to change out of her scrubs, but Violet says she looks pretty, and asks Finn, doesn’t she? Finn says she does, and Elizabeth says she won’t be long. Finn says, and then it’s turkey time, and Violet asks if she can have the wishbone. Finn thinks that can be arranged. Elizabeth asks if she has a special wish in mind, and Violet says it’s about Elizabeth and daddy. Finn says she has to keep it a secret, or it won’t come true.

Sam tells Scout, don’t worry; there’s nothing to be afraid of. Dante says, it’s her dad. Can she believe it? Sam says, he’s been gone for a while, but he’s back now, and Dante says, it’s amazing news. Drew says he knows she’s surprised; he is too. They don’t have to rush. They can take it slow, and get to know each other again. Scout nods, and he says, the good news is, they’ve got nothing but time.

Sonny says he heard talk that Drew survived the plane crash, and Anna says, there was no plane crash; it was staged. Drew was being held prisoner by Peter with Victor’s assistance. Peter is in custody, and Victor cut a deal. Sonny says, Drew’s coming home; two out of three ain’t bad. Anna says, while they were there, they learned Peter had Britt and Jason, and Sonny asks if they got them out. She says, actually, they got themselves out. They had Jason to help. Britt and Obrecht got home… He says, Jason didn’t? and she shakes her head.

Carly tells Britt to say it, but Britt says, she doesn’t want to. Carly tells her, say it, and I want to slap her. Britt says, Jason’s gone.

Monica says, Valentin is enjoying this, isn’t he? and he asks if she’d call him childish if said yes. She says, revenge can be sweet for the moment, but it’s not going to make Bailey his. Ned comes in, brandishing a turkey leg, and says he hopes Valentin is happy. This is all that’s left of a 25 pound turkey. Valentin says, what a shame, but there’s always next year, and Brook says, he waltzes in there, taking back ELQ, and ruins her family’s Thanksgiving, and he talks about her depths? He says she took his child, and she says, Bailey isn’t his; get over it and move on. He says he thought he respected her, but he really just found her moderately attractive.  Now he doesn’t have to stick around and watch looks go to ruin. Chase tells him, watch it, but he says he’s just getting started. Without her singing voice, she’s just the runt of Quartermaine litter. She has less class than the family dog. Chase says, that’s enough, and punches him.

TJ wants to talk to Portia about a patient; the one he treated a couple weeks ago who took off. He just saw him again, and she’ll never believe this. She tells him, he said he was TJ’s grandfather, and he asks how she knew. She says, Curtis told her. He was on his way to fill TJ in, but she guesses Marshall beat him to it. He says, they’re together in the chapel right now, and she asks if he thinks Curtis needs backup. He says, since he was ordered out of there, he’d say, leave them be. She asks how Curtis seemed, and TJ says, not good. He’s worried about Curtis. She says, so is she.

Marshall says, TJ is willing to give him a chance. Why won’t Curtis? Curtis says, Marshall doesn’t get to make him the bad guy, not after Marshall went behind his back to tell his nephew. Marshall says he thought Curtis already told him. If he overstepped his bounds… Curtis says, Marshall thought he’d already told TJ? Told him what? That they have the same DNA? That Marshall waited three years before he disappeared, and his family believed Marshall was dead? He grew up without a father, and grew up with a mother who was chronically ill because when Marshall left, it devastated her. Now Marshall marches boldly back into Curtis’s life, without a semblance of an explanation. Does that about sum it up? Marshall says, he told TJ the simple truth. He came back to reconnect with his family. Curtis says, they are not and never will be Marshall’s family, and Marshall says he doesn’t expect to be invited to dinner anytime soon. He knows he has a lot of work to do before he can earn Curtis’s trust, but TJ’s a grown, and unless Curtis is claiming to speak for him… Curtis says, TJ speaks for himself, and Marshall says, then they’ll keep the resentment there, between the two of them, where it belongs. You do you, and I’ll do everything in my power to prove myself, or die trying. He tells Curtis, happy Thanksgiving. He says, he doesn’t know about Curtis, but he’s feeling grateful, and leaves.

Drew says he bets Scout thought he forgot, and unwraps a glass unicorn. He hopes she still collects them, and Sam says, she does. Scout asks if she can take it, and Sam says, of course (🍷). Scout thanks Drew, and goes to show the boys upstairs. Sam tells Drew, she knows it doesn’t feel like it, but she thinks it went really well. Dante offers to leave, but Drew asks him to stay. There’s something the both of them need to know. It’s about Jason.

Sonny asks if Peter sabotaged the tunnel, but Anna says, no. He was trying to escape, using Britt and Obrecht as hostages. Jason and Drew were a formidable team, as she understands it, but there was a gun fight, and the tunnels were already unstable. He asks if they took Jason out, and she says, she had a rescue team within the hour. She promises him that they did everything they could.

Britt tells Carly, they did everything they could. If Jason had survived, they would have saved him. Carly says, no body was found? and Britt says, sometimes you don’t find a body. 50 tons of earth came down on him, and there was no sign of life detected. Carly says, no, not Jason. Jason has beaten the odds over and over again, and he’s going to beat the odds this time. She’s going to Greece. Britt says, listen to her. Jason is gone. Even saying the words makes her want to curl into a ball, but it’s true. Jason is gone and not coming back. Carly says, because of Britt, and now I want to slap and kick her.

Valentin tells the Quartermaines to enjoy what’s left of their dinner, and walks out. Monica says, this is why she has Luigi’s on speed dial.

TJ goes to the chapel, and asks if Curtis is okay. Curtis says he didn’t want TJ to find out from Marshall, but TJ says, it doesn’t matter. Curtis says, it does to him, and TJ says, at least they know who he is now, and why he’s been asking questions. God knows he has a ton of his own. Curtis says he understands why TJ wants to ask questions and find out more. Marshall is his grandfather; why wouldn’t he? TJ says, but Curtis doesn’t trust him? Curtis says he doesn’t, and doesn’t think TJ should either. Proceed with caution. TJ wonders if they can get out of there. Everyone is going to Dr. Robinson’s. Curtis says he doesn’t think he’d be good company, and asks TJ to send his regards. He’s heading to the club; he’s got some work he can do. TJ says Curtis can send his own regards. He’s coming. Curtis tells TJ to go hang with his colleagues and friends, but TJ says, not without Curtis. Curtis says TJ is as stubborn as a mule, and TJ tells him, they say it runs in the family.

Elizabeth meets Finn and Violet, and Violet says, that took forever. Finn says, it was worth the wait, and Elizabeth says, an upgrade from the scrubs? but he says she looks pretty amazing in those too. Portia comes by, saying, she’s glad she caught them. There’s been a change in plans. Nina and Phyllis join them, and Nina asks if dinner is off. Portia says, no. Same people, same food; just a different venue.

Sam says, so Drew is telling them that there’s no chance? and Drew says, not even Jason could have survived that cave-in. Sam looks at a photo of Jason and Danny, and says, it’s so unreal. Scout gets her father back, and Danny loses his. Drew says he’s sorry. If it eases the pain even a little bit, he owes his life to Jason. If Jason hadn’t shown up, he would be dead or still controlled by Peter. Jason is a hero. Dante says, that sounds about right, and Sam says, it means a lot, and thanks him. Drew says he’s got to go. He doesn’t want Monica hearing the news from someone else. He’ll leave his number, and if Sam needs anything, he’s only a phone call away. She doesn’t have to search for him this time. She says she’s glad he’s home, and he says, him too. He leaves, and she looks at the picture again. Dante says he’s so sorry, and she says, her too.

Anna tells Sonny, it’s so unfair. Jason worked hard to get back to his life, only to have it taken away again. Sonny says, this time for good. Carly… She says she thought they’d both be there, and she could tell them together, but he says he’s going to have to tell her. Did Anna tell Robin? Anna says she’s dreading this conversation, and he says he appreciates her coming by to tell him. He knows it’s hard for her too. She wipes some tears away, and says, she and Jason were often on different sides of the law, but she had respect for him as a person and a parent. Sonny says, it was mutual, and Anna asks if they can maybe just lean on each other about this. He hugs her, and she says he’s got this. She leaves and Sonny knocks some stuff around. At least the moss bowl 🎍 is out of harm’s way.

Carly says she gets that Peter set this whole thing in motion, and he’s going to pay, but Britt? Jason had feelings for her. Look what it cost him. Even when they ended things, Jason had this responsibility or guilt or whatever the hell she wants to call it. So much so, he went looking for her mom in Greece. So when Carly rewinds the tape, she wishes Jason never met Britt. The nasty bitch walks away, and Britt says she wishes that too. I gave she-devil Carly the benefit of the doubt for a long time, but she leaves herself out of every equation that she’s a part of. If not for Carly, Jason would be alive.

Anna calls Valentin, and says, guess who’s home? He says he looks forward to hearing all about Greece tomorrow, and she asks, what’s wrong with now? He says he’s in the middle of something, and she wonders if he’s all right. He says he’d rather tell her tomorrow, but welcome home, darling. He looks at a photo of Bailey on his phone, and his finger hovers over the delete button, but he doesn’t touch it. He takes a drink instead.  

Britt goes to the reception desk, and flashes back on Jason saying there’s no way to predict anything. That’s not how life works. The future is an idea; it’s not a guarantee.

Sam asks if Dante is disappointed they bailed on Thanksgiving, but he says, no. He can have pizza anytime he wants. She says, what about the kids? but he says, the kids are fine. They spend plenty of time at the Quartermaines as it is. They’re right where they’re supposed to be. She says she knows Jason lived a crazy life. She had a feeling this was going to happen. She just didn’t think it would happen so soon. Dante holds her.

Carly comes back and sees Sonny through the window. She sits at the patio table, and cries. Sonny looks out the window, and watches her.

As they arrive at the club, Curtis tells TJ that he talks a good game, but he really didn’t want to spend Thanksgiving alone. TJ says, that’s a relief, and Curtis asks, why? They go inside, and turn on the light. Everyone is there, and they yell, surprise! Curtis asks, what’s going on? and Portia says, since he wasn’t up to joining the celebration, they brought the celebration to him. She tells everyone, dig in, but Curtis says, hang on. If his Aunt Stella were there, she’d say they’re forgetting the most important part. Violet says, thank you for the food. Thank you for my family. Curtis says, amen, and everyone starts to eat. Curtis kisses Portia.

Monica looks out the front window, and sees pizza boxes. She says, look at that. She didn’t even have to order this year. They just brought the pizza. She opens the door, and Drew is holding the boxes. He says he rolled the dice, and brought some with him.

Tomorrow, Scotty tells his schnitzel, welcome back; Monica tells Drew, don’t ever say anything like that again; Britt tells someone, if they tell anyone what they saw, she’ll have them fired; and Carly tells Sonny, Jason could still be alive.

Below Deck

Eddie tells the deckhands that the wind is too strong, and tells Jake not to give the go ahead until everything is secured. He never wants to see something blowing off the boat again. In Eddie’s interview, he says he needs the deck team to step up, so he can focus on his job as first officer, and his education in the wheelhouse. He tells the deckhands, he doesn’t want one more effing thing falling off the boat. Jake says he hates the effing cushions. Heather calls the provider for neon décor and balloons, specifically a seven and a five. The guests lounge around, and Rachel demonstrates 80s dance, the vacuum cleaner, in the galley. She brings Captain Lee breakfast, and Heather tells him that they’re having an 80s party for Primary Ronnie’s 75th. The captain says he already did the 80s once. In his interview, he says he met his wife Maryann in the 80s. It changed his life. So in the 80s, he was changing his life. He was also trying to look cool, but that didn’t work out. We see a picture of him back in the day, but IMO, he looked pretty good.

Heather tells Captain Lee about Jessica’s grandmother having a procedure. I love this vague word, which could mean pretty much anything from an ingrown toenail to cancer. In Heather’s interview, she says she notices the difference in Jessica from day one to now, and we flash back to when Jessica was peppy in the beginning. Heather says she understands what’s going on with Jessica, but at some point, she needs to leave it in the cabin, and show up to do her job. The guests do water sports. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s making Mexican food for lunch, and Mexican is up her alley. It’s great going in, and interesting coming out. Fraser asks if Heather missies her partner, and she says, definitely, but it’s something they’re used to, since the priority was always yachting. Fraser says he’s craving male attention, and in his interview, he says his first relationship lasted two and a half years. His partner was ten years older, and they were in different stages of life, so it had to end, and he was shattered. It feels like he’d better get back into it. Lunch served, and primary Ronnie says, if Rachel wanted to start a restaurant, she definitely could. In Heather’s interview, she says she’s looking forward to the 80s party. She was in the womb in the 80s, and doesn’t know much about it, but she can channel it. Rachel is told by the guests that it was the best meal ever.

Jake thinks Wes and Jessica should hook up. In his interview, he says, Wes has no game whatsoever, but he’s going to try and help him. He tells Heather that they need a push. Jake tells a TMI story about twerking, and thinking pushing out a fart would be funny, and ending up pushing out something else. Sh*t happens… literally. The trampoline goes flying, and in Eddie’s interview, he says, WTF? Wes goes out to get it on a jet ski, and in his interview, he says, Baywatch in action. He’s a skinnier version of The Rock. Call him Pebble. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, in 35 years, he’s never seen wind blow with such intensity for so long. It’s Mother Nature giving you a wakeup call. Jessica irons, and Heather passes out 80s stuff to the crew. Rachel says she loves the effing 80s, and the captain tells everyone to be in their blacks by six. Jake comes out in a neon yellow… I honestly don’t know what it is. A bodysuit with cut-outs? Fraser thinks Jake looks like a figure skater or exotic dancer; he’s effortlessly chic. I wonder if we’re looking at the same guy.

Heather tells Rachel that Rayna has a sh*t attitude, and the guests get dressed for dinner. The five balloon flies away, and the wind also takes a glass off a table, and it shatters on the deck. The guests are seated for dinner, and a lot of lobster goes out. Captain Lee joins the guests, but leaves any neon behind. Rayna is helping serve, and Heather explains that the food can’t go out without tongs to serve it. Rayna mumbles about Heather needing to do her own damn job. She’s helping; she works outside. All Fraser can come up with are ice tongs, and in her interview, Heather says she shouldn’t have to explain they need tongs. She hates the way it’s going, and how no one has the initiative to come up with a solution. Rayna tells Rachel that she’s killing it, and Ronnie picks up a gigantic steak bone, eating off of it like a caveman. Heather tells the crew to get in their 80s attire to sing Happy Birthday.

Jake tries to deal with his wedgie. Heather tells at least three crew members to let Rachel know she’s clearing the table, but ends up having to tell Rachel herself. The crew dances around in their neon, spandex whatevers, and wigs. In Eddie’s interview, he says he guesses this is what being first officer is about – leggings and a tank top that belongs to an eleven-year-old girl. Guest Stacie raves about the cake, and Captain Lee thanks them for dinner, making his getaway. Although these are relatively lowkey guests, and not like that horrifying last group. Everyone heads to bed (what I said – I’m kind of disappointed in this party), and Rayna tells Jessica that Heather is hard-headed and rude. Fraser tells Heather that he doesn’t want to put up with Jessica anymore, and in Heather’s interview, she says, it’s not a test. Either she wants to be here or she doesn’t.

Friend Issa calls Rayna, and in Rayna’s interview, she says, yachting and relationships are like oil and water. She likes the feeling of knowing someone genuinely wants to talk to you. She’s not trying to rush into anything, but reaches out for attention. Breakfast is served – lobster benedict and French toast. I don’t even like French toast that much, and I think it looks amazing. And big. Like Texas toast times four. Guest Todd sticks to scrambled egg whites, and in her interview, Rachel says scrambled egg whites are the bane of her existence, and gives two middle fingers. Eddie tells Jake that they’re dropping anchor, and to secure everything. In Eddie’s interview, he says, the last time was a complete failure, and he’s too old for this sh*t. He needs someone to take over the deck. Anchor is pulled.

Ronnie says, it’s the best three days of food he’s ever had. Rayna asks Wes to think about when dinosaurs swam in the water, and Wes bets they still are. Okay… In Fraser’s interview, he says, on a scale of one to ten, Jessica is an 8.2 in clueless. She’s neither working harder nor smarter. In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s had enough of getting yelled at for the deck team’s mistakes. This time, they didn’t even break a sweat.

The captain calls the crew to the aft deck to say goodbye. Primary Jeremy says it was awesome, and the food was spectacular. Child guest Alexander is relieved of his locked box, and Jeremy hands it to Captain Lee. When the guests are gone, the captain says, they know the drill. Fraser reveals that he has two closets; one just for uniforms. Heather is at a loss for words. It’s time for the tip meeting, and the captain says, it was a great charter. It was nice to see Jessica come out of her shell for the 80s. Jessica says, it was the purple hair, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, go Jess, less than enthusiastically. Captain Lee says, it’s almost like they all knew what they were doing. He opens the case, and says, 25 large ($25K). The crew responds with applause. He doesn’t say how much per crew member, and I try to count them fast, but they’re already gone. The captain tells them, well done. Have a good time; they earned it. Rachel makes it rain, while Heather twerks. Fraser asks Heather to put him on laundry. He’ll do nothing and not smile, and get a mention from Captain Lee. Heather tells him, who said you have to sleep your way to the top? The crew gets ready to go out, and head to a restaurant. Rachel tells Heather, curry with white pants; it’s a choice. Jake flirts with Heather, and in Heather’s interview, she says, Jake is coming on strong. If she didn’t have a boyfriend, he might stand a chance, but the ‘stache looks prettier every day. Fraser and Jake take a smoke break, and in Wes’s interview, he says, Jessica gives him butterflies. She reminds him of a big crush who broke his heart. He stopped taking chances after that. In Fraser’s interview, he says he finds Jake attractive, and might have a crush on him, but Jake is straight and he’s gay, not stupid. Jake takes off his pants at the bar, and then his underwear. It looks like they have the place to themselves, but still. There is a waitstaff. Rayna tells the bartender, the naked one is her boss.

Jake dances around, then jumps in the pool. Fraser follows, but thankfully, keeps his underwear on. They head back to the yacht, and Fraser says he’s getting naked in the hot tub. Rachel says she was okay until saw Jake’s flaccid penis flopping about. In the taxi, Jake and Fraser kiss, while Heather films on her phone. Jake says he’s not bisexual; he’s just sexually comfortable. Rachel says, nothing phases Jake, and she thinks everyone will get a ride on the mustache. Back on the boat, Eddie decides to use a blowtorch to light a cigar, and ends up setting his hair on fire. It’s put out quickly, but stinks up the place. Jake and Fraser get in hot tub. Eddie says he’s stressed because he has to work tomorrow, and asks Heather what happened with Jessica. Heather says she’s trying to keep her team intact. Captain Lee’s comment affected Fraser, and he said maybe he’d get praise if he stopped working so hard. Jake says, hummus and muffins… Everyone is so boring… A bagel for the boys… I guess he’s pretty drunk.

In the morning, Jake is still drunk, and says he’s effing trollied. The captain pumps iron, and Eddie asks if Jake remembers making out with Fraser. He doesn’t. Heather shows Fraser the video, and in his interview, Fraser says he’s mortified. Now Jake possibly thinks he’s into him, and he’s put his relationship with his best friend on the boat at risk. He’s crumbling. He says, stupid, a dozen times.

Next time, Jessica gets put on service; Heather tells Jessica, training day is over; and Eddie says he’s going to rip someone’s head off, but Captain Lee says that’s his job.

🦃 Talking Turkey…

How the soap celebs celebrated Thanksgiving.

And how their small screen counterparts gathered together.

⚰️ Dead Talk…

A deadly anniversary.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-pretty-much-dead-already-10th-anniversary-rick-grimes-sophia-death-barn/

The twist in Fear.

A little bit of Mo in your life.

A preview of the end of Beyond.

https://bleedingcool.com/tv/the-walking-dead-world-beyond-finale-preview-a-fight-for-the-future/

After Dead.

🎭 Exiting the Stage…

My favorite musical writer/composer. Being able to write musicals as diverse from one another as Follies and Sweeney Todd, there was no one like him. May all the other stage greats who’ve gone before you, sing you to your rest.  

https://ew.com/theater/stars-pay-tribute-stephen-sondheim-death/

🚴‍♀️ Getting Out While the Getting’s Good…

Even though Black Friday has come and gone, you’d think there had never been a sale before. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw how much email I had this morning. Whatever the status of your inbox, stay safe, stay unpressured by the holidays, and stay knowing there’s always next year, if the dog descends on your turkey.

November 28, 2021 – Stalkers Attack Victor’s Tower, Not Exactly As Planned & Evacuate

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

Victor is having his portrait painted. In a voiceover, he tells us that Oscar Wilde said every portrait painted with feeling, is a portrait of what the artist sees, not the sitter. He wants a portrait of him, not what the artist sees; who he is, what he’s built. He wants what he sees painted. Artist Juliana, says, yes, sir, but he says, it’s Victor. Howard comes in, and says, it’s early for scotch, but Victor says, a thousand years from now, no one will question what time he drank. Howard tells him, if this place is going to see a thousand years from now, they have to populate the tower.

Howard brings in the callbox phone, and Victor picks it up, asking, how did you find this place? A man says his name is Arnold, and he’s a carpenter, but Victor says he just admitted someone with Arnold’s skillset, and hangs up. He picks up the phone again, and asks how they’ve survived. A woman says she was training with some medics, and helped a few folks along the way, and Victor hangs up. He asks Juliana how long it’s going to take, and she says, a few more sittings. Victor answers the phone, and asks where they were before this, and how they’ve survived. He barely listens, and hangs up. He tells the next one, they’re not what he’s looking for, and another, he just admitted someone with their skillset. He’ll have to turn them away. He tells Howard, don’t say it, but Howard says, he’s rejected everyone. He should at least meet them face-to-face. Victor says, they can’t give entry to every Tom, Dick, and Arnold. Howard says, some of them had skills they could use, and Victor says, he took that into consideration, but he can look at a person, and tell who they are; see what others don’t. Listening to his instincts got him this far. They didn’t need them.

Howard comes in, and Victor tells him, tell whoever it is to come back another day, but Howard says he’ll want to see this one for himself. Up on the roof, Victor looks through the binoculars, and sees Morgan holding Mo. Howard says, told him, and Victor gets on the phone, asking, to what does he owe the pleasure? Morgan tells him, he knows what Victor said before and what he said, but he needs Victor’s help. Something is wrong with Mo, and she needs to see June. Victor asks why he would let Morgan do that, and Morgan says, they’re not asking to stay, and this little girl has nothing to do with what went on between them, so please… Victor hands Howard the phone, and says, tell him to take a hike. Howard says, Morgan heard him.

Victor asks Juliana if it’s finished, and she says, she’ll put glaze on it when it’s dry, but for now. He says, let him see it, and she turns the painting around, asking if he likes it. He looks at himself for a long time.

On the roof with the painting, Juliana says she’ll fix whatever it is, but Victor flings the painting off the roof. She asks what he’s doing, and he says she should be glad it’s not her. Howard asks, what’s going on? and Victor says, she doesn’t see him; no one does. Howard says he doesn’t understand, and Victor says, no one does; that’s the problem. Howard says, why? and Victor says, Howard heard him The zombies walk all over Victor’s portrait.

Morgan looks at the Wall of the Dead, and Victor says, none of them are theirs. Morgan says, it was Victor’s idea? and Victor says, people have a right to know who’s out there. Morgan says, Charlie, Luciana, Jacob, Wes, and Daniel – they found them. Victor tells him, Wendall is there, June and Mr. Dorie. Things are not so bad, all things considered. Morgan says, Alicia? but Victor says he doesn’t know. Morgan asks why Victor let him in, but Victor says he’s the one asking questions. Why did Morgan come back? Morgan says, he had no choice. That’s his baby. Howard tells Victor, June is ready.

June is talking to Mo, when Morgan comes in. She hugs him, and says, he’s all right. He says he heard her message, and tried to get to the bunker, but Victor says, she would have died by the time Morgan got there. June says, he doesn’t know that, and Morgan asks if Mr. Dorie (aka JD) is okay. She says, he’s managing, and Victor says, he thinks Morgan is trying to ascertain whether or not June likes it there. She says, it’s certainly better than out there. She has medicine and supplies, and she’s able to help people. Howard asks for a word with Victor, and tells him that JD detected movement near the tower. Victor and Howard leave, and Morgan says June is still limited with what she can do. How different is Victor’s offer from the one Virginia gave her? She asks if he has something better, and he says, maybe. She asks, what? and he says he’s working on it. She says, so is she. John died because he ran. Virginia wasn’t playing games, and she’s not making the same mistake. Victor comes back, and asks if they have a diagnosis, and June says, Mo has a double ear infection. If it had been left untreated, it could have resulted in hearing loss. They should keep her for observation until they know the antibiotics are working. Victor asks, how long? and she says, 36-48 hours. Victor says, it looks like Morgan’s baby earned him a holiday. Can he offer Morgan a drink?

Victor pours drinks for Morgan and himself, and Morgan says, he’s not going to lie; it’s impressive. Victor says, it’s more than that. It’s a miracle, an oasis in the middle of the blast. They have clean air and clean water, everything to keep the nasty stuff from outside away. Morgan suggests they cut the sh*t. Victor didn’t bring him in there to rub his achievements in Morgan’s face. Victor says, he was already doing that while Morgan was out there. There’s something he needs Morgan to do for him; something he can’t do. Morgan says, what? and Victor says he’s not sure he can trust Morgan yet. Morgan says, Victor can’t expect him to make a deal he doesn’t know the terms of, but Victor says, it’s not a negotiation. He sits down, gun in hand, and says, doing what he asks, is the only way Morgan will see his little girl again. He smiles, and asks, shall we drink to our new deal? He raises his glass, and Morgan says, all right. They clink glasses, and suddenly, a zombie slams against the window, then slides down, leaving a trail of blood. They look out, and zombies are being catapulted toward the tower. One comes crashing through, and Victor shoves him back out. There are explosions below, and smoke is everywhere. Morgan asks if Victor is okay, and Victor asks if Morgan is. Morgan says, yeah, and Howard comes in. He tells Victor, the Stalkers are here, and Victor says, he knows. Howard says, he wants to talk to Victor, and Victor asks, who’s he? They go to the roof, and Victor looks through the binoculars. He sees a guy pick up the phone, and Howard says, he claims they met before. Victor picks up the phone, saying, he’s listening, and the guy says he sees he got Victor’s attention. Victor says, a call would have sufficed, but the guy says, he tried, and it didn’t work. Victor doesn’t recognize his voice? It’s Arnold. Victor says, he knew it. His instincts were right. He’s not changing his mind. Arnold says he doesn’t know about that. At the very least, they can destroy the tower. Victor asks what he wants, and Arnold says, the same thing as before. he and his people want a place to call home. Victor says, not going to happen, not here, not now, but Arnold says, this might change his mind. They found a warhead that was a dud, but it killed anyone who touched it, including those who put pieces of it on the dead. Victor sees a truck full zombies, and asks if those were contaminated walkers who were launched. Arnold says, no, but the next ones will be. It will make the place uninhabitable, and Morgan says he’s seen them out there. Victor says he didn’t ask anyone’s opinion. If they want this place, they won’t destroy it. Arnold says, he has one hour, and Victor tells them, get John Dorie ASAP. Morgan asks for the radio, saying, he has people in range, and they’ll be there. Victor asks how he knows Morgan isn’t working for these masked a-holes, but Morgan says, Victor has Mo. Does he think Morgan would launch explosives? Trust him. Victor says, he can’t. He needs an update from JD. Victor suddenly clutches his throat, and Morgan asks if he’s okay. Victor can’t breathe, and tells Howard to get June.  

Victor wakes up inside, and June is there. He asks how long he was out, and June says, ten minutes. Howard says, they haven’t fired any more dead, and Victor asks, how much damage? Howard says, mostly the lower stories, but there are no casualties that they know of. They haven’t cleared the tunnels, so they can’t leave. Victor doesn’t think it’s a coincidence; they poisoned him. He knows it. June says she’ll get an IV, and Victor asks if JD is on the roof. Howard gets JD on the radio, and JD says, he’s got them in his sites. If he fires, he’ll blow up the whole lot, Unless they want the tower to be extra crispy, he suggests they hold off, and Victor asks how long they have. Howard says, 47 minutes, and Victor says, tell them to hold off. Tell JD, if they launch anything, drop whoever he can before it hits the building. Howard tells JD, stand by and stay locked. Morgan says he can take care of it if Victor lets him radio Grace, and Victor asks what Morgan is doing here. Morgan tells him not to let what’s gone on between them stop Victor from taking help. There are lives at stake; his daughter’s life. Let him help. Victor says, get him out of here, but Morgan says he just wants to help. Howard says, there are no radios; everything there is hard wired. Morgan asks if that’s why they stripped the submarine, and Victor says, unlike Morgan, they don’t broadcast things. Morgan says, they must have walkies, and Howard says, in the armory. Morgan asks where it is, and Victor says, Morgan doesn’t get to ask questions as if he’s in charge. Morgan says he’s just asking if he can relay a message, and Victor begins to breathe heavy.

Howard radios Ollie, and realizes the line has been severed. Victor says, they have to find another way to stop these a-holes. Zombies are launched at the third and fourth floors, and Victor says he was told an hour. Fires break out, things blow up, and the lights go out. JD says, they’re early, and Howard answers the phone. He tells Victor that Wen says Arnold is on the callbox, and Victor says, patch him through. He yells for them to get the artifacts away from the windows. He gets on the callbox phone, and tells Arnold, he said no more surprises for an hour. Arnold says, their scope was glinting. It was just a warning to make sure Victor doesn’t try anything funny. Victor asks, were the dead clean? and Arnold says, the next won’t be. He suggests they leave the roof. June says, there are probably injured on the lower floors, but Victor says, no one leaves until they know what they’re dealing with. Morgan says he knows how to deal with it, and Victor hobbles to a basin and throws up. June says, Victor was right. He was given methylene blue. Victor says, someone put it in his food. What will it do to him? She says, it depends on how much he ingested and when, and Victor asks if it will kill him, but she says she doesn’t know.

JD says he can figure out a deal. He’s had a lot of experience talking people down from doing crazy things. Howard asks how that worked with Teddy. Only Victor represents the tower. Victor says, question everyone, and JD says he’s not sure this is the time, but Victor says, do it. He needs to get to the armory, and radio Grace for assistance. Morgan is surprised, and Victor says he’s doing what’s best for the tower. He’s not the selfish a-hole they make him out to be. He’ll do it himself. Howard says they don’t know if the stairwells are intact, and JD says, there could be fires, dead, but Victor says he’s doing it himself, drawing his sword to make his point. He says, someone in the tower poisoned him, and Howard says, he’s been there since the beginning, but Victor says, that doesn’t mean anything. He can’t trust anyone until he’s figured it out. JD says, those people tried kill him, and June too, but Victor says he doesn’t know that. June has access to the medicine; JD won’t interrogate anyone; and Wen is angry because Victor turned his sister away. Wen says, she was here? and Morgan says, she didn’t want him to know. Wen asks why Victor would do that, and Victor says, for the same reason he turns anyone away. He was trusting himself; what he’s doing now. June says he’s not going to make it, and Victor says, she’s right. That’s why Morgan is coming with him. Howard reminds him that he said he didn’t trust Morgan, and Victor says, he does, as long as he has Mo. Hand her over. Morgan says, not a chance, but one of Victor’s people holds a gun on him. Mo cries, and Morgan says, okay, giving Mo to Victor. He says, if Victor hurts her… and Victor says, he knows, so don’t give him a reason to. Howard says, they have 35 minutes. They leave, and we hear the clock ticking.

Victor and Morgan come to a large shaft that goes down several floors. There are random zombies sticking their hands out from the walls. Morgan says, they were trying to take shelter from the first blast. He asks if Mo is still asleep; June said the medicine might knock her out. He thinks Victor doesn’t know what he’s doing; being sick has made him see ghosts where there ain’t any. Victor says, if Morgan did that to him, he’ll do everything he can to take him out, but Morgan says, he’s not Victor. He tells Victor, he’s not lowering the three of them down, and Victor says, then they all die. 29 minutes. Let him go. Morgan tells him, stay with her. He’s not going anywhere without her. He asks where the opening is, and Victor says, it’s in the basement service corridor. Morgan tells him, take care of her. If anything happens to her, he’ll do worse to Victor than they will out there. Victor says, agreed.

Morgan swings on a rope past the dead’s outstretched, grasping arms, lowering himself down. Victor tells Mo, he’s not her papa; he’s Victor Strand, her temporary guardian. Morgan swings past more dead and into a window. Victor tells Mo about the tower, and how he and Morgan both tried to save the things they loved. Morgan says he’s down, and it looks intact. Mo cries, and Morgan calls to Victor. Victor says, he’s up here, and Morgan asks if he’s okay. Victor says, he’s fine and dandy, but Morgan says, lower her down. If something happens, and he turns… He’s not moving until Mo is in his arms. Victor says, don’t move, and they all die. He doesn’t think Morgan will let that happen. Morgan says, pass her down, and Victor tells Mo that everyone is interested in her. His father barely looked at him. She should enjoy it now. Morgan asks if Victor wants to save this place or not, and Victor says he’s doing it. Morgan tells Victor, keep talking to him, and Victor asks, what is Morgan? His therapist? He tells Mo that she’s going for a little ride. Her papa is down there. Morgan asks why Victor let him in, but Victor says, it doesn’t matter. Morgan says, don’t tell him that, and Victor carefully lowers Mo down, making me a nervous wreck. Morgan says, maybe Victor can find a way to trust him, but Victor says, that’s how you lose. He only trusts people if has a reason. Morgan grabs the baby, and we all breathe a sigh of relief. Victor says, Morgan’s not coming back, is he? and Morgan tells Mo that it’s going be over soon. Sweating bullets, Victor says, Alicia, and Morgan says Victor told him that he didn’t know where she was. Victor says, he doesn’t know, but if she’s alive, he wants Morgan to find her. Morgan asks why Victor doesn’t look, and Victor says he doesn’t think Alicia would like it if he found her, but she’d go with Morgan. Morgan promises to be back, and Victor puts his head in his hands.

June gives Victor a shot, and tells him to relax; he’s very dehydrated. Victor asks if they’re gone, and Morgan says, all he did was get the walkie. Grace and Sarah did the rest, and Victor has them to thank. June says she can’t stay; she has to help injured. She thinks most of it is out of Victor’s system. Morgan says, he’ll bring Victor up when he’s strong enough to walk, and Victor thanks June. She tells him, don’t ever use her medical skills again to help him get what he wants, and leaves. He asks Morgan, how the child is, and Morgan says, fine. She’s with JD. Victor says, Morgan brought him to June, when he could have kicked him over the edge. Morgan says, it crossed his mind, and Victor asks, why didn’t he? Morgan tells him, what he said about Alicia. If he’d done that, she wouldn’t want either one of them to find her. Victor says, he did what needed to get done, but it still wasn’t enough, and Morgan says, they’ll find her, but Victor will have to make it the kind of place she’ll want to live in. Victor asks what he means, and Morgan says, a lot of people need a place like this; people Victor knows. Victor says, what if Morgan doesn’t find her? and Morgan asks what Victor’s gut tells him, and Victor says, he thinks Morgan will; they will. Morgan holds out his hand to help Victor up, and Victor sees blue under Morgan’s thumb nail. He flashes on Morgan putting the drug in his drink, and says, it was him. Was his baby even sick? He tries to fight with Morgan, but Morgan gets him down, Morgan says, he’d never put everyone’s life in danger, but Victor says, Morgan was working with them. Morgan says he stopped them, and Victor says, Morgan tried to kill him. Morgan says, Victor gave him no choice. Howard comes up behind Morgan, and tells him, stand up and back away. Victor says, take him to the roof.

Victor says he should never let Morgan in, as he pushes Morgan halfway off the roof, and over the zombie crowd. The callbox phone rings, and Victor tells Howard to answer it. It’s Grace, and Victor says, she shouldn’t watch this, but she says, he needs her help. He says he already got it, but she says, some walkers got loose who were exposed to the warhead. She thinks they joined the others around the building. Victor says he knows what she’s doing, and it’s not going to work, but she says, if they go off, he knows what happens. Even if they don’t, they’ll be leaking what’s inside for months. He asks what her play is, and she says, she’ll find them, and help remove them. He says, for what? and she says, Morgan’s life, and her daughter’s. Victor asks Howard if he thinks she’s telling the truth, and Howard looks at the smoking mess left behind. He says he thinks so, and Victor says, if she’ll help him, he’ll let her come in, but she has to live by the same rules, and doesn’t get to leave. Morgan says, don’t do it, and Victor says, shut up. He asks if they have a deal, and Grace says, yes. Victor says, it’s a deal, and Morgan says, let him talk to her. Victor says, the deal is struck; do as you please. He hands Morgan the phone, and Morgan says, she didn’t have to do that. She says she knows, but she wanted to; for him, for her, for their family. He says he’ll find his way back to her, and Victor hangs up the phone, saying, no, he won’t, but he’s got nothing to worry about. He’ll give her everything Morgan couldn’t; food, shelter, and security. Show Mr. Jones the exit. He tells Howard, get some lunch, and retrieve his painting.

Howard tells Victor, Grace says she can find the irradiated dead if she has access to the equipment. Victor asks if they have what she requires, and Howard says, some of it. He asks if everything is okay, and Victor says, he was wrong. He didn’t see what Morgan was up to. Howard says, from everything Victor told him, he doesn’t see how he could have. Does Victor want him to have Juliana come and clean the portrait up? Victor says, no. He likes it like this. This is the way people need to see him. Howard asks if Victor is sure everything all aright, and Victor says, he was wrong about Morgan. Who else has he been wrong about? Howard tell him not to let Morgan make him second guess himself, and Victor tells Howard to bring him the baby. He wants to spend time with her. Howard says he didn’t know Victor liked children, and Victor says she’s got to get used to her new father some time. Howard leaves, and we see the painting, now all ripped and messed up, with blood on it. Victor admires it.

Morgan walks in the dark, looking like a nomad, in a hood and holding his embellished pokey stick. He stops, and says he knows someone is there. Show yourself. He’s not in the mood for this. A few masked people come out of the darkness, and Dwight and Sherry ride up. Morgan says, they’re alive, and Sherry says, so is he. Morgan asks if they’re traveling with the Stalkers. If they are, there are things they ought to know. Dwight says Morgan doesn’t know the half of it.

They go to a camp, and Dwight says, the wind is in the right direction. They can take their masks off. Morgan asks how long Dwight and Sherry have been running with them, and Sherry says, a couple weeks. It’s getting rough out there. Morgan says he knows; what are they doing here? Sherry says their leader wants to talk to him, and Morgan says, show him where he is. Sherry says, he means where she is. I say, I think it’s Alicia.

A woman in Stalker garb comes out of a tent, and Morgan says, he just told her people, he doesn’t want any trouble. The woman says she didn’t bring him there to cause trouble, and takes off her mask. I was right, and Alicia and Morgan hug. She tells him that he looks like sh*t, and he says, to be honest, he feels like sh*t. They thought they lost her. She says she was safely underground while the rest of the world burned, and he says he doesn’t get this. They’re the ones who attacked the tower? She says, those aren’t her people. Not anymore. He asks what’s going on? What is this about? She says, these people are tired, hungry, and getting desperate, and Morgan says, so are they. He doesn’t know how much he can give her. She says, there is. That’s why she asked Dwight and Sherry to find him. Someone yells, all hands! and we see zombies headed for the camp. Alicia says, it looks like Morgan picked up a few strays.

Morgan takes a better look, and says, don’t shoot! but it’s too late. They shoot at the zombies, who explode. Morgan looks up, and says, everybody run now!

Next time – the mid-season (I think that’s what we’re calling it) finale – Alicia tells Morgan why she needs him, the P.A.D.R.E. file is found, and Dwight tells Morgan it’s time to go to work.

The Walking Dead World Beyond

When we last left, Jadis told the soldiers to eliminate some to traumatize the many.

Leo and the others who were hiding, detonated some bombs around the CRM compound, each of them blowing one off. I guess it’s so they would all be accountable, like in Murder on the Orient Express. Felix said there was no going back now, like there had been any going back before. Jadis tried find out what going on, and wondered where they’d gotten explosives. Leo radioed Jadis, who scolded him, saying, the soldiers might mean nothing to him, but they’d dedicated their lives to the future. He’d put everyone in jeopardy. Leo said that one was just for show, and they were willing to escalate. She told him that he’d crossed a line. Leo said they were done with the CRM, and they were leaving today, all of them. Jadis said he wasn’t in a position to bargain, and he told her they had Mason. Hope begged, and mason reluctantly got on the radio, and told Jadis to please get him out of there. Jadis asked what Leo wanted, and he said, two transport trucks with full tanks of gas, and no tricks. Jadis asked if he was willing to throw away an entire species. Leo said they were murderers, but he and the others would eventually save everyone, even them. She said he wouldn’t find safety and security out there. There would be no progress, only death and the dead. He said they had thirty minutes, and she congratulated him on roping a bunch of smart people into a suicide mission. Jadis then scolded Huck, saying, Huck’s mission had been to make sure Hope understood. Huck said it wasn’t her fault the CRM killed people and Hope found out.

Silas tended to Dennis, saying, Dennis didn’t deserve a bullet wound for helping him out. Dennis said, sometimes helping hurts like hell. Silas asked if Dennis wanted him to radio Huck, but Dennis didn’t want to risk blowing her cover. He was sorry for what Huck had done to Silas, but Silas said she’d been saving the world. Elton came back, and said he couldn’t find antibiotics, but found some vodka. Dennis poured the vodka on his wound, and told Silas to hold him down while Elton took out the bullet. Elton took a swig from the bottle, and Dennis told him to get a good grip before he pulled it out. It was painful to watch, but Elton was successful. Dennis told him, nice work, and told Silas, stick to the plan, and find his friends.

Felix checked the trucks out, and the lieutenant whose name I still don’t know (and pretty soon, it won’t matter) said, if it was up to him, he’d put a bullet in Felix’s head, but not while they had Mason. Felix told him to have the trucks backed up, and when he saw the lieutenant again, he’d kill him. Felix went back to Leo, who said the CRM thought they were all leaving, but as long as they had Mason, the CRM wouldn’t try anything. Felix, Percy, Iris, and Hope were staying behind to find the gas the CRM was going to use on Portland. Iris said, if it worked, they’d be right behind Leo. Mason asked Iris and Hope where they were going that was better than there, and Iris told him that he didn’t know sh*t about the place.

Silas and Elton set off firecrackers on the road as they drove. Silas asked if Elton still had the map to the research place. Elton said he did, and Silas said, they’d be making a stop first. The dead began to block the road behind them. Iris asked if Percy ever thought about what comes next, and he said, as long as he could remember, it had been him and his uncle; finding their own way, making their own luck, and making a sh*tty world a little less sh*tty. Just him and Iris would be nice when it was over. She asked where he wanted to go, and he said he’d always wanted to go to the Getty museum. It wasn’t the Louvre, but they had a good collection. She said they could grow their own crops on the lawn, and I wondered what kind of crops she wanted to grow, since that was just weird.

Felix and Hope snuck around downstairs, and came across some still frozen zombies, which made head stabbing more difficult. Hope had to tangle with zombie Lyla, and ended up slamming her head in a door until there was nothing left. Hope said, f*** this place, and I was like, we can say that on this station now?

Not happy when she saw the trucks, Jadis was even less happy when a soldier said there were 1000 incoming dead. They were minutes away from a full breach. Jadis told her to have a team distract them with charges, and send the others to the western gates. Felix told Hope, Iris, and Percy that the CRM knew they were still there; they were scrapping the plan. Hope asked if they were giving up on Portland, and Felix said, the gas had been moved and they didn’t have time. He radioed the others about the change in plans, and Iris asked Mason – who they had left behind, tied up where he was – where the gas was. He said he didn’t have anything to do with that, and if they’d done what she was saying, it was for a reason. Percy said he thought Mason was telling the truth. Felix said they were leaving now. Huck volunteered to help with the dead breach, but Jadis told her to stay there. Huck has a perpetually worried look, so it’s hard to tell if she really is.

Silas and Elton got to the CRM, and Silas thanked Elton for helping, since he could have gone with the others. Elton said, so much had worked out; this would too. Silas headed for the medical supplies, but was caught by a soldier, who said the friends Silas had been looking for where the ones causing all this grief. He had orders to shoot on sight. Silas said he was there for Dennis, who’d gotten hurt, but the soldier said, sorry; he had orders. Elton came up behind him, cracking him in the head, and told Silas, he’d said it would work out. They snuck into the medical supply room and grabbed antibiotics. There was banging on the door, but they heard the soldier being overpowered by zombies, and blood seeped under the door. Silas didn’t think they’d make it back to the jeep, but Elton looked outside and thought he knew a way.

They got inside the globe sculpture Indira had designed, and rolled over the zombies like that big cheese wheel in Z Nation. Then they conveniently came to a stop right at the edge of the road, and ran. Felix and his group went to the truck, and Jadis radioed her troops, saying, they had them where they wanted them. She told the rest of the soldiers to back off, and Felix said, once they were out, they’d let Mason go, but Jadis said, they’d shown nothing to make her trust them. It was Felix’s group, them, and a giant column of the dead coming. They’d see who blinked first.

Jadis said they were in a no win situation, and Felix said if they tried anything, he’d kill Mason. Then they’d be out of luck. Jadis said, so would they. Without Mason, there was nothing to stop them. They blamed the CRM for the outcome of their own actions. She asked if they were pleased with the result, and Iris said, they’d had no choice. The CRM covered up a genocide. Jadis said, it was the only world Iris knew, and she was too young to appreciate what had been lost. Iris said, they’d murdered a hundred thousand people, but Jadis said, they were going to die anyway. The CRM had made hard choices, so the civilians didn’t have to. The Campus Colony, Omaha, and Portland had become a drain on the CRM’s resources. They were too reliant, and would have never become self-sustaining. It was only a matter of time before famine struck. At best, they would have died slowly from starvation, and at worst, disease and conflict would spread to the Civic Republic, the light of the world setting forever. They ended it quickly, so a chance for humanity survived. It was mercy. The greatest minds were sent there to contribute to scientific progress. Their legacy would be stopping the dead from walking. Hope asked why they had a right to decide who lived or died, and Jadis said their work made her existence possible. Huck could see a sniper getting into place, and Jadis went on and on and on. She said they’d be cute if they weren’t so pathetic. A couple of zombies toddled up behind Felix and company, and while they were distracted, Mason head-butted Felix and ran. Everyone went in different directions, and Huck shot some CRM soldier, then told Jadis to drop her weapon.

Percy got shot in the melee, and Iris ran to him. Hope went after Mason, whose hands were still tied. He fell and she said, he did this. She said her and her goddam family did this. Everything would have been okay, and it’s what they deserved. Hope said her sister was right. He was the same as the rest of them, and never gave a sh*t. She got ready to shoot him, but Iris told her not to. Poor Felix was the only one busy shooting at zombies, and Iris told Hope that if she did this to Mason, she’d be doing something to herself all over again. Hope flashed back to shooting Elton’s mother, and dropped the gun. Felix pulled up, and Huck told them to go. Steam was coming out of Jadis’s ears, and she said she guessed Huck’s mother was right. If Huck spared her life, she’d give Huck a five minute head start. She might stand a Mason yelled for help, as the zombies advanced, and I had to laugh. Jadis took off, and Huck shot zombies until she was out of bullets. She grabbed a jeep, and got the hell out of there.  

On the phone with the colonel, Jadis said they were compromised. In a CYA move, she said she wished she’d been brought in sooner to prevent this, but she’d fix it. She thanked them for placing their trust in her. Felix, Iris, and Hope went to the rendezvous point, and radioed Leo, who’d gotten a flat tire about two miles away. He’d sent the others ahead, and could patch the tire, but figured whoever left the spikes wasn’t far behind. Felix said the Hummer would be easy to spot, and went to find Leo on foot, leaving Iris and Hope to wait.

Huck ditched her uniform, and went to find Dennis, who was barely conscious. She asked what happened, and he said he got too friendly with a bullet. Elton and Silas saw Hope and Iris, and there was hugging and tears. Silas asked where Percy was, and Iris started crying. Hope said the gas was probably on its way to Portland, and the CRM had won. They were going to destroy another city, and there wasn’t sh*t they could do about it. They had a group hug, which isn’t too smart in a forest where there are zombies loose.

Huck did her own crying, and looked at her wedding ring, making us assume Dennis had died. She radioed Hope, and said she thought she’d found something. Hope asked where she was, and we saw her in a lot containing tons of storage units with the gas in them.  

Next time – the show finale – Fighting! Zombies! Hope says, it’s not about them; it’s about the future.

🍗 The Food Party’s Over…

News of the Dead on the morrow, along with the usual. Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving if you celebrated, or the day if you didn’t. Whether you’re starting a new week, ending an old one, or refuse to bow to labeling days, stay safe, stay serene, and stay making a sh*tty world a little less sh*tty.

November 22, 2021 – Sonny Meets Nina In Charlie’s, Casino Royale On Deck, News Of the Dead, Winning Music, Award Fashion & Changes

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook says, there’s a legitimate reason why she didn’t tell Valentin the truth, when Chase walks in. Valentin says, just in time, and Chase says, for what? Valentin says, the latest bombshell. Brook’s been lying to him; he’s not Bailey’s father. Chase says he’s aware, and Valentin says, Brook told him? Brook says, no, never. She never told anyone. He says he knows Valentin isn’t Bailey’s father because he is. Valentin says he’s not, but Chase says he’s afraid it’s true. Valentin says, Chase was willing to let Brook trick him into thinking Bailey was his child? Chase expects him to believe that?

In the OR, Brando asks, what is it? What’s going on? Elizabeth says, it’s okay, and tells Sasha that her baby is having a hard time breathing. Sasha asks what they’re doing with him. Is he okay? The team performs CPR on the baby, and he’s wheeled out. Sasha asks where they’re taking him, and Elizabeth says he’s having a hard time breathing, so they’re taking him to the NICU. Sasha says she didn’t even get to hold him, and cries.

Sonny walks into Charlie’s, and Nina says she guesses they had the same idea. He says he doesn’t follow, and she says, who do they go to when they need to talk to someone? Phyllis. She has a way of putting everything in perspective. He asks if she’s there, but Nina says, actually, she’s not, and Sonny says then he’s going to go. Nina asks if he’s heard anything. She was waiting for any kind of news. He asks, what news? and she says, Sasha went into labor. She thought he knew. He says he went to see Brando at GH, and everything was fine. What happened? Nina says, Sasha had to have an emergency C-section.

At Rice Plaza, Carly calls to Bobbie, saying, text her when she gets home, and Jax comes along. He asks if that was Bobbie, and she says, they were supposed to go Christmas shopping, but her hard-working mother is dead on her feet, so she ordered a car service for her. What is he doing there? He says he was just out for a walk and got a coffee, and she says, a walk? It’s pretty cold out. He says he doesn’t mind it. He’s probably going to miss it. She says, miss it? and he says, Josslyn didn’t tell her? He’s leaving town.

Everyone in the tunnel on Cassadine Island lies unconscious. Peter pulls himself up. He sees Drew stuck underneath a beam, and picks up a chunk of rock.

On the phone with her mom, Maxie says she was going to talk to James and Georgie… Already? She guesses it’s past their bedtime, and says, thanks. She just wanted to know her children were safe.

Valentin says, Chase is there to help his friend. His chivalry is misguided. Chase says, it’s not chivalry. Brook lied to everyone, including him. He’s not there to help her. Valentin says, so he’s there to confront her, and Chase says he’s had his suspicions for a while now. He knew Brook was hiding something, so he did what any detective would do; he investigated. Brook tells him, stop it. She told him when she got back to Port Charles that Bailey wasn’t his. He says he has a DNA test that says otherwise. Without a doubt, Bailey is his. He thought they were friends. He had her back, and this is how she repaid him? By keeping his daughter from him for months? He will never forgive her for this.

Dr. Navarro tells Sasha, the baby is having trouble breathing and needs care right away. Elizabeth says, they’re taking care of him, and now they’re going to take care of Sasha. The doctor says, Sasha can’t feel it because of the epidural, but she’s in the middle of an operation. Sasha says she only cares about the baby, and Brando says he cares about the both of them. Look at him and breathe. They’ll get through this. She nods, then passes out. He tells her to wake up, and the doctor says, she’s hemorrhaging, and asks someone to take Brando out. Elizabeth pushes him out the door and into the hallway as he yells for Sasha. She tells him that Sasha will be okay, and runs back in.

Nina tells Sonny that Sasha had a placental abruption, and starts to explain, but he says he knows what that is. It’s very dangerous for the baby and the mother. Brando must be going through hell. She says, Maxie promised to text with any new news, and he says he should go to the hospital. She says, Brando is in the OR with Sasha, but Sonny should be there anyway, just in case Brando needs him. Sonny starts to leave, and Nina sits back down, and Sonny watches her looking despondent.

Carly says, Jax is leaving town? and he says, it’s just a business trip. Some things piled up in Sydney that he has to take care of in person. She says, piled up? It’s not like him to put things off. He says he didn’t want to leave while Sonny was gone, given how things escalated during Sonny’s absence, putting their daughter at risk. Carly says, Josslyn was fine; she wasn’t in any danger. He says, she was in danger of losing her mother to a bullet from Cyrus Renault, and she says, now that Sonny’s back, he feels that it’s safe, so he can go? He says, he thinks it’s safer. At least he hopes so. She’s stepped back from the organization, right? She and Jason no longer a thing? He means business partners. He knows Jason will always be front and center in her life. He walks away.

Peter is about to send the rock crashing down on Drew’s head, when Drew grabs his leg, sending him flying. Peter limps out, and Drew tries to move the beam off of himself. He manages to get his legs out from underneath, and calls to Britt. He goes over to her, and asks if she can hear him. Obrecht comes to, and crawls over to them. She says, Britt may have a concussion. She needs Britt to open her eyes. Britt says, Jason.

Valentin says, Chase has proof he’s Bailey’s father? and Chase says he does. And for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s so sorry. Brook tells him, all she can says is she did what she had to. She never meant to hurt Chase. He asks how she could possibly think this wouldn’t hurt him? and she says, when he was with Willow, he said he didn’t want kids. He loved Willow, and doesn’t love her. He doesn’t want to have a baby with her, especially after one night of fun when she was crashing with him. Valentin says, Brook lied to Chase for the same reason she lied to him, because she wanted to prove herself to her father by delivering the ELQ shares back to him. She says she didn’t do it for herself. She never meant to hurt anybody. For once in her stupid life, she was trying to do the right thing.

Maxie sees Brando, and asks if Sasha is out of surgery. She sees his face, and asks, what’s wrong? He says he doesn’t know, and starts to cry, saying, they have a son. Something went wrong. He didn’t cry, and they took him away. Sasha passed out, and he might lose them both. She says, oh my God, and hugs him.

Sonny goes back in, and motions to the bartender for a drink. He goes to the table, and Nina says she thought he left. He gives her a hanky, or maybe it’s a napkin, and says, she told him that Brando was in the OR, and Maxie is going to text her after the surgery is done. Sasha is young and healthy – he sits down – and they just have to hope for the best. She says, it’s everything she can do not to go to the hospital, and hover over Sasha like a mother. Sonny’s drink is brought over, and Nina says, but it’s not her place. He says she still thinks of Sasha as a daughter, doesn’t she? and she says, Valentin hired Sasha to pretend to be her daughter. You’d think she’d want nothing to do with Sasha, and for a while, she didn’t. In her head, she remembers everything Sasha put her through, but her heart sometimes forgets. He says, hearts tend to do that.

Peter limps into the house, and sees a gun on the floor. From the doorway, Robert says, freeze. Go for the gun. He’ll use any excuse he can find to shoot Peter. Peter dives for the gun, but Anna puts her foot on his hand. She says, hello, Peter, holding a gun on him.

Chase tells Brook, stop making excuses. What could possibly justify keeping a child from her father? She says, in the beginning, all she saw was a chance to make things right with her dad. It never even occurred to her that Valentin would be capable of falling in love with Bailey. Valentin says, and when she saw he did? She says, it was too late. She’s so, so sorry. He says, no she’s not. She got caught when Gladys exposed her, and what she’s done, he can never forgive. Chase asks if there’s anything else they need to say to each other in front of him, but Valentin says, they’re done here. Chase asks Brook to come with him. He says he’s sorry for Valentin’s pain, and Valentin nods.

Carly says she thought she made it clear, her life is none of Jax’s business. He says, it becomes his business when she puts their daughter in danger, and she says, they’re Josslyn’s parents. That’s a bond that’s never going to break, but he’s  not her friend anymore. He says he knows that, and he’s happy to stay out of her life. She says, for how long? Is he coming back for Thanksgiving or Christmas? He says he’s not sure. Josslyn can always come visit him in Sydney. She says, it doesn’t sound like he’s going to hurry back, and he says, besides Josslyn and Alexis, he’s kind of on the outs with everyone in Port Charles. She says, that’s what happens when he drops everything for Nina. He really let Nina screw up his life.

Sonny asks if Nina has forgiven Sasha, and she says, a long time ago. He says, how? That kind of lie. She says, Sasha may have claimed be someone she wasn’t, but the relationship that followed, the bond of mother/daughter love was real. Sasha truly came to care about her; she was just caught in a lie. He says, she could have spoken up and told the truth, and Nina says she knows she’s said that; all you have to do is tell the truth. All Valentin and Sasha had to do was say, hey Nina, Sasha’s not your real daughter. All Jax and Carly had to say was, hey, Nina, Nelle is your daughter, and I’m so sorry for your loss. When you’re the one being deceived, it’s easy to point a finger at your deceivers, and think they’re so evil. But when you’re the one lying, especially when you’re lying to someone you love… She almost starts crying, and says, she’s really, really sorry, and he asks why she kept doing it. She asks why anyone lies to anyone about anything. It’s because they have too much to lose by telling the truth. He asks what she had to lose. She knew the truth would come out sooner or later. She says, all she knows is that she was in so much pain, and he showed up out of nowhere… Mike. And he was kinder to her than anyone had ever been in her entire life. She wasn’t strong enough to give that up.

Maxie tells Brando, Sasha is strong and healthy overall. She also has Dr. Navarro, who’s the best. Sasha and their baby are going to be fine. He tells her, they said his little boy couldn’t breathe, and she says, babies are resilient. Look at James. He was born by the side of the road. He says his son can’t breathe, and she says, his son is in the hospital. Tell her about the first time he saw his son, before anything anyone noticed anything was wrong. He says, he was unforgettable. One moment, he was just this guy, this mechanic, and the next, he was a dad. When he saw his little head, it was like this rush came over him, hitting him like a ton of bricks. She says she remembers that feeling well, and he says, one glance, and he loved him more than anything, and would do anything for him. She says, of course (🍷) he will, because now he’s not the most important person in his own life anymore, and never will be again, and that is the best feeling in the world. From now on, it’s all about making sure that child is happy and safe and healthy. You’ll do anything to protect that child, no matter the cost.

Anna asks Peter where Jason and Britt are, and Robert says, Peter came in through the wine cellar. She says, so there’s an escape tunnel down there? and Peter says, not anymore. It’s all rubble now. She wants to know where Britt and Jason are? They’re underneath what’s left of those tunnels.

Drew calls to Jason, and Britt tries to sit up, but Obrecht says she might have a concussion; she needs to stay still. She says, Jason is right there. They have to help him. Obrecht says, how? There are several tons of rock in the way. The rest could come down on them any minute. She has to get Britt out of there. She tells Drew they have to move, but he says he’s not leaving without his brother.

Chase says, Valentin didn’t pull any punches, and Brook says, neither did he. He says he’s sorry for unloading on her, but he didn’t want Valentin to think… She hugs him, and says, thank you, and he says, wow. A hug like that, he’ll be terrible to her more often. She says, no one – and she means no one – can find out who Bailey’s real father is, and he says he understands. Because her real father is Peter August, her mother is Maxie, and Bailey is really Louise.

Maxie brings Brando some coffee, and says, something warm on a cold night. Even though it’s perfectly toasty in there, his body knows what time of year it is. He thanks her, and she asks if he and Sasha are going to move in together. He says they’ve been talking about it, and she says, just talking? Is he not sure about his feelings for Sasha? He says he’s never been more sure about anything. Sasha changed his life, and now they have a son. He chokes up, and Maxie says, he’s going to be all right, and he says, up until now, he’s felt like he’s been on the sidelines, while Sasha was doing the heavy lifting. Now that his son is there, he’s going to start pulling his weight. Maxie says he will. When in doubt, there’s always diaper duty. He laughs, and says, he’ll do it. Any and all of it. He doesn’t want to miss a moment of his son’s life, and can’t imagine it without Sasha.

Robert pushes Peter down into a chair, and Peter says, the tunnel collapsed. He guesses he’s the only one who made it out alive. Robert tells Anna, there you go. They can call off the search. The reliable source has just delivered terrible news. Anna’s phone rings, and Peter says, if that’s Maxie… She says, it’s not. She says she can’t talk right now, but wants to tell him Peter is in custody. Valentin says, that’s great, and she asks if everything is okay. He says, everything is fine; he’s just checking in. He’ll let her go. Hearing pain in his voice, she asks if he’s all right, and he says he will be. She says she’ll be home soon; they can talk then. He says, not soon enough. Do him a favor. Don’t turn her back on Peter. She says she won’t, and tells him, take care. He says, be safe, and Anna tells Robert that she’s going to the wine cellar. She’ll see if the agents located any the survivors Peter says aren’t there.

Jax says, not everything’s Nina’s fault, but Carly says, it is where he’s concerned. He got so caught up in Nina’s drama, that he ignored his own life. He says, Nina went too far and she knows it, and Carly asks if this is where he starts defending Nina. He says he’s not defending her, but he can’t believe she’d do something so unforgivable. Carly says, she did. She was supposed to be the poster girl for turning Jax’s life around, but she didn’t. She showed all of them her true colors, and Carly won’t be taken by her again.

Sonny says, Nina needs to understand, there was no Mike. She says, he’s right, but she cared about him anyway, and he says, if she cared about him, why did she keep him from his family for months? From his grandson, the same grandson Carly kept her away from. She says, that was wrong, and she knew it was wrong back then. She wishes she’d been stronger, but she hasn’t been that close to many people in her life. Growing up, love was more like an obligation. If she acted correctly, Madeline would love her. He says she told him her mom was cold to her. Was that a lie too? She says, everything she told him about herself was true, and he says, just everything about him was lie. She says she knew she should have told him the truth, but if he knew the truth, he would have had no choice but to leave her. He asks if that’s how she treats someone she loves. She controlled him. She says, yes. That’s what she did because that’s what she knows. Madeline was always trying to control her, Valentin was controlling her with Sasha, and Jax was controlling her with the information he and Carly had about Nelle. Every single time, it broke her heart. He says, and every time, she walked away, and she says, she did. Just like he walked away from her.

Obrecht tells Britt to come; they have to get her to safety. Britt says she has to help Jason, but Obrecht says, if he’s alive, he won’t be happy to know she’s dead. The tunnel isn’t going to last much longer. Anna yells to them, and Obrecht asks if she wants the ceiling to collapse. Anna says, good to see her too, and shines the flashlight around. She asks if Britt is all right, and Obrecht says, of course (🍷) not; she has a head injury. Britt says she’s fine; they need to help Drew. Anna sees Drew, and says, the last time she saw him, he was heading off a bridge. He says, not his decision, and Anna says, he was under Peter’s influence; that explains a lot. Obrecht says, perhaps Anna would like to ring for some tea and crumpets, or she could continue this conversation where the ceiling isn’t going to collapse. Drew says he’s not going without his brother. Anna goes over to him, and he tells her, Peter got away, but she says, he didn’t. They have Peter in custody. Obrecht says she’ll kill him herself, and Britt says, they have to help Jason, but Anna says, they’re not going to help him if they’re crushed under there. More of the ceiling comes down near Drew, and he tells them, go, and they leave, Drew staying behind.

Elizabeth comes out, and Brando asks, how’s Sasha? She says, out of danger. Dr. Navarro was able to stop the hemorrhage. She’s weak because she’s lost a lot of blood, but she’s stable. Maxie says she told Brando that Sasha would be okay, and he asks if he can see her. Elizabeth says she’s been transferred to the ICU so they can monitor her, and he asks how his son is. She says, Dr. Fleming is with him now in NICU.

Brook asks how long Chase has known, and he says he just found out. She says, how? No, don’t tell her here. She can’t risk anyone else following the breadcrumbs to Peter. He says he doesn’t think anyone did, and she says, great. She’s actually pretty relieved that he knows. He asks, who else knows? and she says, Maxie and Nina. He says, that’s it? and she says, it better be. Gladys knows Valentin isn’t really Bailey’s father, but that’s all she knows. Brook really wanted to tell him. She came close, but she and Maxie agreed, the few people to know, the safer Bailey is. He asks why she wanted to tell him, and she says, he’s one of the two and a half people in the world she trusts. He asks if he’s the half, and she says, of course (🍷) not. He says he understands why she kept it under wraps, but wishes she’d told him. She says, Peter was poisoning him, and there were a lot of other things going on at the time. He says, like Willow, and she tells him that she didn’t want to say it, but he had other things on his mind. He says he got better, and she says, then things got a helluva lot worse. They didn’t intend for this lie to go on for so long. They thought Peter would be caught months ago, locked away, and then Maxie could claim Bailey as her own. He asks how she thought Valentin would react, and she says she was hoping once he found out Peter was involved, he’d understand why they had to do what they did. He says, Valentin might still think that way, and she says, think? Yes. Feel? Who even knew Valentin Cassadine had feelings? Turns out, there’s a pretty decent and loving father in there. She hates the fact that she hurt him, and Chase says, Valentin lost his daughter today. He can’t imagine what Valentin is going through.

Valentin looks at Bailey’s picture on his phone, and cries.

Nina says she’s not telling Sonny that he was wrong to walk away. What she had with him… He says, listen to him. What they had in Nixon Falls wasn’t love; it was a lie. She says she knows that’s how he feels, and he’s probably right, but it was close enough for her. Can he believe they still don’t know anything? She gets her phone out of her bag, and says, maybe she should just call the hospital. They’re not going to tell her anything, because Sasha’s not her daughter. He says, no, she isn’t, and Nina says, sometimes she thinks about what her life would be like if Sasha was her daughter; if she was telling the truth. Then tonight, her grandchild would be coming into the world. She knows it’s wrong to focus on what might have been, and he says, we do that sometimes. She says, she hates the waiting around. She feels helpless. If anything happens… that sweet baby. He says, hey, listen to him. It’s going to be all right. Understand him? Jax walks in.

Brando asks if Elizabeth will check on his son. He wants to tell Sasha that he’s all right. Elizabeth says, of course (🍷), and leaves. Maxie asks if she can get him anything or call anyone, but he says he just wants to be with Sasha. She says she’s praying for him and his son, and they hug.

Brando goes in, and Sasha is still unconscious. He tells her that he’s there for her and their son. They need her with them. He can’t bear to lose her, and their son needs his mom. She wakes up, and she asks, where’s their baby?

Ann comes back with Drew, Obrecht, Britt, and a few agents. She says, they need to get checked out, and Peter says, they’re still alive. They feared the worst. Drew heads for Peter, who’s restrained in a chair, but Robert intervenes, and says, let the law handle it. Drew says, it’s so much better than he deserves, and Robert says, if it was up to him, it would be a trip to a black site, and that would be the end once and for all. Drew says, they could find one somewhere, but right now they have to focus and concentrate on finding Jason. Anna says she’ll contact search and rescue, and Peter says, whatever they find underneath all that rock, it’s not going to be a pretty sight, is it? Britt asks if anyone has a syringe, and Peter asks what she has in mind. She says, bleach, drain cleaner… and he says, it’s a pity she took an oath, isn’t it? Obrecht says, if it were not for that pesky medical license… Wait. She no longer has one of those. Drain cleaner it is. Robert says, enough, and Britt says, is it? Drew says, Jason could have separated from them, and found his way out of the tunnel, and gone down to the docks. Robert says, they’re looking all over the island. If he’s there, they’ll find him. Peter says, maybe they’ll find a unicorn too while they’re at it, and Drew says, if Jason is dead, Peter is going to join him.

Chase says he doesn’t want to worry Brook, but she says, she’s way past worried. He says he’s got this. He’s going to do or say whatever makes people believe he’s Bailey’s father. She says, it’s very admirable that he’s willing to lie about this, but him of all people… Actually, she thinks this might work. That sweet as pie face, who’s going to believe he could do such a huge deception? They can use this. He says, the only thing that’s important is protecting Bailey from Peter, and she says she has to worry about Valentin now too. Valentin is ruthless and she hurt him in his heart. He will not let that go unpunished.

Valentin sits up, and makes a call. He says, I have a job for you.

The agents walk Peter out with Robert, and Robert says, try anything, and Peter knows he’ll shoot him. Peter says he wouldn’t dream of giving Robert the satisfaction, and Obrecht yells something at him in German. Drew tells Anna, sorry for losing it, and she says she would have joined him. She doesn’t know if it’s any comfort to him, but they have so much evidence against Peter and all of his crimes. she doesn’t think he’ll ever take another free breath if she can help it. Starting with faking Drew’s death and keeping him prisoner for two years. He says he was there the longest, but there were other prisoners. She says she knows; they have Chloe Jennings. He says, there was another woman. They found her, right? She says, no. They swept the entire compound, but there were no other prisoners. He says he only heard her for a couple of days; they must have moved her. She asks if he saw her, and he says, no; neither did Chloe. She says, they’ll do a complete debrief as soon as they get him to the Consulate. Does he need any medical attention? he says he’s fine, and Robert comes back. She asks if there’s any word on the search. 

The agents slam Peter against a wall, telling him to stay there, and he says he doesn’t know if they’ve noticed, but he is injured. An agent tells him, says the murderer, and he says he’s not asking them to take his cuffs off. Just move them around front, so it doesn’t make the injury worse. The agent says, no, and Peter says, he’d hate to see the WSB get accused of mistreating a prisoner. The agent says they’d hate to see Peter use the cuffs to choke one of them out, but Peter says he’s cuffed, he’s injured, and he’s surrounded. Come on. The agent nods, and one holds a gun on Peter, while another unlocks the cuffs. Peter says, thank you, and while they’re at it…  

Brando tells Sasha that the baby is having trouble breathing, and she says she should be with him. They both should. He says he feels the exact same way, but she just got out of surgery. She needs some rest, so she can hold him when he gets better. Dr. Navarro comes in, and Sasha says she wants to see their baby. The doctor says she knows, but unfortunately, that’s not possible right now. Brando asks, why? and Sasha says, their son is in an incubator and can’t be moved, right? Which means they have to go to him. She asks Brando to get a wheelchair, but he says she can’t even sit up right now, but she says she’ll do whatever it takes to be with her son. If he can’t come to her, she’ll go to him. Dr. Navarro says, that’s not the problem.

Maxie’s phone rings, and Peter says, it’s good to hear her voice. We see him on the phone, the guards surrounding him with their guns aimed at him. She says he needs to stay away from her, and he says they both know she doesn’t mean that. She says she loathes him, and prays she never lays eyes on him again. He says he wanted her to hear it from him. He’s coming home, for her. They’ll be together again soon.

Jax goes into Charlie’s, and Sonny tells Nina that he’s going to check on Brando at GH. She thanks him for waiting with her, and Sonny leaves, saying hey to Jax on his way out. Jax tells Nina to be careful; don’t let Sonny pull her back in. She says Sonny doesn’t think about her that way, and he asks what he just walked in on. She says, he saw a man comforting someone in need. She and Sonny don’t have a future.

Carly leaves a voicemail for Jason, saying, he’s obviously busy. She misses him, and hopes he’s staying safe. Come home soon. She needs to talk to him.

Robert says, there’s no sign of Jason anywhere on the island, and Anna says, that means he’s still in the tunnel. Drew says, Jason is not dead. His way out might be blocked or he might be trapped, but he is alive. Anna says, that’s why she has an excavation team flying in, but until they get there, it’s too dangerous for them to go in. Britt says, no! The longer they wait, the less of a shot he has. He could run out of air, or whatever’s left of the tunnel could collapse. Drew promises her, nobody is giving up on Jason. Nobody. They’re going to find him.

We see the part of the tunnel where Jason is blocked in, and pieces of ceiling are still falling.

Next time, Brook asks if Chase is ready to tempt fate again, Anna says she was the target, Sasha tells Brando to do what she can’t, and Britt wonders how she can live with that.

Below Deck

Christophe Harbor, St. Kitts. Everyone is hungover, and Heather says she doesn’t know what got into her. She never drinks like that. Rayna can’t believe Jake is engaged, and Eddie says, it was an epic night. Jessica brings Captain Lee’s breakfast to the bridge, and he asks how her night was. She says she turned in early, and he says, he’s the one who’s old; she’s not. She says she’s feeling it though. Heather has a meeting with interior, and they talk a little about the night before. Heather says she found a bagel in her bathroom. In Fraser’s interview, he says he saw another side to Heather. It was nice watching her have a good time, and he hopes she keeps it up. Heather tells them to make up the beds as best as they can. On deck, Jake says his relationship is non-monogamous, and it’s not a big deal. In Rayna’s interview, she says, it’s something you bring up first. She asks him how this happened; give them a play-by-play. He says his girlfriend Paris needs a British passport, so they haven’t seen a lot of each other. When they’re not together, she’s not his girlfriend. In his interview, he says, he cares for her, but they’re nowhere near marriage. She knows what he’s like, and that he does crazy sh*t. Rayna doesn’t understand.

Jessica does her laundry thing, and Fraser says, there’s romance on the horizon. Everyone is after Jake. Rachel says, not her. Jake is so cute, but she’s just out of a long term, very serious relationship. Her ex blindsided her, telling her that he didn’t think it was working. In Rachel’s interview, she says, she loved, adored, and respected him. She’d planned on a future with him, and had to regroup. She tells Fraser that she didn’t have the ability to process it until she’d finished the charter season. In her interview, she says, she’s happy being by herself. When she was with him, she’d put his needs before hers. When she hears people talking about their relationships, she’s like, f*** that. Eddie says, being hungover is not fun, and on that, we are in agreement. Rayna asks about his girlfriend, and he says she’s very sweet. In his interview, he says he’s bummed his girlfriend is pissed off. It’s frustrating, but forming a new relationship is tough. You have to trust the other person not to burn you or cheat on you. This is how his life is going to be.

The captain has a preference sheet meeting with Eddie, Rachel, and Heather in the crew mess. Jeremy and Ronnie are the primaries, and they’re bringing their families together, including Jeremy’s sons, who are 16 and 6. Captain Lee says, there’s going to be baby sh*t for someone, and in Heather’s interview, she said she loves having kids on board. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass, but it’s five-star service, and a nanny. The new charter wants a Casino Royale party, and for Ronnie’s 75th birthday, he wants an 80s dance and fitness party. They also want the captain to join them for dinner.  In Fraser’s interview, he says it’s crucial with a small team that everyone carry their weight. Jessica seems miserable and run down. She needs to man up, do her job, and stop complaining. Heather calls provisioner Naydene to order stuff for the casino party. Jake wants to deckhands to get a move on, and in Wes’s interview, he says, Jake brings up petty stuff. And if they’re not on charter, what’s the rush? He wants to flirt with Jessica, but has a fear of rejection, since he was rejected a lot in high school, and some in college. It hurts. He has no game. He’s a big nerd, and gets awkward. I dunno. He’s cute, and seems like a nice guy with a good sense of humor. It’s sad how that stayed with him. Heather says, everyone is awesome. She asks how Eddie thinks Jessica feels about Wes, and Eddie says, he thinks Wes would be good for her. Fraser says, anything to make her smile. Eddie says they’ll have to plant the seed, and Heather says, and hope the flower grows. Fraser tells Heather that Jessica mopes around like she’s in pure misery. He can’t keep pulling her up, only to get shut down. In Heather’s interview, she says she thinks Fraser’s concerns are valid. One bad apple can affect the others. If Jessica takes Fraser out at the knees, then what? She tells Fraser that she hopes for a better charter or they’ll have issues.

Jessica sighs over the dishes, and Jake tells Eddie that he just wants to get the work done. Eddie suggests getting Rayna to be more hands on. Heather asks to talk to Jessica, saying, she just wants to touch base. She feels as if Jessica is under the weather or down, but Jessica says, she’s good. Heather says she doesn’t want whatever it is to affect Jessica’s work. The more she knows about things… Jessica says she found out that her grandmother needed to have a procedure, and in her interview, she says she doesn’t want to cry on the boat. Her grandparents’ health started to decline, and she’d taken the opportunity to come back to land. She likes being there for them. Heather says she wants to know how to better help Jessica, but Jessica says she’s good. She would tell Heather if it was otherwise. Jake talks to Paris on the phone, and Heather organizes her cabin.

Jake and Fraser clink beers, and Jake asks when Fraser came out. Fraser says he came out to his mom when he was 19, and heard a story on the radio about a guy who murdered people and ate them. His mom said she’d love him even if he ate people, so being gay seemed minor in comparison. In Fraser’s interview, he says, it was hard to get up the courage, but all it took was a little push to get it off his chest. Thanks, mom. He tells Wes that he’s happy in life. In Jessica’s interview, she says she’s going be happy or miserable today. She chooses to be happy. She smiles. Heather puts, let’s do this, on the whiteboard. In his interview, Fraser says, effing hell. He had one job, to hold on to his radio, and he can’t even do that. We flash back to the captain saying, if one of the crew is looking for their radio, he probably already has it. Fraser starts to hunt. Provisions come in, and Captain Lee calls Eddie to the bridge. He asks how things are working out, and Eddie says, good. The captain asks how Jake is doing, and Eddie says, he’s a damn hard worker. He tells the captain that the run times are short, and asks if they can drop back a little bit, so the deckhands have time to get ready. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, every charter is like their first rodeo. Eddie needs to get their attention. You can play with the big dogs or keep your puppy ass on the porch. The captain radios the crew that they have 15 minutes until the guests’ arrival. Fraser is still looking for his radio.

Heather tells Fraser to pour the champagne, and the captain wonders for what reason he’s the only one out there. The crew dashes out, and see that one of the guests is a child with a locked box handcuffed to his wrist. Young guest Alexander says he’s a mini primary, which I’m sure the crew is thrilled to hear. In his interview, Captain Lee says, it’s not a group you’d think you’d see together; they’re all different. This is going to get interesting. Alexander shows them there’s cash in the box, and everyone goes, wow. In Rachel’s interview, she says, screw the adults. That kid is her primary. Heather gives the tour, and Captain Lee says, let’s see if we can get out of here without spending any money. In his interview, he says he has a knot in his stomach. The prevailing winds are constantly blowing them to the dock, which is concrete, with shallow water all around. He’s as nervous as whore in the front pew at church. They pull out, and into the water.

Co-primary Jeremy tells Alexander not to wander, and Heather says they’ll have eyes on him like a hawk. In Fraser’s interview, he says he used to be a nanny. To be honest, he doesn’t like kids. The way they eat, the sounds, it’s a bit gross. He discusses LEGOS with Alexander, and Heather goes over lunch with Rachel. The captain says, they’re going to get some weather; it’s annoying as hell. It starts to rain, and Eddie leads everyone in. In Jake’s interview, he says he’ll have Rayna responsible for more, and maybe it will make the job more appealing. He wants to be friends, not the villain. If that doesn’t work, he’ll make her walk the plank. They drop anchor, and the guests sit down for lunch.

Shitten Bay, St. Kitts. I shitten you not. That’s the name. In his interview, Fraser says, growing up, he was terrible in school. Moving around the country every few years made it difficult. He found something he loved, and learned to be good at, and he’s failed at the basic capacity of keeping his radio with him. It’s making him feel like sh*t. It’s not effing rocket science. The guests think lunch is amazing. Fraser tells Heather that he thinks he’s lost it, and in Heather’s interview, she says, it’s vital that Fraser find his radio. Not just for safety, but she needs to communicate with him. They have to find it right now. They look literally everywhere.

The captain says he’s in a silly mood, but doesn’t know why. I wait for him to jump up and do a somersault or something, but that doesn’t happen. Fraser opens a door in the floor of the deck, and says, the panic is over. In his interview, he says, it’s crazy how much this piece of plastic means to him. He radios Heather to tell her. They meet to discuss casino night. In Heather’s interview, she says the first time she gambled, she lost it all, and learned to take just a little tip money, not the whole tip. It’s easy to get caught up in. She and Fraser set up the table. In Eddie’s interview, he says he learned from his mistakes in relationships. His girlfriend is the most loving woman he’s ever met. This was just a speedbump, and doesn’t define the rest of their relationship. He talks to her on the phone, and says, I know it’s hard, but be cool, honey bunny, referencing Pulp Fiction, which I don’t feel Eddie is cool enough to reference. In Rachel’s interview, she says, tonight is casino night. She lived in Italy for 8 months, and it was a wonderful experience, so she’s making a nice Italian feast. Wes asks when Rachel found her passion, and she says she was 18. She was running her mouth to a bartender, and the guys in the kitchen told her to put her money where her mouth was. Alexander plays video games with Rayna, and the guests sit down for dinner with the captain.

Heather finds the cabins are untidy, and in her interview, Heather is concerned about the lack of attention to the cabins. Cheap ass hotels do a better job, and it’s not okay. At the table, the guests ask about pirates, and the captain says they’re still out there. For them, it’s a career. In her interview, Heather says she’s sympathetic to what Jessica is going through, but you have to leave your emotions at the cabin door. She goes over the cabins with Jessica, pointing out where the upkeep was lacking, and in Jessica’s interview, she says, she’s pissed; this sucks. Heather tells Fraser about it, and says, it was all three rooms. She wants to coach with inspiration, but it’s coming to, training day’s over. The guests tell Captain Lee, the chef is amazing, and he says, she’s extremely talented. Jessica pretends to work, and the captain tells the guests that he left Michigan when he was 25. Guest Jodi says, he must be 45 now. The captain says he loves her, and she says she loves him too. She’s not kidding. Guest Ronnie asks if he has family in Fort Lauderdale, and the captain says, a wife and four kids. Jodi is like, damn, and in the captain’s interview, he says, it’s making him uncomfortable. He tells the guests, somewhere, his wife heard that, and she’s laughing. Jake asks Rayna if his new approach is working. He’s trying to be more chill and laid back. He thinks she has so much potential. The next course of a fabulous pasta comes out, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, nothing compares to homemade pasta. She likes to take the time to make it authentic, and hates using boxed. Guest Stacie says she’s never seen Alexander eat chicken tenders that fast. Alexander falls asleep at the table with his headphones on.

Alexander is put to bed, tiramisu is served, and the guests get ready to turn in. Jodi asks where the captain’s cabin is, and Stacie says, don’t tell her. Eddie, Fraser, and Wes have a confab, and Eddie says, everyone is getting along, but someone is going to pop at some point. Jessica calls her grandmother to check-in, but Grandma Marion says, there’s nothing to worry about. In Jessica’s interview, she says her grandparents played a secondary parental role in her life. She gets concerned, since you never know how much longer you have with them.

Salt Plage, St. Kitts. Jodi asks if the captain will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with them, and Stacie says he has to come to Ronnie’s birthday dinner. Jodi grumbles that he’s going to be 75, and follows the captain, who tells her that her room is downstairs. In his interview, he says, where are you going? He’s going to his room – alone. He tells Jodi, have a good night, and goes to the bridge. Captain Lee tells Eddie that she was going to follow him, and Eddie dies laughing. The captain says, laugh it up, funny boy. The night crew cleans up.  

The next morning, the wind is relentless. Captain Lee tells Eddie that he wants to get out some time today, and breakfast is served; avocado toast on a hash brown cake with a poached egg. I die. Anchor is home, and cushions go flying. The captain says, bleepity-bleep-bleep-bleep. In his interview, he says don’t tell him he has to go back to get cushions. That’s going to upset him. It’s a common sense thing. He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and he can figure out if the wind is blowing, make sure they’re secured. They could screw up a two-car funeral. Eddie tells Captain Lee that the deckhands need time for pulling anchor, but the captain says, they have plenty of time. In Eddie’s interview, he says, it’s the deck crew’s first responsibility to take care of the exterior. Now he’s being reamed out by Captain Lee. It’s serious. No more f*** ups. The tender goes out to get the cushions, and in the captain’s interview, he says, the hammer needs to drop, and it’s up to Eddie to do it. If Eddie doesn’t drop it on them, he knows goddam well the captain will drop it on him. Eddie tells the deckhands, he’s tired of getting yelled at. He doesn’t want one more effing thing falling off the boat.

Next time, a water toy blows off the boat, the 80s birthday party happens; Jake flirts with Heather, Jake kisses Fraser, and Captain Lee says, in 45 years, he’s never seen such intense wind.

⚰️ All the News Too Dead To Print…

Releasing the Walking Dead:

Wrapping up the World Beyond:

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-world-beyond-penultimate-episode-trailer-death-and-the-dead-209/

Jadis, with a foot in two Dead worlds:

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/what-happened-to-heath-the-walking-dead-world-beyond-jadis-project-votus-a-and-b/

Both a reunion and a farewell on Fear the Walking Dead:

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1525465/Fear-the-Walking-Dead-Althea-Maggie-Grace-exit-fan-reaction

🏆 They’re the Best…

The AMA Winners:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/21/entertainment/amas-2021-winners-list/index.html

And as always, the most important thing of any awards show. The fashion:

https://fashionista.com/2021/11/american-music-awards-amas-2021-best-dressed-fashion

👞 Shuffling Off, But Not To Buffalo…

It’s a flip of the coin what tomorrow might bring, but as always, there will be soap and a song. Until then, stay safe, stay unburdened by things you can’t control, and stay never making love an obligation, or allowing someone to obligate you to it.

November 21, 2021 – Al Crosses Paths With Morgan, Escape Turns To Rebellion & Disturb This

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

On video, Al says she never lets anyone ask her questions like this. Since when are you okay with cameras? What do you want me to say? You know why I found you. Same as last time.

In the tank, Al picks up the hula girl with the Uzi, and tells the tank, I’m coming back for you. Not even a nuke could take you out. Just an empty gas tank. She grabs come of her stuff, and goes outside. As she walks, she messes with the radio, hearing Morgan, but there’s too much interference. She tries to get a better signal, and stabs a zombie in the throat. Morgan is at the tank, looking through Al’s bag. Realizing it belongs to Al, Morgan says he should’ve guessed this was where she’d be. He gets out, taking the camera, and says, Al, is that you? You can’t go far without your gear. Is she okay? He tells her to answer him. He goes back to the tank and films himself, saying, he knows she’s going to watch this, so he’ll say this now, and she can take it or leave it. The others said she might have gotten separated, but he’s starting to think she didn’t come back with them for a reason. If she believed the stories were too hard to pass up, then he’s going to remind her of a story she recorded a while ago. She’d interviewed him, and asked questions he didn’t want to answer, but he did. Mostly because she woudn’t let him not answer. Somehow she and John convinced him to stop running, if only for a little while. He’s asking her to do the same thing now. Stop running. Just for a little while. He hears the radio.

Al hears soldiers on the radio. Looking up to see a helicopter, Al says, no. She runs into a shelter, and it flies overhead, but keeps going. She runs to the tank, and dives under it. The helicopter lands, and a couple of men with guns look around. When they’re gone, she says, those a-holes, and goes back into the tank. She sees her bag has been rifled through, and says, dammit. Someone drops down into the tank, and grabs her from behind. She struggles, then realizes it’s Morgan. She asks what he’s doing there, and he says, looking for her; he had to make sure it was her. She says they can’t stay here; she’s fresh out of bullets. He says, they’ve got to find Grace, and Al asks where she is. He says, looking for her; what the hell? Al says she can explain, but not now. Morgan wonders if the men will be back, and she says she didn’t know. He said the last time he saw her, she was in a helicopter; when she disappeared, and Sarah said she’d sent somebody in a helicopter to lift them out of the blast. She says, if they stay there, they die, and Morgan says, then they move. Tell him what this is. They get out of the tank.

They walk, and Al tells Morgan to be careful. He says he wants to warn Grace, but Al says, Grace already has a target on her back; them too. She asks where the rendezvous is, and he says, a couple miles east, where the radiation strike was. They could walk. She says he’ll get killed, but he says he can handle himself. She says, he doesn’t know these people, and he says, it’s Grace. He asks if this had something to do with why Al didn’t show up at the submarine. She doesn’t get to drag him and Grace through a bunch of sh*t, and not tell them what’s going on. She says she was trying to protect them, but he says, he thought she was trying to protect herself, and she says, from what? but he says he doesn’t know. Why didn’t she make the journey with them? They had enough food for everyone; why didn’t she come? She says she belongs on the road. There are stories out there that need to be recorded, and she was doing that. He says, she wants to put a camera between her and everyone else. Maybe it will help her see what was in front of her face.

On video, Al says, what did you find out there?

Morgan and Al walk, and Al says, they’ll be dead if they stop moving. They walk underneath a bridge, where there a bunch of abandoned cars, and she says, the rendezvous is through there. He says he doesn’t understand. If these people are looking to kill them, how did she get them to rescue everybody? Some men start shooting at them, and they dart around the cars. Crouching down behind one, Al takes off her mask, and Morgan asks if it’s safe. Al says, the radiation won’t matter if they’re dead, and he takes his off. He says, this way, and they jump over a car. Ducking behind another car, Morgan says, who are they, and what do they want? Start talking. Al says, they’re called the Reclamation Team. They have one mission, to destroy any evidence. Morgan asks if she means them, and she says, right now, yeah. He asks if she’s the reason they’re here, but she says, not directly. They’re after the pilot who went AWOL after helping them (aka Isabelle). She’s in hiding. He asks why she helped, and Al says, because she asked her to. He asks if they’re together, and she says, no.  

On video, a helicopter flies overhead. Al says, that’s what the video is for. They might never see each other again.

Al says they’ll kill Isabelle if they find her, and Morgan asks if Al knows where she is. Al says, no. Isabelle didn’t tell her; it’s safer that way. Morgan radios Grace, and says, they’re at the rendezvous; at least they will be soon. He tells Al that Grace will be there. She asks why he’s doing this, and he says he’s found a lot of people. People he wouldn’t have found if she hadn’t forced him to answer those questions. They have to make it to the end of the line of cars. She asks why go where it’s so open, and he says, trust him. Let’s go now. They run, and Al tells him to go; she’ll get them away from him. But he says, Grace will be here. Grace squeals in, and says, get in, opening the passenger door. Al says, what the hell is that? and Morgan asks if she thinks she’s the only one with a set of wheels. She says again, she can draw them away, but he says he’s not leaving without her. Grace says, come on, and they jump in the car. Grace peels out and away.

Out of the radiation haze, and on the road, Grace pulls into the woods. Al suggests they cover the car with brush, and Morgan says, the radiated area is about 100 yards from there. They could walk in after they take a course of Russian Blue. Al says, they have something to combat radiation exposure. These people have something better, and Grace asks who they are. Morgan tells her not to expect much of an answer, and Al says, Sarah told her about the baby; she’s sorry. Grace thanks her, and says, it’s hard some days. Other days it’s… still hard, just different. Morgan says they have Mo, and Al says, Rachel’s daughter? Morgan says, Rachel didn’t make it, so they’ve become the closest thing Rachel’s daughter has to parents. Al says, all the more reason to get out. They’re soldiers who will stay on mission. Morgan says, they’ll just keep coming after them and Al’s friend. They need to stop them. Al says, the only way is to kill them, and Morgan says, then that’s what they’ll do. He says, Grace should go, but Grace says she has to help. Al says, if they kill them, they’ll just send more, and Morgan tells Grace again to go, but Grace insists on staying. Morgan said they would have never met had it not been for Al helping him. She wants to do the same for Al. Al says, there’s ammo in the helicopter. She can lead them away, so Morgan and Grace can get close to the chopper. There’s ammo and diesel fuel. Morgan says, he should lead them away, and Al can get the fuel, but Al says, it has to be her. She knows how they think. Morgan says, it’s not too late to find her friend, and Al says she will. She’ll be on channel four.

On video, Al says she has a place for them. When is she due back?

A zombie approaches Al, and she says she has a special job for him.

Grace tells Morgan, the wind is blowing in the right direction; it’s safe. They take their masks off. They check out the helicopter, and Morgan says, they have fuel, but Grace says, there’s no ammo. Morgan radios Al, and says, there’s fuel, but no ammo. Al says she knows; it’s not an Army helicopter. She’s got it covered. Morgan asks where she is, but Al says she needs to get back to the woman she told him about. Isabelle gave up what she believed in to save Al’s friends, and Al wants to help her. Morgan says, but she won’t let them do the same thing? They’re going to kill her. Al says, maybe, but she can take them down with her. He asks her to tell him where she is, and she turns off the radio.

Al says, Reclamation One, into the radio, and a soldier asks what she’s doing on that channel. She says, the people who are out there didn’t see anything. They don’t know anything about them, but she does. She knows why they’re here, and who they’re looking for. She told Al everything, and gave Al her maps and flight plan.

On video, Al says she knows what means to her; a purpose. It gives her a reason to wake up every day, and she’s right to protect it.

The soldier on the radio says, elaborate, and Al says, she’ll give it all back in exchange for an interview. There’s an old house by the ravine. They’ve flown over it. Rendezvous there in three hours. And bring her camera. The soldier says, they have a recovery camera, and she says, don’t be a smart ass.

On video, in protective gear, Sarah says, the Pennsylvania? It’s not the Four Seasons, but at least they have clean water. Morgan asks why she’s interviewing him, and if she ever stops, and Luci asks if she can’t wait until they get back. Grace is looking at the videos in the tank, and Morgan asks if she found that. She says in his pack. He didn’t tell Al he had it. He says, no, he didn’t. He didn’t want to give her an excuse to leave. She thinks they took it. He asks if she found anything, and she says, interviews with everyone they knew. Morgan says, Al knew she wasn’t coming back, and he guesses she wanted to take something of them to take with her. Grace says, maybe there’s a clue as to where Al is going, and Morgan says he’s going to see if there’s juice in the battery.

Al says, as soon as they give her the camera back, she just wants to ask them some simple questions. Did they really think Ground 17 gave her anything? We see she’s talking to a zombie, whose foot is pegged to the ground with a knife, so it can’t walk. She says she knows they’re pissed that she dragged them there under false pretenses. Don’t say she didn’t warn them. She ducks, and a cannon blows the middle out of the zombie. She tells it’s still moving head, thanks for your help. She agrees. The problem is its breath. She gets up and smashes the head.

On the video, we see a rocket go up, and Al says, what hell is that?

Al loads the cannon again. The radio crackles, and she asks if they need new directions, but the soldier says, negative; no rendezvous. She says, she’s going to start visiting the locations on these maps. Is he going to tell ground control that he’s come back empty handed? He says, they have the party she escaped with. Two soldiers have Morgan and Grace down on the ground, and the one on the radio says they’re going to eliminate them. Morgan says he’s sorry, and Grace says, there’s got to be another way. Al says, they don’t know anything; they’re not a part of this. Grace says, they have a daughter who needs them. They have to understand that. Al says, killing them won’t get her to talk, and Morgan tells her to give them the information. Al says, let them go, but the soldier says, they’re about to kill the male. Grace says, tell them, and the soldier says, one… He fires a shot in the air, and says, two… Another shot in the air. Morgan says, Al… and the soldier says, three. Al says, stop. She knows where she is. She agrees to their proposal. The soldier asks, where is Ground 17? and she says, in a cabin in the Smokies. She was with her copilot. He says he thought she didn’t know; they’ll require confirmation. She says, she told them where the cabin was; she’ll take them there. They can kill her afterward, but let Grace and Morgan go. Morgan says, don’t give her up for them, and Al says, they’ll kill him and Grace. He says, they won’t; they need them. The soldier says, negative, and Morgan grabs his gun. Grace kicks his legs out from under him, and Morgan stands up with gun, saying, they’re not killing anyone. Let her go. He tells the other soldier, drop the gun. One… He shoots in the air. Two… He shoots again. The soldier takes off his gun, and Morgan tells Grace to go. The soldier grabs Morgan, but Grace is already in the tank. She radios Al, asking if she copies, and says she’s got the truck. Al tells her to get Morgan on board, and she’ll do the rest. Grace drives right at Morgan and the soldier struggling in the road, and the soldier lets go. He and Morgan split apart, as Grace drives through, and Morgan jumps in the tank. The soldiers shoot at them, but the bullets bounce off the tank.

We see two sets of feet on the video. Al asks if she’s saying goodbye. The feet get closer for a moment, and one set of feet leaves. Al radios Daniel, asking if he copies. If he can, get to coordinates… She gives him a bunch of numbers.

Al radios Morgan, asking what their ETA is, and he says, they’re about five minutes out. Grace asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s fine. Al says, the less they’re on the radio, the better. Morgan copies, and asks if Grace meant it back there when she called Mo their daughter. She says she did, and he says, they did come back home with her. They hear a helicopter, and Morgan looks out. He says, they’ve got company, and tells Grace to keep driving. He radios Al to tell her that the soldiers are on their tail. She says she knows; stay the course. The helicopter flies ahead, and Grace says, they’re giving up? He says, they’re landing. They’re going to beat them there.

In the dark, Al wonders where the hell Morgan is. She shoots a few zombies, then sees soldiers with flashlights. The tank pulls up, and Morgan asks if she’s okay. She says she’s going to get them here, and keep them here, and when she says, drive, drive. She looks at the cannon, which is now rigged with a rope. A zombie toddles along getting in between, and she says, sh*t. She tells Morgan, she can do this; let her. She gets out, and Morgan follows. A soldier approaches the tank, and the gun thing opens up, shining a light on him. He tells Al, hands up in the air, and Al says, maybe they didn’t hear her. They have one last chance. They shoot at the tank, but the bullets once again bounce off, and Al says, she knows where Ground 17 is; she’s got proof. It’s on video. Al comes around the tank, with her hands on her head. Morgan stays on the other side, holding the rope to the cannon. Al tells the soldier to let the others go, and Morgan waits. The soldier relaxes a little, and Al says, now! Grace drives, and Morgan pulls the cord, the cannon blowing the soldiers away. I say, ew! out loud. Quentin Tarantino would have been proud. Morgan asks if Al is okay, and she says she is.

They drive, and Al says, this doesn’t change anything. She’s still going. Morgan says he saved her life. That means she owes him. She asks what he wants, and he says, an interview… please. She smiles.

On video, Al asks why Morgan is doing this. He says, she’s not used to being on that side camera, is she? It’s something to remember her by. She asks what he wants to know, and he asks if she was telling the truth to the soldiers. Does Al know where she is? The pilot? She says, yeah, she does. He asks why Al isn’t going after her, and Al says, this isn’t going to work. He says he’s not trying to pull anything. She wanted the truth, and it’s about the only thing you can’t run from. He couldn’t. The truth knows the where and why, and leaves on its own. She says, it’s complicated. She wanted Al to come. She gave up everything to save people she’d never met, but when she asked Al to give up everything for her… Morgan asks why Al isn’t with her, and Al flashes back to telling Isabelle that she’s sorry. She can’t do what Isabelle did. Al tells Morgan, she couldn’t do the same. She’d have to give this up. She’s sorry. She broke the only rule she ever had; never let herself become part of the story. Morgan asks who Ground 17 is; at least tell him her name. Al takes the camera out of his hand, and gives him the cartridge. They hug, and she goes over to Grace, and hugs her. I want to cry. Morgan asks if Al knows where she’s going, and she says, she knows what path she’s going to follow. Grace says, whoever Al thinks she’s letting down, she doubts they’d want her to miss out because of them. Al says she’ll see them on the road, and walks away.

Back at the rendezvous point, Al tells a soldier’s head, it’s been a helluva ride. She digs around in their pockets, wondering where they’re from, and Morgan shows up. She says, what the hell? She made up her mind. He says, just like he did. She and John still came after him one more time, so… She says she’s sorry, and picks up the radio, and hears something about Ground 17.

Back at the helicopter, Al hears, Reclamation One you’re being recalled. Do you copy? Morgan says, don’t, and Al says, Reclamation One, copy. A woman says, stand by for new target coordinates, and Al asks, who’s the new target? The woman says, Ground 17 remains the target. Her chopper responder places her at coordinates… The woman reads off numbers, and Al tells Morgan, she’s going to find her, no matter where she goes. She hears, do you copy? Al says, Reclamation One, copy, en route. Morgan says, tell him she’s going after her, and not chasing after whatever bullsh*t story these people are up to. Al says, she’s not sure, but either way, it will be one helluva ride. Morgan says, Al’s rule. It’s not about a choice she made a long time ago. It’s not about giving up the camera. It’s about her being scared, and losing herself. She doesn’t know she is part of the story. She was before, and she is now. If you’re alive, you’re part of the story. You can’t pretend there’s no connection there; that you’re not affected, like a piece of machinery, like a camera. She is the story, and he’s grateful that he got to be part of hers, and he’s glad she got to be part of his. Al says, her too, and Morgan says, you go. He gets out, and closes the door. The smiles, and ducks out. She puts hula girl on the helicopter dashboard.    

Al goes to the rendezvous point, and asks if anybody’s there. She goes inside. A fire is burning in the stove, and she turns on the TV, seeing a video of herself. She hears a gun cock, and turns around. She says, they’ve got to stop meeting like this. Isabelle asks what she’s doing here. She can’t stay. Al says she knows the chopper is down, and they’ll probably  be back. Isabelle says Al came all this way over her? and Al says she wants to come with Isabelle. Isabelle says she made peace with Al’s decision, even if she doesn’t understand it, Al says she hasn’t, and Isabelle says, they’ll never stop looking over their shoulders, and Al says, she’s right, but that’s okay. She can handle it. Isabelle says, the only way this can work is if they stay one step ahead, and Al says, Isabelle gave up everything; so will she. She smashes the camera, and says it was never about the camera. She was scared. She is scared. Isabelle says, she knows, but what’s different now? AL says, not trying and not coming here was scarier. They’ll find something new; something for them both. Then at least they gave it a try. They kiss, and Al asks, where should they go first?

Next time, Victor has his portrait painted, Morgan asks for Victor’s help, and Howard asks how long they have.   

The World Beyond

We flashed back to two years ago, when Indira created a globe sculpture for  the CRM with a globe sculpture for outside the facility, a reminder of who they were, and what was at stake. Indira wanted Elizabeth’s word that she’d keep their non-aggression pact after she was gone, and explained she was sick. Elizabeth said they had doctors and dialysis there, but Indira said she couldn’t put her personal interests first. Elizabeth said she wasn’t asking anything in return, and Indira asked, what Elizabeth would gain? Elizabeth said, peace of mind that she was sparing Indira’s children the ordeal she and Huck went through with Huck’s father. It was just between them, no strings.

In the present day. Will came back to the Perimeter alone, looking downcast. At the CRM, Leo told the other scientists that their purpose had been to heal the planet for their children and their children’s children, but they couldn’t do it there with the people who were responsible. Another scientist said they weren’t going to be allowed to leave; Leo was talking escape. Leo said they were past the point of talking, and the plan had been put in motion. They were going to use the CRM’s security protocol against them. He realized he was asking a lot, but they’d have help from the outside. He didn’t have every answer, but they couldn’t stay there. Lyla didn’t die in a lab accident; she’d been murdered like Dr. Abbot and Leo’s security detail. One of the scientists said, the CRM had committed genocide, and they had proof. They could either be a party to it, or be killed. Leo said they were working to stop the monsters, and save people from turning into monsters, but they needed to save themselves first.

Huck told Dennis that she couldn’t risk another trip, and he agreed to help. He told her, no matter how it turned out, she was the only part he didn’t regret. She told Silas that she’d sent him to Dennis because he was a good guy, and Silas said he got it. She said he had to trust her, even if he hated her. Hope and Iris packed, and Hope said it seemed unreal that lives were being put in their hands. Iris said a lot could go wrong, but they’d make it work. They’d do whatever they had to do to make sure they won. Huck told Leo and Felix that she and Dennis would get them someplace safe, and Felix asked what was going to happen to her. She said they were going to let the government know what the military had done. There was a Resistance who could help her get to whoever she needed to talk to, and maybe in the end, she and Dennis would try together. Because you always think of those romantic notions in the middle of an apocalyptic crisis. She said Dennis and Silas were going to relay the plan.  

Silas said Dennis had told him what to do, but not why, and Dennis said the less he knew, the better. Silas said Dennis’s wife had killed people, and let him think he’d done it. Was she just doing her job? Dennis told him that on the inside, they said everything was for the greater good. You went in not knowing who you were, and lost yourself. Silas said there was right and wrong, but Dennis disagreed, and said, not for a long time. Silas said Dennis tried to get him involved, but Dennis said Silas had been going nowhere, just like him. They killed a couple of zombies, and then hid as a horde ambled past.  

Huck went to see Jadis, who told her, the operational monitor was back online after the outage. She showed Huck the diagnostics, and said she was concerned Leo wasn’t keeping quiet. His psychological profile had determined he’d fall in line to keep his family safe, and she was starting to wonder if it was wrong. Huck said she didn’t think so, but Jadis said she was usually right. She needed to show him what happened if he stepped out of line. She told her lieutenant that her team was ready when his was.

Will told Indira that he was sorry, but her son was dead. Indira said he’d gone out there because of her, but Will said that wasn’t true. She told Brody and the core group that she was dying. Elizabeth had offered her treatment so she could live, and she’d been too selfish and scared to let go of her life. Dev died helping her get her medication so that she could hold onto things she shouldn’t be holding onto. She’d handed the CRM control of her life, and because of her decision, they’d taken the life of her boy, and now they could lose everything. She had to assume the non-aggression pact was nullified. Things were escalating, and they all knew what the CRM was capable of. It wasn’t safe there for any of them, and they had to leave. When they got to safety, she’d tell everyone she was stepping down as leader. Elton told Asha that he was sorry about Dev, and she said Dev was like Elton, questioning everything, She wondered if in the end he ever got his answer. Elton said, for some people it took facing the end to really know.

Huck radioed Iris and Hope, telling them that they needed to start everything now. The CRM was sending armed guards, and they needed to head to the rendezvous point. They couldn’t wait. At the Perimeter, Elton told Will, if the plan was going to happen, it needed to happen now. Soldiers came to get the girls, but they were gone, having run out the back. Iris said they had this, and Hope said she’d get their dad and meet Iris there. Jadis strutted around, and her lieutenant (whose name I don’t know) told her Leo was gone. She said some military stuff to him, and told him it would tell her how deep it had spread. There was a mandatory evacuation drill, and Leo tried to act cool. He met up with Felix, Iris, and Percy, and they all kept walking.

Hope found Mason, and said he needed to come with her. He needed to trust her; it was a matter of life and death. The lieutenant showed told Jadis, not only were the scientists AWOL, the civilian research team was too. She wanted a full facility lockdown, and said now they knew it was just the Bennetts. They were going to check room by room, and find where they were hiding. Leo told Iris that the CRM knew something was wrong, when gates started coming down over the doors. Hope ran in just in time with Mason, and they went into another room where all the others were. Hope told Mason that she wished there was another way, but their plan wouldn’t work without him. Percy and Felix took him away.

The lieutenant told Huck that the group was locked in a biocontainment unit. It was failsafe, and blunt force wouldn’t open the door. They’d have to wait two hours for a reboot. She said she’d tell Jadis. Inside the unit, the group had blocked the door, Leo saying this was nothing but reckless. Felix said they’d had no choice. Leo chose to give him life, and he chose to make it count. They smashed up a bunch of computers and whatnot, and Mason was tied up, and trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He saw a bunch of zombies and freaked out, but Hope told him that it was one-way glass. They could see the zombies, but the zombies couldn’t see them. Mason begged to know what was going on, and Hope said the CRM was not what he thought. They did horrible things. He said, if that was true, his dad would know. It couldn’t be that bad. He asked if that’s why he was taken, and she said there was no other way. They needed to leverage him to get what they wanted. Then they’d let him go. He asked, what if they didn’t get what they wanted. Would they feed him to the zombies? Hope promised no one would hurt him.

Idiot Brody ran to the CRM to tattle on Indira, and Jadis told Huck that her mother had been diverting medical supplies to the head of the Perimeter. They posed a significant threat to security. An intruder had been shot trying to ID Indira’s son. He’d said he was actively working with the Bennetts against them. Huck asked if she wasn’t going to investigate that claim, but Jadis said investigations took time and exposed vulnerabilities. The contact had to be removed immediately. At the Perimeter, everyone got ready to leave. Way too slowly IMO. Will told Indira that he lived for a picture of the future with Felix in his mind. He didn’t think it made him wrong, and he didn’t think what she did for her family was wrong either. Group member Robin came in, and said Brody had been ranting that he was going to make things right with the CRM, just as the CRM soldiers rolled in. The soldiers pushed people around, even though everyone was compliant. Will snuck around. Then took off for somewhere on foot.

While Jadis was busy with something else, Huck told Brody that he’d marked the Perimeter for death. He said Indira made a deal to save her own life. Why not him? Huck had been playing both sides, and he knew it. She asked if he was trying to get her killed, and he said if she promised him a permanent residence there, he’d keep quiet. She said she couldn’t do that, but he said, figure out a way she could. At the Perimeter, the soldiers made everyone get on their knees with their hands up. Indira asked to speak to Elizabeth.

 Brody said, if Huck didn’t do this, she was dead, and she shot him in the head, not even hesitating. Jadis came back, and said, what the hell? Huck said Brody was a rat, and had been playing games. He knew about Omaha and the Campus Colony, and said if they didn’t give him residence, he’d scream it from the rooftops. Jadis asked how he knew, and Huck said she had no clue, but he was a security threat. Maybe he had a personal grudge against Indira. Jadis said Indira was a threat too, and radioed the soldiers at the Perimeter, asking to speak to Indira. Indira told Jadis to call her soldiers off. Take her, but let her people live. Jadis said she was impressed by the globe Indira made. She’d been like Indira once, leading an artist community, but they didn’t stand a chance, like Indira’s didn’t now. Her vision was lovely but didn’t portray what is. She couldn’t see it. Huck told Jadis that the Perimeter provided a valuable service; they were a resource. Jadis told the soldiers to eliminate all of them, and leave no one alive. Elton and Asha hooked pinkies, which I smelled coming. Will started shooting at the soldiers, who fired back. Then Will’s gun got jammed, but Dennis showed up, and started shooting, along with Silas. Dennis got on a radio and faked out the soldiers with orders, and they all ran to another area, giving the residents time to get weapons. Indira shot the head soldier just as he was about to shoot Elton. Dennis, Silas, Elton and Indira gave each other silent signals, and worked as a team. Dennis stole a grenade from a dead soldier, and blew the rest of the soldiers to smithereens.

Will said, well played, and Dennis told Silas to get his friends and supplies to the rendezvous. Be ready. Silas asked, for what? What was the plan? Dennis revealed he’d been shot in the side, and keeled over. At the CRM, Mason was hustled out, even though he said he wasn’t going anywhere. He demanded to know where they were taking him. Hope told Iris that Mason hadn’t done anything, but Iris said, neither had they. There was too much at stake. Meanwhile, the scientists had used explosives to create an opening to tunnels below the unit, also keeping the CRM following them. When they finally got into the room, Jadis said every drop of data had been wiped out. They weren’t just escaping; they’d been planning a rebellion. They stood to lose every scrap of progress and knowledge since the beginning. Huck asked what the plan was, and Jadis said she knew where the exits were. She was going to station a soldier at every tunnel exit. When the group emerged, they’d be waiting.

Jadis said they were going to make an example of all of them. She told the soldiers, shoot to kill. Eliminate some to traumatize the many. They’d been safe for too long, and had forgotten too much. She hoped to make them remember.

Next time, Jadis says, they’ll see who blinks first. And oh yeah, zombies.

🙇🏽‍♀️ Better Late Than Later…

Dead news tomorrow, along with the usual soap, and whatever’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay edifying to others, and stay knowing, if you’re alive, you’re part of the story.

November 15, 2021 – The Mystery Man Reveals Himself, Total Idiots On Deck, News Of the Dead & Joe

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Outside Kelly’s, Brook asks if Chase is accusing her of lying, and he says, Brook Lyn… She says, don’t Brook Lyn her. She thought they’ve reached a point in their relationship where they actually consider each other friends. He says, they have, and she says, friends who not only puzzle together, but also watch movies together, because it’s an act of trust. Chase and I both look confused, and she says, there’s nothing worse than watching a movie with someone who doesn’t like the movie you picked, and the whole time just makes snarky comments and complains. He says he doesn’t do that, and she says, that’s exactly her point. They have a good thing going. Why mess it up? He says, he doesn’t want to mess anything up, which is why she has to tell him exactly what happened the night the baby was born.

Gladys sees Brando and Sasha at the hospital, and asks if the baby’s okay. Sasha says, everything’s fine. She just had to pick up some prenatal vitamins, but what is Gladys doing there? Gladys says she’s picking up something for her migraine, and Sasha asks if it’s the office lighting. Gladys says, it’s her demanding job. BLQ’s piling on the work like there’s no tomorrow. She even insisted Gladys eat lunch at her desk, and stay until five. Brando says, despicable, and Sasha says she thought Brook was rewarding Gladys with some me time. What changed?

On the phone, Valentin tells Charlotte that he’ll be home in time to see her and Butterscotch win their competition. Before she goes will she do him a favor, and put Bailey on the speaker, so she can hear his voice? Anna walks out of the room behind him, and he speaks in French to the baby. He tells her to be a good girl. He misses and loves them both.. Anna says he’s so good at that; he was born to be a father. He says he’s made plenty of mistakes, and she says, her too. She doesn’t want to make anymore. At the risk of sounding redundant, but they have to find Peter, and they’ve got to stop him. Robert comes along, and says, from what he understands, there’s a way… but Valentin says, the WSB can’t grant Victor immunity. There’s got to be another way.

Scotty is outside the PCPD cell area, and says he demands to see his client. Victor sits up, and he says, tell the guard they have things to discuss. Victor says he and Scotty have a right to privacy, and asks the guard to please leave. The guard lets Scotty in, and Victor says, they hardly know each other, and he certainly hasn’t hired Scotty as his attorney. Scotty says, true, but they have one thing in common – Liesl Obrecht – and Victor is going to help him find her.

The Photo Ark exhibit has begun, and Nikolas hands Ava a glass of champagne. He tells her, good luck, but doesn’t think she’s going to need it; she has a hit on her hands. She says, thanks to Trina. She’s just glad she gets to share it with him. When she thinks about how close they came to losing each other… They see Spencer walk in with Esme.

Esme asks if Spencer is sure he’s up for this, but he says, it’s not about them. They’re here for Trina. This is her big night.

Trina walks in with Cameron, and says, Joss is coming, right? He says, she’s just at volleyball practice right now, and Trina asks if they’re okay. He says, things are good, when Portia approaches, and says, this show is spectacular. She can’t believe she’s the mother of its curator. Trina says, well, Ava deserves the credit for hosting it, and Mr. Quartermaine for underwriting it. Cameron says, and Trina, for coming up with the idea and making it happen. Portia says, amen. There is no need for false modesty here. Trina says, speaking of spectacular, Portia looks amazing. Is Curtis joining her? Portia says, Curtis is coming. He probably just got held up at the club.

Curtis asks Marshall who the hell he is, and what does he want? Marshall says, Curtis really doesn’t know, does he? and Curtis wonders why he should. Marshall says he guesses he’s the man Curtis has been searching for his whole life. Now Curtis has found him.

Chase says, just talk him through it, step by step. How did she manage to pull a fast one and slip away, then have her baby in a hotel? She says, this is none of his business, and Chase says, whatever’s going on has to do with Bailey. Valentin is going to start suspecting something sooner or later. She can talk to him; what is she hiding? She asks if he really wants to have this conversation right now; it’s kind of cold. He says, fine, and opens the door to Kelly’s. Let’s go inside. He has time.

Robert says, Valentin has no say in what the Bureau will or will not do for people, and he says, neither does Robert. Anna asks if Robert talked to the mercenary that they have in custody. He’s just down the hall. They had him airlifted in from Greece, and he’s lucky to be alive. She’s sure he’d be cooperative. Robert says, nice try, kid. That guy’s a guppy and she knows it. Victor’s the big fish. They get him to flip, and they might actually lay their hands on Peter. Valentin says, at what cost? Are they going to let Victor set his own terms? Robert’s phone rings. He answers, and says, he’ll be right down. Anna asks, what is it? and he says, seems that Victor’s got himself a visitor. He’d like to check it out. And by the way, the Bureau has accorded him and Anna to make a recommendation on Victor’s behalf; a courtesy call, if you like. They’re going to do what they want to do anyway. He leaves and Valentin says, translation: we can’t stop the WSB from making a deal with the devil. Anna says she has an idea.

Victor says he knows Scotty by reputation, and Scotty says, ditto. And what he knows about Victor, he doesn’t like. He’s not fond of criminals who hijack him, drug him, and throw him out of a plane. Victor says, yet here he is, and Scotty says, and here Victor is in jail. Funny how that worked out. Victor says, had it not been for him, there would have been no parachute, but Scotty says he doesn’t think Victor will be getting a thank you card from him. Did he really do that out of the kindness of his heart? Victor says, no. He did it for Liesl’s heart, so Scotty’s right about that. They do have that in common. They both care for Liesl very much. Scotty suggests they not compare obsession with love, and Victor says, they’re not friends and he didn’t hire Scotty, so why is he here? Scotty says he already told Victor; Victor is going to help him bring Liesl home. As far as hiring him, does Victor want to walk out of here, free as a bird? Then Victor needs him.

Trina asks Portia to promise she’ll chill; Spencer cut ties with his dad. Cameron says, Spencer didn’t like that Ava was in charge of his trust fund, so he told both of them that he didn’t want or need the Cassadine money. Portia asks if they’re telling her that Spencer Cassadine is in the wild on his own, and Trina says, he’s independent and working at Kelly’s. Cameron’s his boss. Cameron says, that’s a fact, and Portia says, that’s a step in the right direction for Spencer. She just hasn’t forgotten how he treated Trina, and hopes Trina doesn’t forget either. Trina says she doesn’t have time for Spencer. She has a show to run. Portia says, that she does. She’ll let Trina get to it.

Spencer tells Esme, good. Trina’s mom left. Now they can go over and wish her good luck tonight. Esme says, then again, she bets Trina would rather be alone with Cameron.

Brook looks at the menu, and Chase takes it out of her hands, saying, enough stalling. What’s going on? She says he’s right; she gave Yuri the slip. She had no guarantee that she was going to give birth that night, but she knew she wanted to do it alone. He says, without the father’s knowledge? Why? She says, she and Valentin weren’t on the best of terms at the time. They had that one night, but didn’t exactly trust each other. That’s why he put a bodyguard on her to watch her every move. He says he remembers when she came to his apartment with Yuri, and also remembers her being stressed about the pregnancy. She says she was looking at a lifetime of being chained to Valentin, and didn’t want to be controlled. Chase knows how Valentin is. He takes ownership over everything. They had an agreement, but she had no guarantee he’d honor it. So as her due date rapidly approached, she felt like she had to get away, send a message that Valentin couldn’t control her or her baby. Given Valentin’s history, can Chase believe her?

Curtis picks up the sketch, and says Marshall should take a look at this. It’s a sketch of a man who’s been going around town, asking questions about him. He started with Curtis’s nephew, and moved on to his friend. He even asked Curtis’s bartender questions. He opens the sketch, and says, this is Marshall, and he comes in there saying Curtis is looking for him? Make it make sense. Marshall asks if Curtis went to the cops. Is that a police sketch? Curtis says, that’s what concerns him? What is his deal? For all he knows, Marshall is the one who scared off the band he had booked the other night. Marshall says, so what? A talented artist showed up, and Curtis had a great night. Curtis says, luck had nothing to do with it. Marshall’s boy Linc said he owed Marshall a favor. Linc also claimed that he wasn’t mobbed up, but maybe Marshall is. Don’t think Curtis didn’t notice that Linc double-timed it out of there when Marshall told him to kick rocks. That’s the same night Joey Novak got jumped, because he was trying to muscle in on something Marshall wanted. It’s all connected, isn’t it? Marshall says, it’s connected, but not like Curtis thinks. Curtis says Marshall has about ten seconds to clarify things before Curtis throws his ass out of here.

Chase says, Brook and Valentin have some binding agreement where he gave up his shares in ELQ, and she says, so he could share in Bailey’s life. He asks if that didn’t include Valentin being present at her birth, and she says, it did. The problem is, as soon as the ink dried, everyone told her not to do it. Her family… He says, Maxie too? and she says, Maxie was very persuasive, and as her due date got closer, the more unsure she got. She knew she couldn’t back out of the deal, but she couldn’t share the birth with Valentin. It was too intimate; she would be too vulnerable. So she told everyone she was going to Brooklyn. Her friend CeCe helped her cover, and she got a room in a hotel. He says, in Ithaca. Why a hotel and not a hospital? She says she couldn’t risk Valentin tracking her down, so she had the doula meet her in the hotel, and she ended up giving birth that night. That’s when she called Michael to pick her up. He came with Willow to take her and the baby home. When they arrived, Valentin swooped in, and became immediately involved, but at least she had that time with Bailey to herself. End of story. He tells her, what she’s saying makes sense from her point of view. He gets her family history, and knows Valentin’s history. It’s a good story. It’s almost too good.

Gladys tells Sasha, the only thing that’s changed is Brook started treating her like dirt. So much for her raise or promotion. Now she’s back to shopping at Soles for Less, and settling for last year’s markdowns. Sasha says she and Brando better get going, or they’ll be late for the opening, and Gladys says, what opening? Sasha says, Ava Jerome’s art gallery; there’s a new exhibit. Gladys says, la-di-da. Have fun. She’ll just go back to the apartment, microwave something, and deal with the pile of paperwork she brought home. Sasha tells her, as senior partner, she says Gladys will do no such thing. She’s coming with them. Right, Brando? He says, she’s the boss, and Gladys says, thanks, but Sasha knows she doesn’t deserve that. Brando says, probably not, but it is rude to turn down an invitation. Gladys says they wouldn’t want that, and asks if they can stop by the office, so she can pick up some makeup. It’ll just be a quick stop. Brando says he thought she had a headache, but she says she’s starting to feel better.

Spencer says, this exhibit is amazing. Kudos to Trina. How was she able to land this? Cameron says, what Trina is too modest to say is, when she puts her mind to it, she’s absolutely unstoppable. Esme says, Cameron would know, right? He says, what? and Spencer asks where Josslyn is. Trina says, she’s at volleyball practice and will be here later. Esme says, hopefully, she’s not too late.

Portia tells Ava and Nikolas that she’s glad she was able to clear her schedule to be there tonight to be there for Trina’s sake. Nikolas says she probably has yet to forgive him for what happened between him and Spencer, and Portia says,  what happens between Nikolas and his son is really none of her concern, but those things affected her daughter, and Trina is always going to be her priority. Trina tells her that Spencer is trying to change, and she honestly wishes him well. She sincerely hopes he sets a good example for his father.

Valentin goes into mercenary Lex’s room, and leans over him. Lex opens his eyes, and says he knows Valentin. Valentin says he thought Lex might. He was a prisoner at the compound, and Lex was a guard. He doesn’t care about Lex, he’s looking for Lex’s boss. Lex says he’s not talking, and Valentin tells him, he was expecting him to say that, and takes out a syringe. Lex asks if it’s truth serum. How did Valentin get sodium pentothal? Does he have a doctor in his pocket? Valentin says, this is a reputable hospital. You don’t just get truth serum. This is a syringe full of air. You know what it does when it enters the bloodstream? It makes a bubble that will go straight to your heart, or your brain, and you die. Lex looks at the call button, but Valentin snatches it away, and asks if he wants to try again.

Curtis says Marshall has about five seconds, and Marshall says, maybe that’s why he’s here; to answer all of Curtis’s questions. Curtis asks him to stop talking in riddles. What is he doing here? Is he trying to ruin Curtis? Is he after Curtis’s business, or is it personal? Marshall says, it’s personal, but it’s not the way Curtis thinks. Curtis has to believe him. He’s not Curtis’s enemy. Far from it. Curtis asks, then what the hell is he? He says his name is Marshall… Thomas Ashford. Who he is, is Curtis’s father. Curtis says, he’s lying. HIs father died of a heart attack when he was a kid. He’s asked why Marshall is here, and Marshall won’t tell him, so get the hell out before Curtis physically removes Marshall himself. Marshall says he knows it’s hard to accept. He must seem like some distant memory to Curtis; something he can’t fit in in the life he has now. He gets that, but look at him. Look at him through a son’s eyes, and tell him he can’t see it. That Curtis can’t recognize him.

On the phone, Portia asks how the gunshot wound patient is responding to treatment… Did they ever receive Mr. Fraser’s medical records from Crete?… She guesses it’s enough he was airlifted there… No. The last thing he needs is to be questioned about Peter August and Victor Cassadine right now. He needs to rest. No visitors. Nikolas listens in, and Ava gives him the side-eye.

Cameron says he’s not sure where Esme is going with that. To be clear, he and Trina are friends, first, last, and always. Trina says she needs to circulate, and they leave. Esme tells Spencer, methinks the gentleman protests too much.

A waiter walks around with champagne, and Sasha says, none for her, but Gladys says she’d love some. The waiter tells her, enjoy, and Sasha says she has a confession. After weeks of bedrest and resting, she missed the glitterati. Gladys says her too. If it were up to Miss Bossy Pants, she’d never get to attend a function like this again. Brando says he’ll get Sasha a glass of sparkling water, and Gladys asks him to grab another glass of champagne while he’s at it. She’s planning on a fun night. A waiter bumps into her, and she says, excuse her. She looks at him weird, and Brando asks, what’s wrong? She says, for a second, she thought she knew him. It must be the bubbles. Speaking of the bubbles… Brando says, one sparkling water and one glass of champagne coming up. We see the waiter who bumped Gladys is Kip.

Brook says she had to keep what she did secret, even from Chase. She couldn’t risk anyone giving Valentin doubt in her story, for fear he’d cry breach of contract, and take back the ELQ shares. She’s sorry, but she couldn’t let that happen. He says, so she came up with a lie. She gets up and says she did what she had to ultimately to protect the people she loves. If he wants to arrest her, go ahead, but he’s really ruining their movie night. She holds out her wrists.

Victor says, there’s a surprising amount of merit in what Scotty is suggesting. If he’s willing to make good on his claims, it’s possible Victor might retain his services. Robert comes in, and asks what Scotty is doing there. He’s a bit out of his depth, isn’t he? This is a bit bigger than a slip and fall. He tells the guard, show this man the exit, but Victor says, Scotty is his attorney. Robert says Victor is more desperate than he thought, and Scotty says, listen here, Mr. DA. He knows Robert is no longer with the WSB, but he does have a direct line there, so he might want to give them a heads up. Robert says, about what? and Scotty says, in about an hour, he’s going to host a press conference with every major outlet. He’s going to tell them how the WSB goofed up. They could have had Peter August’s head on a platter, but instead, they dropped the ball. Robert says, Scotty might get The Invader to turn up to something like that, but no one else is going to care. Scotty says, he’s not finished. Then he’s going to tell them how the WSB is afraid of his client. Not just because of what he knows about Peter August, but all the dirty dealings that went on in the WSB when he was the director. Robert says, Scotty will be tied up in espionage suits for the rest of his life, and Scotty says, that might be true, but the damage will be done. Robert says, this smells like Victor’s idea, but Victor says, actually, Scotty came up with it. Kind of brilliant for an ambulance chaser, wouldn’t Robert agree?

Lex says, Valentin can’t do this. Help! Anna comes in, and asks what Valentin is doing. He’s just supposed to talk to him. Lex says, he’s crazy. Valentin is trying to kill him. Anna says, that’s not what they discussed, and Valentin is about to put the syringe into Lex’s intravenous tube. He says, all he has to do is push in the plunger, and Victor sends one less holiday card this year. Lex says, Valentin has it all wrong; he quit Victor. Anna says, he got a better offer from Peter? and Lex says, he changed sides, and look what he’s got to show for it. Another inch, and they said the bullet would have hit his heart. Valentin asks if he knows where Peter was heading when he left the compound, and Lex says, possibly. What’s it worth to him? Valentin says, he wants to negotiate, and Lex says, let’s start with six-figures and a new identity. Valentin tells Anna, he guesses their hands are tied, and she says, she guesses so. She grabs the syringe from Valentin, and plunges it in Lex’s arm. Lex says, she’s crazier than Valentin. If this air bubble reaches his heart… She says, he’s going to wish the bullet had reached his heart. Lex says, do something, and Valentin says, there’s always a hyperbolic oxygen. It’s the only way he knows how to break up a bubble. Anna says, he’ll need a doctor for that, and Lex says he’ll tell them what they want to know. She asks where Peter is, and Lex says, help him, and he’ll tell them. Valentin says, let’s get out of here, and they start to leave. Lex says, Cassadine Island. Now help him. Get a doctor. Get the air bubble out. Anna says, what air bubble? and leaves with Valentin.

Victor tells Robert, he’s sure the press will be especially captivated by the details of the coup the WSB orchestrated in Central America. Remember that one? It’s up to you, amigo. Robert says, Scotty’s already pointed one thing out; he’s no longer part of the agency. Scotty says, but he’s the facilitator. Peter’s got Liesl. He knows Robert doesn’t care about her, but he does, and he knows Robert cares about Maxie, and as long as Peter’s out there, she won’t be safe. They can wrangle all day, but he thinks they should cut to the chase. There are lives on the line; loved ones lives. Robert says, for this to work, the info has to be legit or the Bureau’s not going to buy it. Victor says, it’s up to Robert to convince them. Make it happen. Get him released, or Peter is going to get away with murder – again.

Ava asks if Nikolas knows the patient from Crete, and he says, the airlifting aspect got his attention. He asks when the star of the evening is arriving, and she says, he changed the subject. She wonders why. Like maybe there’s an actual threat out there. Maybe from his own family?

Portia tells Trina, it’s official. The panda photo is her favorite. Esme says she’ll have to look out for it, and Portia asks Trina to introduce her to her friend. Trina says, Esme is Spencer’s girlfriend, and introduces them. Esme says she was just telling Trina how impressive all of this is. She’s sure Portia’s very proud. Portia says, that she is. She heard Esme’s been in town as long as Spencer has. Either she’s the angel on Spencer’s shoulder or something else altogether. Esme says she’s just the girl Spence loves. She’ll be looking for that panda. She leaves, and Portia tells Trina, steer clear of that one. Trina says she’s trying.

Curtis tells Marshall, his earliest memories of his mom and Aunt Stella, two of the most honest people he’s ever known. They took him and his brother to the cemetery to put flowers on his father’s grave. Why would they make that up? There was a plot and a headstone, and they stood wiping the tears from two little boys’ eyes. Why would they make that up if it wasn’t true? Marshall says he knows Curtis has a lot of questions, but it’s going to take time. Curtis says, forget time; it takes facts. The fact is, his father died just after his third birthday. He held on to the birthday present his father gave him for that birthday long after he’d outgrown it. Those are facts. Marshall says, the toy lawnmower, and laughs. He says he’s glad, and Curtis asks how he knew that. Who told him? Marshall says, no one had to tell him. He gave it to Curtis.

Curtis says, Marshall let his late mother and brother, and his Aunt Stella and him, believe he was dead, but the truth is… Marshall says, if Curtis will just give him a chance, he’ll try to explain. Curtis says, save it. He doesn’t need to hear it, because anything Marshall says will be about himself, not about Curtis. There’s nothing he can say to justify this. Marshall was right earlier. His father is a distant memory, and there is no good explanation for Marshall making his brother and him grieve their entire lives over a man who wasn’t dead. Marshall says he understands Curtis is upset, but Curtis says he can’t possibly understand. They thought he died of a heart attack. Does he understand what it’s like for a child growing up under that shadow? Knowing from the start that life is short and the good guys don’t always win. Does he know how hard it was to watch his mom and Aunt Stella scrape and save every penny to make ends meet, trying their damnedest to raise two little Black boys in Baltimore, Maryland, a complicated place to navigate? Does Marshall know what that’s like? Of course (🍷) he doesn’t. Does he know what he did? He put in motion, a lifetime of uncertainty, and instability, and pain throughout Curtis’s whole family. All because the man of the house, the breadwinner, their protector, their father, supposedly died and wasn’t there for them.

Chase tells Brook to spare him the dramatics. He’s not accusing her of a crime, he’s just trying to find Maxie’s baby. She asks, then why is he interrogating her? and he says, he put together all the steps leading up to the abduction, and stumbled on her giving her bodyguard the slip that night. Brook says she’s not sure how this relates to Maxie, and he says, he’s not either at the moment. But when a bell goes off in his head, he asks questions until he gets answers. She says he told her that he was rusty with his detective skills. Chalk this up to a night of her helping him sharpen them. She has to go; she’s going to Ava’s gallery opening. He says, nice try. He knows there’s something else she’s hiding.

Valentin says, when Anna picked up that syringe and shoved it in Lex’s arm, he thinks he was as shocked as Lex was. It was classic, gutsy, diabolical. She says, he’s such a flirt. Robert joins them, and says, word has it, their friend from Crete had a strange encounter with a syringe. Anna says, he must be delusional, and Robert says, whatever. He just doesn’t want to know about it. She says, great, because they got a good lead on Peter. Robert says, him too, but they’re not going to like it.

Nikolas hands Ava a glass of champagne, and says, she’s the toast of the town tonight, so let’s toast to that and forget everything else. She says, Victor is here in a PCPD jail cell, and now one of his mercenaries is at GH. Is she supposed to ignore the Cassadine stain that’s spreading to their doorstep? Maybe he can, but she can’t.

Kip is serving canapes, and Gladys says, she’ll have one of those. He turns around, and she says, hi, Pauly. What’s new?

Marshall supposes he deserves everything Curtis said. Maybe he shouldn’t have sprung things on him this way. Curtis asks, why did he? Even if it’s true, why now? Why today? Marshall says he wanted come before, but he couldn’t, and Curtis asks what he means. Marshall says, it wasn’t safe, and Curtis asks what he’s talking about. Marshall says, it wasn’t safe for all of them, but when he was finally able to show his face, he saw Curtis needed him. That’s when he came forward. If they could just take it a step at a time, he promises Curtis will understand. In time, he’ll understand everything.

Cameron tells Trina, this place is amazing. She crushed it. They hug, and Esme asks Spencer, so those two were almost a thing? He asks why she keeps bringing it up. Cam said it was no big deal. Clearly, they’ve moved on. She says, maybe, but from what she can see, the sparks are still lingering. Portia sends Curtis a text that says, where are you? I miss you.

Marshall wonders how he can get Curtis to trust him, but Curtis says he can forget that. He doesn’t know Marshall, and doesn’t trust him, and damn sure doesn’t need him. He can get the hell out, and don’t do him any favors. Marshall says, fair enough. He’ll go… for now. He takes something out of his pocket, and says he knows Curtis probably doesn’t have any family photos with him in them. Maybe this one with him and Curtis’s mama, Curtis, and Tommy will make up for that. He puts it on a table, and says, it’s precious memories… precious memories. He leaves, and Curtis sees the back says, June 1985. He looks at the photo, and gets tears in his eyes. Didn’t he wonder why there were no pictures of his father when he was growing up? Just asking.

Kip says he thinks Gladys has him confused with someone else, and she says, she’s confused all right. First, he scares her into keeping her trap shut about Brook’s baby, and now he’s a cater waiter? Another waiter comes up, and tells Kip, Billy just booked a commercial. Tomorrow, he’s going in as Nathan Detroit. Congrats. The waiter leaves, and Gladys says, Kip. He’s an actor? What else is fake about him? Like he’s the father of Brook’s baby for instance?

Chase tells Brook, sooner or later, the truth always comes out. He wishes she would forget he was a cop, and trust him as a friend. She says she’s got to go. Her father is underwriting the exhibit, and she doesn’t want to disappoint him. Chase says, that’s what worries him.

🤬 Unreal. Here is where there’s literally a minute of the show left, and there’s an interruption about the infrastructure bill being signed. This couldn’t wait a minute? I say, WTF? over and over. But I finish through the magic of  the internet.

Ava asks if Nikolas can blame her for worrying. As long as Victor remains in town, remains in his life, there’s going to be trouble. He says his uncle has no hold over him. He let the world believe Victor was dead, and Victor returned the favor. They’re even; all debts are paid. Besides, he’s behind bars; he’s about to be shipped off to the Hague, or some other WSB facility, never to be heard from again. She asks if he promises, and he says he does. He tells her, relax. Enjoy her big night. Everything is going to be all right.

Valentin tells Robert, don’t do this. They don’t need Victor. They can track Peter on their own. Anna asks, what happened? and Robert says, this isn’t just about finding Peter, and Valentin says, of course (🍷) it isn’t. Victor was director of the WSB. He knows where the bodies are buried. The things that can’t see the light of day. They just don’t want him to talk.

Scotty tells Victor, all the paperwork has been signed, sealed, and delivered. Now tell him where Liesl is, so he can go get her. Victor nods to the guard, and walks out past Scotty. Scotty says, they had a deal, and the guard closes the outside cell door in Scotty’s face. Victor walks down the hall, taking off his prison shirt.

Tomorrow, Esme hopes Trina has a night she never forgets, Ned asks what Olivia is hoping for tonight, and Peter says Drew will be the one to make it happen, or he’ll die trying.

Below Deck

When we last left guest Justin was getting aggressive with guest Terri, and told Heather, f*** you, after following her down the hall. Eddie stands in the doorway, keeping them from getting in, and Justin says, it’s the whole effing circus. Someone is getting shoved off the boat tonight. Eddie says, maybe it’s best that Justin and Terri stay away from each other. Terri tells Eddie, make it stop, and Eddie tells her, stop overreacting, and it will stop. It’s for everyone’s safety, including hers. Justin tells Rachel, it’s not his problem, and she says she doesn’t give a f***. Guest Colin shows up, and asks Heather what he can do to help. Heather asks him to get Justin into his room, and Colin asks Justin, now sitting down with a drink, what the problem is. Justin says, everyone can f*** themselves. Colin can f*** himself, and throw himself off the back of the boat. Somehow Colin persuades Justin to walk back to the room with him, telling him that he can bring his drink. Justin gets moving, but says, STFU, on his way downstairs. In Eddie’s interview, he says he can’t wait to tell Captain Lee. He doesn’t know what the captain is going to do, but it’s going to be priceless. Eddie tells Heather, if there are any issues, wake up him up. In the cabin, Colin tells Justin to stop acting like a stupid, self-centered POS. Justin says, well, that’s a bit much, suddenly sounding so rational, I laugh.

In the morning, Jessica wrestles with the laundry. In her interview, she says, the last boat she worked on was a cakewalk. She wonders when she gets a day off. Wes says, everything is all shiny, and the guests start to trickle out. Colin says he’ll be surprised if the others get up. In Rachel’s interview, she says, it takes several hours to roast a whole pig. It’s so effing gross. We see a pig sitting in the oven, and yeah, it is. I don’t eat meat that much anymore, but I did attend a pig roast once, and I can’t even begin to describe how heavenly the smell is. It also tasted amazing. Eddie asks if the captain heard all the yelling, screaming, slamming doors, and crying last night. Justin tells the other guests that they may get kicked off the boat. Eddie tells Captain Lee that Justin and Terri were arguing, and Terri was in tears. Justin told Heather to f*** herself. Heather comes to the wheelhouse, and the captain says he wants to discuss the elephant in the room. Heather says, Justin crossed the line hard core, and in the captain’s interview, he says, he’s livid. His crew isn’t there to be abused. He can’t talk to the guests right now because he’ll lose it, but it’s going to be a come to Jesus meeting. He tells Heather, he’ll have a discussion with them, and it’s not going happen again. Justin is unsure about what happened last night, and Jake has a meeting with the deckhands. He changes their schedules, and puts Rayna on nights. She says she’ll die if she’s up all night, but Jake says she’ll still get her eight hours. In Wes’s interview, he says, Jake is being bossy, and Rayna is overreacting, and he’s in the middle. Rachel’s breakfast special is lobster benedict, which sounds like my kind of breakfast. The captain tells Eddie that he’s going to be pulling anchor in a few minutes, and wants clear, concise direction. He’s going to let Jake take them out.

The guests have breakfast, and anchor is home. Primary Michael says it’s the best breakfast he’s ever had. Jake isn’t happy that Rayna is giving him sh*t, and she says she just needs alone time. He tells her that it’s nothing to be frustrated with; it’s work. In Rayna’s interview, she says, Jake is confusing, but she doesn’t know him. What if he’s a crazy person, and she kissed him too soon? She definitely kissed him too soon. Now he’s a jackass. IMO, he’s being a boss. I guess she thought she was going to get special privilege because she kissed him. Justin walks past Heather in the lounge, and she asks how he is. He says, other than a headache, not too bad, and in Heather’s interview, she says she never had a guest treat her like that. It’s reminding her of being bullied in high school in Hawaii. She had her arm broken, her face battered, and lunches thrown at her because she was the only white blond girl at the school. It was bringing up past trauma. Fraser tells Jessica about the screaming match.

Michael and Justin are summoned to the wheelhouse, and Eddie tells the deckhands, he would not want be them. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, he’s not letting some a-hole insult his crew. It makes him want to take a sh*t in their mother’s dinner plate. He tells them that he wants to chat about what transpired last evening. Telling Heather to go f*** herself is totally improper. He doesn’t talk to his crew that way, and doesn’t tolerate other people doing it. Justin says, he doesn’t know what happened… and the captain says he doesn’t want excuses. Get his sh*t together, and if it happens again, their charter will be over. Make no mistake about it. Justin says he’s really sorry, and thanks the captain, and Michael apologizes for his friends. Outside, Michael says Justin was being a complete jerk. Captain Lee tells Heather that he doesn’t think there will be a repeat performance. If there is, the charter ends. She says they’ll see how the day goes.

Justin tells the other guests that he’s sorry for how this relates to them. Eddie tells the deckhands to pack the gear for the picnic. Heather tells the guests that since they’ll be cooking the pig on the beach, the meal will be around 3 or 4 o’clock. In Rachel’s interview, she says, she’s had experience cooking a whole hog. Logistically, it’s too long of a time to cook it on the beach, so she precooks it in the oven, then throws it in the pit. When the guests arrive, she pulls it out, and it’s done; fire roasted pig on a spit. Justin goes back to Heather, and says he sincerely apologizes, and she says, she appreciates it, but every day is a new day. Enjoy the blank page. In her interview, she says, but really, go f*** yourself. Ha-ha! For a second, I thought she was being overly generous. Rayna acts resistant to anything Jake has to say. Eddie says, it’s time to go, and they take the picnic supplies over. In Wes’s interview, he says he grew up in the Caribbean, and loves a beach picnic. It reminds him of home. In Heather’s interview, she says, it’s important that the luau go off without a hitch. She didn’t deal with everything yesterday to come out with sh*t tip. Even if it takes twenty tenders, they’ll give the guests what they want. There’s no room for error. She wants to do her people proud.

They take more stuff over, and Heather and Rachel go over to the beach. Wes curses the gazebo he’s trying to set up. In Jessica’s interview, she says, it’s exhausting being a stew all day. The money makes it worth it, but she’d rather be home driving around, eating a burrito, and listening to music. It would be less stressful. I see there’s a real work ethic among this bunch. The guests are taken over to the beach, and the pig catches fire. Rachel flies over to it, and in her interview, she says, this has the potential for ruining the meal. Thank God it was only the skin. She’ll put it upside down, and the guests will never know. The guests arrive, and Heather welcomes them to their beach luau. Colin says, everything is perfect.

Rayna calls her mom, and says she’s ready to kill someone. Jake has been a lead deckhand for one day, and talked disrespectfully to her. She gets all weepy, and in her interview, she says, connecting with new people on a boat is difficult, and the first one she connected with was Jake. Now he’s the one she’s having issues with. Today has been sh*t. She’s over it. Fraser is jealous of the guests; everything looks so good. The guests play corn hole. On the boat, Captain Lee threatens to get a shotgun to shoot the fly bothering him. In Heather’s interview, she says she’s thankful. For someone who’s not Hawaiian, Chef Rachel killed it. It’s the taste of home she needed. A luau brings people together, and it’s fun. Justin went from being an a-hole to a chill kitty cat on the beach. That is the power of a luau. Heather goes back to the boat, leaving them in Fraser’s hands. Jessica cleans a guest’s shower, and sings that it smells like pee-pee.

Heather tells Captain Lee that the luau was successful. He asks how Justin is doing, and she says, good. The captain says he gave Justin a shot at redemption, and Heather says, the deck team was awesome, and the interior was great. The guests come back to the boat, and drink some more. The stuff is loaded on the tender to go back. When it gets there, Jake tells Rayna to go as quick as she can, and she argues with him. He says she’s not pulling her weight, and she says, that’s not true. He needs to rethink the way he’s talking to her; she’s not the one. He tells her that she needs to start pulling her weight, and in Rayna’s interview, she says, calm down. Real life delusional. She can’t believe the way he speaks to her. That’s crazy. In Heather’s interview, she says, welcome to the newest trend of 2021 – linner. It’s jamming lunch and dinner into one, so the guests don’t want dinner and go to bed early.

Eddie tells Captain Lee that he’s proud of his team; they killed it today. The captain says he likes how Jake pays attention, and listens. He’s leaning toward them having made the right call. Rayna tells Jake that he’s crazy AF, and Jake says, it’s not the first time he’s been called crazy. He just wanted to get sh*t done as quick as they could, and she says she doesn’t have an attitude; she’s just not happy all the time. He says they’re good. Jessica tells Heather that she feels queasy, and Heather suggests she knock off a little early. Eddie asks Rayna, what’s wrong? and she says she doesn’t want to get anyone in trouble, but gives him an earful about Jake. Eddie says, he understands how it can be hurtful, and she says, everything would be fine if Jake would speak to her correctly. Eddie says, at the same time, remember Jake is the lead deckhand, and he’s taking his role seriously. Maybe she should try to absorb some of it. Jake’s doing a good job. She says, Jake was kind of aggressive, and he says, it’s an aggressive season they’re in, but she did a good job. Jessica tells Wes that she thinks she was a cat in another life. She can just lie around. In her interview, she says, Wes is a good, down-to-earth person. She tells him that she was in quarantine for a year, and lived in her bathrobe. This is kicking her ass. Heather tells Rachel that Jessica claimed she was sick, and she’s flirting with Wes in the crew mess.

In the morning, Rachel makes king crab, snow crab, and huevos rancheros. In her interview, she says, bump up the tip. Captain Lee says, he doesn’t need any f*** ups, and wants radio silence. The deckhands put out the fenders, but one loses a cover, and starts blowing in the wind. Eddie tells the captain, a fender isn’t secure; they lost the cover. In Eddie’s interview, he says, it’s frustrating. It’s little things like that, that show Wes is inexperienced on a mega-yacht. The guests start packing, and Captain Lee tells the deckhands to get the lines out. Eddie says, locked in, and the captain radios for the crew to get in their whites for guest departure. Everyone thanks the crew, and Justin apologizes again for his actions. Michael thanks them for being patient on the first night, and says, the pig roast was awesome. He gives the captain the tip envelope, to show their appreciation. We see the crew in Brady Bunch boxes, and Eddie says, all together now, and they give the finger. The captain radios for them to meet in the crew mess.

Captain Lee says, overall, he thinks the charter went pretty good, especially after dealing with the first night. This morning’s docking didn’t look coordinated, and they need to pay more attention to the fenders. Eddie says, it’s not acceptable for things to be flying overboard. In Eddie’s interview, he says, it’s embarrassing for them not to pay attention to detail on a mega-yacht. Get your sh*t together. The tip is $19,800; $1650 each. The captain says they deserve a celebration. In Jessica’s interview, she says, the guests can tell Heather to go f*** herself anytime if it leads to a $19K tip. Eddie tells the crew that it’s his fifth year working with Captain Lee, and Fraser asks what’s the last thing he did to piss the captain off. Eddie says his worst mistake was sleeping with a stew in the laundry room. The captain wasn’t angry, but he was disappointed. We flash back to that, and Eddie says he had a girlfriend back home. He f***ed up, and felt embarrassed. He destroyed a relationship he’d cared about, and took five years off after that. Everyone gets ready to go out.

They sit outside at a restaurant, and play truth or dare after they order. When Jessica is asked what’s in her bedside drawer, she says, it’s a drawer full of candy, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, that’s so sad. Wes is asked if he’s made out with anyone on the boat. He says, no, and Rayna asks who he’d like to make out with, and gets everyone to chant Jess, embarrassing both Wes and Jessica. In Jessica’s interview, she says she could show him a thing or two, and I think, her fuzzy slippers and robe? Jake has to give a lap dance, and gives it to Eddie, while Rachel films. In Eddie’s interview, he shows a fan of dollar bills, and says, he’s ready for Jake next time. Now they know why he’s lead deckhand. Fraser asks Jake what the game plan is for the rest of  the season; what about Rayna? Jake says, they’re just having fun, and asks if Fraser has his eye on anyone. Fraser says he doesn’t have much choice since he’s gay, and in his interview, he says he’s shocked it took Jake this long to piece that together. Me too. They go back to the boat, and get in the hot tub. Jessica finds a random sock a guest left behind. They drink and wiggle their butts. Jessica cuts out, and Eddie leaves next, saying, he’s going be hungover. He feels it. He goes into his cabin, and in the crew mess, Fraser says he needs a shower and a glass of champagne. Eddie calls his girlfriend, and tells her that the entire crew was in the hot tub. He hoisted the chief stew up, and dunked her in the water. That’s it; she has nothing to worry about. In his interview, he says, it’s not easy to have a relationship with someone who’s gone for weeks on end, and she’s handling it well. No, he’s lying. He tells her if it’s not what she signed up for, he understands. If she needs to take off, do what she needs to do. Jake, Rayna, and Fraser have three-way kiss. Wes jets, and the night starts winding down. Fraser and Jake have snacks in the crew mess, and Rayna joins them. Jake says he’s engaged, and in Rayna’s interview, she says, he’s a liar, and should have told her. She feels like an idiot. Jake says, they don’t understand the full story, and Rayna says she hates men. Jake wonders if he said something wrong, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, this is a classic example of why you shouldn’t do crew romances.   

Next time, a kid with a nanny, a female guest is enamored of the captain, Fraser doesn’t think Jessica wants to be there, and Eddie doesn’t want another effing thing falling off the boat.

⚰️ Dead Leftovers…

I was just too tired to scout for news last night, but here you go.

Walking Dead/World Beyond

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-belshaw-death-rick-jadis-theory-wrong/

Fear the Walking Dead

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-leaving-texas-for-georgia-season-7-season-8/

🌳 Going To Visit the Dreaming Tree…

Be here at the same time tomorrow, more or less, for some soap, some Rules, and as always, a tune. Until then, stay safe, stay appreciative, and stay being absolutely unstoppable.