July 26, 2021 – Two People Find Out the Truth About Peter, Lexi Gets Out Of Control & Got It

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny/Mike asks Nina how long she’s staying, and she says, as long as she’s needed. He says, that could be a long time, and she says, could be. She doesn’t want to cramp his style or anything, so she could just go. She starts to walk away, setting her beer bottle on a table, and he says if she takes another step toward the door, he might have to do something drastic. She says she wouldn’t want that, and sits down, pushing the chair across from her out with her foot. She suggests he bring them some more beer. They’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

At the pool, Sam – who’s wearing the most gorgeous cover-up ever – hands Shawn a drink, saying, she hopes he doesn’t mind a splash of rum. He says, cheers to her new job, and she says, and a broad-minded parole officer. They clink glasses, and Sam leans back in the chair, putting on her sunglasses. She says she does her best thinking on a lounge, but he says, no justification needed. She’s not slacking on the job. In fact, here comes their target now. Sam lowers her sunglasses, and they watch Jax go to the bar.   

Alexis says, oh my God. Ryan? She stands in front of his chair, and says, fancy meeting you here.

Monica tells Britt and Terry, they’ve narrowed down the candidates to the two of them. It is imperative they turn the page on Cyrus Renault. He nearly ran this hospital right into the ground. Britt says, agreed. So who better to do that than the woman who led the covert effort against him? Terry says, the woman he didn’t hand pick in the first place?

As they walk through the park, Jason asks Elizabeth to just tell him what happened with Peter, but she says she has a lot going on. She’s trying to get her family back to some semblance of normalcy. Cameron is starting PCU, Jake is taking a summer animation class, and Aiden signed up for a baking competition. He says he doesn’t want to push her, and she says, then don’t, but he says he can’t ignore what he just heard. It wasn’t just the words; it was the tone of her voice. He’s pretty sure she’s in trouble. Let him help her.

Finn says, Anna told him that she had a lead on Peter, and she says, it’s more of a theory. The evidence is inconclusive, but it’s the best they have right now. He says, everything starts with a hypothesis. Does she think it will bring her closer to Peter? She tells him, it’s difficult to say. She hopes not.

Sam hugs Jax, asking, how’s it going? It’s been a while. He says, the last he heard, they’re part of the same exclusive club. He ex and his ex, together at last. She says she’s not looking forward to that bridal shower. She was thinking of making plans that coincide with visiting days at Spring Ridge, depending on when her mother is or isn’t available. He asks how Alexis is. He heard she got a reprieve because she’d exposed a bias judge. Sam says she wouldn’t exactly call it a reprieve. Just because she’s not in a maximum security prison, it’s still a prison, just with less dangerous convicts.

Alexis asks, how the hell Ryan got assigned to this facility. She looks into his eyes, and asks if he’s even in there. She waves her hand in front of his face, and says, there you are. I see you. She wasn’t expecting that this place would have such a variety if inmates. She knows it’s minimum security, and was expecting to see white collar criminals, maybe some drunken ragers, but not the likes of him. She didn’t see that coming. She looks closer, and says, just how recovered is he? digging her nail into his hand. Someone comes up behind her, and touches her. She whips around, startled.   

Britt says she had nothing to do with Cyrus bringing her in as Chief, but when she discovered what he was up to, she risked her life to stop his corruption. Not just for the hospital, but for Port Charles. When she saw what his drugs were doing to this town, she wanted to take him down. And what she was doing was a hell of a lot more significant than gossiping at the reception desk with Nurse Baldwin. Terry says she doesn’t dispute Britt’s dedication. They were all very worried when she went into hiding. Thank goodness she had Jason Morgan to satisfy her needs… for safety. This hospital is trying to salvage its reputation. Cyrus was running drugs out of GH under Britt’s watch. One has to wonder if she didn’t look the other way. The Board could hardly be faulted for wanting to change that perception with a clean break. Monica says, excuse me, doctors. The lobbying has been done. They’ve made their decision. Would they like to hear what it is? Britt says, all ears, and Terry says she’s sorry. Monica says they’re both eminently qualified doctors. Any hospital would be privileged to have them as Chief of Staff. Britt says, what about this one? and Monica says, especially this one. So congratulations, Dr. Westbourne. Britt breathes a sigh of relief, and Monica says, and congratulations, Dr. Randolph. They’re both Chief of Staff. I smelled that one coming.

Sonny brings Nina another beer, and she wonders what his smile is about. He says he can’t smile? and she says she loves it when he smiles, preferably in her direction, but what’s prompting this smile? He says she’s happy she’s there. He’s happy to see her. She says she’s happy to see him too. Stubble never looked so good. He says he was going to shave, but she says, the rugged look suits him. He says, maybe in Nixon Falls, but it wouldn’t go over well in a big city like Port Charles. She doesn’t know how close he came to driving out there and bringing her back to him.

Finn says, Anna went to New York to find Peter. She was hellbent on finding him, and now she’s dragging her feet. What happened? Did Valentin get in her head? She says, not in her head, and Finn says, Valentin’s not without guilt. He shaped Peter into the man he became. She says, Valentin regrets his actions when Peter was a baby. He’s as motivated as she is to make amends, and protect the people they love. He says, if Valentin is all in, what has her dragging her feet? She said she would do whatever it took to bring Peter to justice. She says she meant that, but when she said those things, she didn’t know where the hunt would lead her, or what it might cost when she got there.

Elisabeth says she can’t talk about Peter, and Jason says, if she can’t talk to him, how soon before she thinks she’ll be talking to the cops? He’s thinking of the boys; they need her. Whatever she’s mixed up in, let him help. She says if she tells him, it will make him responsible too, but he says he accepts the risk. She says, the truth is, she’s been wanting tell him since the beginning. She knows she can trust him and knows he’ll understand. Peter August is dead.

Nina says, Sonny/Mike was on his way to Port Charles? He says he got very close, but restrained himself. He didn’t want to interrupt her time with her grandson. He knows how important it was to her. Did they have a good time? She says, they had a great time. Wiley has doubled in size, and tripled his vocabulary. He loves the pool, but hates the ocean. He prefers jam over jelly on his toast. And the world stops if we see a dump truck, or a dog, or anything construction… Is she going on too much? He asks what she’s talking about; he likes to see her happy like this. So it was a success with Wiley. How about the family? Did they get in her way again? She says, Wiley’s father is being very accommodating, and he asks, what about the other grandmother? Did she get in the way too, or not? Nina says she was expecting pushback, but the other grandmother has found compassion for the situation. He says, that’s a switch, and she says, they’re doing it. They’re getting along. Nina will give her credit where credit is due, and he asks if that extends to her ex. He paved the way, right? She says, he did, and he asks if her ex is in her good graces now. Are they working it out?

Jax says he’d love to see Alexis, and asks if Sam thinks she’s up for a visit. Sam says, sure, and he says he tried to visit when Alexis was at Pentenville, but he was turned away. She says, don’t take it personally. Alexis kept them all at bay. Alexis didn’t want to see her, Kristina, or Molly. Thankfully, Alexis found a purpose. She’s helping other inmates with their paroles and appeals. He says, although some of her prison clients leave a lot to be desired, and Shawn says, he’s glad he made the cut or he’d still be behind bars. Maybe that’s where Jax thinks he should be. Jax says, abuse of power by a bigot judge is wrong, but he also believes the person who shot Hayden deserves the appropriate punishment. Shawn says then they’re in complete agreement, and Sam says, what if she told Jax that Shawn isn’t that person? 

Alexis hugs Nikolas, and says she’s glad to see him. But don’t ever sneak up on her again. This place is not conducive to surprises, and she just got big one. She steps aside, and he sees Ryan.

Britt says they can’t both be Chief of Staff. How would that work? Terry is Chief of Staff on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and she is the rest of the week? Terry says, so four days to her three? and Monica says she’s offering them the position of Co-Chief of staff. They need someone with institutional, organizational, and leadership skills, but they also need someone with a fresh perspective. Someone who can rally an already demoralized staff. Terry says, it’s an unconventional leadership framework, and Monica says she’s sure they’ll make a good team. She can’t imagine a better duo. Britt walks out, and Terry sits back down. Monica says, maybe she spoke too soon.

Elizabeth tells Jason, there was a helicopter circling above, and Peter had a vial of the antidote that was keeping Chase alive. He wouldn’t give it to Finn. Instead, he threw it off the roof and turned around to go back downstairs, and Finn just lost it. He pushed Peter down the stairs, and when she got there, Peter was on the ground, bleeding, with no pulse. Finn wanted to confess, but Chase would have died if Finn hadn’t been around to save him. So they did the only thing they could. Jason says, got rid of the body, and Elizabeth says she thought about telling him a million times, but not because she feels guilty. Peter August was a monster, and God forgive her, she feels no remorse for what happened to him. But she feels terrible that Maxie is terrified Peter is out there and might come back. If they go to the police and confess, at the very least there will be an investigation. He says, the fact that they initially tried to cover it up, might work against them, and she says, Finn has Violet to think about, and she has her boys, and they don’t know what happened to Maxie’s baby. Obviously, she’s not with Peter, but she’s out there somewhere. He asks where Peter’s body is, and she says, Helena’s lab in the subbasement. There’s a freezer there, and Peter’s inside.

Anna says they located the pilot in New York, in hopes he would lead them to Peter, the baby, or both. He asks if there’s any news on the baby at least, and she asks, why not Peter? but he says he figured she didn’t have any news on Peter, since she said she didn’t want to find him. She says, in regard to the baby, the pilot had little to offer before they arrested him, other than the original plan was to kidnap Maxie and the baby, and the plan fell through. He says, the police had cell phone records that the fake nurse met with somebody in the woods. Was the baby given to the pilot? She says, no. If the pilot knew where the baby was, he’d have given it up in heartbeat to mitigate the trouble he was in. The irony is, if he had picked Peter up, he would be dead by now, because they both know Peter didn’t like loose ends. Not landing was the best thing that could have happened to him. Finn says he supposes, and she says, he was denied clearance to land, and was circling. He saw Peter on the roof, but Peter wasn’t alone.

Jason tells Elizabeth to get back to work. If anybody questions her about seeing them together, tell them they were talking about the animation class Jake is taking this summer. She asks what he’s going to do, and he says, make this go away.

Terry thanks Monica for the wonderful opportunity, but she has to ask. Since Britt didn’t take the deal, is it off the table for her as well? Monica says, Britt didn’t turn it down, she just hasn’t accepted yet. Terry asks if Monica thinks she will, and Monica says Britt is Obrecht’s daughter, and Obrecht is nothing if not pragmatic. She thinks Britt will see the wisdom in their choice. Terry says, if she doesn’t? and Monica says, it really is in her best interest to. Cards on the table, she presented this as a package deal. Either they both accept it, or neither one of them gets it. She’ll go looking for another candidate. Terry says she won’t have to. She’ll put her superpower people skills to work. Monica tells her to think of it as her first test to use her diplomatic abilities as Chief. And if diplomacy doesn’t work, she can always go for flattery. It ain’t pretty, but it gets the job done.

Nina tells Sonny/Mike that Jax went all out, and she’s greatly appreciative. He made her remember how she fell in love with him, but she’s not that woman anymore. When she’s away from Port Charles, she doesn’t think of Jax. He says, and when she’s there? She says she thinks about him, and he asks if that’s a bad thing? She says she should know better, and he says, than to get together with a man like him? She says she knows better than to think she can make it work there. She dreams about it. She thinks about him all the time. When he called and said, come home, it seemed so right, but how could she possibly stay and make a life there? He says, how could she not?

Finn says he can’t be certain about what Anna knows, but he can be certain that he woudn’t be good at lying to her, nor would he want to. So here we go. She tells him, don’t say a word; let her speak. Peter was supposed to be picked up on the roof, and he wasn’t. The helicopter pilot backed up, but not before registering Peter’s companion; tall man, dark hair, wearing a suit. No one fitting that description has come forward, and no one has admitted to being on the roof with Peter, so she and Valentin threw around a couple of theories. The first theory is, that the person was an accomplice. If that’s the case, Peter would have insisted the pilot land, and he would be gone. That didn’t happen. The second theory is that they’re looking for an adversary; someone who went to the roof to confront Peter, stop him from escaping. Then why didn’t that person come forward? Have law enforcement drag him down? Perhaps there was an altercation. Perhaps things got out of hand. Perhaps something happened to Peter, something unintended, that put the witness in an impossible situation. Perhaps he can’t come forward, or it will put his future is at risk, and the future of those rely on him. Elizabeth comes in, and says, she just spoke to… She sees Anna there, and they all freeze.

Jason walks into the hospital on the phone, saying, he needs them down for about an hour, starting now. Can Spinelli hack it? He says, thanks, and sees Britt. They soap stare at each other.

Sonny says he knows Nina has her whole life back in Port Charles. If she doesn’t want to walk away from that, he understands. That’s not what he’s asking. She can visit Wiley all she wants. It’s just a couple hours’ drive. She wonders if he’s making a case for her to stay there, and he asks how he’s doing. She says he’s doing great, but it’s not necessary. She’s not concerned about maintaining her life in Port Charles. She’s really worried that her life in Port Charles is going to come there, and taint what she has with him. He says he knows the feeling, wondering when the old him is going to show up. To be honest with her, he doesn’t want it to. When he grabbed that gun, it was a feeling he had inside that was very uncomfortable. It scared him. He’ll risk losing his old life if it means having her in his life.

Jax says, so Shawn refused a plea bargain because he refused to give the state evidence against Sonny? He chose prison so Sonny could stay out of it? Shawn says he still came out ahead of the game, and Jax says, Sonny got to enjoy his life while Shawn was behind bars. Shawn says Sonny wasn’t the only one walking around free while he was in Pentenville. He didn’t shoot Hayden; somebody else wanted her dead. And that person was never charged; never even investigated. He wants to find them. Sam says that’s where Jax comes in. Hayden knows who did the shooting. Can Jax help them find her? If they can find Hayden, they can finally put the right man behind bars.

Nikolas turns Ryan’s chair to the wall, and says, enjoy the view, you son of a bitch. Alexis says, that’s mature. Just so Nikolas knows, Ryan didn’t approach her; she approached him. He leads her away to a table, and says he was relieved that she was transferred from Pentenville. Had he known this is where she would land, sharing quarters with Ryan, he’d have broken her out, and been done with it. She says he should probably know that talk about jailbreaks is not a good idea in there. Not even in jest. He says he wasn’t joking, and she says he’s already done enough for her, and she appreciates it. He says he may have one more string to pull. He doesn’t like her in close proximity with Ryan. She says, look at him. He can’t move, he can’t speak. He’s probably not going to be able to murder anybody. Anyway, she doesn’t want to talk about him; she wants to talk about Nikolas. How’s he doing? He says he’s up and down. Spencer’s home. She says, that’s great, and he says he was so happy to have Spencer home. Unfortunately, he might be losing his wife.

Britt says Jason is still here, and he says, something came up, pressing the elevator button. She says, like a conversation with her boss? He said he was going to see her. He didn’t say something about her, did he? Because it would be really crappy of him to interfere with her work life. He says he didn’t talk to Monica about Britt; why would he? She says she doesn’t know. She doesn’t get why he does half the things he does. The elevator doors open, and he says he has to go. She says, of course (🍷) he does, and Jason gets into the elevator, heaving a sigh. As the doors close, Britt dashes to keep them from closing. She says he owes her $19.97. For the head on her electric toothbrush. She bought a pack of four when she thought he might stay over. Give her five dollars, since it was a pack of four, and one was for him. She didn’t need a replacement head yet. She was trying to think of his comfort. He digs in his pocket, and says, will she take a twenty? She says, just send it to her, and jets. He stands there looking bewildered as the doors close. Terry steps out from around the corner, and looks puzzled.

Elizabeth says she needs Finn for a consult, but he tells her to consult with the doctor on duty. He’s dealing with something right now. She asks if everything’s okay, and he says it is, walking her to the door. He tells her, don’t worry, and closes it. He asks Anna, now what? She says she doesn’t know what happened on that roof, but if Peter was trying to escape, and he was somehow prevented from doing so, she thinks the person who prevented it would be given a great deal of consideration. That is, if an accident occurred during that encounter. He says it’s too bad she’s not in charge of doling out considerations. There’s not telling what the police or a judge might do. She says she knows. What she also knows is, if she followed Peter’s trail here, the police won’t be far behind. They have the pilot in custody, and he’s going to give them the same description of the man on the roof that he gave her. Whoever encountered Peter that day, has one chance to get out in front of this, and one chance to have her by his side.

Sam says, if she remembers correctly, when Hayden first came to town, she and Jax were close. He says she used to try and make Finn jealous, but they were never more than business associates. Shawn asks if Jax talked to Harden after she took off? Did she contact him? Jax says he tried. All communication was cut off. Hayden wasn’t his favorite person, but she was trying to create a better life for her and her child. They seemed really close. She’d just met Finn, and suddenly, Finn was Violet’s only parent. He tried everything to find Hayden and bring her back. Sam says, it doesn’t make any sense. Wouldn’t Hayden at least try to contact her daughter? Jax says, or maybe by staying away, it somehow protects Violet.

Alexis tells Nikolas that she’s sorry about Ava. She had no idea things had gotten so bad. Is there any hope? He says Ava’s adamant about going through with the divorce. Ryan listens (I think), and Alexis says, what about a compromise? A legal separation? He says, Ava won’t consider it, and how can he blame her? The stalker got into Windymere, their hotel room, Ava’s gallery. He even targeted little Avery. That was the deal breaker. She asks if the police have any leads, and he says, they’re working on something, but the refuse to keep him in the loop. The only thing he knows for sure is, the stalker is exploiting Ryan’s obsession with Ava. She says, Ryan? It can’t be him. Nikolas says, so it would appear. What if it’s a fan, or a wannabe, or a familiar, someone trying to impress Ryan by following in his footsteps and doing his dirty work? He needs to find this bastard before it becomes to late for him and Ava. She says he’s not going to get anywhere until he rules out the connection to Ryan. It’s too bad he doesn’t have somebody close enough to this to figure it out. Oh wait.

Elizabeth leaves Jason a voicemail, telling him that she went to Finn to tell him that they’d talked, and Anna was there. She has a really bad feeling Anna knows. She goes back to reception, and Terry approaches. She says, crazy question. Is it possible that Dr. Westbourne doesn’t entirely deserve her reputation? Elizabeth says, that is crazy, and Terry says, it goes against conventional wisdom maybe, but maybe beneath her snarky exterior there lurks a woman who’s desperate for companionship and compassion, hoping someone will hear her cry. Elizabeth says, she once made flambé out of a little girl’s doll, and Terry says, no coming back from that, huh? Elizabeth says there are better things to talk about than Britt. Why is Terry trying to unearth compassion for her anyway? Terry says she’s just looking for a way to charm and disarm her, but Elizabeth is right. There are better things to talk about, like what’s going on with her?

Anna tells Finn that she knows her word counts for little these days, and she wouldn’t blame anyone for being reluctant to put their fate in her hands. She’s broken a lot of people’s trust, and she can’t apologize enough for that. He says she doesn’t have to do this, but she says she does, because she can’t let Peter, or whatever’s happened to him, ruin another person’s life. It was Finn. Finn was on the roof with Peter. Then what happened? Finn says it would be better if he showed her.

Jason moves toward the freezer in the dark, using a flashlight to navigate.

Nina says, there’s that smile again, and Sonny/Mike says he’s just happy to see her. The last time she left, he did everything he could to memorize her face, and she says, too bad phones don’t have cameras. He says, that’s a nice little way to kill a mood, and she says, sorry, she couldn’t help it. Forgive her, but he doesn’t have to memorize her face; she’s going to be around. He says he’s happy for that, and suggests they take a selfie. She says, let’s do it, and he messes with the phone. She asks if he knows how to use it, and he says he does. They pose, Nina says, cheese, and Sonny snaps the photo. He tells her that she looks great, and she thanks him. She says she should have had some coffee instead of the beer; she’s getting tired. It was the drive back there. Maybe she should go and settles in before they have to take Lenny to his treatment tomorrow. He says, it’s not going to be fun, right? She should go; she’s probably tired. He goes over to the jukebox, puts on some music, and says, this is better than coffee. Does she remember the last time she left, they made a deal? He said he’d give her his special sauce in exchange for her giving him a dance when she got back. She says she remembers, and he says he’s ready to collect. He holds out his hand, and she says, how can she resist? They dance.

Nina tells Sonny that she thinks he’s kind of a natural. One of his many, many talents. He moves slowly toward her, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her. She says she should go, and he kisses her again. She says, now she should go, and he says, she should go. She takes her bag, and says she’ll see him tomorrow. She heads for the door, but stops and takes the empty sauce jar out of her bag. She says, hey, Mike! and tosses it to him. She says she let it simmer until it was hot. Best sauce she’s ever had.

Jax says if they pick up Hayden’s trail again, his resources are at their disposal, and Shawn says they appreciate it. Sam says they know it’s a long shot with Hayden, but they have to take it. Jax asks if they’ve tried Elizabeth, Hayden’s sister. If there was anybody Hayden was going to communicate with, it would be her. They start to leave, and Jax says, there is one more thing. He and Hayden were working together with Nikolas. He brought them in on some scheme to regain his family fortune. They might want to start with him.

Nikolas tells Alexis, forget it. He doesn’t want her putting herself in Ryan’s sites. She says she’s just going to keep an eye on him. What’s the big deal? Nikolas says, he’s a psychopath, and she says, look at him. He’s just staring at the corner, and he’s going to continue to stare at the corner until someone comes in and wheels him out of here. Nikolas says she was fortunate to be transferred out of Pentenville. Quit while she’s ahead. Don’t go looking for more trouble. She says she’s not, so don’t worry. She thinks she can handle a deactivated serial killer. We see Ryan’s face, and there’s just the hint of a smile.

Elizabeth tells Terry, sorry; she’s just distracted. Terry says, distracted or upset? There’s a difference. Britt comes by and says, Nurse Baldwin; Dr. Randolph. She deposits some folders on the desk, and Elizabeth says she has to pick up some labs. She leaves, and Britt asks if Terry and her bestie were catching up on the hot gossip. Terry says, actually, she was asking Elizabeth a question about dental hygiene. How often does Britt change her toothbrush? Manufacturers do recommend between three and four months, but she can only go one. Call her extravagant, but nothing more than a good stiff bristle will do. Are these the people skills she was talking about? Britt asks if Terry was eavesdropping, and Terry says when she was choosing to go to med school, she almost turned down her first choice because her ex was going there too. The thought of taking gross anatomy with that cretin was almost more than she could bear. But then she got a grip. Hell if she was going to turn down one of the best med schools in the country, and let her ex think she was floundering because of him. Britt says, if she turns down a demotion, it won’t be because of Jason, and Terry says, one, it’s not a demotion, and two, is she sure?

There’s a knock at Monica’s office door, and security guy Robert says, she knows the security cameras Cyrus had turned off to cover his illegal comings and goings? She says he reinstalled them, and he says they also installed software to alert them to future tampering. An alarm’s been sent. Someone’s trying to get in.

Elizabeth makes a call, and says she needs someone’s help.

Finn turns on the light in Helena’s lab, and Anna says she hasn’t been down there since Olivia took Griffin. He says, for a long time, the hospital tried to keep it sealed off without much success, and she asks if this is where Peter went? Did he hide out here before he tried to make his escape? Finn looks at the freezer, and says, he’s in there.

Tomorrow, Jordan tells Stella that she might have found the answer she’s looking for, Anna says Finn couldn’t have done it alone, and Jason says there’s something else he needs to do.

✂️ I see the hairdresser was there. A lot of people got fresh cuts.

Below Deck Mediterranean

When we left, a very drunk Roy Orbison Jr. was trying to jump off the boat during a tough docking procedure. Captain Sandy was like, WTF is going on? and his wife Asa was telling him, go to bed.

Roy Jr.’s friend manages to talk him down, and in Malia’s interview, she says, the docking was nerve-wracking, but Zee secured the line quickly. Captain Sandy tells the deckhands, nice work. Roy Jr. is now out of his shirt, and it’s not a pretty sight. Asa tells him to go to bed before he embarrasses himself more, and he says, they’re all embarrassing themselves. And then says, srwoenb whioernwe. Asa wisely goes to their cabin, and he wisely follows, telling everyone something unintelligible that I translate to mean, see you tomorrow, and blowing a kiss to the camera before closing the door. Malia tells the other girls that Lexi has a legit burn list like Mean Girls. Lexi says that she’s made a list of people who have wronged her in life. Seriously, there is something wrong with this girl, unless she’s a very mature looking 14.  

David tells the deckhands, it usually takes a couple of months to know if he likes the people on a boat. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he’s usually reserved, but on this boat, the barriers were pulled down quickly. David says Malia is amazing, and Courtney clears the table. One of the guests says, they would rather jump into the ocean with sharks than be in the room with Roy Jr. and Asa. Katie tells Courtney that she’s owning it, and in Courtney’s interview, she says it’s nice that Katie recognizes how hard she’s trying. Everyone goes to bed, and in Katie’s interview, she says the hardest shift is the night shift. She remembers it being 5 am, and crying while vacuuming the sky lounge. That’s why she rotates stews, so they don’t feel the same way.

It’s the final day of the short charter, and the breakfast table is set. In her interview, Lexi babbles about having a biology degree, but not being able to travel because, when she had money, she bought great cars instead. I am so over this woman child. Lexi tells Mathew that they’re waiting for the primary to get up, but the others want to eat. He asks her to get Katie, but she tells him that she’s on breakfast, and that’s not happening. He gives her a basket of muffins to take, and she asks if she should take something else. He says, sure, but puts away his knives before handing her more baskets of baked goods.. Since she has to wait a whole ten seconds, she says, effing moron, under her breath. On her way she calls him an effing idiot. In her interview, she says, he’s not even a man; he’s a childish boy wielding power over her. In Mathew’s interview, he says he realized there was a communication problem with Lexi on the first charter, so he was trying to just deal with Katie. But maybe he can make Lexi not want to work with him, or even be around him. Annoying people is his super power. Lexi tells Katie not to put her on breakfast or she’ll strangle Mathew, and Katie says, that’s not going to happen. Lexi stomps off, and Katie tells Courtney, that was a hectic thing to walk into first thing. In Lexi’s interview, she says, Katie isn’t dealing with the situation. Managing is not her strong suit. (I could have sworn Lexi has said those exact words before, but maybe vocabulary isn’t Lexi’s strong suit.) She says, Katie is nice, but nice doesn’t always meet the criteria for the industry.

Roy Jr. manages to make it to breakfast. Lexi is still bitching about Mathew, and in Katie’s interview, she says, the way things work is the easy part. It’s managing people and their emotions that’s hard. They need to work through their differences. She still has a job to do. The fire alarm goes off, and Mathew radios the captain that it’s non-galley. Lexi says the sound is so annoying, and various crew members look around. Malia finds David messing with the alarm, and he tells her that he sprayed too much deodorant. In his interview, says, it was him, but it was tough to explain in front of a girl. Malia radios Captain Sandy that it’s a false alarm; too much deodorant. Lexi continues to complain, and in her interview, she says, Katie is good at playing innocent. She says she has no idea what’s going on, then chooses Matt’s side, while she’s pretending to have both of their backs. Paranoia – check. Roy III wants to play hide and seek, and asks Captain Sandy if it’s cool. She’s game, and he ends up finding her under a desk, and finds mom Asa in the crib. The captain tells the crew to get in their whites, and the guests pack.

Everyone says goodbye, and Roy Jr. says the boat trip was everything they’d wished for. He says Mathew was surprising, but I’m not sure what he means by that. He gives Captain Sandy the tip envelope, and says, time to split.  The captain tells Matt to make lunch for the crew, and he gripes that he thought he’d have a day to organize and prep. The captain calls the crew for the tip meeting, and says she doesn’t know where to start first. It’s the only charter season she’s done where not one guest complained… other than when the crew did the cooking. The tip is $21,000 or $1450 euros each. She tells them to enjoy their night. Mathew tells them that they suck, and in his interview, he says he thought he’d have the chance to plan menus and do prep. That’s what needs to be done when you run your own department with no support. It’s not sustainable if there’s no time off between trips. He complains to David that he has no days off, no rest, and everyone on his team sucks. Malia says, it’s part of the job, but Mathew doesn’t want to talk about it. She asks what they can do to help; they’re part of a team, whether he likes it or not. In her interview, Malia says she’s definitely had experience coddling chefs, and we flash back to Tom. She wants to shake them, and say, this is your job. Mathew admits he’s just being a baby, and Malia says she thought he’d be a crier, but he says, only during sex. Malia makes paninis, and the deckhands clean. Courtney comes to lunch and makes a fuss over the polenta, but can’t seem to call it by the right name, saying placenta, then plimenta, which isn’t even a word. In David’s interview, he says, when Mathew spirals, he needs reassurance, and a kick in the ass. Courtney calls her parents, and in her interview, she says her mom is a superwoman. Her dad is amazing, but has Alzheimer’s; he’s seven years in. She tears up, and says, seeing him deteriorate so quickly makes her scared when she goes away.

Someone suggests the get the party started, and the crew gets dressed. The deckhands talk girls, and everyone piles in the taxis. They go to a restaurant in Sibenik, where they have a table on a terrace. Mathew says he’s getting schwasted, and orders a bottle of rosé. Malia asks if everyone remembers the kiss Courtney gave Zee on his birthday, and Courtney says, when you dance with someone, that’s just what you do. I’ll have to remember that… On second thought, maybe not. Mathew wants a hooker and starts talking about sex parties to the point where everyone is telling him, STFU. David tells him, no drama, and Mathew gets up and leaves. He talks to himself, saying he prides himself on how clean he is; f*** you people. He worked hard to get where he is. He wanders around, then finds a taxi, and puts his hand over the camera. Malia suggest they keep things on a superficial level with Mathew.  

The drinking continues, and Zee gives Courtney a lap dance. She calls him a cutie, and says it’s not even her birthday. On the boat, Mathew gets all Top Chef and packs his knives. Zee calls his brother Josh, who’s a Chief Officer on a super yacht. In his interview, he says, Josh is his inspiration. Malia and Courtney get in on the call, and Katie calls her mom, who’s in bed half-asleep. Everyone starts calling home and talking to everyone else’s relatives. Courtney starts crying, and goes to the restroom. Lexi asks if she’s okay, and she says she gets sad when everyone is calling home. She’s been grieving her dad for years, but he’s still alive. Lexi says, it’s hard. Her dad died four months ago, and she has to deal with that sh*t every day. Courtney tells her, let’s go, because if she keeps talking about it, she’s going to cry some more. Malia explains to Lexi that they each have to pay for their dinner, and Courtney gives the cashier a high-five. Why? I have no idea. For some reason, Lexi is offended that she has to pay for her dinner, since she has a physics degree. Courtney pays for Lexi, and Malia wonders what just happened. Lexi says she’s turning evil. On the boat, Mathew packs all of his belongings.    

Mathew tells one of the officers that he’s quitting. On the way to the taxi, Courtney rides piggyback on Zee. She drops one of her sandals, he reaches for it, and they both fall. Mathew smacks a camera, and says they can go find another bleepity-bleep. He hits another camera, cursing the yachting world, and a dude named Jake tells him to go before he breaks something else. Lexi says she hates everybody. Zee got the worst of the fall, and has blood all over his mouth, but insists he’s fine. David checks Zee’s teeth, and pronounces them intact. Zee says he’s closest to his brother Josh, and Malia says it was fun talking to everyone’s family. Zee tells them that he’s adopted, and the only Black sibling. Malia says she’s also adopted, and asks if he knows his birth parents. He says had a super close relationship with his mom, and spent weekends with his grandma. She worked for the couple who adopted him after his parents passed away when he was three. Talk about bittersweet.

In the other taxi, Katie asks if Lexi is okay, and Lexi says she has a lot of issues. Courtney says the both do, and Katie says, they all have their stories. Lexi says, did Katie’s dad die? Because she’s the only one on earth who’s ever experienced the death of a parent. Courtney says she thinks it’s her fault for bringing up her own father, and in Katie’s interview, she’s glad she’s getting some understanding. She tells Lexi, there’s no timeline for feeling okay. How you deal with it is how you deal with it. In Katie’s interview, she gets misty, and says she wants to be there for them. David says he doesn’t think Mathew handles booze well, and Courtney wonders if there’s going to be a hot tub party.

They get back on the boat, and Katie says she has a headache, but the hot tub will get rid of it. They look for Mathew, but they’re quickly distracted, and abandon the search. Malia asks if Lexi is planning on spending any money at the hot tub (burn!) and Lexi says, she’s Satan now; she doesn’t want to deal. Malia asks why she’s referring to herself as Satan, and Lexi says she has a life to go back to, and Malia doesn’t. She has an $8000 a month condo, and has every right. Malia says, people in high rises reserve the right to be bleepity-bleeps? Everyone gets into the hot tub, and Courtney shakes up some champagne, spraying it all over, and pouring the rest into their glasses or mouths. She wants to play truth or dare, and asks Katie is she’s ever had sex in a guest area. Answer: she has. Courtney dares David to run around the boat naked (which isn’t how the game is played, but okay), and he does, while discreetly covering his weenie. In Malia’s interview, she says she’s impressed… Not with David’s body, but that he took the dare. He puts his swim trunks back on, and gets back in the tub. He lowers his voice, and asks Malia if she could ever look at him, and see more than just someone she works with. Lexi shouts that David is kissing Malia’s ass, and Malia tells him, it’s a hard question. Lloyd tells Lexi, STFU, and Lexi tells Courtney to attack Lloyd. Courtney jumps on him, and dunks him, but that’s not good enough for Lexi. She calls him a p*ssy, and holds his head by her boobs. He gets out of the tub, and Courtney asks him to come back. In his interview, he says, they have no understanding of what’s acceptable to say. Lexi called him a p*ssy, and he didn’t want to be touched. He just wanted out. Zee tells Lexi, STFU, and she says he’s being a deckhand. Huh? He is a deckhand. WTF? She tells him to grow TF up, and Courtney says if Lexi doesn’t STFU, she’s going to lose her sh*t. She tells Malia that Lexi doesn’t mean anything by it, and Malia says, she doesn’t mean anything she says to be offensive, but it is. Lexi says Malia doesn’t know her. Malia hugs Lloyd, and Courtney tells Lexi, that’s not the way to handle sh*t. In Katie’s interview, she says it doesn’t feel great being the bad guy. An adult disciplining another adult isn’t fun. Lexi tells David to f*** off, and Malia tells Katie what’s going on. Katie comes back to the tub, and says, no one is in trouble, but she wants to know why such bullsh*t and animosity is going on. Malia tells her that Lexi said inappropriate things to Lloyd. Lexi gets out of the tub, and says Malia is being inappropriate. Malia says, she’s not the one offending people, and Lexi puts her finger in David’s face, and calls him a fake ass. She tells Katie, STFU (which should have been the title of this episode), and we hear snoring behind Captain Sandy’s door. Lexi goes totally apesh*t, and says she can be a bitch. Katie sits on the steps, and in her interview, she says she’s sympathetic, but it doesn’t excuse the behavior.

Lexi and Courtney are back in the tub, and Katie says that if Lexi f***s up, it’s on her. She can’t be lashing out. Katie will even swap cabins if that makes it easier, but she needs to know WTF happened? The deckhands have a group hug in the crew mess, and Malia says she’s draining the hot tub. In her interview, she says she’s not going to let Lexi drown on her watch. Get TF out of her hot tub. Katie says she’s not angry, but Lexi needs to reign it in. Lexi starts crying, and Malia tells them to get out of the hot tub. They do, and Courtney says she understands. Malia tells everyone, get out; get TF off her deck. Lexi turns around, and tells Malia, STFU. Katie tells Lexi to stop fighting, but Lexi gets in Malia’s face, and says she’s an effing bosun. Stand TF down. Again, huh? Malia says, get out, and Katie pushes Lexi out, while Lexi yells she’s going to f*** Malia up. She tells Katie that she’s failing at her job, and throws her clothes on the floor, as she walks through the pantry. Malia tells Katie that Lexi is a sh*t human, and in Katie’s interview, she says she knows Lexi is having a hard time, but that’s not an excuse for her behavior. Malia says Lexi is like this with just about everything, and Lloyd says he doesn’t want to be part of it. In his interview, he says the only opinions he cares about are the deckhands. He doesn’t give a sh*t about Lexi’s opinion. Courtney cries in the bathroom, and tells herself to stop. Zee asks her if she’s all right, and she says Lexi is crying about who’s fake, while her father doesn’t remember what’s going on. Lexi continues bitching, and Zee hugs Courtney. David tells Malia that she was amazing, defending everyone, and she says she hates this side of yachting.

In the galley, Malia tells Zee that she’s sorry, and he says, Lexi came in came in argumentative. Lexi puts on a hoodie as a cover-up, since, by the way, her boobs have been falling out of her bathing suit throughout this whole thing, and babbles about her money. She stomps to the galley, and says they’ve been talking sh*t about her. She adds that Katie is a Capricorn and understands her. She saw Katie smirking. Katie is like, WTF? and Zee tries to calm Lexi down, telling her that he understands too. This is apparently the wrong move, since Lexi gets in his face, and tells him to take his Afrikaans ass, and get away from her. He’s a fake ass bitch. She shoves him pretty hard, and tells him to f*** off.

To be continued…

👑 Wow. Can the Miss Bahamas people take her crown back?  

😴 Someday My Sleep Will Come…

And so to bed. Tomorrow, the cast of HAHN reunites, and perhaps a little tea and Wives. Until then, stay safe, stay selective, and stay not discussing delicate matters in front of a psychopathic serial killer, even if he’s deactivated.

July 23, 2021 – Jason Wants To Help Elizabeth, KJ’s First Sale In Rye, Postponing, Two Stellar Quotes & Lemon

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer and Nikolas walk into the pool area, and Spencer says, the sun is out, and they’re spending quality father and son time together. Isn’t this what Nikolas wanted? Nikolas says it is, and Spencer suggests Nikolas grab them something to drink while he changes into his suit. Nikolas sees Ava by the bar.

Shawn goes into the station, and asks if it’s a bad time. Jordan says, it seems like there’s never a good time there. She didn’t know he was stopping by, and he says he didn’t either. He just met with his lawyer, and he has news.

Sam gives Alexis some coffee, and says she’s glad it worked out this way. A rehabilitation based facility, they’ve got to have vocational training, therapy, AA meetings. And just think, she can walk the parameter without having to worry about getting chopped up by barbed wire. Alexis says, sounds like heaven, and Sam says she’s so sorry. Alexis says, no way Sam is putting a positive spin on it. She’s really grateful for this shift, but it’s still prison any way you look at it.

Lenny carries a keg into the bar, and Phyllis says she doesn’t think this is what the doctor meant when she said take it easy. Sonny takes it from him, and Lenny says he’s fine. Phyllis says he should be resting. He says, for what? and she says, his exploratory surgery in Llanview tomorrow. He says he’ll be lying in a hospital bed. He’ll have plenty of time to rest then. Business is finally booming, and he wants things in order if he’s going to be laid up. She says, an answer for everything, and he says that’s why she loves him. She says, no more heavy lifting, and he says, deal. He goes in the back, and there’s a knock at the door. Phyllis says they don’t open for another hour, and Sonny says he’ll get rid of them. Phyllis joins Lenny, and Sonny opens the door, saying, sorry, they’re closed. Nina says, hi, and he says, hi yourself, and they hug.

Valentin says he’s sorry he couldn’t meet Anna last night, and she says, don’t be silly. He wanted to spend time with his daughter; she doesn’t blame him. She’s an angel. He says she doesn’t get it from him. Does she want to tell him her new theory? She says, they were trying to figure out who Peter’s accomplice was, and he says, she thinks they should be looking for an enemy.

At the hospital, Elizabeth asks Finn if Violet is still celebrating her big hit. He says, according to his daughter, he’s ready to go pro, and she says, knowing his daughter, she just might. It was so nice to do something normal. She’ll take a T-ball game over thinking about Peter any day. Terry comes out, and says, what’s this about Peter?

Britt comes down the stairs, and flashes back at being with Jason in the gym, and almost kissing. She says, pull it together, Westbourne. She sees Jason at the reception desk, asking if Monica is in, and the nurse says she’ll have Monica paged. He and Britt lock eyes, and she goes to the desk. He asks if it’s okay for him to say hello. She just looks at him.

Britt says, if Jason wants to say hello, he can say hello. She doesn’t tell him what to do. Just as long as he’s clear on where they stand. He says, just as long as she knows where to find him if she needs him, but she says she won’t need him. Austin approaches Britt, and says he understands you have to sign off on everything in this hospital, and he has something for her. She says she’s a little busy, and he says, it won’t take long. She says, neither will this, and he says, gotcha. He tells Jason, hi, cuz. How’re you doing? Jason says he has to find Monica, and leaves, and Austin asks what’s going on with Britt and that guy?

Elizabeth tells Terry that Finn was updating her on Anna’s search for Peter. Finn says, she’s hit a dead end, and Terry tells Elizabeth, she’s so sorry. That monster took Franco from her, not to mention what he did to Finn’s brother. Prison would be too good for Peter. If there were any real justice, someone would finish him off and be done with it.

Anna tells Valentin, they’ve been looking for Peter’s ally, but if it’s the opposite, it all adds up. David Hopkins said he saw another man on the roof besides Peter, and that this man scared him off from landing. Valentin says, he was denied clearance, and she asks if Valentin really thinks it would have stopped him, given what Peter was paying. He says, probably not, and she says, Hopkins assumed this other man was trouble, and he wanted to avoid that. Why didn’t Peter call him back and explain, say, this man isn’t a threat? Valentin says, because he was a threat.

Sonny asks if it was hard for Nina to leave her grandson, and she says, it was, but they have all the time in the world to be together, and this is where she needs to be right now. He says it’s good to see her, and she says it’s nice to see him too. He says it’s going to do a world of good for Phyllis that she’s here, and Nina says she hopes so, but if she’s being honest, Phyllis isn’t the only one she’s there for.

Alexis tells Sam, she’s really happy that she’s being transferred. She just can’t forget that she pled guilty because she is guilty, and needs to serve her time, just like anybody else. Jordan comes in with Shawn, and says she hopes they don’t mind, but Shawn has some news he’d like to share with them. He says, it’s official. All the paperwork is filed, and as of today, he’s a free man.

Nikolas says he didn’t realize Ava would be there, and she asks if it’s a problem for him. He says, no, of course (🍷) not. It’s always good to see her. Trina says she’ll find them a spot, and gets out of there. Ava says, the gallery was slow, and it was such beautiful weather. He says, beautiful isn’t the word, and she says, she decided to close up shop, and play hooky. He says he can leave if it would be easier for her, and she says, what about us? It’s never been easy, huh? She goes over to sit with Trina, who says she’ll be right back. Trina goes toward the bar, and sees Spencer. She says he owes her one, and he says, hello to her too. She says she could have blown his story, and told his dad that he’d been in town for weeks. He says, but she didn’t, and he’s grateful. Does he need to say he’s sorry again? She says, nah, especially since she knows how he can make it up to her.

Sonny asks Nina what that means, when Phyllis comes out. She throws her arms around Nina, and says they weren’t expecting to see her so soon. Nina asks if Phyllis thought she could stay away. She wanted to be there for her and Lenny. Phyllis says she’s already done so much as it is, and her family needs her in Port Charles. Nina says Phyllis is her family too, and Phyllis hugs her again. Lenny joins them, and Nina says, there he is. Lenny says, they have a lot to say to each other.

Alexis says, so the governor signed off on it, and Shawn says, according to the powers of his office, his sentence was commuted, and the paperwork was recorded and finalized. Sam says, so that’s it? No jail time? Shawn says, time served, with no parole restrictions. As for Judge Carson, the governor urged her to resign from the bench, or risk consequences from the Judicial Review Board. Alexis asks, what about the other defendants that were treated unfairly? and he says, the governor is putting pressure on the Board to expedite the process. Alexis says, that’s it; it’s over. Jordan says they’re making plans with TJ and Molly to tell the other defendants tonight. Alexis says, they did right by us, and Shawn says she made sure of that. Alexis says she’s happy for him, and Sam says she is too. She’s kind of jealous of the no parole thing though. Alexis says, what’s next? Shawn has his whole life ahead of him. He says he has time to think about that, but for now, his focus is on making sure whoever shot Hayden is brought to justice.

Nikolas looks at Ava, and Trina pulls Spencer aside. She says his father and Ava are completely miserable. They need to make a parent trap. He asks if she has a twin, and she says, no. They need to convince this couple that they belong together. He says, what if they don’t? Someone hates them so much, Ava is terrified for her daughter’s safety. Trina says, that’s why Ava shouldn’t give into him. Ava and Nikolas are stronger together. He says he doesn’t know. The incidents have stopped since they broke up, which tells him that this creep is going to leave Ava alone now. Trina says, then that’s cool; they’ll just give in to a terrorist. He asks if he can be completely honest, and she says she doesn’t know. Can he? He says, even if he agreed with her on the terrorist thing, he was never really a fan of her boss to begin with. She says, whatever. She’ll do it herself. She walks away.

Britt says she’s been meaning to seek Austin out. He says he’s flattered, and she says, as she’s sure he’s heard, things are in flux around there. He says, the Chief of Staff thing, and she says to retain her position, she’s going to need as many allies as possible. He says he understands, and she says since she’s the one who hired him, she’d appreciate his support. He says he’s sure she would; what does he get in exchange? She says, other than she’s the reason he has a job? and he says, other than that, correct. She says, advocate for her with Dr. Quartermaine, and she’ll sign off on whatever he needs. He says, whatever he needs? and she says, whatever. He says, okay, done, and she thanks him.

Monica finds Jason in her office, and he says he hopes she didn’t mind he stopped by, and she says she’s always happy to see him. She has the feeling he’s there to give her an update, and he says, Spinelli did a deep dive on Austin. Seems legit. Son of Jimmy Lee Holt and Charity Gatlin, no felonies. He is who he says he is. She thanks him and Spinelli for looking into it, and he asks if she needs anything else. She says he can read her very well. Actually, she’d like to talk to him about his engagement.

Valentin says, there were plenty of people at General Hospital that day who wanted Peter brought to justice, and Anna says, whoever was on that roof with him, Peter knew a clean getaway was impossible because this person was a witness. He asks if she thinks Peter took them out, but she says, there’s no one else reported missing. The only reason that person didn’t come forward is, they had something to do with Peter’s disappearance. He says, so she’s saying, Peter never left the hospital because he was incapable of doing so.

Lenny asks if he and Nina could have a minute alone, and she says she’d love that. It’s been a while since they had time to catch up. They sit at a table, while Sonny and Phyllis go to the bar. Lenny says he just wants to make something clear. He’s incredibly grateful for her connections. The fact that he’s getting this surgery tomorrow, so close to home, is all because of her. Nina thanks him, but says it’s really because of her late ex-husband. He was very close to Dr. Hartman, and Dr. Hartman was happy to do it. As was she. He’s always been so kind to her, and he knows how she feels about Phyllis. He says he does, which is why he needs to level with her. he went into this with a lot of reservation. She says, he had some hesitation about the cost? and he says, it’s not about the money; it never was.

Shawn says, some one tried to kill Hayden, and they’re still out there thinking they got away with it. Maybe it’s connected to her subsequent disappearance, maybe not, but he owes it to her – and to himself – to uncover the truth. Alexis says, of course (🍷) he does, and he should. Jordan tells Alexis, she hates to ruin the celebration, but they’re due at the new facility. Alexis says she gets an escort from the Commissioner. She’s honored. Sam asks if Jordan minds, and Jordan says, of course (🍷). Sam leads Alexis aside, and says she loves her. Alexis says she loves Sam too, and they hug. Sam says she and the girls will come and visit. Alexis gives Sam a kiss, and tells Shawn to go live his life, and everything that goes with it. He says, her too, and she tells him to do whatever he can to nail this son of a bitch. He says he’s on it.

At the pool, Nikolas lies on a chair next to Spencer, and Trina is next to Ava. A waiter brings a tray to Nikolas, and says, with compliments from the beautiful blonde in the last lounge chair, setting down an umbrella drink. Nikolas looks over at Ava, and a waitress brings her a drink, saying, with compliments from a certain gentleman. Ava asks, which gentleman is that? and the waitress says, over there, pointing to where Nikolas is, but Austin has just walked in. He’s near Nikolas’s chair, and Ava thinks it’s him.

Valentin asks if Anna thinks the man on the roof with Peter incapacitated him, or worse? and she says, yes. He says, and he’s been covering his tracks ever since? She says, yes, but like he said, there’s no shortage of people at the hospital who want Peter gone, dead. It could be any number of men. He says, it could be, but it’s obvious she’s zeroed in on one. That’s probably why she’s there, because she wants him to talk her out of it, but he can’t do that. He thinks they both know, there was a man at the hospital that day, who had every reason to hurt Peter. She tells him, don’t say it.

Terry apologizes, and says, her losing her cool probably isn’t helping either one of them, but Finn says they appreciate it. She asks if she can still count on their support in her bid for Chief of Staff, and Finn says she doesn’t even have to ask. Terry looks at her phone, and says she has to see a patient, and leaves. Elizabeth looks at Finn, and he says, what? She says she has an idea. He says, yeah.

Finn and Elizabeth walk in the park, and she says, it’s nice, being outside, getting a little fresh air, a little vitamin D. He says, a little private conversation, and she says, exactly. They have to figure this out. They can’t leave Peter’s body in the lab forever, but can they risk moving him when the cameras are running. He says, so they’re effectively trapped, like they’ve been for weeks, and she says, maybe not. If Terry becomes Chief of Staff, she can make the security cameras go dark again. He asks if she’s sure she wants to involve Terry, and she says they’ve been friends since they were little. If she asked Terry to do it, she would. They woudn’t even have to tell her about Peter. He says, no, and she says, that’s it? Just no? He says, pretty much. She says, the last thing she wants is for him to turn himself in to protect her, and he says, the last thing he wants, is for them to find Peter’s body with her DNA on it. He’d rather take the fall alone than implicate her in any way. The best thing for everybody is if the body is never found. She says, which, and he’s not going to like it, is why they should involve Jason

Monica says, first of all, she wants Jason to know that she’s not going to try to stop him. She learned a long time ago that she can’t control his life. She just wanted him to know what’s in her heart, and how much it hurts every time she thinks about what Carly did to his brother. He says, okay, and she says she knows AJ was a very troubled and very flawed man, but there was time when she really had hope. Despite all the bad decisions he made, she thought, maybe this one time, he could turn his life around. He can be better. He can do better. But Carly made sure that never happened. Because Carly always used AJ as a stepping stone to him, so that destroyed whatever was left of AJ. She knows this was a long time ago. Michael was just an infant, and Carly has gone on and lived her life. She’s just trying to tell him how hard it’s been for her. Jason says he respects her; she knows that. She says she does, and he says, obviously, she gets to feel how she wants to feel, but the truth is, he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Carly. I don’t care. I still hate Carly.

Ava tells Trina, that was so nice; she should thank him. She gets up, and Trina says, wait, but Ava heads for Austin. She thanks him, and says she’d like to return the flavor. The next round is on her. He says, sure, but he doesn’t really… Nikolas gets up, and tells Ava that he appreciates the gesture of good will. Does this mean they can talk? She says, huh? and he says, the drink she bought him. She says, she bought him a drink? Austin bought her a drink. Austin says he didn’t buy anybody a drink. Not that he wouldn’t. He’s not cheap. Spencer says the only one who’s buying any drinks right now is Trina. She’s trying to Parent Trap them. Ava looks at Trina, who looks everywhere but at Ava.

Monica says she knows Jason owes a lot to Carly. Why does he think she’s cut Carly so much slack all these years? And they love each other completely, so she’s not judging him. He says, looking back at that time she was talking about, everything around Michael’s birth, all the lies, nobody wanting to give an inch… They were all wrong. How AJ treated Carly, how they treated AJ. He can see how AJ wasn’t that bad. She says, he can? and he says, yeah. He was just trying to get access to his kid. That was his right, but not the way he went about it. He had no excuse for his actions. She says, Carly does? and he says, Carly lied because AJ said he was going to take the baby as soon as he was born, and when Carly gets threatened, she comes out swinging. And that hasn’t changed. But what has changed is, she’s learned to love people, she’s learned to trust people. Now she understands that there are some things worth fighting for, and there are some things not worth fighting for. But they know exactly what they’re doing by getting married. He understands why it’s hard for Monica, but he’s just asking her, can she accept it? She says she just wants him to be happy, so one more thing. This was his choice, wasn’t it? This wasn’t some maneuvering of Carly’s; it’s his decision. He says, yes, they made the decision together. It’s what they both want. She says then she’s happy for him. They get up, and she says, just to let him know, it’s never going to be easy for her to be in the same room with Carly, but in all fairness, she thinks it works both ways. He says he appreciates her making the effort for Carly, because he knows she always makes it for him. She says she loves him. That is the one thing – no, Michael makes two – that she and Carly have in common. He says he loves her too, and they hug.

Lenny says, Mike/Sonny told him what Lenny told him; the bills for all this are on his mind. But the truth is, as soon as the doctors found that spot, there was another reason he was against her paying for everything. She wasn’t just offering money to Phyllis; Nina gave her hope. The lump they want to biopsy and explore, it’s on his pancreas. Everyone knows that’s often a death sentence. She says, often isn’t always, and I freak because I just had the same conversation with myself in my head. He says, true, but if this biopsy confirms what Dr. Kishore saw, the odds aren’t in his favor. He can get over that, but he’ll never get over someone giving his wife hope when there isn’t any.

Terry and Britt pass each other, and Britt says, Dr. Randolph, and Terry says, Dr. Westbourne. Britt says, Chief Westbourne, for now at least. They both turn toward each other, and Terry says, speaking of which, she couldn’t help but notice, Britt is having a lot of talks with Dr. Gatlin-Holt and Dr. Navarro. Britt says Terry is collecting her people, and so is she. She doesn’t like this competition either, so give it to her straight. What does she need to do to get Terry to drop out of the race? She knows Terry is only digging her heels in because she’s Team Elizabeth. So what can she do? Give Elizabeth a raise? Give more funding to Terry’s department? What? Terry says, this is the exact reason why she wants to be Chief of Staff. She’s just as qualified for the position, but she doesn’t double-deal or get into bed with scum like Cyrus Renault. She just wants what’s best for the hospital. Britt says, so does she, when Monica comes by. She asks if everything is okay, and Terry, says, perfect. Britt says, just peachy, and Monica says, good, because she’d like to see both of them in her office please. They follow Monica to her office.

Anna tells Valentin, she went to see Finn at the hospital just to update him. Valentin says, and? and she says, it was all there, in his body language, in the way he spoke, and it just made sense suddenly, the description; male, tall, light suit, dark hair to the color. That was Finn.

Elizabeth says, letting Jason in could be the solution to all of their problems, and Finn says, no thanks. If they get caught, any good will they had with the cops goes right out the window when they know you collaborated with a hitman. Elizabeth says, that’s the point. Jason doesn’t get caught. It’s his profession. Jason just happens to be walking along the ridge above them, and hears their conversation because he has supersonic ears. Elizabeth says, he’s been mixed up in multiple murders, and disappearances – of really bad people, by the way, people on par with Peter. Jason has never been convicted in any investigation. Why? Because there’s never any evidence, If anyone can get rid of this problem, it’s Jason. Finn says he doesn’t think they should risk bringing in Jason or anyone else. Peter was a threat. Now he’s not. Whatever mess that created, they clean up themselves.

Nina puts her hand on Lenny’s and says, hope is very powerful. She believes in that, and he’s very strong. She believes in him. He appreciates all the good energy, but he needs to ask something of her. He knows it’s a lot, on top of everything else she’s done, but she says he can ask her anything. He says, will she make him a promise? and she says, name it. He says, when it becomes clear that there’s no more battle to fight, she won’t let Phyllis hold on. It will just make it that much more harder when the worst happens. Can she do that for him? Phyllis asks if they’re done yakking it up, and Lenny tells her that he just had to say a proper thank you. He’s so grateful… for everything. They go in the back, and Sonny asks if Nina is okay. She says, it’s just really emotional. She feels bad that they’re going through this. One thing she’s happy about is that she’s there. She’s happy that she’s… He says, she’s home?   

Jordan walks into the new facility with Alexis, and says, someone will take her to her housing soon. That, the cafeteria, and most of the other sections are segregated by gender. Alexis points out there are men in the room, and Jordan says, except for this communal recreation area; visitations also happen there. Alexis says it’s not much worse than her freshman common room. Jordan says it definitely has much more privileges, but it’s still a prison, so she needs to be on guard. Alexis says, so the rules her prison advisor gave her still apply? and Jordan tells her not to let the cushy accommodations make her forget her place. If the warden senses this is about anything more than restitution and rehabilitation, she’ll make Alexis’s stay there difficult at best. Alexis says, and at worst? and Jordan says, she’ll take it all back, and send Alexis back to Pentenville.

Sam says she got Shawn’s voicemail, asking if she was still in the P.I. game, and he says he had a job for her. She says, let her guess. It’s to find the person who committed the crime he went to prison for. He says, and get them off the streets before they hurt someone else.

Austin says, Parent Trap. Is Trina a twin? Trina says, oh my God, and Spencer tells Nikolas, she’s trying to convince them that they’re still in love with each other. Nikolas says, she wouldn’t be wrong, and Ava asks if Trina has anything to say. Trina says she’s sorry. She knows it’s kind of juvenile. Spencer says, kind of? and Trina says she hates what it’s doing to Ava. She just wants Ava to be happy. Spencer says it’s obviously not easy for either of them, but Trina can’t play games with people’s hearts like that. She asks if he means like he is.

Valentin says it’s going to be difficult if Anna has to prove that the man she loves killed Peter, but she says they don’t know that Finn killed Peter. He says, okay, but if they assume that Finn was on the roof with Peter, then he would know how and if Peter left the hospital. It’s not impossible that Peter extorted Finn, and made Finn help with his escape, using one final dose of the antidote. Anna says, that is a possibility, but if Finn had developed the antidote, he would have come clean to her about that. Valentin says, so it’s possible Finn did something to Peter, and she says, there’s only one way to find out.

Elizabeth says she hears Finn. She understands what he’s saying, but they’re not equipped to handle this on their own. Jason continues to listen, and she says, they have no plan. Finn says he’ll make one. He just needs more time. It’s going to be okay. He has to get back to the hospital. He leaves, but Elizabeth lingers, and Jason calls to her, startling her. He says they need to talk.

Lenny opens a beer for him and Phyllis, and she says, drinking the night before surgery? He says it’s going to be a long time before his next one, and Sonny says, to Lenny. They all raise their bottles, and Lenny says, to hell with that. To family, the chosen kind. They all say, to family, clink bottles, and take a swig. Phyllis says, time to open up, and suggests Lenny help her. He says he thought she told him to take it easy. She laughs and leads him away. Sonny tells Nina, subtlety is not one of Phyllis’s strong points, and Nina says, God love her. Sonny clinks bottles with her, and says they’ve got a lot of catching up to do. How long is she staying? She says, as long as she’s needed, and he says, that could be a long time. She says, it could be.

Sam says, after what Shawn just did for her mother, there’s absolutely no way she could say no to him. She’ll do whatever he needs. She’s just going to ask her current parole officer, because she has three months before she can spend time around another convicted felon. He asks if she thinks it will be a problem, but she doesn’t think so. Her parole officer is lenient, considering. Long story. He asks when they can start, and she says, how about now? He says, the sooner they can get the ball rolling, the sooner they’ll get Hayden’s shooter.

Spencer tells Trina, don’t bother. His father knows all about how he tried pushing him and Britt together. Trina says, as long as everyone’s being honest with each other. She tells Ava, again, she’s sorry, and walks off. Spencer follows her. Nikolas asks Ava where this leaves them, and she says, right where they’ve been, in the midst of a divorce. And for her family’s safety, the six weeks can’t pass quickly enough. She goes over to Austin, and says, perfect timing. She suggests getting him another drink, and they head for the bar.

Alexis tells Jordan, she knows she’s not on a vacation. She has a lot of work to do on herself. Jordan tells her, good luck, and Alexis thanks her. A wheelchair is pushed in, and Alexis is shocked to see it’s Ryan.

Monica wants Britt and Terry to know that she’s made her first official recommendation for Chief of Staff. They look at each other.

Anna goes to Finn’s office, and he asks if she has an update on Peter’s whereabouts. She says she just might.

Jason asks Elizabeth, what’s going on? and she says, she’s fine. Really. He says, if that was true, he’d be glad, but here’s what he knows. About a week ago, she said Peter wasn’t anything they had to worry about anymore. She was about to tell him something else, and Finn walked up. Now she and Finn are in the park in the middle of a workday, talking about Peter and a mess that needs to be cleaned up. He understands she’s trying to protect Finn, but she doesn’t have to protect Finn with him. If she knows what happened to Peter, all she has to do is tell him, and he’ll help her.

On Monday, Alexis says, fancy meeting you here; Monica says they’ve made their decision; Anna says, if she followed Peter’s trail, the police won’t be far behind; and Jason asks Elizabeth to let him help.           

Million Dollar Listing New York

Ryan’s firm had been open a couple of months, and the talk of the town. Never in his wildest dreams did he think they’d grow this fast. Business was nuts. Broker Tammy in Sydney, Australia, had a client there who was looking to buy a place in NYC. They were doing it completely virtually, and Ryan thought it could set the tone for future deals. He had Tammy on one phone, and James on another to tour the apartment. James had business in the states, and decided to get an apartment there, hoping it would appreciate by the time he was ready to move. He’d emailed Ryan a list of his must-haves; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a good location, and something between $4 and $7 million. Ryan decided to show him the 2838 square foot penthouse on West 19th Street, the flatiron district. Ryan said the apartment was an amazing triplex, built for entertaining. In addition to three floors, it had private elevator entry, 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, 2 gas fireplaces, built in speakers, and what Ryan introduced as, live from New York – the greatest closet ever. There was also a 1000 square foot deck with an outdoor kitchen. Purchase for $5.2 million in 2016, the asking price was now $4.5 million. After finding out Fosters is a terrible beer and that it was a misconception that all Australians drank it, James said it didn’t hit home for him. He wasn’t keen on the multi-levels, and only wanted one level. In Ryan’s interview, he said he’d hoped it was going to be a super easy and super fast decision, but that wasn’t how people worked. You needed to show them options. He supposed it was to be expected when someone was buying something from the other side of the earth.

Tyler had an offer for Whitney’s carefully styled apartment with all the fabulous wallpaper. Broker Ashley called saying she had clients who were interested, but the asking price was $4.995 million, and the offer was $3.8 million. The clients also didn’t love décor, and wanted it turned into a whitebox, with the seller footing the bill to do it. Even I was offended. In Tyler’s interview, he said his job had just been made ten times harder, and it was already hard. Whitney had said she didn’t want to sell to someone who didn’t appreciate her work, and had been very firm. The cherry on the cake was that the clients also wanted Whitney’s Tiffany safe thrown in – which was an engraved wedding gift, so the request seemed pretty odd. Tyler told assistant Kemba that it was a nearly impossible conversation with any seller, but especially a seller like Whitney. In his interview, he said he’d known it was going to be an emotional sell, and we flashed back to Whitney refusing to let people see it. It had been five months since Tyler had listed it, and it wasn’t going how he’d anticipated. He told Kemba that he was about to get his ass handed to him, and she told him, go work his magic.

Fredrik met with Kelly Bensimon, who he called a true New Yorker. She’s been a supermodel, socialite, Housewife, and was now a lecturing broker. He told her that he’d missed the energy of New York. It was hard to believe, he’d been a nobody when he started 15 years ago. Developer Cliff called, and we flashed back to Cliff saying he’d extend the listing deal for the East 10th Street penthouse if Fredrik agreed to live there. In Fredrik’s interview, he said his Instagram post had gotten a lot of attention, and he’d done a lot of showings, but the price was too high at $15 million. He told Cliff that was the feedback he was getting; it was a challenging market. He knew it wasn’t what Cliff wanted to hear, but thought they should make a big price reduction, asking Cliff to lower it to $9.995. Cliff balked, saying he’d be taking a 33% hit. Fredrik promised not to counter anything under that, and if it didn’t sell in three months, Cliff could find another broker. He thought the price was fair market value. Cliff hesitantly and reluctantly agreed, but told Fredrik not to call with anything not close to $10 million. In Fredrik’s interview, he said he was breathing, eating, sleeping, pooping, and showering at East 10th. Kelly said she was going to be a full-time empty nester. It was crazy, but exciting, and she was branching out; doing business in L.A. and Florida, and a developer friend had brought her in on the listing for a $33 million commercial penthouse. In his interview, Fredrik said Kelly was ambitious, which was the key to success in real estate. Kelly said she’d been thinking about possibilities, and wanted to work with Fredrik in a bigger capacity, being part of his team. He asked why she hadn’t come to him two years ago, and she said she thought she would get her feet wet and make mistakes at a smaller boutique firm. Fredrik is a shark, and she was a minnow. He said it wasn’t possible because she worked at Douglas Elliman, and he’d promised not to hire anyone form there. He said if she was serious go to Howard the owner, and if he gave his blessing, Fredrik would work with her.

Next, Ryan was showing James 20 West 53rd Street. He said when he first met James, James had few must-haves, but the list kept growing. Today, he was showing James a $6.5 million apartment with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, in a central location that was one level, and he could see the park. He hoped that was it. KJ met him there, and congratulated him on his new firm. In her interview, she said it was incredible what Ryan had done in such a short time period, competing against big brokerages. He inspired and motivated her by what he’d done. Her sellers were overseas, and not coming back any time soon. They’d be taking a hit, but thought that was smarter than racking up fees and monthly taxes. Ryan called James, telling him that the apartment was off Fifth Avenue, and across from MOMA. He said the asking price was $6.25, even though the owner was in it for $6.5 million. James said their loss was his gain. Tammy aooeared on Ryan’s other phone, but this time KJ was there to help. The apartment was 1843 square feet on one level, had a gourmet kitchen with quartz counters and luxury appliances. Ryan said the finishes were the nicest in NYC. In Ryan’s interview, she said the Baccarat hotel was dripping with glitzy finishes, and they’d designed the apartment. He showed James the motorized shades, Lido white marble bathroom with radiant floor heating, and the second bathroom with Siberian marble. There was no outdoor space, but it was in the same building as the hotel, so the owner would have use of the amenities like the pool and gym. James said he wasn’t much of a razzle-dazzle guy, and Baccarat didn’t do much for him. It was a bit of a gamble, and he wasn’t wowed. He wanted to be wowed, and it was far from optimal. In his interview, Ryan said it was a buyer’s market, but NYC wasn’t like Build-a-Bear. You couldn’t pick the features and have them come together like a $4 to $7 million stuffed animal. The term for buyers who were super picky was picky Peters, and James was one of them. We also found out that James had a pet wallaby, which he said was uncommon in Australia. Ryan said they were totally common in NYC.

Fredrik still had the 8th floor apartment in the same building as the penthouse, with the asking price of $6.4 million, and it was getting lots of traction. Tyler’s client Andrea had made an offer of $4.5 million, and he was going to try to get Tyler to bring the offer up. Tyler met Fredrik at the apartment, and said Tyler’s offer was low, very low, but Tyler said the asking price was high. In Tyler’s interview, he said he was very aware they were coming in substantially lower than the asking price, but he was also aware that the penthouse had just been reduced by $5 million. He told Fredrik that the asking price was high for a good market. On its best day, the apartment would fetch $5 million, and this was not New York City’s best day. Fredrik told Tyler that his client had to come up with their best and final offer, because they weren’t countering anything too low. Tyler called his client, and in his interview, he said that with an apartment that had been on the market for three years like this one, the sellers could get desperate, and the buyer could get lucky with an aggressive offer. He told Andrea that $4.3 would start a conversation, and the apartment had checked all the boxes. Tyler told Fredrik that Andrea’s budget was maxed out at $4.3 million (don’t you wish yours was?), and Fredrik said he’d get back to Tyler, but knew it wasn’t going to happen. In Tyler’s interview, he said it was a buyer’s market, so they’d wait and see. Status, quietly optimistic.

KJ met agent Kim at the Hudson office, and prepared a spread for the owners of the Post Road house. She told Kim that she was glad the clients were coming in person, since the market outside of the city wasn’t going to last. In KJ”s interview, she said, since the open house, she’d had no other bites, and the first offer was usually the best. She and Kim would be pushing to make the deal happen. Co-owner Ravi showed up, and although his wife was at work, she was available via the phone. The asking price was $3.8 million, and the offer was $3.4 million. Ravi said an offer of $400K less didn’t seem serious, and was almost insulting. In her interview, KJ said it was significant, but not insult. She explained that a low opening bid gave them room for negotiation, and they’d priced to negotiate. In NYC they called it a low anchor. She thought they could definitely get them to come up. Ravi wondered if they’d be missing a better opportunity, since it had just been listed, but Kim said, if something was on the market for more than two or three weeks, it was overpriced. KJ said it was a good moment in the market, but they didn’t know how long it would last. In her interview, she said, there could be a point where the next bid was lower because the market shifted. Ravi called Lisa, and said Kim and KJ made good points. Buyers had been coming in droves, but that could change tomorrow. A bird in the hand. KJ said a fast offer meant they loved the house, and if they came back with a counter offer, it showed they were willing to work with the buyer. Ravi said there was no way he wanted to nickel and diming, and thought they should come back with a single counter that demonstrated they were serious about selling. Lisa asked what KJ thought, and KJ said $3.650. It would be better than they’re expecting, and she thought they’d take it. In her interview, KJ said she’d been on the other side, where there were no bids, and it was hard to do a deal. A lot of deal died mid-negotiation. Ravi made it clear if the buyer didn’t agree, they were walking away. Kim called her buyer, and said they weren’t unhappy, but took a lot, She told them the sellers weren’t interested in nickel and diming, and agreed to $3.65 million. KJ’s commission was $54,750, and in her interview, she said, it was like graduating again with honors. Her first Rye sale.

Tyler looked at an apartment in Tribeca, not for a client, but for himself. He’d been in Hell’s Kitchen for twelve years when covid hit, and he gave it up and went to the Hamptons. The virus had him craving a new beginning. Wesaw a clip of him getting all nostalgic over his now empty apartment, and he said it was a necessary step in order for the next beautiful thing to happen. It had been sold, and he had to be out two weeks. The apartment was 1543 square feet, 2 bedrooms and 3 baths, had skyline views, a walk-in closet, and a sleek modern kitchen. Tyler said it was glamor with a touch of humility. The rent was $12,500 a month. Yeah, I know. Whitney called, and Tyler said he was excited to say he had an offer, just not one he wanted to share with her. He told her that it was $3.8 million, which she found literally offensive, and she was obviously shocked over the buyer wanting the safe. She said, if her forehead moved, her eyebrows would have gone way up. In Tyler’s interview, he said he initially thought the apartment’s unique flair would help get it sold, and it was not for any old buyer, but he brought in expert to find out what it would cost to turn it back into a whitebox. The appraisal was $8-10K, which confirmed what Tyler suspected; it was time to pivot. He told Whitney that they needed to re-strategize, and suggested taking it off the market for the summer. Anything that was on the market for too long, would cause people to think there was a problem. He told her to enjoy it for one last season, then pack up her stuff, and they’d turn it into a blank canvas, and find a boring buyer. In his interview, he said he was giving Whitney news that was tough to hear, but he thought she knew he was trying to help her. She said she was going to spray paint Whitney Forever on one of the walls. He said it went better than he’d hoped, and the takeaway was that he had strong relationships with buyers. Whitney knew he valued her. In his experience, it wasn’t about a quick commission, but relationships. They lasted longer than money.

Ryan told us, clearly James had more requirements than he’d let on. It was his right, but Ryan had to regroup, and find new listings matching those requirements. Avi had requested Ryan meet with him at the development in Brooklyn. It had been a few months, and when they’d last met, the building and the conversation had been unfinished. A lot was in place now, and he hoped he would be in place as the broker. Avi told him, the uncertainty of the election was gone, and covid had made things challenging. They’d had good progress on the building, but still took a hit, so they were going with rentals. It was a financial decision since they were in this for a quarter billion dollars. Seeing his $8 million commission disappear, Ryan admitted maybe he’d do the same if he was in Avi’s position. Avi said Ryan had just launched, and wasn’t ready for a building that size. In Ryan’s interview, he said he could rent in his sleep. Avi said as Ryan matured, the more rentals he could do in a building of that size and stature. Ryan said, in a couple of months? but Avi said, sorry. He’d hired someone else. In his interview, Ryan said he’d worked on the building for two years. He’d been there from the beginning, and thought it was going to be an $8 million end. Avi said he still wanted Ryan involved, and Ryan wondered if Avi wanted him to be the doorman. Avi said he wouldn’t be leasing the building, but he wanted Ryan to be part of the marketing using Serhant Studios. They would be doing all the marketing for the building exclusively. Avi showed Ryan the duplex with 20 foot ceilings. He said once Ryan proved that he could run marketing, social, and creative, when brokers saw his success story, they’d come to him for everything, not just sales. In Ryan’s interview, he said part of him wanted to sulk, but it was good for him too. A test case that would help on future projects they did sales and leasing for. They shook on the deal.

Ryan said he chose to look at the situation as a happy accident that would help him grow his business. Challenge accepted.

Next time, KJ learns about TikTok, and Fredrik looks for properties for young people kicked out of their homes because of homophobia and transphobia.

🍵 Insert Tea Here…

It’s been a week, but I promise you an entire pot of tea next time.

⛳️ Quotes of the Week

An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. May you be open to each thread that comes into your life – the golden ones and the coarse ones – and may you weave them into a brilliant and beautiful life. – Unknown

You have a right to experiment with your life. You will make mistakes. And they are right too. No, I think there was too rigid a pattern. You came out of an education and are supposed to know your vocation. Your vocation is fixed, and maybe ten years later you find you are not a teacher anymore or you’re not a painter anymore. It may happen. It has happened. I mean Gauguin decided at a certain point he wasn’t a banker anymore; he was a painter. And so he walked away from banking. I think we have a right to change course. But society is the one that keeps demanding that we fit in and not disturb things. They would like you to fit in right away so that things work now. – Anaïs Nin

🎻 Fiddle-Dee-Dee…

I would say TGIF, but my long week is only continuing through the weekend. Hopefully, things will be back to whatever passes for normal here next week, and we’ll have tea and maybe even a scone with that. Until then, stay safe, stay holding your head high, and stay not parent trapping unless you’re a twin.

July 22, 2021 – Portia Takes a Terrifying Risk, Delayed & Midsummer

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nika gives Curtis a drink, and says he couldn’t ask for a better opening night. He says he could think of a few things. Portia walks up to him, and says, she knows he’s probably busy and it’s a bad time, since it’s his opening night and all. He says, actually, her timing couldn’t be better. She says, good. She was thinking about what he said at the pool earlier. If she was… He says, if she was interested. And here she is. She says, yeah.

Jordan asks Stella what she was thinking, telling Portia to back off Curtis. Stella says she was thinking Jordan and Curtis needed time to work out their differences, and remember how much they love each other. She gave Jordan an opportunity to fight for her man. Why didn’t she take it? Jordan says she doesn’t owe Stella an explanation. Stella says she’s right, but she owes it to herself to be honest. Why is she walking away without a fight?

Sam walks into the MetroCourt, and Olivia asks if she’s meeting someone or flying solo. Sam says she was supposed to meet Spinelli, but he just texted her, and said he had to reschedule. Gladys waves to Olivia from the bar, and Olivia says, the things she does for this place. She asks what she can do for Gladys, calling her Miss Corbin. Gladys says they’re practically family. Olivia can call her Gladys. Olivia says, Gladys, what’s your pleasure? and Gladys says, another Mai Tai. Plus the inside scoop on what Olivia’s partner Carly is willing to do for her son.  

It’s nighttime, and Brando finds Sasha by the pool. (Maybe we should start using pool for a drinking game.) She asks, what’s wrong? and he says, nothing is wrong. For the first time, everything is going to be all right.

Anna goes to the station, and see Dante. She says he knows she’s been working on finding Peter and Maxie’s baby, and he says he just got the memo. She says she and Valentin just got back from New York. They found the helicopter pilot, and he admitted to being part of Peter’s plan to take Maxie and the baby. When that fell through, he’d been ordered to airlift Peter off the roof at GH. Dante says, he claims he didn’t make the pick-up because he couldn’t land? and she says, yeah. He was denied clearance. There was an added factor. He said there was another person on the roof with Peter. Dante says, someone they know? and she says, it was a vague description; tall, dark hair, street clothes… He says, go on, and she tells him, they have to keep the information confidential. He asks why she’s working so closely with Valentin when she barely seems to trust him?

Valentin runs into the Quartermaine mansion, and asks, how’s his angel? Brook says, she’s fast asleep, and asks if he just came back. He says he came straight from the airport to see Bailey. It was a short trip, but he can’t tell her how much he missed Bailey.

At the hospital, Elizabeth tells Finn, according to Cameron, Violet wolfed down three pieces of pizza, and couldn’t stop talking about how her father taught her how to get a hit. Good job, coach. He says he refuses to take any credit for Violet’s T-ball triumph. She says, he was Violet’s main inspiration, and he says, time with Violet is the only thing that makes him forget what he has hanging over him. She says, Peter August? Let her remind him, Peter poisoned Chase, and waved the antidote right in front of Finn’s face. Finn rid this town of a monster. He says, that’s the thing. You see enough horror movies and you realize, monsters never die. They haunt you forever.

Finn walks to the elevator, and Elizabeth follows. She says, Peter’s already taken enough from him. Don’t let Peter rob him of his enjoyment of Violet. He says, Violet is his joy. She’s his reason for living. It makes him realize how painful it would be without her, but Elizabeth says, that’s not going to happen. He says, nobody gets away with murder, but she says, don’t call it murder. Peter got what he deserved. Finn says, that doesn’t justify throwing a man face first down a flight of stairs. They’re going to give him a polygraph. They’ll put him on the stand and he’ll have to admit he wanted Peter dead. She says, so did a lot of other people, but he says, they weren’t up on that roof. She says Finn pushed him in the heat of very justifiable anger. Once a jury understood the circumstances, they’d acquit him. Not that they’re going to find out. They’re going to find a way out of this.

Anna says, if she didn’t trust Dante, she wouldn’t be giving him the information. And Valentin has a vested interest in what happened to Peter, right? Dante asks if the idea is that the guy on the roof was an accomplice of Peter’s, there to help him find a way out when the helicopter couldn’t pick him up, and she says, yeah, maybe. It’s entirely possible it was someone working at the hospital, so he can understand the need for secrecy. It’s probably someone working for Cyrus, who knew the security cameras were disabled. He says, maybe someone on staff who was hand-picked by Cyrus, and she says she’s going to head to the hospital, and have a discreet conversation with Monica. He says he’ll have their people go over the footage of whatever cameras were working that night. Maybe they can find someone who matches the description. She thanks him, and says it’s good to be working with him again. He says, same. But it wasn’t long ago when she didn’t know if he was a friend or an enemy.

Gladys tells Olivia, after all she and her son did for Carly’s family, she shouldn’t even have to ask. On rainy days, she still aches from the bullet she took to bring down Cyrus. She hopes Carly and Jason don’t forget that. Sam joins them, and wonders how they can forget, when Gladys keeps reminding everyone, and Gladys says, Sam’s only connection to that family is through her ex. Hers and Brando’s are blood ties. Sam says she guesses that Jason proves sometimes water is thicker than blood, and Gladys tells Olivia to put her drinks on Carly’s tab, and walks away from the bar. Olivia thanks Sam for the assist, and says she’ll repay the favor – and she uses the term loosely – by filling her in on the latest Quartermaine drama. The way those people close ranks on an outsider is a sight to behold. Sam says, they closed ranks against Valentin? but Olivia says, different outsider.

Brook tells Valentin that she can’t believe how quickly Bailey went down tonight. She’s been so fussy the last few days. He says, she must feel more comfortable having both parents under the same roof, and Brook says, tell her about his adventure with Anna. He says, it was interesting. At least the investigation is on the right track. She says, in other words, it’s none of her business, and he says, it’s nothing personal. He and Anna… She says she knows; they’re a team. He says, a damn good team if he says so himself, and she asks what Anna says.

Jordan tells Stella, she and Portia have become friends. She has no intention of telling Portia how to feel, or asking her to back away from something or someone she really cares about. Same goes for Curtis. Their divorce is sad and painful, but she just wants what’s best for him. Stella sighs, and says she guesses she’s just old school. When you take the vow, to death do us part, she believes in those words. You don’t simply quit when going gets tough. Jordan says, marriage is a two-way street. She can’t fight for something all by herself. Like their vows said, it takes two, and Curtis is done with this marriage. Stella says Jordan never gave Curtis a chance to fight alongside her. She kept him on the outside looking in. Jordan says Stella is right. She hurt Curtis. Does Stella want her to do it again by fighting him on a divorce that was his idea? That he clearly wants? Stella wants Jordan to be honest with herself. Does she want this marriage to be over, or is she throwing in the towel because she feels guilty?

Nika tells Terry that she looks great; she loves what Terry is wearing. (Ditto.) Terry thanks her, and says she thought it felt right for a grand opening. Tika asks if she’s meeting someone, and Terry says, you never know. She sees Portia sit down with Curtis, and says, the night is young after all.

Portia tells Curtis, maybe it was a bad idea coming tonight. She likes Jordan. He says he likes Jordan too, and she says, and she likes him. He says, in his book, that’s a good thing, and she says, yes and no. He says, so she doesn’t like him? and she says she’s not often at a loss for years, but she’s tongue-tied right now. Everything she’s saying is sounding even more confusing. Yes, she likes him. She wouldn’t be there if she didn’t. He says, nothing confusing about that. He made it abundantly clear that he likes her. Now that that’s been established, is there something else she’s trying to tell him?

Portia says Curtis was honest with her at the pool today, and she heard him. She wants to be just as honest with him. He says he’d appreciate that. Honesty is the best policy, so they say. He wonders where his manners are. She came to the opening of his club, and he didn’t even offer her a drink. What would she like? It’s on the house. She says, actually she’d like a clear head. She wants to get this right. (I think, she must be a lightweight.) He says, this? and she says she was telling Terry that she hasn’t really dated seriously since her divorce. He says he’s not going to trot out the it’s like riding a bike metaphor. He’s pretty sure it will come back to her naturally. She says she doesn’t want him to think she’s a prude, or super old-fashioned. She’s a doctor; she’s seen everything. But she’s had two epic back-to-back failures with Taggert, and then with him. So it’s easy for her to be a little gun-shy, or oversimplify, thinking that things are going to be easy and uncomplicated because they knew each other from back in the day. How much of that is nostalgia? How much of that is actually real? She’s saying this all wrong, isn’t she? He says, no. He wouldn’t say she’s saying it wrong, but maybe talking in circles. It seems like she’s saying everything but what she came there to say. She tells him that he’s right. She had this all down perfect in her head on the way there, but now that she’s seeing him face-to-face, she can’t get a coherent word out. She thinks this is her cue to leave, and starts to get up, but Curtis grabs her hand. He says, wait. Don’t go.

Stella says she knows her stubborn opposition to Jordan and Curtis as a couple made things even harder. She still carries that guilt, and every Sunday, prays for forgiveness. Jordan says she forgave Stella a long time ago, and Stella says, that’s very kind of her, but she wasn’t praying to Jordan. Jordan says, her mistake, and Stella says, the only mistake is if Jordan lets the man she still obviously loves walk out of her life without fighting for him. If she feels there’s anything left unsaid, she needs to go to Curtis and say it. Jordan says, it’s too late, but Stella asks if she’s even signed the divorce papers yet. Jordan says, no, and Stella says, why not?

Brando says when he came to find Sasha, he had no idea how romantic they make the pool look at night. It does look beautiful; the lights are dimmed, but the pool is lit up, and has those balls floating in it that light up. He says, it’s almost as if he planned it, and she says, planned what? He says, you, me, the baby, us. He knows that she doesn’t want to raise a baby in a world operated by people like Cyrus. She says, Carly and Jason are part of that life, and she knows it’s complicated, since Sonny was his cousin. He says, yes. They will always be his family, but that doesn’t mean he has to live in their world. He doesn’t want that for their baby either. She asks what he’s saying, and tells her that he’s saying, sometimes you have to make choices in life, and he’s made his.

Sam says, Olivia is telling her that Austin – the country doctor who happened to be in the woods to deliver Maxie’s baby – is a long lost Quartermaine? Olivia says, how random is that? Sam doesn’t think it’s random at all. When she and Dante went to that house in the woods where the fake nurse took Maxie, it turned out that Austin not only owns that property, he rents it out. He totally claimed his innocence, and she knew there was something fishy about that guy. So if he was coming out as a Quartermaine, she’s sure he was more than happy to get all this inside information on people from Port Charles. Olivia says, whatever this Austin guy is trying to pull, she knows Michael and Ned can ride that ship. She just hopes they can do it without too many fireworks. Had enough of those on the 4th, eh? Sam flashes back to Dante kissing her, and Sam says, Dante told her about that? Olivia says, told her about what?

Anna says, when Dante first came back to Port Charles, she was really worried that he was still struggling with PTSD. He says he was, so she had every right to feel that way. He was doubting himself, and when Jordan asked him to come back to work, he said, no, because he didn’t know. He didn’t know if he was in control of his mind, or if Kirk was… Anyway, he’s continued to see Doc, who’s making sure he stays on track. Anna says, it takes guts to do that; to admit you have an issue, and work to overcome it. He says he hopes to, and flashes back to Sam talking him down when he tried to kill Peter. He says, Sam talked him down from the ledge, and he’d like to repay her by finding Peter and bringing him in. Anna says she’s heading over to the hospital, to see what she can find out about this accomplice. If she hits paydirt, she’ll let him know.

Jordan tells Stella, she’s in charge of a police department, and they’re in the middle of an ongoing investigation. Stella says, all in need of Jordan’s attention, she agrees. But is Jordan really expecting her to believe, in the middle of her very busy workday, she can’t find time to sign a few papers? Or in her heart of hearts, is she really hoping if she puts it off long enough, Curtis will change his mind? That he’ll declare he never stopped loving her, and rip up the divorce papers right in front of her?

Curtis tells Portia, he’s sorry. He shouldn’t have pressured her. She agrees, and he says, it’s a classic case of him thinking that if he wants something, everyone else must want it too. He gets it. They had something in the past that was bound to end, so they should keep it where it belongs – in the past. That’s what she wants, right? She says, let her ask him. Does he want to leave them in the past?

Brando says Sasha has to remember who he is. He’s a military guy who owns a garage, so words and feelings aren’t his strong suit. It took her being strong, and knowing what was a deal breaker for her, to give him perspective on what he truly wanted. That isn’t working for Corinthos Coffee (I see we’re still saying that), and all the life that comes with it. She asks if he’s sure, and he says, maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out just yet, but he does know this much. He chooses her. Her and their baby. Their family. That’s what he wants, and he hopes she wants that too. She thinks that he doesn’t give himself enough credit. Those were some pretty nice words. They kiss, and Gladys intrudes walks in.

Sam says Olivia was talking about the 4th of July fireworks. Of course (🍷). Olivia asks what Sam thought she was talking about, and what’s it got to do with Dante? Dante appears, and says, Sam told his mother? Olivia asks if someone would please explain what they’re talking about, and Dante says, yes, of course (🍷). Him, Sam, Finn, and Elizabeth were on the pier waiting for the fireworks to start on July 4th, and he was giving someone a lecture – he points to Sam behind his palm – on what a public disturbance was. So it led to kind of a fiery exchange where Sam almost fell in the water. Sam says she did fall in the water, and he says, she did. Then he tried to pull her out, and they both fell in. Olivia says, both of them? and Dante says, it was funny. Olivia says she doesn’t know what to make of this whole story, but she has a restaurant to run. She slaps Dante on the shoulder, and leaves. Dante says, oh, man, and Sam puts her head on the bar, telling him, please don’t say anything. He tells her not to worry. The last thing he wants is his mother knowing about his private life. She asks, what’s that supposed to mean? Is he embarrassed that he kissed her?

Valentin tells Brook that he and Anna have a long, strange, complicated history. They trained as spies at the WSB years and years ago, and through a series of unfortunate circumstances, they wound up on opposing sides. She says, sounds painful, and he says, it was. But they found their way back to each other, and trust each other. Not completely by any stretch of the imagination, but they do work well together. She asks, what changed? and he says, Peter changed things. For their own individual reasons, they gave him the benefit of the doubt. They protected him, and shielded him when they shouldn’t have, and they’re working together now to find him and mitigate the damage. They work well together as a team. She asks if he’s sure that’s all they are, a team, and he says, his personal feelings for Anna aside, what’s important is, that they find Peter, and hopefully, Maxie’s baby.

Anna goes to the reception desk at the hospital, and asks Elizabeth if Monica is still there. Elizabeth says, she’s gone for the day, and asks if she can help Anna with something. Anna says, maybe. Does she have access to all the hospital records on the computer? Elizabeth says, that depends, and Anna says she’s not looking for any personal medical records. She’s looking for a list of staff who were there the night Peter disappeared.

Curtis says, the reason he and Portia are stumbling around, and making things more complicated than they need to be, is because they’re trying to figure out what the other wants. They should just speak for themselves. She says that’s what she’s trying to do, but it keeps coming out wrong. He asks, how it can be wrong if they’re being honest with each other? and she says, okay, here goes. She told him that she thinks he’s still on the rebound, but even if he’s not, and he’s ready like he says he is, what if they’re just trying to rewrite history, or make up for mistakes in the past? It’s been almost twenty years since they met. She needs to know they’re not just trying to pick up where they left off. He asks if that’s how she feels – he moves closer to her – because he doesn’t. She says she’s been thinking herself in circles since that kiss, and the only thing she knows for sure is that she couldn’t forgive herself if she didn’t at least try.

Jordan tells Stella, Curtis was the one who wanted the divorce. She agreed because she didn’t think it was fair that he was stuck in a marriage he didn’t believe was working. Stella says she knows Jordan agreed to the divorce for his sake, but does Curtis know she wanted to stay and fight? Jordan says she tried, but at that point, they were both too hurt to talk it out anymore. Stella asks if Jordan doesn’t owe it to Curtis, or at least to herself, to start the discussion and see where it goes. Do it now. Tonight.

Dante tells Sam that he’s not embarrassed. She, on the other hand, ran away from him outside Charlie’s, and she’s been kind of avoiding him ever since. So if anyone is embarrassed, he assumes it’s her. She says, first of all, she did not run away from him; she’s not five years old. And secondly, she’s not embarrassed. If she was embarrassed, why wouldn’t she keep it to herself? He says she didn’t keep it to herself? She told somebody? Who did she tell? She says, Maxie, and he puts his hand to his head, saying, oh, man. You told Maxie? She says she didn’t say a name. She just said, some guy. He says, now he’s just some guy? and she says, he can’t have it both ways. Wait. Did he tell anyone they kissed? He says he may have told someone in passing, and she says, in passing. So is she just an afterthought? Olivia watches them.

Brando says, so is it a yes? and Sasha says, yes. Gladys galumphs over, and says, what a nice surprise. She came down for some night air, and lucky her, she found Brando. He says, the very definition of lucky, and Sasha says, it’s a beautiful night, isn’t it? Gladys says, it would be nicer if the lady who owns this place were a little more generous with her family, and Brando asks, what’s Carly done now? Gladys says, nothing. That’s her point. She was just telling Olivia, Carly should be down on her knees, begging Brando to take the top spot in the family business. Brando says, let him be perfectly clear. If Carly or Jason offer him a job, he’s turning it down.

Elizabeth says she can help Anna with that. Remind her again of the date Peter disappeared. (Nice move.) Anna says she’ll text Elizabeth the date and the approximate time he was last seen, and Elizabeth says she’ll get right on it, and get Anna that list. Finn wheels Chase to the elevator, and Anna goes over to them. She says, Chase is still in the chair. When is he getting back to the job, and stop letting everyone else pick up the slack? He thanks her, and she says, for what? He says, for being one of the few people who isn’t treating him with kid gloves. He may be in this chair, but he’s still a cop. She says, he is, and the elevator comes. He asks her to excuse him; he’s headed home. She says he’s a happily married man, and he says, and damn proud of it, as he wheels himself into the elevator. Elizabeth presses the button for him, and he tells Finn, we’re good, right? Finn says they’re good, and the doors close. Anna asks Finn, how’s he doing really? and Finn says, making progress. Not as fast as he’d like, but progress nonetheless. Elizabeth says, Anna is also making progress, and tells Anna that she’ll get her that list. She leaves, and Finn asks what that was about, and Anna gestures for him to walk with her. She says, her search for Peter has led her back to GH.

Nika asks if Terry is sure she doesn’t want another drink, and Terry looks over at Curtis and Portia. She says, no. She thinks her work there is done. She leaves, smiling at Portia as she walks past. Curtis says, there are no guarantees, and Portia says, taking this risk does terrify her, but what’s the alternative? He says, playing it safe? and she says, that’s not him. He says, it’s not her either, or else she wouldn’t have come there. So when do they take this leap of faith? He says, there’s no time like the present, and kisses her. Just as Jordan walks in.

Dante says Sam isn’t an afterthought, and she says, then what is she? He says, she’s her; she’s Sam. She says, that’s so kind of him. She’s Sam, that rhymes with spam, which is so flattering. He says he doesn’t think of her that way. She says she sees, and he asks what she’s saying. Is that how she thinks of him? She says, no. He’s him; he’s Dante. He says, when he said it, it wasn’t cool. Double standard, he guesses. She says she doesn’t owe him an explanation, and he says he doesn’t owe her one either, so they’re even. Olivia comes out, and says she doesn’t know what’s going on between them, but it doesn’t look good to have a couple arguing at the bar. So whatever they’ve got to say to each other, say it in private.

Gladys tells Brando, she’s all for playing hard to get. It’s a good negotiating strategy. He says, listen to him. He’s not negotiating. He’s not holding out for more money, or a better job. He’s just not interested in working for the Corinthos Organization. She says, why not? and he says he got a better offer, and looks at Sasha. Gladys says, she sees. It’s not that she wants it for herself, but as a mother, she wants what’s best for her son. He deserves more. He earned it. He thanks her, but asks her to look at it from his point-of-view, and realize that the life she’s proposing isn’t the life he wants. Everything that he wants is right there. He takes Sasha’s hands.

Valentin tells Brook, if Peter has the baby, they can return it to Maxie, or at least narrow down the search. She says, Maxie will get her baby back; she can promise him that. He asks, why so intense? What did he just say? She says she’s just thinking. He’s been so great. He’s an unbelievable, conscientious baby daddy, but right now, she could use a friend. Chase, who’s wheeled himself in, says, the lady ordered a friend. Would she like a side of fries with that? Brook says, side of fries, always, and Valentin says he’ll leave them alone, and leaves. Brook hugs Chase, and he asks what Valentin said that upset her. She says, nothing. They just actually had a nice moment. He says, then what is it? and she asks if he’s ever gone into something with the best of intentions, and later discover it was just way too hard to follow through with. He says, hello? His fake affair with Sasha? She says, of course (🍷) he understands, and he says he’s not going anywhere. Talk to him. What’s wrong?

 Finn says, what about Peter? and Anna says she and Valentin just got back from New York. They got a lead that might pan out or might not lead to Peter and the baby. Finn asks, what if Peter doesn’t have Maxie’s baby? What if she’s somewhere safe? That would be some consolation, wouldn’t it? Anna says, yeah, but she doesn’t think it would fill the emptiness in Maxie’s heart. Sometimes she thinks she would have done everyone a favor if she’d just put a bullet in Peter’s head before all this happened. He says she doesn’t mean that, and she says, doesn’t she? He says she’d have to live with what she’d done.

Jordan gets the hell out of The Savoy, and Curtis tells Portia that he guesses this is the start of… something. She says, a new beginning, but… He says he knows. They’ll take it slow, and see where it goes. She thanks him, says goodnight, and they kiss one more time. Outside of the club, Jordan cries.

Gladys says she needs another Mai Tai, and tells Brando, be an angel, holding the glass out to him. Sasha says, while he’s there, she’d love a lemonade. He goes to the bar, and Sasha tells Gladys not to worry. Brando will never regret his decision. Gladys says, isn’t that a coincidence? She made that same promise to herself, and she always keeps her promises.

Dante tells Olivia, sorry, but they weren’t fighting. Sam says they were just agreeing to disagree. Olivia tells her, if she says so, and leaves. Dante says, she doesn’t miss a thing, and Sam says, nothing to see here, right? One little kiss means next to nothing. He says, right. It was just one of those sort of one-off things, right? Olivia continues to watch them.

Brook tells Chase, it’s been an emotional day, but nothing for him to worry about. How’s physical therapy? He says, not so bad, and she says she knows him well enough to know his private code. When he says, not so bad, that actually means something’s changed for the better. Is she right? He says, let’s just say, he broke a sweat today. She says, okay. Keep being all cryptic on her, but it’s good to see him smile again.

Finn says, there’s something Anna needs to… when Elizabeth comes over and says, here’s the list Anna asked for, and hands her some papers. Anna thanks her, and Elizabeth asks Finn if everything is okay. He says it is, and excuses himself to check on a patient. He leaves, and Elizabeth says she also has to check on a patient. Anna is definitely thinking something is up, when her phone rings. Valentin asks if she’s made any progress in the search for Peter’s accomplice, and she says they’ve got this the wrong way around. He says, how so? and she says they’re not looking for Peter’s ally. They’re looking for his enemy.

Tomorrow, Shawn has news, Valentin asks Anna to tell him about her new theory, Elizabeth suggests to Finn that Jason is the only solution to their problem, and Jason says he wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for Carly.

🤹‍♀️ Excuses, Excuses…

Due to life (making a long story short), I ended up running late, so Million Dollar Listing New York is postponed until tomorrow because, sleep. Hint: apartments are expensive, yet deals are made. The millions spent is so unfathomable to me, but even more so when they dicker about $50K. Or patio furniture. Until we meet for the Friday free-for-all, stay safe, stay composed, and stay not walking away from who or what you love without a fight.

July 21, 2021 – Opening Night At The Savoy, NYC Séance In Salem, Erika Opens Up In La Quinta & Stompin’

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava walks in the park, a bodyguard trailing behind her. She sees Trina, and tells him, she appreciates the protection, but could he be less obtrusive? Like maybe ten feet back? He says, yes, Mrs. Cassadine, but she says, Jerome; Miss Jerome. She calls to Trina, who runs over and hugs her. She thanks Ava for meeting her, and Ava says, her pleasure. She asks what’s going on in Trina’s life. How’s the new guy? Any developments?

Britt goes to the now ever-present pool, and Spencer says he saved a chair for her. She says, that line doesn’t work when she could sit anywhere, and he says she knows she wants to sit next to him. She realizes it’s Spencer, and they hug.

Shawn finishes his meal at the MetroCourt, and tells Jordan, his first dinner as a free man. His complements to the chef, and the lady who made it happen. She says, she and the chef thank him. Watching him eat that meal was truly a sight to behold, and he asks if he stopped to breathe. He’s glad she convinced TJ and Molly to continue with their romantic evening, instead of hanging out with them. She says, it took some doing, and asks if he saw the smile on TJ’s face when he walked in. He says TJ will get sick of him soon enough, since he’ll be staying with them at Alexis’s house. She says they both keep pretty busy schedules. She doubts he’ll see them much. He says, still, he wants to get his own place, find a job, and get on with what he needs to do. She says, that being? and he says she knows what he’s talking about. He wants to find out who really shot Hayden. Nikolas watches from the bar.

Portia meets Terry by the hospital reception area, and Terry says, finally. Portia says she’s sorry. It’s just all this paperwork… Terry says, it never ends, does it? She just has to change, but she’s excited Portia is coming out for a drink tonight. Portia says she is too. She’s looking forward to a relaxing, uncomplicated evening. She asks where Terry wants to go; the Port Charles Grill or the MetroCourt… Terry says, oh no. The only place to be is opening night at The Savoy.

Curtis asks bartender Nika how they’re doing, and she says, the Savoy signature cocktail is a big hit. He says, hiring a mixologist was one of his better moves, and Brando comes in. He walks over to Curtis, and says it’s nice to finally meet him. He’s heard a lot of good things about Curtis. They shake hands, and Curtis thanks him, telling him to enjoy his time at The Savoy. Brando congratulates him, saying, this place is great. Curtis says he’ll leave Brando in the capable hands of his bartender Nika, and Nika asks if Brando would like their signature Savoy, but he says he’ll have a beer. He asks her to start a tab; it’s going to be a long night. At the bar, Spinelli says he seconds that, and asks the barkeep for another drink. He asks if Brando is also there to drown his sorrows, and Brando says, something like that. Spinelli says, allow him to speculate. An affair of the heart.

At the hospital, Sasha looks over some pregnancy pamphlets, and literally runs into Michael while she’s reading, dropping the pamphlets everywhere. He apologizes, and picks them up for her, asking if she’s there for a doctor’s appointment. She says, close. Pregnancy nutrition class. It starts a little person off right. Is he there for a board meeting? He says, close. He’s visiting his grandmother. It looks like she has things figured out since their last conversation, She says she’s trying. She’s going to give her baby everything he or she needs. He says she doesn’t have to do it on her own; he’s sure Brando would want to be there. She says she’s sure he would. She’s just not so sure she wants him to be.

The physical therapist is working on Chase, when Willow walks in. Chase asks if she’s done with class, and she says she is. What about him? Is he almost ready to go? He says almost, and the therapist says Chase did good work today. He looks at the parallel bars, and says, soon Chase will be over there. Chase says, why wait? and suggests they start now.

Jordan says she knows how important clearing Shawn’s name is to him, but she’s concerned how he’s going to do it. He says, carefully. He knows he has things to atone for, but attempting to kill Hayden isn’t one of them. In taking responsibility for what he didn’t do, he covered up for a would-be murderer who really wanted Hayden dead, and damn near succeeded. That person should be brought to justice. Jordan says she knows, but because he confessed and pled guilty, the DA suspended the investigation. Five years is a long time for a case to go cold. There’s a chance the perp… Nikolas apologizes for interrupting, but he needs to know if the PCPD is making any progress with Ava’s stalker. Stella watches from a distance.

Portia tells Terry that she’s been looking forward to the MetroCourt zucchini sticks all day, and Terry says she likes them too. She suggests they go there for dinner afterward; The Savoy is drinks only. Portia says they can get drinks and dinner at the MetroCourt, one-stop-shopping, but Terry says she wants to be where the action is. Portia says, that’s just it. The Savoy is going to be all crowded and noisy. Terry asks, who doesn’t love crowded and noisy? and Portia suggests they go another night, after all the hype has calmed down. Terry says, okay, spill. What’s the real reason Portia doesn’t want to go?

Britt asks when Spencer got back. Is this why he ghosted her months ago? He was planning a surprise? He says he didn’t ghost her. He was busy with graduation, and then took some time to tour Europe. She says, listen to him, sounding all continental. Let’s sit. She wants to hear about all the crazy things he did to celebrate graduation.

Ava says, don’t tell her this Victor turned out to be some kind of creep, and Trina says, undecided. Ava asks what he did, and Trina says, he’s charming and fun, but he’s also totally unreliable. Plus there’s some weirdness between him and his family, and she’s not sure what to do about it.

The therapist helps Chase up, and Chase stands between the bars. The therapist says he’s going to let go and see if Chase can stand on his own. He steps back a little, but Chase’s legs buckle, and he falls back into his chair.

Britt asks if Spencer is staying with his father at Windymere, or does Nikolas think he’s still wandering around Europe? Spencer says he already surprised his father at Windymere, and she says, so things are better between them? He says, define better, and she says he had every reason to be angry at Nikolas. He says, but he should be over it by now? She says, Nikolas let Spencer believe he was dead for three years. Spencer thought he was an orphan. Those aren’t things anyone should just get over, and if he said he did, she’d be worried about him. He says, then she doesn’t have to worry, and she says, getting over anger is a process. It is possible to come out the other side if you keep moving forward. He asks if she speaks from experience, and she says, yes. She’s not always successful at getting past her anger, but she understands that it’s necessary, and it’s a goal she’s working toward. He says, she thinks he should do the same? and she says, she thinks if he doesn’t rebuild the relationship with his father, it will hurt Nikolas, but it will also hurt him. He says, he’s here, isn’t he? Supporting father in his time of need. She asks if he’s referring to Nikolas’s divorce from Ava. Nikolas has definitely been on edge, making wild accusations. Did he tell Spencer about the stalker?

Nikolas says, it’s been going on for months now. The threats have been escalating. Ava’s gallery was trashed, and the stalker was able to leave a toy in Avery’s room. It’s unacceptable that… Stella walks over and says, Shawn Butler. Jordan says, whatever Stella has to say… but Shawn stops her. He gets up, and says, Miss Stella. She’s Thomas’s aunt. He can’t tell her how sorry… She holds up her hand and says, she’s not interested in his contrition. But she does have a few things to say to the man who killed her nephew.

Brando tells Nika to put Spinelli’s drink on his tab. It’s the least he can do after Spinelli helped rescue his mom from Cyrus. They sit at a table, and Spinelli says it was his honor. He’s glad someone appreciated his efforts. Brando says, Spinelli was taken hostage, and Cyrus was going to trade him for Brando’s mother. He’s glad they all got out okay. Spinelli says, mutual safety is cause for relief, but unfortunately, his heart became collateral damage. His partner Ellie became increasingly alarmed at his association with danger and violence. She wanted him to get out, and when he balked, she walked. Brando says, she left him? and he says, she realized that if she wanted to make a change for a better life, and maybe a future with someone else, that she had to start now, and she did. She’s gone. Brando says he’s sorry. Were they together long? Spinelli says, years. They were raising his daughter together, mostly in Oregon. They were a happy family unit. When they relocated to Queens Point, he became more involved with his friends and their business. At one point, Ellie asked if he could be a friend and not participate in the business, but it’s just not possible. His area of expertise is invaluable to his friends, and he savors the challenge. He likes doing what he does, and knowing he’s good at it. This last time cost him a relationship that he greatly treasured. Brando ponders this heavily.

Michael asks if something happened between Sasha and Brando, and she says, Brando is a great guy. She likes him on almost every level. He says, almost, and she says she thinks they want different things for their lives. He says he’s not sure he understands totally, but sometimes guys need to take a beat and process what parenthood might mean to their lives. Is he getting it? She says, that’s not exactly it. Brando definitely wants to be involved. She’s the one who’s not sure how that’s going to look. He says, noted. He’s just going to take his two cents and be on his way. She says he doesn’t have to leave. All she’s saying is, she’s ready to do it alone if she has to be a single mom. He says, at the risk of wading back into deep water – he takes her hand, and they sit – being a parent isn’t always a picnic, let alone being a single parent. He has all the confidence she’ll manage, but wants her to go into it with her eyes wide open. He’s available for any new parent freak-outs she might have. He’s pretty sure he invented some of them, so he’s at her service. He also wants her to know that he still considers her a good friend. She thanks him, and says, the same goes for her. She’s just as invested in his happiness as he is in hers. That includes talking about someone he can’t talk to anyone else about – Willow. If he ever needs a sympathetic shoulder with no judgement, , she’s there for him.

Chase takes a bottle of water from Willow, and says he wants something more effective than hydration and stretches. She says, the fact that he’s there at all and working on recovery is a blessing, right? It’s just going to take some time. He says this isn’t what she signed up for, but she says she seems to remember a clause about in sickness or in health. He says he doesn’t think that applies when he can’t even be her husband, and she says he knows that’s not true. He says she knows what he means; they can’t even share the same bed. He doesn’t want to wake her up when his legs are cramping. He knows she needs her rest because she has school, she’s got Wiley… She says she doesn’t care about sleeping in separate beds, and he says, but he does. This – he bangs the chair – is not who he is. He’s sick of their relationship revolving around his health and wants to be her husband, not her patient. He wants her love not her pity. She says she does love him, and he says, then let him do what he needs to do.

Willow says she understands Chase’s frustration, but he asks how she can. All he wants is to live a normal life with the person he loves, and that seems impossible right now. He’s sorry. He shouldn’t be railing at her. That’s exactly what he didn’t want to happen. He doesn’t want to take his frustrations out on his wife. The therapist comes back, and asks if Chase is ready for some stretching. Chase says, yeah, and tells Willow that he’ll call her when he’s done.

Portia tells Terry, so they decided to get a divorce. She has no idea if it’s gone through or anything, but it’s too soon to be getting involved with anyone. Terry tells her, says who? and Portia says, everyone. Conventional wisdom, common sense… Terry asks, since when does Portia want to live her life by conventional rules? and Portia says, nobody wants to be on the other end of a rebound relationship. Terry says, better nip it in the bud, especially when there’s chemistry. Portia says, when things were good between them, they were really good, and yes, that chemistry is still between them, and Terry says, sounds dreadful. Portia says she’s still attracted to the man; if anything, even more so. Curtis, back in the day, it was clear he was just piecing his life back together, but Curtis now is grounded and stable. Terry says, and still sexy, and Portia says she definitely thinks so. And he’s still interested. He told her where she can find him tonight. Terry asks, what happens if she doesn’t go? and Portia says she doesn’t know. Her fear is that she’ll lose him as a friend. Terry says Portia makes it sound like she’s going to lose him no matter what. Stop her if she’s being intrusive, but she thinks Portia wants a chance with the man. What’s holding her back?

Shawn asks if Stella would like to talk privately, and she supposes that would be best. He tells Jordan that he’ll be back, and they step away. Nikolas says, that was tense, and Jordan says, and none of their business. He sits, and says, the investigation into his stalker is definitely his business. Did the footprint found at the scene lead to anything? She says, they’re making progress, and he asks if she can be more specific; he needs details. She says, why, so he can set another trap? Take matters into his own hands? She says, that’s all he’s getting, and he says he has a right to know. She says he doesn’t have the right to interfere with an ongoing police investigation. Stay out of it. Leave it to the police. End of discussion.

Spencer tells Britt that he’s heard all about Ava’s trials and tribulations. He just wishes he could have been there to see Ava’s face when she found that roach. Britt says he should have seen her face when Nikolas accused her of being the stalker, and he says she has to admit, some of the stunts are clever enough to be hers. She says, they’re not stunts. They’re malicious acts designed to cause fear, and they worked. Ava is terrified. He says, well, it’s over. Now that Ava and his father are divorcing, the gifts have stopped. She says, they’re not really gifts, and he says she knows what he means. She’s always understood him. She says, likewise, and they fist bump. She says it’s good to see him. Can he hang for a bit? He says he’s been there all day, and she says she wants a drink. Does he want one? She gets up, and he says, a gin and tonic, and she says, one ice tea coming up. He says, in Europe, the drinking age is 18, but she says, this ain’t Europe. His phone rings, and Nikolas says he’s at the MetroCourt, and can give Spencer a ride home if he wants. Is he still at the pool? Spencer says he still has to change, and suggests Nikolas have a drink at the pool while he waits.

Sasha goes into the PT room, and says she heard Chase was there; how’s it going? He says, it’s going, and she says, physical therapy takes time. He says, that’s what they tell him, and she says her experience is with a different type of rehab, but if he ever wants to talk… He says, thanks, but he’s all talked out. If anything, he wishes Willow would talk more. She says, about what? and he says, something is going on with her. He wishes she would say more than the obligatory, keep it up, and, don’t lose hope. Sasha is sure Willow means every word, but Chase is sure there’s something she’s not telling him. Has she said anything to Sasha?

Willow stands outside with some coffee, when Michael comes along. He asks, what’s wrong? but she says, it’s nothing. He says, it’s definitely not nothing, and she says, Chase is in physical therapy. He’s working hard, but he’s frustrated with his progress, and he’s lashing out. He says, at her?

Stella tells Shawn, Thomas was her nephew. She lived with her sister the whole time Thomas and Curtis were growing up. They were very close. He says Thomas always spoke highly of Stella, and she says she doesn’t need him to tell her about Thomas. She knew him down to the soles of his feet. He says, with all due respect, what does she need from him? If she needs to unload, go ahead. He’ll stand right there and take her verbal lashing. He owes her that at least. He knows what he took from her. She says, please. He can’t possibly understand what he took from her; what her family lost. Thomas was a good man and a good father, but he didn’t live to see his son grow up to be a doctor. Is he going to tell her that he’s TJ’s father now? Because a father is more than DNA. He says she’ll get no argument from him. He and TJ know that Thomas was TJ’s father, but so is he.

Britt says, besides the legal drinking age, does Spencer miss France? Did he leave someone special behind? He says France will always be there. What about her? Has she found someone who even slightly deserves her? She says, not many people would consider her a catch, but he says, au contraire. If she hasn’t found someone worthy of her, she’s not looking in the right places. Nikolas comes in, and Spencer tells him, look who’s here.

Portia tells Terry that she was married when she first met Curtis, and she didn’t tell him. She and Taggert were on the outs, but she had no business starting anything with anyone. When she finally did tell Curtis, he just walked away. She’s sure he really felt hurt and betrayed, and Terry asks what she’s saying. Does she think Curtis is out for revenge? Portia says, of course (🍷) not, but she guesses she’s a little scared. What if she opens herself up to him and he has a change of heart, and walks away again? She hasn’t really let herself be vulnerable since. She’s dated, but she’s had other priorities. She has to make sure Trina is okay, and her career. Terry says, that was then; this is now. Trina is on her way to college, and Portia’s career is well-established. Sounds like it’s been a long time since she’s let herself be happy with a man, and Curtis sounds promising. But what does she know? She’s just an oncologist, not a psychologist. She’ll meet Portia at The Savoy in a few, or at the MetroCourt for dinner later. Portia’s choice.

Curtis asks if Brando is having a good evening, and if Nika is taking care of him. Brando says she is. Everything’s great. The house beer is first rate. Curtis says he’s glad to hear it, but seems distracted, looking at the entrance. Brando wonders if he can ask Curtis something, and Curtis says, sure. Brando says, has he ever had a woman give him an old tomato ultimatum? Say, you can’t do this, or you’re out of my life? Curtis says, it sounds like Brando’s lady, and it sounds like she might have a good reason. He sits, and Brando says, Sasha doesn’t like certain aspects of his life; she thinks they’re dangerous. Curtis says, sounds like she’s concerned something might happen to Brando. Does she do this all the time; ultimatums, giving orders? Brando says, no. She’s great. They respect each other. Curtis asks if he’s sure it was an ultimatum, or was she just being honest with him about what she can and cannot live with? Brando says he hadn’t thought of it that way, and Curtis says, to answer his first question, he doesn’t recall a woman doing that to him, but he’s sure he’s done it. Sometimes you have to say what you want, even if it means losing what you have.

Sasha tells Chase, Willow is a pretty honest person. What does he think she’s holding back? He says, when he and Willow got married, they thought he only had a few hours to live. Now she’s stuck with an invalid husband. She says, he’s recovering. And she says this with love, but he’s an idiot if he thinks Willow is anything but grateful that he survived. He says he knows Willow is grateful; so is he. He knows he’s lucky to be alive. He knows Willow, and there’s something behind her eyes. Something she’s holding back.

Michael says, Chase is going through hell right now, but it doesn’t give him the right to take it out on Willow. Willow says, Chase is mostly taking his anger and frustration out on himself. She just feels so… inadequate. All she seems to be able to offer are platitudes. Be patient. You’ll get there. Michael says, Chase is strong. He’s going to come back from this, and she’ll be a big reason why. She prays he’s right, and says she’s being selfish. Chase is the one struggling to get back his life, while she’s feeling sorry for herself. Michael tells her to stop beating herself up. She’s doing an incredible job supporting Chase. She says he’s biased, but he says, not at all. But he does know what all this is costing her.

Stella says, Shawn compares himself to the man who was there for TJ until he died? Shawn says, no, she is. He knows Thomas loved TJ. He loves TJ too. He couldn’t be TJ’s father because up until recently, he didn’t know he was TJ’s father. She says, and up until recently, he was behind bars, where he should have been a lot sooner for killing her nephew. He says, Thomas was his best friend, but he snapped. Thomas threatened to kill him. It was self-defense, but he’ll carry the pain and weight of it the rest of his life. She says, Thomas was his best friend, but that didn’t stop Shawn from sleeping with his wife. He snapped because of Shawn’s betrayal. Jordan comes in, and says, it wasn’t all on Shawn. They both know that. Stella says she and Jordan have made their peace, but don’t expect her to offer it to the man who ended her nephew’s life. He’s lucky to be out of prison. If it were up to her, he’d rot there. Jordan says, she’s not being fair, but Shawn says he’s going to listen. Stella says she has nothing more to say to him. Just please stay out of her way. He says he’ll do his best, and thanks Jordan for dinner. He leaves, and Jordan asks if Stella is all right. She looks shaky. Stella says, it’s been a long time coming, but she confronted him. She did it, and she stands by everything she said. Jordan asks if it made her feel any better.

As they walk through the park, Ava asks what Victor did that has Trina on the fence. Trina says, basically, he lied to her, and Ava says she doesn’t like the sound of that. Trina says, it was a normal lie of omission, which is still a lie, but it didn’t directly affect her, so she guesses she shouldn’t care. Maybe she’s overthinking it. Ava says, or maybe she’s making excuses for him? Giving him a little wiggle room? Sounds to her like Trina likes him. Trina says she does; he’s interesting. Not like a lot of the guys around here. Ava asks if she’s going to go out with him, but Trina says, they’re not dating. They’re just hanging out as friends. Ava says, oh… friends.

Nikolas says he thought Spencer was going to change, and Spencer says he was. Then he and Britt got to talking. He’ll go right now. He tells Nikolas to help himself to his ice tea, shoves it in Nikolas’s hand, and jets. Britt gets up, and says, hey… Nikolas says he’s sorry for accusing her of being the stalker. He was at the end of his rope. She says she was sorry to hear he and Ava are getting a divorce, and he says, it’s not over yet. He’s surprised that Spencer is trying to matchmake. He’s been cold since he got home. She says, but he is home in Nikolas’s hour of need. That’s something. He says, it is. He’s so glad to have Spencer back. He’s the one good thing in Nikolas’s life.

Brando thanks Curtis for the advice, and Curtis says, sometimes he just likes to hear himself talk. Brando says Curtis told him just what he needed to hear. Did he tell Curtis that he was going to be a father? Curtis laughs, and says now he understands the ultimatum. Brando says, he’s an idiot. There’s no choice to be made. How can he walk away from someone as wonderful as Sasha? Curtis says, well, congratulations. He’s happy for Brando. Brando thanks him and reaches for his wallet, but Curtis says it’s on him. Consider it an early baby shower present. And good luck to you, brother. Brando thanks him, and leaves. Curtis continues looking around.

Sasha thinks Chase is holding Willow to a higher standard than his own, and he says, what? She asks if he shares all his doubts and moments of weakness with Willow. Everyone thinks Willow is perfect, but she’s not; she’s human. And she’s scared and worried and just trying to figure things out as she goes. He says he gets it, but she doesn’t have to hold it all in. She says, like he does? Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to share every single thought with the person, especially when you’re trying to protect the other person. And they’re both doing that. He says, and he’s not protecting Willow by snapping like that, which is exactly what he did today. She says she thinks Willow understands how frustrating it is for him, and she knows Willow is committed to helping him through his recovery. He doesn’t need to doubt her.

Michael says Willow put her entire life on hold to literally help Chase get back on his feet. He sees her burning the candle at both ends while still keeping a smile on her face. He wishes there was something he could do to help. She says she knows she’s putting more than her life on hold. She’s putting them on hold; their family, their future. That’s not fair either. How long can she ask Michael to wait for her?

Ava says, it seems like Trina is willing to overlook Victor’s lie of omission, and Trina says she wants to. They sit on a bench, and Ava says, well, then do it. Take a chance. Trina says, Ava still believes that? Even after how things ended with her and Nikolas? and Ava says, yes. She believes in living life, not just watching from the sidelines. Get out there and enjoy herself. Trina says, yes, ma’am, and Ava says, be careful. And if this Victor crosses the line, he’s going to have to answer to her. Trina says, get in line behind her dad, and Ava laughs, saying, and her mom. She has quite a line of protectors. Most of all, trust her instincts. Victor sounds like he might be a bad boy. They are exciting, but they can be trouble too.

Spencer comes back, dressed in street clothes, and asks Britt, where’s father? She says, he had to make a call. Not cool, Spencer. Spencer says, what? and she says she and Nikolas are over. He loves Ava, and she doesn’t have time for distractions. He says, things change. It’s only a matter of time before father puts Ava and this farce of a marriage behind him.

On the phone, Shawn says, I heard you were still in the game. How about if we work together?

Jordan gives Stella a glass of water, and Stella admits lashing out at that man didn’t ease the pain of losing Thomas, but she needed to do it. Jordan knows she speaks her mind. Jordan says, all too well, and Stella says, go on, say it. Jordan asks, what she was thinking, telling Portia to back off Curtis? and Stella says, she was thinking Jordan and Curtis needed more time to work out their differences, and remember how much they love each other. She gave Jordan the opportunity to fight for her marriage. Why didn’t she take it?

Portia walks up to Curtis at The Savoy, and he looks at her approvingly.

Michael tells Willow, he’ll wait forever if he has to. She’s his future. So take that worry off her plate. He isn’t going anywhere. As much as he wants to hold her, and make love to her, he’ll go on being her friend and co-parent for as long as it takes. She says she loves him so much, her heart hurts. And she wants him too. She’s so sorry. She wishes things were different. They hook pinkies on the DL, and he says he understands her commitment to stay with Chase. So they’ll wait, as long as Chase needs her.

Alone in the PT room, Chase lines up his chair in front of the parallel bars. He takes hold of them, and hoists himself up, but when he lets go, he falls back into his chair. He says he can do this… for Willow. He grabs the bars again, pulls himself up, lets go, and stands without falling.

Tomorrow, Brando tells Sasha that he’s made his choice, Finn tells Elizabeth that monsters never really die, Anna says the information has to be kept confidential, Stella asks if Jordan wants her marriage to be over, and Curtis tells Portia that her timing couldn’t be better.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Sonja and Bershan were deep in a nonsensical argument, when in LuAnn’s interview, she said it was up to Ramona to reel this woman in. Ramona had brought her to the group, and it was her responsibility. But instead of telling Bershan that she was being overbearing, Ramona told her they were worried about Sonja, and Bershan was pushing her off the deep end. Whatever that meant. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t disagree with Bershan. As an outsider looking in, she wondered why they were putting up with Sonja, but it wasn’t her job to figure it out. Eboni told LuAnn that she was done with Bershan, having given her all the Black extra-credit points she could. In Eboni’s interview, she said she was still navigating this circle of friends, and Bershan needed to get to know them like on the first day of second grade. Bershan told Ramona that she was a fresh pair of eyes who was telling it like it is, totally missing the point.

In the morning, Leah told LuAnn that Sonja and Bershan got in a physical altercation. LuAnn was like, huh? since when she left, everyone had gone to bed. Leah said Bershan had come to get a melatonin from her, and she and Sonja were both drunk. We saw a clip of Bershan griping to Leah about Sonja, and Sonja honing in on the conversation, saying Bershan didn’t need to be talking about her. Sonja did have a point when she told Bershan not to come into her life, and in ten seconds tell her who she is. Then it was on, with fingers in faces, and shouting while standing two inches from each other. Leah had to get between them, and she told LuAnn she was worried they’d hit her new nose. The producers ended up stepping in, and Sonja broke the glass in the fire extinguisher box as they let her away. Back to the present morning, Bershan did jumping jacks, while she recited affirmations.

LuAnn went to Leah’s room to discuss the situation, and they agreed that when Sonja was drunk, it wasn’t the time to talk to her about anything. Leah wondered if Sonja was going to act like nothing happened, and LuAnn said Sonja wasn’t going to remember what happened. In LuAnn’s interview, she said she didn’t care how drunk you were, there was no excuse for that behavior. Agreed. She said she was worried about Sonja. Ramona joined them, and Leah explained it all again, saying Bershan was being antagonistic. LuAnn said it was up to Ramona to fulfill Bershan’s expectations; Bershan was her problem. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t know this Bershan. Leah thought they were being irresponsible if they didn’t talk to Sonja about her drinking, and they decided Leah, Ramona, and LuAnn would talk to her about her denial. In Leah’s interview, she said it wasn’t like Sonja was having fun. She’d want someone to talk to her if she was breaking glass. I guess she forgot about that night of the tiki torches. LuAnn said she was down for it.

Ramona wanted to talk to Bershan, and in Bershan’s interview, she said that she felt like she was being called to the principal’s office. Ramona asked, what happened? and Bershan said Sonja was being a little drunk and aggressive, but Ramona said Bershan had been pushing her. Bershan said Sonja had gotten in her face, and in Black culture, if you got in somebody’s face like that, you got hit. Really? Since when? In Ramona’s interview, she said, acting like that could get Sonja hurt. Bershan said she realized that coming into a new group of girls, not everyone was going to express themselves the way she did.

Leah filled Eboni in on what was going on, and Ramona went to get Sonja, who’d just woken up. In Sonja’s interview, she said she didn’t have a taste for cheap red wine, but if that’s what they were serving, she’d drink it. And if Bershan was serving up insults, she was going to drink. She told Ramona that they ended up with cheap wine and Bershan. She wasn’t attempting to understand where Bershan was coming from. They were headed to a lunch, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said the van ride was going to be like purgatory, but she didn’t know who was going to heaven or hell. It was a quiet ride.

After they sat down at the restaurant, Bershan said she wanted to say something to the group, and was a bit emotional. She wanted to apologize for acting familiar with people she wasn’t familiar with. She’d overstepped her boundaries. Translation: she’d tried to get screen time when she’s not part of the cast. She said she and Sonja had a connection, and Sonja agreed. Ramona tried to interject, and Sonja told her, STFU. In Ramona’s interview, she said Sonja was being passive/aggressive with her and snapping like a turtle. And it’s not turtle time. Sonja said she’d been hurt by the way Bershan mimicked her, Bershan took responsibility, and they hugged it out. Sonja was happy that Bershan apologized, and hoped they could move forward in a positive way. I predict that lasting about five minutes. Leah said they had to get ready for their séance, and Ramona said the dead were waiting for them.

They went back to the hotel to change, everyone wearing black because they like being cliché. I had no idea what Leah was wearing. Usually I like her get-ups, but… no. It was a black patent leather jacket over a white dress, but the jacket didn’t know where to quit in the front, panels of leather trailing down, and not in a good way. Sonja and Bershan ordered espresso martinis, and in her interview, LuAnn said, just what they needed. LuAnn suggested they speak to Sonja immediately, which seemed stupid, since she’d have a martini in her hand while they’re discussing her drinking. In Ramona’s interview, she said they had to do this before Sonja got too buzzed to take in what they were saying. And they too, had drinks in their hands. All kinds of wrong there. Ramona told Eboni to keep Bershan busy while they talked.  Ramona, Leah, and LuAnn had a quick confab and… Ramona went to get a drink first.

They called Sonja over, and Leah said they weren’t coming from a place of judgement. She thought it would be irresponsible and f***ed up of them not to say they thought Sonja’s drinking was going to hurt her at this point. They were worried. LuAnn said she’d been arrested for less than Sonja had done, and Sonja went through a litany of times when she didn’t drink – at home, alone, on dates, anywhere but with them. In her interview, Ramona said, sure; she believed that. She said Sonja got angry when she drank, and Leah said it didn’t seem like Sonja was having a good time. Sonja said Bershan had gotten in her face with her bad girl image, and she wasn’t having it. Leah said it was an open channel of communication, and Sonja said she had professionals in her life and did telemedicine. In Leah’s interview, she said, they tried, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said, you usually had to have a wake-up call, and she just didn’t want Sonja to wake up in a gutter. Sonja told them she didn’t feel like she was in a safe place, since they were being judgmental, which even I had to agree they weren’t. LuAnn said Sonja had gotten in a physical altercation, and when Sonja said she’d do it again, the conversation was over, since they obviously weren’t getting anywhere. In Sonja’s interview, she said Ramona and LuAnn were like broken records, and managed to hook Leah into it. They were on vacation. Chill out. She wasn’t going to explain herself anymore.

They moved on to the séance with mediums Michael and Marion, and host Sandra, who was burning incense to get rid of any negativity in the room. Ha! They’d need a truckful of sage for that one. Marion called for those to have passed away to come through. The light fixture suddenly detached from the ceiling, totally freaking the women out, except for Sonja who said, that does happen. Okay… Michael said they were safe; there wouldn’t be lights flickering or eyes rolling back. Sonja said, there might be poop. He told Bershan that she was viewed as a regular goat, but would become a mountain goat and come out of her shell. In Sonja’s interview, she said she thought Bershan should be a turtle, and pull it back in. (Hmm… Two turtle references tonight.) He told LuAnn that she’d be parting ways with a moody man in her life, but it would be positive for her, and more of a loss for him. Marion told Leah that she was trying to communicate with a female relative, but they didn’t necessarily approve of the séance, so she was having trouble channeling her. In Leah’s interview, she said her grandmother probably wouldn’t have approved of what she was doing, and Leah was also skeptical, so it was no surprise. Marion said she could see Leah studying for her conversion to Judaism, and thought it would give Leah structure. Marion was feeling Eboni’s grandmother, and said she’d just been gone for a little bit of time. Eboni said, a few days, and Marion said she liked this lady; she had a bit of attitude. She was proud of Eboni, and felt she’d been a second mother to her. She said, Eboni had a strong message for women, and had to keep going forward. Eboni started to cry, and in her interview, said it was a relief. Her grandmother had been smart and powerful, but had trouble in the past few years. Having her close was a comfort. Marion said she could feel unfinished business with Sonja’s father, and he wanted to apologize to Sonja; he didn’t know what he was doing. Marion asked if he’d had a drinking problem. Sonja said he did, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said she had no idea because Sonja never talked about her past. She felt she could relate to Sonja better now, since her own father had a drinking problem. Marion said he was mortified by what he did, but wasn’t trying to excuse it. He was trying to apologize. In Ramona’s interview, she said it was emotional and deep. She and Sonja’s childhoods had both been traumatizing, so they never talked about it. Marion said, because Sonja’s father had left when she was young, Sonja had abandonment issues that affected her relationships with men. Sonja cried, and in her interview, she said she was surprised her dad showed up because he’d always been too busy to be a dad. It was hard when you were a kid with one parent, and not knowing you had a dad to reach out to. Marion said she didn’t know if Sonja was dealing with it, and Sonja said she was consulting with a healer. Marion wisely said that was a great addition, but Sonja needed some real therapy. She put it more delicately, but that was the gist of it. Sonja said she’d just started with a therapist, and Marion said she hoped they had a PhD. In her interview, Sonja said her story wasn’t uncommon, but it put a dent in your heart not having a male figure to lean on.

Ramona had a man coming through, someone younger who Marion thought was Ramona’s brother. He’d had a lot of issues in his life. Ramona said, he was a lost soul, and Marion said, it wasn’t a suicide, but… Ramona said, he was self-destructive. She told them, he’d died two years ago, and Marion said he was okay with being gone, but was sorry for hurting her. Ramona said, he almost died ten thousand times before he did, and Marion said she was sorry to say it, but she thought he’d wanted to die. Ramona said he’d been in a lot of emotional pain, and Marion said he loved Ramona, and appreciated that she’d tried to help him. Ramona said there had been nothing she could do, so she’d eventually abandoned him. Marion told her not to blame herself; it was too big a burden. In her interview, Ramona said she’d felt responsible for him, but in the end, he was too far gone to help. She felt now she had resolution, and Marion told her there was nothing she could have done. She asked if anyone had questions, but I think everyone was too freaked out to ask anything further.

In Leah’s interview, she said these were relatively new friends of hers, and there was a lot she didn’t know. When she found out these things, it gave her more understanding of them as people. Sonja suggested they have some fun, and Leah added some wood to the fireplace. Everyone realized she had her dress on backward. Putting it on correctly didn’t make it look any better.

This season, lots of parties, boxing with Martin, Garth isn’t happy about being on Page Six, Eboni continues looking for her father, Ramona tries to sing and fails miserably, the women dress up like each other, and lots of STFU.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The women packed for Kyle’s house in La Quinta. Dorit was ready to get into something festive and fun. Sutton was staring at an empty suitcase, when Kyle called. Kyle said she thought it should be casual, but the others might be bringing ballgowns. You never knew. She told Sutton about Erika’s meltdown, and said it wasn’t like her. We flashed back to that.

Erika found someone to take over the lease for her clubhouse. She needed the furniture, and it was time to let it go. We flashed back to good times there, and Erika told assistant Laia that part of her was sad, but part of her was okay with it. In her interview, she said she hadn’t received a dime despite what everyone thought. Being on a budget was challenging, and at times horrible, but she could take care of herself. People wanted to forget that. She said, a lot of good things, good work, and great memories came from the clubhouse. They looked at the pink neon Pretty Mess sign, and Laia said, she lives on. Erika said, always. In her interview, she said, everything comes to an end.

Kyle video chatted with Garcelle, who said Kyle looked good, and Kyle said she was happy to be alive. Garcelle said she still had to shoot The Real, but she’d be coming a day late. Kyle walked around with the phone, showing Garcelle the house, which Garcelle pronounced amazing. In Kyle’s interview, she said she’d been coming to the desert since she was a baby; on weekends, holidays, and Easter, which I believe is a holiday. She told Garcelle that it was peaceful there, and in her interview, Kyle said, as soon as they hit the windmills, the energy was different. The energy shifted there. LisaR was the first to arrive with her loud self, and screeched over her bedroom. Erika, Crystal, and Garcelle were staying in a hotel, but Kathy, who usually stayed in a hotel, was staying with Kyle along with the others. Kathy arrived with the obligatory hostess gift candle, in size extra-large, and wondered if someone could help her with her luggage. In Kyle’s interview, she said it wasn’t the Waldorf, and she didn’t have a bellhop. Crystal showed up next, followed by Sutton in her new Bentley, and Dorit with groceries. In Crystal’s interview, she said the last time she’d seen Sutton, it was probably Sutton’s biggest meltdown, but Sutton had texted since, and she thought it was getting better. She was still happy she was in a hotel with a lock on the door. So I see she’s really let go of that. Kyle said her ADD was off the charts.

LisaR told the women that she’d left Erika a message, and gotten no response. Kyle said there had been a court date today, and Dorit said she’d read the government froze all of Tom’s assets while they were investigating the possible inappropriate use of at least $2 million. In Dorit’s interview, she said, imagine not being able take your own money out of your own account. That had happened to her when PK had a lawsuit against him. We saw a clip about that, and she said it had been scary, but this was bigger and more scary than what she’d gone through. Dorit said, Tom’s lawyers were asking for him to have a medical evaluation because they didn’t think he fully understood the gravity of the situation. She read an article to the women about Tom and his lawyers being cited for civil contempt of court, because they’d failed to listen to an order to examine where the funds for the airline settlement went. In LisaR’s interview, she said, the disturbing part was that the money was supposed to go to the orphans and victims of the plane crash. In Crystal’s interview, she said, $2 million seemed like a lot, but compared to what Tom had, it was an insignificant number. She couldn’t understand why he didn’t write a check, and make it go away. None of it made sense. LisaR said she was worried; this was a big deal. She called Erika, and Erika said she had to change, but would be there soon. Kathy announced there was going to be an eclipse that hadn’t happened in 600 years. Kyle washed some eggplants for lasagna, and there were a lot of penis references.

In her interview, Kyle said, joking with Kathy made her think of the times they missed together, and we flashed back to a Reunion, where Kyle said they weren’t speaking. She told us that it seemed a shame to think of the holidays they spent apart. The dynamic had changed, and they were back to speaking all the time, and laughing. She was having fun. Erika arrived, and LisaR said she was proud Erika was there. Like she was Erika’s mom. Kyle said they were there for her, and Erika told them, it’s not okay, and it’s not going to be okay for a long time. There were lots of tears and hugs. In Erika’s interview, she said, every day she woke up to something new, and it was all bad news all the time. She asked how Dorit was feeling [after having covid], and Dorit said she wasn’t symptomatic, so don’t worry about the hug. Erika said that was the least of her concerns. In LisaR’s interview, she said, you’d have thought Erika was set for life, but you just never know. Erika said she hadn’t gone to the court; it was in Chicago. She wasn’t talking to Tom, but she knew he was struggling. He wasn’t in a good place, but in some ways, she was relieved. She felt that Tom wasn’t mentally well, and maybe he’d get the help he needed now. We flashed back to her saying he was ignoring problems with his health, and not listening to her. In her interview, she said she was right about what she’d been seeing, experiencing, and hearing. It had been over time, and it was hard watching someone slowly unravel. She apologized for being drained, but she’d been dragged into all of this. Dorit said, when PK went through legal woes, the issue happened before he knew her name, but she was smeared. She hadn’t known him or even heard of him at the time. In Dorit’s interview, she said it was normal not to know all of a spouse’s business dealings. Erika said, Tom had been in business since before she was born, and Kathy said it was based on trust. Her husband could say, sign these 50 papers, and she’d sign them without reading them, because she trusted him. Although I’m not so sure she could comprehend a legal document. In her interview, Erika said ,when they entered into the marriage the balance of power had been out of whack. She’d been a bimbo and a gold-digger, and now she was a financial mastermind.

Helping Kyle in the kitchen, Crystal said she felt bad about Erika. Kyle said Tom was like a dad, and would say things like, excuse me, I’m talking. We flashed back to that dinner again where he basically told Erika to shut up, and in Kyle’s interview, she said, Tom was very much the one in charge and controlling the situation. He supported Erika’s career and dreams, and that was the price she had to pay. It was easy for Erika to detach; they’d seen it. Sutton asked about Erika’s new house, and Erika said she’d gotten a little tree. Sutton said sometimes you had to force it, and Erika said she might as well enjoy it. Sutton told Erika about her father committing suicide two days before Christmas. Porter had been 9 months, so she was excited about her baby’s first Christmas, and it was the first day of her mom’s retirement. In her interview, Sutton said, all marriages are complicated, and we saw a clip of her asking her mom if she missed Sutton’s father. Her mom said she’d been married to him, and couldn’t be expected to feel the same way as Sutton, since the relationships were totally different. She didn’t miss him. Sutton said her dad was a special and great person. Talking about him made it seem like he was still alive. Erika said Sutton’s story was more tragic than what she was going through. In Sutton’s interview, she said, if she could survive her dad’s traumatic death, she knew Erika could survive this. She was a strong lady. Erika thanked Sutton for sharing, and Sutton said, it’s effing tough.

Kyle made her famous lasagna, but I think it’s only famous in her family, since I’ve never heard of it. Kathy kibbitzed while Kyle was cooking, and in Kyle’s interview, she said she’ll always be the baby sister. Whatever they were doing, Kathy would tell her to try it a different way. Kathy used some stale bread as a percussion instrument, marching around the kitchen. LisaR put on sequined jumpsuit, saying, she had to wear this sh*t somewhere. Kathy started taking her suitcase upstairs, one stair at a time, until Dorit rescued her. In Dorit’s interview, she said, if it were anyone else, she’d tell them carry their own damn bag, but it was Kathy, and Dorit loved her. Dorit said Kathy was used to everyone doing everything for her, and Kathy proved it when we saw her idea of a tablescape was a lemon weighing down a pile of napkins, and a bowl of the stale bread she’d been goofing around with. Kyle said that was not her bread. Erika told LisaR that she’d heated the pool for three days, then got the bill and turned it off. She’d heated the pool at Tom’s house for twenty years, and never got in it or saw the bill. In her interview, LisaR said she had no idea how many times Harry had told her to stop spending so much. She didn’t always listen, but she heard it a lot. Kyle knocked down a bunch of spice bottles, and in Kathy’s interview, she said Kyle was a good cook, but easily distracted. She had ADHD GHIJK. Kathy tried to clean up the glass with the fireplace grate brush. I couldn’t even figure that logic out.

Kyle said it was the most unattractive table ever, and we found out Drake follows LisaR on Instagram. In Crystal’s interview, she said she would die if Drake followed her, which I could totally see, since she’s twelve. Kyle said it was a new moon, and they were supposed to get rid of toxic energy, and manifest what they wanted. Kathy said you thought of it, and blew out a candle, and Dorit pushed a candle toward Erika. Erika closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle. In her interview, she said she’d do anything to make it better. She’d take a prayer circle, a lunar eclipse a quaalude. She’d take anything. Anything but confession. She wasn’t confessing. Erika said she appreciated their kind words and support. Kyle asked what was going to happen with Erika Jayne? but Erika didn’t know. It was an expensive business. She’d just let go of her office space. Kathy said, the richest man in the world will try to take the jewelry back, and Erika said, that’s how tacky they are. Erika didn’t know if there was anything to get, since they’d frozen everything. In her opinion, Tom should turn in his bar card, and stop practicing. In LisaR’s interview, she said the last time she saw Tom was at his house, and he’d seemed charming and with it, but maybe something was going on. Erika said Tom’s sole identity was being a great lawyer, and he put it ahead of everything. When she’d noticed he was on the decline, he held on tighter. He was afraid and mad, and mean AF. In Dorit’s interview, she said she got why Erika was keeping it private. She’d spent 20 years defending the relationship. All everyone ever saw was an old man with a young woman. Kyle said dementia could make someone angry and belligerent, and Crystal said, when her dad got Alzheimer’s, he would get angry at himself for not remembering things. In her interview, she said her dad was brilliant, and then didn’t know the President and the year. It was like a cruel joke. Erika said when she’d told Kyle that Tom had a car accident, it was true, but she hadn’t told the rest of it. We flashed back to Erika telling Kyle about Tom having an accident where he wasn’t hurt but the car was. Erika said he was unconscious for 12 hours; she found him. In LisaR’s interview, she said, at the time, she thought Tom had broken his ankle and would be fine. This is way different. Erika told them that Tom had a head injury, and broke his ankle, shoulder, and clavicle. He’d gone off a cliff. In Erika’s interview, she said, now that the truth had come to light, she could talk about it. She’d wanted to respect Tom’s privacy. She said Tom had lived there for 30 plus years, took a wrong turn by the house, and ended up in the wrong place. He’d tumbled out of the car, and finally called her.

When she asked where he’d been, she’d assumed he was with another woman. Kyle told her to roll it back; what woman? Erika told her, take her pick. He’d been cheating on her for a while. In her interview, LisaR said, with all the effing things going on, how does Erika process this? Erika said, they had no idea what she was living through, and what she’d been through. This was her life. Kyle said it wasn’t the first time she’d heard about Tom cheating, and in her interview, she said, there was always gossip. Nothing solid; just rumblings. She couldn’t picture 81 year old Tom cheating on Erika. She was a trophy wife; treat her like a trophy. Erika said she never went through Tom’s phone. She’d never touched anything, but after Yolanda divorced David, she opened Tom’s phone, and said, wow; okay. In her interview, she said, it was text messages and pictures, and looked like it had been years long. She knew it was years long. She told the women it was hard to hide, and he became sloppy. She knew a lot. LisaR asked if Tom denied it, and Erika said, nope. Kyle wondered why, and Erika said, where was she going? Kyle said, anywhere. Erika was beautiful, and had her whole life ahead of her. But Kathy said that was the way Erika was made to feel, by how he treated her. Erika said Tom had told her straight up, this was his house. Where was she going to go? In Dorit’s interview, she said Erika wasn’t as tough as everyone  thought. Kyle said she knew Erika was a good person, and Erika said she appreciated them listening and understanding. She would be okay, but it wasn’t okay right now. It got quiet for a moment, and Sutton said, how about them Mets who’d like some pancake cake? She thought it was what Erika needed. Sutton went to get whatever the hell that is, and Kyle and LisaR hugged Erika. In Sutton’s interview, she said it was like something out of a movie. Part horror part, part film noire. It was a movie she would not want a starring role in. LisaR said she measured her days by, what was going on with covid, what was going on with Erika, and was her daughter still going out with Scott Disick? She told them to picture her kitchen at 7:30 in the morning, and Harry saying, how did Scott Disick get into our lives? Kyle asked if Amelia and Scott were still together, but LisaR said she wasn’t sure what level it was at. It felt more like friendship. Kyle told her, nice try. LisaR said she wasn’t sure how deep it was, and they laughed.

This season, a vintage sailboat ride; seals mating; lots of drinking; Erika says, if you want to know who your friends are, get old and go broke; Sutton says Kyle is pissing her off; Mauricio says, there are lies all over the place; Erika says she’d like to know where the money is; Garcelle says, f*** Tom; and Erika says she’s coming for Sutton if Sutton calls her a liar again.

🛌🏽 I’ll Sleep In the Next Life…

Join me tomorrow for a little bit of soap, some real estate that will make you cry when you look around at your own humble abode, and maybe a tidbit or two. Until then, stay safe, stay discovering new things, and stay saying what you want, even if it means losing what you have.

July 20, 2021 – Trina Is Introduced To Spencer, New Pool, a Not So Happy Ending & Closing

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Finn plates slices of orange and carrots at a picnic table in the park. Violet runs up to him, and he asks if her team is ready for some snacks. She says they’re hungry, and he says, that’s what a big-time game of T-ball will do to you. She looks at what he’s made, and says, they’re not snacks; they’re too healthy. He says he’s a doctor. He believes in a healthy snack. She says her team is going to hate her. He says they don’t want that, when Elizabeth approaches with a big container. She says she hopes they don’t mind. Aiden made cupcakes for Violet’s team. Violet says, thank you Aunt Elizabeth, and hugs her, and Finn says, yes. Thank you Aunt Elizabeth for saving my life.

New York City. David asks why the hell Anna is so interested in his sister? He moves toward her, saying, what the hell is this? Valentin is on him in a flash, pinning him to the bar with his arm behind his back, and says, move, and he’ll break David’s wrist. Anna says she wants him to tell her about the baby his sister helped kidnap, and the father, Peter August.

Laura sees Jordan, and asks how Alexis and Shawn are going. Jordan says, good evening to her too. They’re both in the interrogation room, making a few phone calls to loved ones. Laura says she’ll need to cut that short.

On the phone, Alexis tells Molly, she’s absolutely sure. Molly says, but mom, and Alexis says, don’t but mom her. The same goes for Kristina and Sam. There’s nothing they can do at this juncture. If anything changes, she’ll let Molly know. TJ asks Molly if his dad is with Alexis, and Alexis says, he’s right here. She’s going to hand the phone over, but there’s one more thing. Have fun tonight. Don’t worry about her for a second. She loves Molly. Molly says she loves Alexis too, and Alexis hands the phone to Shawn. TJ asks if Shawn is going to tell him the same thing Alexis told Molly, and Shawn says he’s got that right. He wants them to enjoy themselves, and not worry about his situation. He’ll be the first to know. TJ says, it will be good news; he just knows. Shawn hopes so, and says he’ll see TJ soon. Shawn tells Alexis that TJ’s hopes are so high, he’s going to be devastated if Shawn gets sent back to Pentenville. Alexis thinks it might be unavoidable – for the both of them.

TJ peruses the menu, and asks Molly if they should take their parents’ advice and spend the evening having fun. She says, it was their intent when they came there, and it makes sense. She may never see him again, he’ll be so busy doing rotations at the hospital. He says, and she’ll be busy studying for the bar exam, while continuing to work for the DA. So let’s eat, drink, and indulge in each other all we can. A waitress brings a bottle of champagne to the table, and Molly asks if TJ ordered it. He says he’s afraid that’s not in the budget. The waitress must have the wrong table. She says, the champagne is from the gentleman at the bar, and Nikolas smiles, raising his glass to them.

Cameron and Josslyn hold hands as they lie in lounge chairs, sunning by the pool. Cameron asks if she wants more sunscreen, and she says, that would be great. She can feel herself starting to roast. He puts sunscreen on her back, and a voice says, watch your hands, townie. Josslyn says, Spencer? and he says, live and in person. She asks how he is, and what made him decide to grace them with his presence? It’s been forever. He says he thought it would be forever before the two of them got together. How’d that happen? Cameron says, just lucky I guess, and puts his arm around Josslyn. He asks how long Spencer is in town for, and Spencer says he’s back for good.

Valentin lets David up, and Anna says she doesn’t understand. David just said he was hired by Peter to take him off the roof of GH. He says, that was the plan, but he couldn’t get the chopper close enough to land, and had to abort. She says, if he didn’t airlift Peter out, how did he escape? David says he has no idea, and he’s done. Do they have any more questions? Talk to his lawyer. He doesn’t have to tell them squat. Valentin says David isn’t going to make his life any easier by walking out. In fact, he’s making his life a helluva lot worse. Anna says, he has one shot to help himself. She needs him to tell her what happened to Peter August.

Valentin thinks David agreed to work for Peter because his sister asked him too, and Anna says, and the money was good; she wired him funds. Valentin says David can talk to him nice there or they can have him arrested for obstruction of justice. Anna says he’ll be fingerprinted, and she doesn’t think New York Methodist is going to be happy having one of their Medivac pilots arrested. She tells him, come on, and pulls out a chair. He sits, and she asks, what happened on the roof? He says he couldn’t land; the hospital wouldn’t give him clearance. She says, so how did Peter escape? and David says, all he knows is, August told him that he’d be alone on the hospital roof, but he wasn’t.

Violet calls to her teammates that her cousin Aiden made cupcakes. Finn says Elizabeth saved the day, and she says she’s happy to help. Aiden actually made them for his Little League team, so she set some aside because she remembered him saying he was responsible for the team snacks. He says, and she figured he’d bring something like orange slices and carrot sticks. She says, something like that, and they sit. He thanks her for saving him from a week of his daughter not speaking to him. It’s too bad his other problem isn’t as easily solved. She says he can’t stop thinking about it, can he? and he says, he’s funny that way when he kills someone and hides them in the hospital freezer. She says he didn’t do it alone, and he says he wishes to God he had.

Cameron says, last he heard, Spencer was taking a gap year, and touring the world. Spencer says he didn’t realize that Cameron kept up with his activities, and Cameron says, grandma gives him the updates. And Aiden was all kinds of jealous. With Spencer studying in France, he’s sure Aiden would love to study pastry cooking in Paris. (Wouldn’t that be baking?) Spencer says his school didn’t offer culinary courses. It was more focused on the traditional curriculum; languages, mathematics, and the extracurriculars of course (🍷), writing and theater. Cameron tells him, grandma said he was the lead in every show, but Spencer says, she exaggerates. He was the lead in most of them. Josslyn sits by the pool, putting her feet in the water, and Cameron joins her. She asks how Spencer’s tennis game is, and he says, better than ever. She says she’s into volleyball now, and he says, what a waste. She says, excuse me? and he says, volleyball is a team sport. Wouldn’t she rather shine as an individual? She says, no. She’d rather play the sport she loves, and Spencer says, if she ever wants to get back into tennis, he’d be glad to give her a tutorial. He won’t bother asking Cameron. Cameron swings a racket like a sledgehammer. Cameron thanks him, and Josslyn says, wow. Spencer hasn’t changed. He asks if she wants him too, squatting down and moving closer. She says, no. What she’d like him to do is cool off. She pushes him into the pool. She and Cameron get up, and walk off, hand in hand. Cameron says, well, Spencer’s still annoying, and Josslyn says she doesn’t think Spencer can help it. Trina appears, and asks, who’s this guy Spencer that they’re talking about? Cameron says, he’s an old friend. He might be stretching it. Josslyn says, no. Spencer’s definitely a friend. They’ve known him since before Trina was even in Port Charles. Trina says she can’t wait to meet him, and Josslyn sees Spencer, getting out of the pool and soaking wet. She says she thinks this might be the perfect opportunity for that, and introduces them.

Nikolas says he doesn’t want to interrupt TJ and Molly’s night out, but TJ says Nikolas ordered the champagne. It’s only fair that he enjoy it with them. Nikolas sits down, and Molly says, and congratulate them on their domestic partnership. Nikolas says he’s really glad they made things official, and she thanks him. She says, not to be a downer, but she heard he and Ava are dealing with a stalker? The PCPD keeps the DA’s office posted. He says he’s glad they’re taking it seriously. Has she seen her mom? He saw Alexis a few times, but hasn’t been able to visit lately, which is remiss on his part. TJ says, Nikolas hasn’t heard, and Nikolas says, please tell him it’s good news. Molly says, it wasn’t for a while. It was torture for her mom. She was locked up in solitary.

Shawn says, Jordan told him that someone leaked it to the press about Judge Carson’s sentencing bias, and Alexis asks if that’s good or bad for them. He says, it might not make a difference in his case. He pled guilty to shooting Hayden. He’ll probably end up back in Pentenville. She says, after everything Jordan’s done for him, why is he saying that? and he says he knows how the system works; slowly, very slowly. An investigation could take years, and in the end, they could still determine Carson did nothing wrong. She says Carson belongs in Pentenville, not him, and he thanks her for her support, but says he worries more about her. She says she’ll be okay, unless she’s sent back to solitary. She can’t do that. It was humbling. She wasn’t prepared; it’s such a tiny cell. Jordan and Laura walk in, and Alexis asks, what happened? Any news? Laura and Jordan look at each other.  

Spencer says, sorry; he’s wet. His old pal Josslyn is still a prankster. What’s her name? Tina? She says, Trina, and Josslyn says, Trina and Spencer actually have a connection. Trina works in Ava’s art gallery, and Spencer is Ava’s stepson. Spencer says, not for much longer. Ava and his father are splitting up, so soon Ava won’t be anything to him. Cameron says Spencer still hasn’t forgiven Ava for forcing his dad into marriage, and Josslyn says, he’s been in boarding school in France for years. Trina says, boarding school? France? He’s full of surprises. She bets he left a trail of broken hearts behind. Josslyn tells Spencer not to get any ideas about Trina. She’s all about her mystery man. Trina says, Victor, but he’s never met Cameron or Josslyn, and when they took a selfie on his cell phone, he never sent it to her to show them. She wonders why. Cameron says he and Josslyn don’t believe Victor exists, and Trina says, it’s no great loss. She thought Victor was cool, but it turns out, he’s a total jerk.  

TJ toasts to his beautiful, intelligent, and courageous domestic partner for exposing Judge Carson’s bias to the world. They clink glasses, and Molly says her mom deserves some credit for doing the research on the judge’s sentences. And Martin got the recording of Judge Carson admitting she sentences people of color more harshly than she does white people. Nikolas says Molly’s mom must be incredibly proud, and she says, proud of her, and glad to be out of Pentenville. She’s in PCPD lock-up for the time being. Nikolas says he wishes he’d known the tough time Alexis was going through. Molly says, hopefully, the worst is over, and TJ says, now that Judge Carson’s sentences have been leaked to the press, the Attorney General’s office is under pressure to investigate. Nikolas asks if there’s a chance Alexis could go free.

Alexis asks if she and Shawn are going back to Pentenville, and Shawn asks if it’s about the media leak they mentioned. Laura says, the Attorney General called to let her know she was making the investigation into Judge Carson her top priority, and Alexis says, it would be great to know who leaked it, so she could send them flowers. Shawn says he’s sure they have no idea, and Jordan says, it’s a matter of public record, so it could be anyone. Jordan’s phone rings, and it’s the Attorney General. Laura says she told them to call Jordan from now on. Jordan leaves to take the call, and Laura says, the Attorney General and the governor are nervous about the amount of press around Judge Carson. Shawn says, so that’s good for them, right? but Laura says, not necessarily. That’s why she wanted to talk to them first, before they got anybody’s hopes up. She knows how politicians operate. They need to talk out every single issue, and sometimes it takes months, even years. She’s so sorry, but it is still waiting game.

Anna and Valentin sit at a table with David, and Anna says, another person was on the roof with Peter? David says, yeah. He was only supposed to take only August to Pawtuck. Since another person could have implicated him, he was relieved he had no clearance to land. She asks if he can describe the other person with Peter.

Elizabeth tells Finn that he needs to hear her. She doesn’t regret helping him hide Peter’s body. Violet comes running to them with an empty container, and Elizabeth says, it looks like Aiden’s cupcakes are popular, and Violet says her team voted that Aiden should make cupcakes for all their games. Elizabeth says she’ll have to ask Aiden if he wants to, and Finn asks, when’s her turn at bat?. She asks him to show her one more time, and Finn says, just like they practiced. He shows her how to hold the bat, and stand, and asks who she’s looking at. The other players? No. The coach? She says, no way; she’s looking at the ball. He tells her, that’s right. Keep her eye on the ball, and when everything feels right in the universe, swing. Nice and level, with her eye on the ball, just like that. Perfect. She thanks him, and says she’s ready now. She runs off, and Elizabeth says she wishes they could watch their kids’ games all summer long, and he says, him too. And not have to worry about a body in the freezer. Elizabeth says, and no way to get him out.

Spencer says, he seems to be dripping, and asks if Trina will tell him about the gallery. She says, sure. Why not? She goes with him, and Josslyn wonders if Spencer is interested in Trina. Cameron says, if he is, he’s got a tough hill to climb, since she doesn’t seem interested at all. She says, Trina seems mad at Spencer, which is strange, since they never met. Then again, you don’t need to know Spencer for long for him to rub you the wrong way. Cameron says, as long as Josslyn’s not interested, he doesn’t care. She says, jealous already? He was always the guy she wanted the most when they were kids.

Spencer tells Trina, he’s so sorry, but she says she’s not interested in his apology. She just lied by omission to her best friends because of him. Why would he pretend to be some guy named Victor? And before he lies again, he should know she’s very perceptive. If she suspects he’s being less than truthful, she’ll tell Cameron and Josslyn how they really met.

Molly says, in a perfect world, her mom would go free, but Nikolas says, it’s not a perfect world. Molly says, her mom’s sentence makes sense; she nearly killed Dante. TJ says, which she admitted to, and Molly says she just hopes Alexis doesn’t have to go back to Pentenville. TJ says, it sounds like Judge Carson has influence with the deputy warden, who could make it difficult for Alexis. Molly says, technically speaking, Alexis had an altercation with a guard, but they know her mom; she’s not a physical person. It couldn’t have been much. TJ says, Alexis was in solitary for three days, and Nikolas says, if he can help in any way… TJ says, Alexis didn’t go after Judge Carson on her own behalf. She did it for his dad. She was trying to get him out of prison. Nikolas asks if there’s a chance Shawn could be released.

Laura says, the governor is going to wait until the investigation has concluded before he takes action, and Shawn asks, what about Alexis? She shouldn’t have to go back to Pentenville. The deputy warden is definitely biased against her. There’s no explanation for Alexis being in solitary for three days for such a minor infraction. Jordan comes back, and Alexis asks what the Attorney General said. Jordan says, a lot. She said the sentence Alexis got was suitable for the crime. Meaning, Alexis won’t go free. However, she won’t be returning to Pentenville. Shawn says, that’s good news, and Alexis says, that depends. Where is she being sent? Jordan says, Spring Ridge. Alexis says she knows that place. it’s right outside Port Charles. She used to advocate for her clients to be sent there. Jordan says, it has a low populations of inmates, all non-violent, and Shawn says, the inmates at Pentenville call it a spa with guards. Laura tells Alexis, congratulations. She knows Alexis will be much more comfortable. Her phone rings, and she says, speak of the devil; it’s the governor. She leaves, and Shawn says, Alexis doesn’t look very happy. He guesses a prison is still a prison. Alexis says she’s grateful, but what about Shawn and others like him? She actually committed the crime she’s been sentenced for, but he didn’t. It’s not fair.  

Elizabeth wonders how they’re going to get Peter out, now that the cameras in the stairwells are working. Finn suggests borrowing a gurney, and a body bag from the morgue. They can take Peter out to the landfill. They cheer Violet on, and Elizabeth says, at least the landfill will help him decompose quickly, and Finn says, listen to them, talking about another human being like this; one he killed. Elizabeth says, one who deserved to die. He did the right thing pushing Peter down the stairs. He’s not sure the authorities would agree, and they cheer for Violet as she takes first base.  

David says he was distracted. He was making an unauthorized landing, and getting lots of heat for it. Anna says, male or female, height, build, and he says, they were male, tall. Valentin says, a hospital employee? but David says, they were dressed in street clothes. Anna says, jeans and a T-shirt? and David says, they were dressed in a suit; blue or grey. He thought the guy was one of them. Anna says, a detective? No. What else can he tell them?   

Violet runs to Finn, who picks her up. She says she got the hit, and he says, her hit was spectacular. She did like he told her. She says she knows she did, and he says, she kept her eye level with the ball, and ran fast. The game is still going on, and there’s no one in left field. Her teammates need her. Violet says she’s glad Finn is there. She got the hit because of him. Elizabeth asks if she’s chopped liver, and Violet says she’s glad Elizabeth is there too. This is her best game ever so far. She tells Finn that she loves him, and he says he loves her too. He puts her down, and says, go get ‘em.

Valentin asks David, how old was this guy? What color was his hair? David says, dark. He’s not sure about the age. Valentin says, long or short hair? and David says, long-ish. Valentin asks if he had a ponytail, but David says, it was to his collar, maybe. Valentin asks if there’s anything else he can tell them, anything distinctive, but David says, all he remembers is that Peter was with a guy on the roof. That’s it. Can he go home now? A couple of cops walk in, and David says, what is this? Anna says he aided and abetted a murderer, and he asks what she’s talking about. He was contracted to fly a plane, and didn’t even pick anyone up. He did nothing wrong. Valentin says, Peter was implicated in a series of murders, and David received money for helping him escape. It’s a serious offense. David says they have no proof; he did nothing. He continues to plead his innocence, as the cops take him away. Valentin asks if Anna believes him about other person, and she says she doesn’t know why he’d make something like that up. Valentin agrees, and says, if Peter had another ally, aside from the pilot and nurse, it’s someone they know nothing about.

Josslyn says, Trina and Spencer have a lot to talk about, and Cameron says, Spencer has a lot to talk about with anybody. The only person he wants to talk to is her.

Spencer says he honestly didn’t mean to mislead Trina, and she says he has no right to even use honestly in a sentence. Who is Victor anyway? He says, his uncle, and she asks why he pretended not to know anyone. He says, it’s complicated, and she thinks that sounds like the start of another stall. Don’t bother. Cameron and Josslyn are right over there. He says, okay, and they sit down. He says he lied because he didn’t want his father to know he was back in Port Charles. She asks, why not? and he says, for three years, he believed his father was dead. When his father resurfaced, he didn’t take it well. And when his father married Ava, he didn’t take that well either. She asks why he came back, and he says his dad is divorcing Ava, and he wanted to show support. He wasn’t sure how his dad would feel, so he laid low. He knows now that his dad is happy he’s home, but if his dad knew he’d waited before seeing his dad, it could destroy any progress they’ve made to fix the relationship.

Molly says, Shawn pled guilty because he thought he shot Hayden, but he didn’t. Someone else did, but they don’t know who. He was literally in the wrong place at the wrong time. TJ says, Diane is assembling a legal team to reopen the investigation into the shooting. Shawn told him it’s going to take time, and not get his hopes up. Molly gets a text, and says, or maybe they should.

Alexis thanks Jordan for letting her text Molly, and Jordan says she hopes the next text is to TJ from Shawn, but Shawn says, it might be a while. Laura has come back, and says she’s not so sure about that. The national press picked up the story. Alexis says she’s sure the governor is thrilled, and Laura says, that’s why the governor was calling her. He’s going to make Shawn’s case a priority. Alexis asks what that means, and Laura says, let her finish. Jordan says, she’s with Alexis. What did the governor say about Shawn?

Valentin and Anna have coffee, and she asks what makes him think the person on the roof with Peter is an ally? He says, that’s interesting. The hospital was searched top to bottom, and everybody who was there the night Peter escaped was interviewed. If the man wasn’t an ally, why didn’t he come forward? She wonders who the person is, and he says, it could be anybody. Someone affiliated with the hospital, or maybe not. Peter is Faison’s son. He has access to any number of support personnel. It might be a courier, or maybe it’s the person who facilitated Peter’s escape. She says, then why bother with Hopkins?

Finn shouts advice to Violet, and tells Elizabeth, the thought that someone could have seen what they did with Peter keeps him up at night. She says, if they’d seen something, they would have come forward by now, and yells to Violet that she’s got this. He says, Anna could have found a witness the police missed. If Peter’s body is discovered, and traced back to him, it will be devastating to Violet. He’s tried hard to give her a sense of security and stability. Her mom’s been off the radar for a year and a half. She says she still can’t believe her sister would voluntarily abandon Violet for so long. She wants him to know if something should happen, she and the boys will take care of Violet, and he thanks her, but says, what if someone saw her helping him hide Peter’s body? She says, if they did, why haven’t they said something? They just have to have faith that they’re in the clear, and continue to live their lives, and not let Peter take that away from them.

Laura says she’s saved the best for last. The governor decided to commute Shawn’s sentence to time served. Shawn asks, what’s the catch? How long will the paperwork take? Jordan says, it could take weeks, sometimes months, but Laura says, the paperwork has been handled already. Effective immediately, Shawn is a free man. Shawn and Alexis hug.

TJ hugs Molly, and congratulates her. Nikolas says, another bottle of champagne to celebrate Alexis’s move out of Pentenville, and Molly says she’s sorry the text didn’t include any news about TJ’s dad. TJ says, his dad should have never been denied parole when it came up a few weeks ago; they said he was a model prisoner. Molly tells Nikolas that they were convinced TJ would be out in time to see TJ graduate from med school.

Spencer asks if there’s any chance Trina can forgive him for lying to her, and she says, for a while, she wasn’t talking to her dad. When she finally did, it felt really good. He says, so she understands why he didn’t tell his father at first that he was back in Port Charles. She says she gets the anger, but does he really work at The Savoy? He says, no, and she asks why he was there the night of her graduation party. He says he was thinking of telling Cameron and Josslyn, but then she came in all bloody and stuff, he realized the timing wasn’t right. She asks why he pretended he didn’t know Ava, and he says she would have told his dad. She says, and his mom? and he says, he would never lie about her. Ask Cameron and Josslyn. Or she can look online. His mother’s name is Courtney Matthews. She died the day he was born. Trina says, sorry. She doesn’t know what to believe about him anymore. He says he gets it, and he’s really sorry. If she wants to tell Ava, Cameron, and Josslyn that he pretended to be some guy named Victor, he’ll understand. She says, but he doesn’t want her to, does he? He wants her to trust him. Josslyn and Cameron come over, and Josslyn asks, what’s going on? They’ve been having this intense conversation forever.

Jordan hugs Shawn, and Shawn thanks Laura. He says he knows she did a lot to get his sentence commuted, but what about the other inmates of color who were handed unfair sentences? She says the governor is going speed up the process of reviewing the sentences. It’s going to be a long road, but she’s glad it began with him. Alexis says Laura is amazing, and asks if Laura promised the governor her first born son. Laura says, no, but she pointed out that his poll numbers could slip if he didn’t correct this horrible injustice, and he’s up for reelection. Jordan says, finally, a politically savvy move that also achieves justice, and Alexis says Shawn deserves it. He’s been a model prisoner, and he’s been a rock star to the other inmates. God knows he saved her life and her sanity. He says she saved his too. He suggests they call TJ, but Jordan has a better idea.

Trina says she and Spencer were just talking about art. he’s interested in her job at the gallery. Cameron says he can see the movie title; Spencer Cassadine, Man of the World. Spencer says, and he can see Cameron’s… Sorry. What are his interests? Besides Josslyn. Cameron says, that’s funny. On that note, he’s going to head out or he’ll be late for work. Josslyn says she has a PT appointment to work on her ankle. She asks if she can give Trina a ride, but Trina says she thinks she’ll stick around. Cameron wonders if she has more to talk to Spencer about art, and Josslyn tells Trina, call her later. Cameron tells Spencer, welcome back; it’s good to see him. They fist bump, and Cameron and Josslyn leave. Trina stands in front of Spencer, her arms folded. He thanks her for keeping his secret, and she says she’s glad that he and his dad are talking again, but so they’re clear, lie to her again, and she’s out. And so is his secret.

TJ supposes if there were good news about his dad, he would have heard by now, and Molly says she’s sorry. Nikolas says he is too. He has some calls to make, so he’s going to say goodbye. Molly thanks him for the champagne and good wishes, when Jordan and Shawn walk in. TJ says he doesn’t believe it, and goes over to Shawn. He says, Shawn is out, and Shawn says, he’s a free man. They hug, and Shawn says it’s good to see TJ.  .  

Alexis sips some coffee, and says, compared to the swill in Pentenville, Laura has no idea. It tastes like the perfect café au lait from a sidewalk café in Paris. Laura says she’s sorry it’s been so hard on Alexis. She had no idea. Alexis says she can’t thank Laura enough for intervening in Shawn’s case, but Laura says, it was Alexis, Molly, and Martin who did the heavy lifting. Alexis says, Nikolas gets credit for an assist. He saved her from Cyrus’s people. She doesn’t know how to thank him. Laura says, his methods were dubious, but it was for a worthy cause. Alexis says, she has to admit he’s redeemed himself, and Laura says, it’s a huge relief that she can recognize her own son again. She only wishes he and Ava didn’t have to deal with the stalker in their life, but Alexis is right. Her son has turned into the good man she always knew he was.

Nikolas congratulates Shawn on his release; it’s well-deserved. Shawn says, freedom feels good, and Jordan asks what’s the first thing he wants to do? TJ says, champagne? and Molly says, the MetroCourt’s filet mignon? Shawn says, he wouldn’t say no to either, but first he wants to focus on repaying his debt to Hayden. Someone tried to kill her and came damn close. He’s going to find out who.

Finn says, Violet won the game for her team. He’s so proud of her. She asks if she can celebrate with her team and coach, and he says, of course (🍷). He’ll be right there. Violet runs off, and Finn tells Elizabeth that Violet is the most important thing in the world to him. He owes her love and security. He owes her everything, and for her sake, he keeps going. It’s not fair to ask Elizabeth… Elizabeth says she’s not going anywhere. They’ll deal with this together.

Anna wonders, if Peter had someone waiting to transport him, why book a helicopter? Valentin suggests it was a diversion or a contingency plan, but she says, why go to the roof if he wasn’t going to get on board? Valentin says, Peter killed Franco, he arranged for Maxie’s abduction, his child had disappeared. He needed to get out of GH, and needed to disappear himself. But if the Peter’s helicopter didn’t land, it still leaves them with the mystery man on the roof. She says, he’s right. Maybe it’s not important… No, that person’s very important, but there’s something they’re not seeing clearly. It doesn’t add up.

Tomorrow, Chase says he can’t be Willow’s husband, Terry tells Portia that the only place to be is The Savoy, Sasha says she isn’t so sure she wants him to be, and Stella says, get out of her way.

🏊‍♀️ About That Pool…

Does the moss bowl have a rival?

The Haves and The Have Nots

Madison continues to do chest compression on Wyatt. Jim wonders where the ambulance is, and Jeffrey says, they’re on the way. He thinks he hears them, and goes outside. Madison says, there’s still no pulse, and Leo takes over. Madison says, check his pockets, but be careful of needles. Jim hands the prescription bottles he finds to Madison, who says, oh no. If Wyatt mixed these, he’s in cardiac arrest. Jim says, he was fine, and Madison says, they’re slow acting once get in your system. Jim asks, where’s the damn ambulance? and we hear sirens. He calls to Jeffrey, asking if it’s there, and David says, he’ll go. Keep working on him. He runs out, and says, this way; hurry.  Madison says, still no pulse, and Jim wails, where’s the ambulance? The EMTs come in, and Madison tells them that Wyatt is in cardiac arrest. He doesn’t know what all Wyatt has taken, but he wants them to use Narca,n and they need a crash cart. The EMTs cut Wyatt’s shirt open.

Jim says, hey, buddy, they’re going to fix you up. An EMT says, clear! and zaps Wyatt. He does it a second time, then Madison takes over. He asks if Madison is a doctor, and Madison says he’s a nurse. He says, clear! and zaps Wyatt. Clear! Zap. Jim asks how he’s doing, and Madison tries one more time. The EMT who’d been working on Wyatt tells the other one that they need a gurney. He tells Jim, he’s gone, sir. Jim cries, and gets up, saying, no, no, no. He walks outside, and David follows. Jim heads for his car, but David says he shouldn’t drive. Jim says he’s fine, and gets in the car. David says he’s sorry, and tries to reason with Jim, but Jim starts up the car, and burns rubber.  Inside the house, Jeffrey looks at Wyatt’s body, then walks outside. David asks if Jeffrey is okay, and Jeffrey says, it’s really happening. David tells Jeffrey that he’s sorry, and Madison joins them. Madison says he knows how much Wyatt meant to Jeffrey, and he’s sorry. Jeffrey says he really tried, and David thanks Madison for his help. He suggests they go back inside, and Jeffrey walks slowly. Inside, Madison remembers he left something in the car, and Jeffrey asks where he parked. He says, in the garage, and Jeffrey tells him, it will be quicker if he goes out the back door.  

Veronica goes to her closet, and opens the safe, using a keypad. She takes out a stack of cash. Marco waits on the sofa downstairs, and she walks in, tapping the cash against her palm. He thanks her, and she says, it’s all there. He thumbs the stack, and she asks if he doesn’t want to count it. He says he does, and sits back down. As he counts, he tells her that she should really be more careful. She asks why he’s saying that, and he says, all of these people are after her life. She says, who? and he says, Jim Cryer. She says, Jim Cryer is certainly not all these people. He says, there are others, and she says, like who? He says he’s pretty connected, and overheard a few things. She says, like what? and he says she has a lot of enemies, so there are always others. She says she wouldn’t be Veronica if she didn’t have enemies, but he says, that’s not a good thing. She should pray to Mary, ask for forgiveness. She says he’s telling her this after he just did what he did? He says, he always asks for forgiveness, and she says, after he kills people? and he says, yes. She says, isn’t that special? and he tells her that she should consider it. She says, he should consider leaving, and he thanks her. She says he knows way out. Au revoir. He leaves.

Marco gets in the car with Jim’s thug, who asks if he got the money. He says he did, and Jim’s thug says they just need to get this done. As soon as she comes out. Marco says, yeah.  

Benny and Candace run into Hanna’s house, and find her in the kitchen. She says she’s all right, and Benny asks, what happened? She says, Lord have mercy. She’s all right. He says he’s going to kill the SOB who did this, and Hanan says, he knows who did this? Lord, of course he does. Is he trying to get another baby killed? She tells Candace, give that man his money, but Candace says, it’s not Jim Cryer, and Hanna asks, who hell did this? Benny says, this one is on him, and Hanna says, Lord have mercy. What did he do? He says he didn’t do anything, and Candace says, someone is upset that he’s dating their ex. Hanna says, she’s full of sh*t, and Benny can’t keep his d*ck in his pants. She’s got this girl up in there. She calls for Tanisha, who comes in with the baby, and says he’s going to get everyone killed with his foolishness. Benny says he doesn’t know Tanisha, but Hanna says he’d better talk to her. Benny says, who are you? He’s never seen her before. There’s a knock at the door, and Hanna says, it’s the police. She goes to answer it, and I think, I would be a little more cautious after what just happened.

Hanna lets in an officer, who asks if they’re okay, and she says they are. Her son knows who did this. Benny says he doesn’t, and the officer asks, was he there? Hanna says she and Tanisha were there. Someone drove by, and shot up the whole damn living room. He asks again if she’s okay, and she says she is. He says he’ll take her statement and talk to the neighbors. He’ll be right back. She says she won’t be there; she has somewhere to go. Tanisha says she’ll be there, and Candace asks if Tanisha is okay. Tanisha says, thank God the baby wasn’t in the way, and Candace asks how Benny knows Tanisha. He says he doesn’t, but Tanisha says, look at the baby, and Candace says he looks just like Benny. Benny says, the baby’s not his, and Tanisha says, he’s hers. She understands he doesn’t remember; they were both pretty drunk. It was at a club in Austin. He says he hasn’t been there in… She says, fifteen months to be exact. Candace asks how old the baby is, and Tanisha says, six months. Benny says he doesn’t know her, and Candace says, she has proof, and it’s one hell of a receipt. Tanisha says she doesn’t want anything. She just thought he should know. He says she’s tell him the baby is his, and she says, yes. He says he doesn’t think so, and wants a DNA test from his own doctor. She says, again, she doesn’t want anything, and he asks, then why is she there? She says, he has a son, and she thought he should know about him. He asks if she wants money, and she says, no. He says he just came up, and he’s not giving her nothing. He doesn’t know who she is at all. She says she’s an attorney. She was out with her girlfriends at a bachelorette party, and they dared her to kiss him. He didn’t stop her, and she’s ashamed to say they ended up in… He says, the bathroom stall. She says, yeah, and he says, it was the ladies bathroom. She says, now does he remember? He says he was drunk, and she says, so was she. He says he’s sorry, and she says, it’s okay. She makes six-figures. She just thought he should know. She doesn’t want anything other than him knowing his son exists. If he wants to be in his son’s life, that’s up to him, but here he is. Candace says, damn. She tells Benny that she’s going to see Mitch, and he says, don’t. She says, they won’t hurt her, and leaves. Tanisha asks if Benny wants to hold his son, and Benny takes him. She says he does look just like Benny. Benny is all, hey and hi, with the baby, and says, it’s daddy.

Candace stands outside when Hanna comes out. Hanna says Candace just won’t learn, and they sit on the stoop. Hanna asks why Candace doesn’t give Jim his money back. Candace says she can’t do it, and Hanna asks, why not? Candace says, it’s her last chance; her only chance. Hanna says she’s just going to let him kill all of them, and Candace says, it wasn’t him. Hanna says, it could have been, and Candace says Hanna doesn’t understand. It’s a lot of money. Hanna says, it’s not hers, and Candace says, sorry. Hanna says she doesn’t get it. Running around buying cars for people, is it worth it? She thought they’d made so much more progress than this. Candace says, the straight life’s not for her. Why can’t Hanna understand? Hanna says she does. Why can’t Candace understand? She’s said it over and over again. Choosing this life, something is going to happen to her. Candace says she’ll be ready when it does, and Hanna says, so they’re back to that. Candace says she doesn’t need insults, and Hanna says, no insults. Live it like she’s got to. Candace says, she just needs… Hanna asks what Candace needs, and Candace says she doesn’t want live like this anymore. She wants to be better. She’s going to go, and Hanna says, do what she’s got to do. Candace says, sorry, and leaves. Hanna says, Lord, please. Please help us all. The officer comes back, and says he has a few questions. She says she told him that she had to go somewhere, but he says, it won’t take long. She says, what is it? and he asks, who’s house is this? She says, her boss, Kathryn Cryer, and he asks how long she’s lived there. She says, a few months.  

On the phone with her lawyer, Kathryn says she has somebody in her cell. He says, that’s not supposed to happen, and she says, it sure as hell did. He says he’ll look into it, and she says she’s been in jail this whole time, and nothing is happening. He says he’s working on it, and she asks if he hooked up with Jim to keep her in there to get her money. He says, no, but she says he’s up to something. He promises he’s not, and she says he needs to get that bitch out of her cell. He says he’s on his way, and she tells him, hurry.

Kathryn calls Hanna, and says, a friendly voice. She asks if Hanna found Wyatt, but Hanna says, no; she didn’t see him. Kathryn wonders where he could be, and Hanna says, sorry. Kathryn says she’s still in this damn place. She can’t believe she’s been sitting here the entire time. Hanna says she knows Kathryn has a lot, but there was a drive-by at the brownstone. Kathryn asks if Hanna is all right, and Hanna says, yeah, but the living room is… Kathryn says, don’t worry about it. The insurance will pay. She’s just glad Hanna is all right. Damn Jim. Hanna says, it may not have been him, but Kathryn says, it sounds like him. Hanna says, Benny was messing around with someone else’s woman, and Kathryn says, sorry. Hanna says, not as sorry as she is. She’s got to stop by the house to get documents for the meeting with the accountant tomorrow. Kathryn says, they’re on her nightstand, and Hanna says she hopes she doesn’t run into Kathryn’s husband. Kathryn says, if she does, walk in and out, and Hanna says she’ll try that. Kathryn tells her, be careful, and Hanna says, Jim doesn’t scare her. Kathryn says, good, and Hanna says she just wants him to leave her alone. Kathryn asks Hanna to let her know when she has the paperwork, and Hanna says, then she’ll come see Kathryn. Kathryn says someone was put in her cell, and Hanna tells Kathryn to be careful too.

Sandy walks into Rianna’s place and says, call him. She says, please, and he says, call him, and tell him to come over. She says she’s not going to call, and he tells her to do it, or she knows what’s going to happen. She says she’ll call the police, and he asks if she thinks they’ll protect her. Call him. She says she’s not going to, and he slaps her. He says, call and tell Benny that he whooped her ass. She says he doesn’t know her like that. She sold him a house, that’s it. He says it’s the last time he’s asking, and she picks up the phone. Benny asks if she misses him already, and she says Sandy found her. He asks, where is she? and she says, at his new house. He says he’s on his way, and Sandy asks why she didn’t tell him where they were, and she says he would have known Sandy was there. Sandy asks what the address is, and she tells him. He says, come on… Wait. She’s lying to him. She says she’s not, and he picks up the conveniently left out folder with Benny’s info. I’m surprised he’s smart enough to know what this is. It’s a different address, and he says she was protecting Benny. She says she was trying to protect Sandy. She doesn’t want him to do this. He tells her to get her ass in the car.

Kathryn yells that she needs a phone call, and Diamond says, that ain’t happening. Kathryn asks if Diamond will just not talk to her, and Diamond calls Kathryn a princess. She’s not going talk. She’s going to beat Kathryn’s ass. Kathryn says Diamond is threatening her, and Diamond says, okay. Kathryn says she’d better bring all she’s got, and Diamond says she’s got a lot. She’s Diamond, baby. Kathryn says, hard as a rock, and she says, Diamond Castile. Kathryn doesn’t remember her does she? Lizzie Castile was her niece, and they covered it up. Now she knows why she was put in with Kathryn. To kill her ass. She moves toward Kathryn, and knocks Kathryn around for a while. She produces a rope, and ties it around Kathryn’s neck, looping it through the bars. She pulls on the other end, and says, die. Kathryn struggles to breathe for a while, but then slumps.  

Veronica heads for her car, when two masked gunmen come out of the dark, and shoot the crap out of her. They run off into the night. That makes three so far.

Candace walks into the Iron Bone (I guess it’s the last time I’ll be typing that… sniff…) She sees Mitch, and asks what happened to his face. He says she shouldn’t be there, and she says she needs to talk to his family. They came after her brother. Vinnie comes out, and says, look what the cat dragged in. She says, hi, and he says, she is? She says, Candace Young, and he says, she’s Candace. How is she? She says, not good, and Vinnie asks, why is that? She says his family came after her brother, and Vinnie says, did they get him? She says she’s not talking to him, and he says he thinks she is. She asks Mitch, what’s going on? and Mitch says she needs to go. She says they came after Benny, and Mitch says, she needs to leave. She asks if he knew about this, and he won’t look at her. She says, did he? and he nods, saying, yeah. She says, how could he? and he says he’s sorry. His hands are tied. Vinnie says, literally, and Candace says, please. Don’t let them do this. Vinnie says, Mitch has no power. Didn’t he tell her? Mitch doesn’t want to be part of the family, so he doesn’t have vote or say. He’s an outsider. She asks what his name is, and he says, Vinnie. She says, okay, Vinnie. Her brother… Vinnie says, did a bad thing, and she says, he didn’t mean to, but Vinnie says his nephew Sandy thinks he did. She says Benny didn’t know she was Sandy’s girl. She looks at Mitch, and says, tell him. Vinnie says, stop talking to him. Mitch tries to say something, and Vinnie says, stop talking. He can’t talk to her. Candace asks where Mama Rose is. Mama Rose said she’d do Candace a favor, and Candace wants to talk to her. Vinnie says, he’s the new Mama Rose. Candace says she did Mama Rose a favor, and they came after her brother. His family doesn’t usually roll like that. He says she’s got balls, and she says she just wants them to leave her brother alone. Vinnie says, it’s up to Sandy, and she asks, where is he? She’ll talk to him. He says, she’s not going to stop Sandy. He’s going to find her brother. She says he almost killed her mother, and he says, casualty. Mitch says she should go, but she says she’s not leaving. Vinnie says, she is, but not on her own. They’re delivering her to Jim. She saved them a trip. She says she’s out of there, but some goons block her way. Vinnie says she’s got a lot of Jim’s money. She asks what it has to do with him, and he says Jim has done a lot for them; one hand washes the other. She has Jim’s money, and they owe him. She says she helped them, but he says, it’s a new day. The goons grab her. Mitch starts to move, and Vinnie says, if he stands up, he’ll lose his legs. Mitch gets up anyway, and punches Vinnie, but other guys grab him, and Vinnie punches Mitch out. Candace starts to fight, but ends up being dragged away, yelling. Mitch says, son of a bitch, and Vinnie  tells him, stay down. Mitch tells them to get off him.

Rianna waits in front of the house, crying, when Benny pulls up. She says she’s so sorry, and she says he has nothing to be sorry about. Sandy walks out from the side of the house, and Benny says, it’s like this. Sandy says Benny has been messing with his girl like this told him Sandy takes out a gun, and says Benny embarrassed him in front of his entire family. Benny tells him, put the gun down, and they’ll handle his problem like two men. Sandy says, okay, but Rianna says, Benny, no. Sandy says, let’s do it, and Benny says, all right, let’s do this. Two more guys come out, and Benny is shot down. Rianna sits on the steps, crying. Are we killing everyone tonight? Will Charles be assassinated too?

Leo approaches Jeffrey, and says he knows it’s a bad time, but Tanner is there. Should he send Tanner away? Jeffrey says he’ll talk to Tanner. Tanner comes in and says, sorry. Is it a bad time? Jeffrey asks, what is it? and Tanner says he wanted to bring this to Jeffrey. Jeffrey says, he told Tanner… but Tanner says, Jeffrey wants this. Jeffrey says, no, really, he doesn’t, but Tanner hands him a box. Jeffrey sets it on the table, and Tanner says he has a beautiful house. Jeffrey thanks him, and Tanner says he wishes he lived like this. Jeffrey says, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, but Tanner tells him, he can say that from his point-of-view. His brother was crazy about Jeffrey. Jeffrey says, Tanner told him; thanks. Tanner says, don’t get him wrong. He respects it, he just doesn’t get it. Jeffrey says, a lot of people don’t, and Tanner says Jeffrey did something to Justin; put a spell on him. He’s going to miss Justin. He wasn’t a bad guy, just confused. Is Jeffrey confused too? Jeffrey says, no, he’s gay, and Tanner asks if he’s going to make the memorial. Oh that’s right, his mother. Jeffrey thanks Tanner for bringing the box, and Tanner says he’s sure it’s something personal. Jeffrey says, it’s a really bad time, and Tanner says he’ll see Jeffrey around. Jeffrey is the last connection to his brother. He leaves, but the music is saying, this ain’t over. Madison comes back.

Madison gives Jeffrey a glass of water, and an aspirin or something. David comes downstairs, and says he’s going to check on Jim. He asks if Madison can stay, and Madison nods. David starts to leave, and Jeffrey opens the box. The house blows up, as Tanner walks to his car. Oh, come TF on. Who’s going to be left? Just those two hitmen? And why isn’t Leo doing his job? Jim was right about that security company.

Jim is having a drink in the living room, and Vinnie’s goons walk in. One of them says, delivery, and they dump Candace on the floor. He asks how she’s doing. She says she’ll give him the money, but he says, it was Wyatt’s money. She says she’s sorry, and he says, is she? It’s too late for that. She says, please, and Jim says, drag this worthless bitch upstairs; last room on the left. As he goes upstairs, he asks, how she feels, calling her Candy Cane. He says, her ass dead already; her body just doesn’t know it yet. He drew her a bath, like old times. The goons dump her in, and leave. He pushes her under the water, and pulls her back out a couple of times, asking how it feels. He holds her down until she stops moving, and he says, 3… 2… 1… He lets go and laughs. Hanna walks in the front door, and sees drops of blood going up the stairs.  

She goes upstairs, and hears splashing noises. She sees Jim sitting on the tub, and says, who is that? He says, why doesn’t she come on in, and take a look. He gets up and Hanna runs to the tub. He says he held down a little while for Wyatt, and longer for Amanda. Hanna pulls a lifeless Candace out of the tub, and Jim asks how it feels. Her daughter is dead like his son and daughter. Now she knows how it feels. His son is dead. His daughter is dead. Now that bitch whore of a daughter of hers is dead. She says, son of a bitch, and goes apesh*t on him. She shoves him against the wall, and he gets her down, but she’s a good fighter. Still, he gets the better of her, and drags her down the hallway by her leg. She kicks him, and manages to get up. He tries throwing her down the stairs, but they both go down, sort of tumbling together. He kicks her down the last flight, and says she thinks she’s going to take everything. She’s lying on the floor of the foyer, and he keeps kicking her, but she manages to get up and get the door open. She kicks him in the balls, after which he recovers way too fast, and she throws a planter at him on the porch. She gets to the car, but he pulls her back and throws her down. She kicks him again, and beats on him with (I think) her shoe. She gets in the car, and he smashes the driver’s side window, but she drives anyway. He tries to hang on to the door, but she drags him along. He calls her a crazy bitch, and she finally shakes him. She says, you wait, and peels out.

She drives out, turns around, and drives over the lawn. She heads for Jim, who says, take your best agghhh! as she slams right into him. She stops the car, and says, she ain’t gonna hurt like this. Then she cries and screams and shakes, looking like the last girl left in a horror film.

The text thanks everyone for watching, and I want to cry. In 8 years, I never missed an episode. I’m not sure what the final death toll was here, but it was at least eight. I gotta say, Tyler surprised me, and made sure there won’t be another season. Ever. At least not with this cast.

Next week, a two-part event that looks back over the show – The Final Cast Reunion. It looks like a lot of fun.   

🥂 Until Next We Meet…

Bringing you NYC in Salem tomorrow, along with the not-even-hot mess that is Beverly Hills. In the meantime, stay safe, stay dancing to your own tune, and stay keeping your eye on the ball, and swinging when everything feels right in the universe.

July 19, 2021 – Spencer Makes a Slip, Roy Jr. Makes a Conscious Choice & Friend

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny tells Nina that he hates to bother her when she’s busy. He didn’t really want to make this call. She asks, what’s wrong? and he says, they need her; Lenny, Phyllis, and him. Is there any way she can come home? She says she doesn’t understand. What’s going on? He says he promised Lenny back in Nixon Falls that he woudn’t say anything, and she says, back in Nixon Falls? Where are they? He says, they’re all in New York, and Nina looks pretty startled.

At Ryan’s Pub, Valentin says, if they’re waiting in an Irish pub, he’s not drinking domestic beer, and puts a glass in front of Anna. She says, is it warm? and he takes a sip, and says, oh yeah. She asks if he couldn’t get anything else from the bartender. He tells her, if the nurse at New York Methodist is right, the Medivac pilot is a regular here. She says, when he gets there… and Valentin says, it’s her show. She says, right now, this could be a way to track Peter down, and find Maxie’s baby.

Brook brings Bailey/Louise into the hospital in a stroller, and tells Deanna that they’re here for Bailey’s check-up. Deanna fusses over the baby, and says she can’t decide who she looks like, Brook or Mr. Cassadine. Brook says, you know babies. One minute they’re a dead ringer for you, and the next, they’re a dead ringer for Winston Churchill. Deanna goes to see if the doctor is in, when Maxie comes out of the elevator. She tells Brook that she hopes everything is okay with Bailey, and Brook says, just a check-up. Maxie lowers her voice, and thanks Brook for arranging this meet-up. Brook says, of course (🍷). It’s Maxie’s last chance to see the baby before she leaves, and with Monica working from home today, it’s her best shot. Maxie says, the last thing she needs is another conversation with Monica about her fixation on Brook’s baby. Austin says, as I live and breathe. He asks what the two of them are up to.

At the pool, Trina looks at her phone, and Josslyn asks if it’s her mystery man. Trina says she doesn’t know why she gave him her number. She guesses she felt sorry for him. Josslyn asks what he did to deserve Trina’s pity, and Trina says, it’s not pity. Victor grew up without a mom. There’s something lost and lonely about him. Josslyn says Trina likes him, and Trina says, the same way she likes stray puppies.

At the MetroCourt, Nikolas says, that’s what’s happening at Cassadine Industries, and asks if Spencer is sure he’s not bored. Spencer says he finds it fascinating, and especially likes seeing Nikolas back in charge. Nikolas says he’s flattered, but shouldn’t Spencer be spending time with friends? Spencer says he plans to, but right now this is the only place he wants to be, and Nikolas says he feels the same way. Spencer says, even if that means Nikolas’s wife isn’t part of it? and Nikolas sees Ava come out of the elevator.

Nina asks, where in New York? and Sonny says, somewhere in Manhattan; New York Methodist Hospital. Lenny is sick. She asks, how sick? and he says, it’s bad. Lenny doesn’t have much time. Lenny needs her. He needs her.

Brook asks how what they’re doing is any of Austin’s business, and he says he just figured… She says, he just figured because he claims to be her family – which, by the way, they’ve heard a thousand times before – somehow her business is his business? He says, really, and she says, she and Maxie were just talking. So he can run along. Shoo. He gives Maxie a little wave, and asks, how’s his former patient? Deanna tells Brook that the doctor is ready to see Bailey, and Brook follows her, telling Austin, private family business. Maxie says he and Brook are related? How did she miss that? He doesn’t know where to begin, and she says, maybe with why he left his cozy country practice, and chose to be on the staff there. He says, she of all people should know how quickly life can change.

Josslyn asks Trina to tell her more about Victor, and Trina says, he’s excessively fond of the park. Tell her what she missed on the 4th after she took off. Josslyn says Trina is deflecting, and Trina says she’s glad Josslyn caught that. Did she and Cameron do anything else besides stay and watch the fireworks? Josslyn flashes back to their kiss, and says, actually, she’s been waiting for the right moment to tell Trina. Trina says, tell her what? when Cameron walks in. Trina waves, and tells Josslyn, please, no. Josslyn says, please no, what? and Trina says, please, no Josslyn and Cameron. Don’t tell her they’re at it again.

Nikolas asks if Ava wants to sit down, but she says she doesn’t want to intrude. Besides, they said everything there was to say at Windymere. He says, that’s not quite true. He has something to tell her that’s going to affect them and their future.

Sonny tells Nina, they came for a second opinion on Lenny’s heart, but instead they found a tumor. Nina says she wishes she’d have known. She would have dropped everything to be there. He says that’s why Lenny didn’t want him to tell her. He didn’t want to interrupt her time with her grandson. She says, as it happens, she’s with him right now, and his mother, and Sonny says he’ll let her go, but she says Willow is helping Wiley get ready. She has time to talk. He says there’s one thing he needs to ask her that he hates to ask, and he knows Lenny would hate for him to ask. She says he doesn’t need to ask. Cancer treatments cost a fortune. She would love to help.

Anna says, if David Hopkins makes a move or goes for the exit… and Valentin says, David will have to get past him. She makes a calm down gesture, and says, here we go. David walks in and goes to the bar. The bartender pours him a shot, and Anna walks up, looking at her phone. She says she has no bars, and asks if he has service. He says, let him take a shot. She’s from London. She says, oh wow. He’s good… for an American.

Maxie says she’s surprised to hear Austin moved to Port Charles. He seemed so at home in Pawtuck, where he delivered her baby in the woods. She thanks him again, and he says, right time, right place. He wishes he could have stopped whoever took her baby. Any word? She says, not yet, but they were talking about him. How is he related to Brook? He says Brook is his cousin, and Maxie says, that makes him a Quartermaine. He says, guilty as charged, but she tells him, the first thing to know about that family. Never admit guilt, as long as you already know you’re getting away with it. He says, getting away with what? and she says, doesn’t matter. Getting back to how he’s related to Brook… He tells her that his full name is Austin Gatlin Holt, and she says, that makes his father Jimmy Lee, one of Edwards illegitimate children. He asks how she knows that, and she says, it’s all in Lucy Coe’s book, The Travel Guide to Port Charles. He laughs, and says, that’s a thing? and she says he can buy it online, and it’s also in Edward’s unauthorized biography. How are his parents? He says, his father died 6 months ago, and she says she’s so sorry. So that’s why he’s there? To connect with family? He says he is. Did she think it was for some other reason?

Cameron asks if he’s butting into girl talk, and Josslyn says, they were just talking about the 4th of July. He says, best day ever, and Trina says, really? Not birthdays or Christmas? Cameron says, what about them?

Nikolas asks if Spencer can give them a moment, and Spencer says, gladly. He starts to get up, but Nikolas says, stay put; he won’t be long. He steps away with Ava, and tells her that he spoke with Martin, who suggested a no-fault divorce. She asks what they have to do, and he says, both parties have to agree the marriage has broken down irrevocably for at least six months. She asks if he agrees to that, and he says, if that’s what she wants. It will take at least six weeks to finalize; it was the swiftest option they had. She says, the stalker could do a lot of damage in six weeks, and he says he’ll make sure a bodyguard is ever-present, and out of sight, just like he is today. She asks, what about Avery? and he says, Avery is safe with Carly. She says, for another six weeks… Okay, a no-fault divorce it is. And the sooner their lawyers get started on it, the better for everyone.

Phyllis remembers when Lenny’s fishing line got tangled, and he got so mad. He says he lost the flathead he’d been trying to catch, then he heard her laughing. She says, because it was funny, and he says, not to him it wasn’t. She says she could see that too, and he says he was about to give whoever was laughing what for, then he saw her. She says, and he forgot all about the fish. They laugh, and he says, that’s not the way the story goes. She says, she’d like it to, just once, but he says, it’s not as good a story if he’s not mad at her for rooting for the fish. Why was she rooting for the fish? She says she always roots for the underdog, and he says he was the underdog. That fish had the upper hand, and it didn’t even have hands. She says, when she asked what he was going to do when he caught the fish, he said, bring him in, weigh him, throw him back, and catch him again. That’s when she knew he had respect her for life, and more patience than anyone would guess. He says, don’t tell anybody, and she says his secret is safe with her. She puts her head on his shoulder.

Anna tells David that she’s new in town. The Big Apple. Does anybody call it that anymore? He says, no, and she says she didn’t think so. It’s quite intimidating… unless you have somebody to show you the ropes. He says, you get used to it, and she asks if he’s a newcomer as well. He tells her, you could say that, and she says, something they have in common. What brought him there? A job? A new life? Reinventing himself? He says, trying to forget, and she says, a woman? He says, sort of. His sister is dead. Valentin watches the exchange, and Anna says, she’s sorry. She guesses they have something else in common. Her sister died recently as well. Valentin gives a half-smile.

Sonny thanks Nina, saying he knew she’d want to help, and she says, of course (🍷) she’d want to help, and thanks him for asking her. He says now he just has to convince Lenny and Phyllis to accept the help, and she says, it’s Lenny’s life they’re talking about. She would always help; pride be damned. After the kindness they’ve shown her, she wants to do something in return. He says, they’ll be very happy, eventually, and she says he’ll just have to convince them. He says, after they give him hell for calling her in the first place. She says she can get a ticket to New York tonight, but he says they’re heading home tomorrow. She says, then she’ll see him in Nixon Falls tomorrow. In the meantime, if there’s anything they need, let her know. He says, just her… She knows what he means. She says she knows. She misses him too. Willow comes down with Wiley, and says, somebody can’t wait to hit the water.

Nina says, one second, and Willow tells her to take her time. They’ll be outside. Nina says they don’t have to go; just one second. She tells Sonny that she should run. The man of her dreams just walked in. He says, competition? He knows who would win this round. She says she’ll see him later, and to give Phyllis and Lenny her love. And don’t take no for an answer. He says, done and done. Willow says she’s sorry she interrupted, but Nina says her timing is perfect. She takes Wiley from Willow, and says he’s just the medicine she needs. She’s so glad he’s in her life. Willow asks, what’s wrong? Bad news? Nina says, a friend is sick. Just when she and Wiley are getting to know each other again, she has to leave him.

Maxie tells Austin, good luck with the Quartermaines. She wishes she could be around for the fireworks. He asks if she’s going someplace, and she says, it’s difficult for her to see Brook with her baby. Brook has been nice about it, letting her spend time with Bailey, and they thought it would help, but… He says, every time she sees Bailey, she sees Louise, and she says he has no idea. Brook comes out with Bailey/Louise in the stroller, and Maxie asks, how was the check-up? Brook says her little angel passed with flying colors. She asks if she missed anything, and Austin says, just tragedy. Maxie is leaving just as he’s settling in. He wishes Maxie the best of luck, but she says he’ll need it more than she will. He tells Brook, he’ll see her when he sees her… unless she sees him first. He leaves, and Brook asks what Austin knows. Maxie says, more than she does. Why didn’t Brook tell her that he was her cousin?

Trina says, know what would be totally fun and awesome to do right now? and Cameron says, a dip in the pool? She says, even better. Let’s look at our classes. She pulls out a folder, and Josslyn says, right now? Cameron says, they have all summer, but Trina says, is the pool going anywhere? Cameron says, well, no, and she says, but they are – to PCU. Do they believe they can shop for their classes? Pick whatever you like, then decide whether you want to take it or not? Isn’t it wild? Like this humanities program where they can learn about various countries and cultures. They could use more exposure to other people. Or have they already decided what they want? Cameron looks at Josslyn and says, pretty much, and Josslyn asks him to go get them something at the bar. He leaves, and Trina says, well? Josslyn asks if she remembers when they vowed never to let a boy come between them, and Trina asks, why? Josslyn says she needs Trina to trust her that it’s still true.   

Ava says, Spencer is getting a little antsy, and thanks Nikolas for the update. He can call Scotty with anything further. She starts to leave, but he takes her arm. She says, broken irrevocably, remember? She leaves, and he goes back to the table. Spencer says he’s sorry this is upsetting Nikolas, but maybe it’s better this way. Nikolas asks, how? and Spencer says, Ava isn’t his favorite person, but if someone is trying to freak her out with a cockroach under Plexiglas… Nikolas asks how he knew about that.  

Anna asks what David’s sister’s name is, and he says, Marie. She was his baby sister; just a few years younger than him. She was a beautiful girl; so smart. Too smart for her own good. Anna asks, how so? and he says, she was a risk taker. She could get herself in trouble. This time, she died doing the right thing, trying to save a baby. Anna says, she was a hero then? and he says, the mother was running away with the kid to keep her from her dad. What kind of person does that? Anna says, so she rescued the baby, and gave it to the father? He says, she tried, but never got the chance. She fell, literally, into a hole. What’s it to Anna? Anna says, nothing. She’s just lending an ear. He says, no. Something is going on. He gets up, and asks, who the hell is she?

Sonny knocks at the examining room door, and asks if he can come in. Phyllis says, of course (🍷), and Lenny says, they were wondering where he was. Sonny says he talked to the doctor, and told them to get started while he talked to Lenny. They need to get a jump on fighting this thing. Phyllis thanks him for taking charge… but Lenny says, there’s no way they can afford it. Sonny tells him, don’t worry; we’ve got this. Lenny asks, who’s we? and Phyllis says, he called Nina, didn’t he?

Wiley plays with his trucks very LOUDLY, while Nina tells Willow that it was a friend of hers in Nixon Falls. Not the one she was talking to; another friend was just diagnosed with cancer. If they don’t throw everything at it… Willow says, of course (🍷) Nina wants to go to them. They can change the pool date if she has to go. Nina says they don’t have to move their pool date. She wants to spend as much time possible with Wiley as she can. Mike can take care of their end, and keep her posted. Willow says she likes this Mike person, and Wiley says, this red thing! Willow says, maybe she’ll meet Mike someday, and Wiley says, it’s broken. Nina tells Willow, the only man in her life right now is her grandson.

Josslyn tells Trina, there they were, thinking everything had gone wrong. All the signals they got crossed, or misinterpreted. Then they were… you know… it was.. yeah. Trina tells Josslyn, she has to say, she’s a bit shocked… that it took them so long. Josslyn says, Trina knew? and Trina says she thought they were acting differently at her graduation party, but she didn’t want to say anything. Josslyn says, so Trina’s not mad? Trina asks why she would be mad that her two best friends have wised up that they’re meant to be together? Josslyn says, because for a while… and Trina says, that’s so high school. They’ve matured since then. Before they know it, they’ll be college graduates. Josslyn says, so Trina is genuinely happy for them? and Trina says, she’s happy for Cameron. She feels nothing but pity for Josslyn. Cameron comes back, and says he got them Shirley Temples; they can get sodas anywhere. When they just look at him, he asks if they’re good, and the girls laugh.   

Brook says she didn’t tell Maxie that Austin claimed to be her cousin because she doesn’t know if it’s true. Quartermaines get pretenders all the time. Everyone was all shocked, except Monica, who has ice in her veins. Maxie says, can Monica give her a transfusion? She’s freaking out that Austin will recognize Brook from the woods. He could blow their whole story wide open. Brook says, they’ve been over this. Austin was completely unconscious. And he’s already seen her a quite a few of times and hasn’t connected it. He’s way too busy vindicating his late father to pay attention to anything else. Austin might be a minor problem for the Quartermaines, but not for Maxie and her baby.

Austin sits next to Ava at the bar, and she says, hi, Austin. He says, she remembers him. That’s a good sign. She says, when they met, she may have been… spirited, but not unconscious. It’s nice to see him. He says, likewise. He’s glad it’s not an unhappy reunion. He sees her husband is there, and asks if they’re still doing that thing. She says, what thing exactly? and he says, where they’re trying to prove they’ve grown apart by showing up at the same time in the same place. How’s that working for her?

Nikolas tells Spencer, stop trying to change the subject. How did he know about the cockroach when he was half a world away? Spencer says, it happened in a restaurant, and a customer posted it online. People freaked out, it blew up on social media, and he saw it. Nikolas asks if he can see it, and Spencer says he could have at the time, but he thinks someone from the PC Grill contacted the poster and had it wiped, because it’s not there anymore. Nikolas says, is that right? and Spencer says he’s kind of glad. It was disgusting. He woudn’t wish it on his worst enemy, even Ava. Nikolas tunes out, looking at Ava talking to Austin, and Nikolas snaps his fingers. Nikolas says he doesn’t know what Spencer means, but Spencer thinks he clearly does. Maybe it’s time to turn the page. It certainly looks like Ava has.  

Anna tells David that she’s just pointing out they both had recent losses, and he asks why she’s so interested in his sister. What the hell is this? Valentin grabs David, and slams him against the bar, pinning his arm behind his back. Valentin says, move, and he’ll break David’s wrist, and the bartender runs over, and Valentin tells him, go clean some glasses. He backs off, and Valentin tells David, apologize to the lady flyboy. David says he’s sorry, and Valentin asks if he’s going to talk. David asks what they want to know, and Anna says they want to know about the baby his sister helped kidnap, and the father, Peter August.

Brook and Maxie go into an examining room, and Brook tells Maxie to say goodbye to her baby before someone sees and the gossip gets to Monica. Maxie says she thought Brook lived for gossip, but Brook says, about other people. Start talking. Maxie tells Louise/Bailey that she knows Louise won’t remember this, but she will. She’ll remember Louise’s sweet little face, her tiny little fingers, and her brand new baby smell. She’ll remember, and take it to Texas with her. They say things are bigger in Texas, and she’ll miss Louise that much more, love her that much more, and be her mommy that much more. Brook says she hates to do this, and Maxie says she knows; time’s up. But she won’t say goodbye. She can’t say goodbye.

Ava apologizes, and Austin asks, why? She says she’s mortified, but he says, don’t be; it was fun. He’s from a small town. It’s quiet, and not much happens there. To be part of a public matrimonial drama, he’s in the deep end. She says, he’s off the deep end, and he laughs. He asks how are things with Ava and her husband? and she says they’re getting a divorce. He says he’s sorry to hear that, but some differences are irrevocable. She says, it’s a matter of life and death.

Spencer tells Nikolas, it seems like his wife found a friend. Nikolas says, the last time she saw Austin… and Spencer says, it’s not the first time? Interesting. Nikolas tells him, don’t, and Spencer says, don’t what? State the obvious? Nikolas says, don’t try to stir things up, and Spencer says, it’s an old habit. Speaking of which, Nikolas should kick this one. Nikolas says, Ava isn’t a habit. She’s the woman he loves. Spencer says, she’s awfully interested in that guy at the bar, but Nikolas says, they’re just talking; it’s no big deal. Spencer says he’s taking off since Nikolas is preoccupied. Nikolas says he’s sorry, and Spencer says he really does have somewhere to be. They hug, and Spencer says he can’t help wondering if Ava having and company are have a real conversation, maybe it’s a bigger deal than Nikolas thinks. He leaves, and Nikolas looks at Ava and Austin.

Cameron says, Josslyn told Trina? but Josslyn says, she already knew. Apparently, they were the only ones who didn’t. Trina tells him, don’t think this changes anything. Sisters before misters. He asks he gets that, and asks if the same rule applies to Trina’s imaginary friend, and Trina says, he’s not imaginary. Cameron asks why they’ve never seen his Instagram or any photos, and she says, some people don’t have a social media presence. And right now, she doesn’t blame him. She tells them that she left her cover-up in the changing room, and leaves. Cameron says he was just joking. He put his foot in it again. Josslyn says, so what else is new? and he says, them. She says she guesses they are.

Willow promises to send lots of pictures, so next time Nina won’t be surprised at how much Wiley has grown. Nina says she’ll hold Willow to that. She hopes by next time, Chase is on his feet. Willow says, they all want that, and Nina says, maybe they’re thinking about a little brother or sister for Wiley? If that’s any of her business, and she doesn’t think it is. Willow says, it’s fine. It’s just that they haven’t really thought about that yet. Nina says, Chase will probably be a great dad. Willow is already proved that she’s a great mother. She hopes Willow gets exactly what she wants; fingers crossed. Willow says, you never know. If Nina and Carly can start to get along, anything is possible. Nina flashes back to Sonny kissing her, and Willow asks if she said something wrong.

Sonny tells Lenny and Phyllis, he’s sorry. He broke his promise, and reached out. Nina is coming back to Nixon Falls. Lenny says he wishes to hell that Mike/Sonny hadn’t done that. This disease has cost them enough. Now it will cost Nina precious time with her grandson. Phyllis says, Nina can make her own decisions. Since they’re being open and honest, she’s glad Mike/Sonny called. She knows, as much as Nina wants to be with her grandson, they need all the love they can get now. Sonny says, Nina is offering more than love, but Lenny says, no way. He won’t take a dime. Sonny says, it’s not about keeping the Tan-O afloat or paying the utilities. This is Lenny’s life, and it’s more important that his pride or bank account. Lenny says he doesn’t want to be indebted to anyone, but Sonny says he and Nina owe them. They love Lenny and Phyllis, and they’ve given him and Nina so much. Let them repay their debt. They’ll fight this cancer together. Got it?

David swears he doesn’t know where the baby is. It was his job to pick up the father. Anna says, Peter? and he says, yeah. He was supposed to fly Peter to the rendezvous point, along with his sister, the baby, and her mother. She asks, where? but he says he didn’t know. She says, so he was hired to pick up Peter on the roof of GH. Where did David take him? David says, he didn’t.   

Austin says, and Ava feels like the stalker is forcing her toward divorce? and Ava says, yes. But they do what they must for their children, right? In her case, it means handing her daughter to Carly Corinthos. Austin says he just met Carly; she seems nice. Is she Ava’s friend? Ava says, no. Carly was married to her daughter’s father. If she’s being honest, her daughter is happy and safe there. Austin says, it’s awful, parents being separated from a child, and she says, it is indeed. He says he doesn’t know firsthand, but was thinking about Maxie and her baby. Ava says, that’s not the same thing at all, and Nikolas starts to walk toward the bar, but Martin calls. Nikolas says he told Ava. She said, a lot could happen in six weeks… No. He’s not holding out hope Ava will change her mind, but he’s hoping the stalker will slip up. Then they can bring him to justice of the Cassadine variety.

Josslyn and Cameron hold hands as they sun themselves. Cameron asks if Josslyn would like more sunblock, and she says, yes. She can feel herself roasting. He puts some on her back, and a voice says, watch your hands, townie. They look up, and see Spencer.  

Maxie calls Bailey/Louise a little superhero. Her identity is a secret to the world, and to her. She’s Bailey Quartermaine now, but here and here – she points to their hearts – she will always be her Louise. Brook says she wants Maxie to know that she promises Louise will always be cared for and loved. Maxie says she knows. If she had any doubts, she woudn’t be able to do this. She leaves.

Nina tells Willow that she already misses Wiley, and Willow suggests breakfast if Nina isn’t leaving too early. Nina says she’s leaving first thing, so why not make the most out of today? She tells Wiley, come here, handsome. She lifts Wiley up, and says, let’s go. Wave to mommy. She thanks Willow, who says she’ll see them later. Have fun. Nina leaves with Wiley.  

The nurse comes to the examining room, and tells Lenny that the doctor is ready to discuss treatment options. Lenny says, it looks like he’s outnumbered. Let’s do this. He goes with her, and Sonny tells Phyllis, one day at a time. Is he right? She says she knows. It’s just that some days are harder than others. They hug, and he says he hates that. There’s never enough time.

Valentin lets David go, and Anna says, David told them that Peter hired him to take him off the roof at General Hospital, and David says, that was the plan. He couldn’t get the chopper close enough, so he had to abort. Anna wonders, if David didn’t airlift Peter out, how did he escape?

Tomorrow, Alexis thinks something might be unavoidable for her and Shawn, Cameron asks how long Spencer is in town, Trina says Victor/Spencer is full of surprises, and Anna asks if David can describe the other person on the roof.  

Below Deck Mediterranean

Sibenik, Croatia. Mathew tells Lexi not to speak to him, and Courtney says, Americans are so dramatic. Mathew says they’re going to hate each other this charter, and in Lexi’s interview, she says she thinks Mathew is a poke the bear person, and doesn’t know how to chill. Katie says she hates the hierarchy on boats. She doesn’t like people who take the piss out of it. She tells the others that she never wanted to be a chief stew because of the persona. You’re going to be thought of as a bitch. David says, that’s because so many chief stews are effing bitches. Courtney asks who wants to go for a ciggy break, and Zee and Mathew go with her. Malia says she’s not sure who Mathew is going to murder, and Lexi says it will probably be her first. All of his lightbulbs are dim. Courtney dances around, and sits on Zee’s lap. In Zee’s interview, he says, happy birthday, Zee. Katie says she was a cradle snatcher once. It was a vibe thing. Malia asks about Lloyd’s goose tattoo, and in Lloyd’s interview, he says he and his best mate had an obsession with geese, and both got tattoos. They worked around Europe together, and referred to a night out as, the goose gets loose. A dance party in the master cabin is called for, and they head back.

In Katie’s interview, she wants to mix it up, so the master cabin it is. She’ll be the one cleaning it. She warns everyone, if they spill something, she’ll kill them. Everyone dances around, and in Courtney’s interview, she explains she’s learned twerking from YouTube videos. Because it’s cool. She dances around Zee, and the cake is brought in. David tries to feed a piece to Malia, and in his interview, he says she’s his boss. If it doesn’t work out, he’s left with an awkward situation, but if you don’t go, you never know. Lexi goes back to her cabin, changes clothes, and calls… her mom. The last person I would call if I was drunk. Lloyd twerks. Sort of. Courtney gets all on top of Zee on the bed, then kisses him. Katie says, whoa. Things have really escalated. In Malia’s interview, she says, night out number one.

In Zee’s interview, he says he wasn’t expecting that kiss. Drunk Zee is rowdy. Courtney tells Katie that she’s an amazing chief stew. The crew staggers back to their cabins. We hear Lexi’s mom say, put down the alcohol, and Lexi says, I haven’t drunken anything… else. She wonders if drunken is a word. She tells Malia that her mom is old school, and Malia says her mom was strict. Lexi says her mother is holding on to her because of her dad. She has to keep control. Lexi feels unstable, and Malia asks if she’s okay. Lexi says she’s fine, and Malia says she’s sorry about Lexi’s dad. He’s watching her. He’s her biggest fan. Lexi says, he was, and Malia says, dads always are.

Six hours before charter. Zee says he’s effing hung over, and Malia says she’s dying. She radios for the deckhands to meet on the main deck aft. She tells them to pay attention to the windows of the master and the bridge. In David’s interview, he says he wants to be helpful, but not overly helpful. Courtney doesn’t remember the evening, and asks Zee how he’s feeling. He says, a little bit of demons. Courtney is surprised she kissed Zee, and in her interview, a producer tells her, more than once. She says, nooo. Malia asks if Zee is in love, and he says, love at first night. She tells him boat romances are dangerous. Mathew shoves food in his mouth while standing in front of the refrigerator. As we’ve all done, but most of our refrigerators aren’t as big as an NYC apartment.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting. Roy Orbison Jr. and wife Asa are the primaries, along with their two kids, a friend, and  their nanny. Mathew says he’s a big fan of Roy Orbison. The captain says, they want non-alcoholic beer and champagne so non-drinkers can be part of the fun. Malia reads that they want to use the jet skis and water toys for the boys. Captain Sandy says, it’s a short charter, so they want to make every moment count. In her interview, the captain says a short charter is usually jam packed, and the crew need to be on their toes. Katie calls for supplies, and in Zee’s interview, he says he’s not bringing it up if Courtney doesn’t. Katie requests musicians, and provisions come in. Lexi tells Matt that he needs to be outside, so they know where everything goes, and he says she’s argumentative about nothing. In Lexi’s interview, she says she has a list of things that bother her, and Mathew is going to be at the top. She mumbles that she’s going to be in an effing European jail.

It’s 36 minutes to charter, and Courtney says he never has the time to make herself look nice. The captain radios for everyone to get in their whites, and meet in 30 minutes. Katie tells Lexi and Courtney that she and Courtney will do dinner, and Lexi can do lunch. In Lexi’s interview, she says she doesn’t mind giving someone a break, and it’s good to give them experience, but the 3rd stew is usually the laundry bitch. Katie says it will be the same as last time. She’ll do the tour while they do the drinks. The crew greets the guests, and Captain Sandy says, welcome back. Katie will show them around, and they’ll get underway to their first anchorage. The primary cabin is gorgeous, and I could see spending an entire cruise in there. It’s also lined with windows. The kids are brought to the bridge, and Roy Orbison III asks the captain, how do you beep-beep? She lets him blast the horn. In Zee’s interview, he says he feels like a bit of a burden. The rest of the crew has more experience, but if he doesn’t ask, he won’t be where he needs to be. He thinks Malia understands. One of the kids yells, the party starts now.

Courtney wonders, if she was a crib, how would she be put together? In her interview, she says she should be able to do this. Help me. She radios for help, and Zee is on it. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he loves learning on the job. He’s had determination his whole life. He played tennis when he younger, giving up weekends and evenings, and training on the Wimbledon courts. But he gave up because he wanted to be a kid. Zee and David help Courtney assemble the crib, and Courtney says Zee is a real life daddy, since there’s been a running thing with her calling guys daddy. Guest Roy says he’s feeling it already, and I don’t think anyone is drinking the non-alcoholic stuff. In Mathew’s interview, he says he wants to make up for how he started. He’s excited to have kids on board. It’s fun energy. The guests eat how he likes to eat, healthy and light. In Katie’s interview, she says she deeply wants kids, and thinks it’s more important than marriage. She loves kids, just not on a yacht.

Malia and David put out the floating platform, and Lloyd says, the slide is every deckhand’s worst friend. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she thinks Mathew’s head is around it now. Maybe he needed to find his feet. She doesn’t know, but whatever he did, she’s happy he’s where he is. She tells Mathew that the kids love the food, and Mathew says, good. When the first meal goes well, it’s incentive to keep going. In his interview, he says he’s in a great mood. Nothing can go wrong, and it’s going to be the best day ever. A fire starts in a pan behind him on the stove.  

In his interview, Mathew says, the zero on the dial has the nine next to it, and he’d meant to flip it on zero. And he had grape seed oil in the pan. It could be worse. He reacts, then panics after. In Courtney’s interview, she says it was nice of Katie to let her do service. She worked in a café when she was 16, and poured boiling water into a customer’s lap. It was lucky they thought it was funny. Captain Sandy says, the wind going to start howling, and talks to Malia and Katie about docking early and at night because of it. Roy goes down the slide, and the guests play on the water toys. Malia puts some gear on one of the kids, and says, he has a life jacket and helmet. Now run free. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, Roy seems like a fun dad. His dad is his best mate. He plays reggae music, and dances. We see a clip of that, and Lloyd says they’re peas in a pod. Mathew tells Lexi, a good first meal is a good start to the trip, and she says he’s boss of the galley. Malia ends up having to watch one of the kids while Asa goes on a jet ski with the nanny. In Malia’s interview, she says, I guess I can watch your child… The captain tells Mathew that his food for the crew is beyond, and he says she’s too kind. She says she’s happy his knee is okay, and he says, him too. We all know what she really means is, thank God he got a grip, and decided to do his job.

Katie explains the change in schedule to Asa, and Roy says he’s trying to be drunken; it’s a conscious choice. He got comfortable on the boat and with the people. They’re great. Lexi is like, oh my God. Malia tells the deckhands the have a musical guest coming in between 6 and 7, and will be doing a nighttime docking. Katie tells Lexi, dinner will be at 9, and says she can set up and then go on laundry. Courtney will do bar. In Lexi’s interview, she whines that she had to learn, but nobody showed her during the charter season. It’s not the right time. The slide comes in, and Mathew makes pizza, which causes the kids to jump up and down. In his interview, Mathew says, it’s so fun cooking for kids. Who doesn’t love pizza and spaghetti? He ordered off the kids menu the last time he was at a resort. It’s hard coordinating the crew meal with a meal that has several courses, but he thrives under pressure. (Really?) if he has too much time to think, he buckles. The deckhands laugh in the crew mess, and in Lloyd’s interview, he says, the last boat he was on, it wasn’t a very nice work environment, and he wasn’t supported. This boat is eye opening. Malia notices Lexi’s burn list, and says, oh my God. Is she on there? Lexi shows it to her, saying that when you win pageants, you meet evil people. In Malia’s interview, she says it makes her want to sleep with one eye open. She says, long burn list, girl. I forgot Lexi was Miss Bahamas. That might explain a lot.

Zee asks David if he has a soft spot for anyone, but David doesn’t want to say, and tells Zee that they might be competing for the same girl. Zee says he has limited options, and David starts to say, superiors are… and David says, behind you. Malia comes on deck, and they all start laughing. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, it was quite embarrassing. Lexi covers the table, and complains that life is so unfair. So wrong. The musicians arrive, and Lexi radios Katie, asking what to do. Katie says, because of social distancing, they can’t come on the boat, so have them stand by until the guests are ready. Lexi says she didn’t know. She’s not Miss Cleo. I dunno. Is it me? Lexi seems like an unpleasant person who whines a lot, and doesn’t understand the boss is the boss.

Lexi tells the musicians, 20 minutes, and Katie gathers up the guests. In Lexi’s interview, she says, managing situations is not Katie’s strong suit. She doesn’t like not knowing what she’s doing. She can do nothing but have an awkward stare-off. Hmm… So does she need to be trained on the job? The kids are given flags and come kind of national hats, and the band starts to play. Roy says, the magic of Croatia. Mathew works on dinner, and in his interview, he says he’s had so much experience in cooking, but no formal training. The guests have eaten in the best restaurants. He’s never confident that he’s at that standard. Well, at least one of them is so drunk, it won’t matter.

The guests get ready for dinner, and Zee visits Courtney in the laundry. They make small talk and in Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t believe that happened. Zee tells her that if she needs a hand, it’s probably going to be a quiet night. Nanny Rebekah is teased for having a crush on David, and she says, David smells good. Lexi agrees. The kids go to bed, and Katie radios Courtney to help with dinner. In Katie’s interview, she says, every other boat she’s been on has rotated the housekeeping and service in the interior. She was never big on housekeeping, and some other girls might feel the same way. If you have a problem with it, don’t go into yachting. When she first started, she had some basic service training, but laundry can be overwhelming. It can become a sh*t show real quick. Her supervisor left her in the deep end, and it was the best way to learn. It was an amazing foundation that she’s used for every boat she’s worked on. In Lexi’s interview, she says she’s been in yachting for three years, and she’s glad Courtney is learning other things, but she’s not going to say she’s glad to be making the beds. Roy babbles drunkenly, and wants to go in the water. He says something indecipherable, and the others try to get him to ear. Katie asks if Courtney noticed how sh*tfaced he is, and Courtney says, how could she not? In her interview, Katie says she thought they weren’t big drinkers; a family. Clearly she was wrong. Roy yells, it’s happy time! and Asa suggests he go to bed. Oh man. The way he’s looking at her, I can tell he’s at that point where he’s feeling no pain, but doesn’t realize everyone else isn’t on his wavelength. And by the looks on everyone else’s faces, for sure he’s the only one having happy time.

Malia asks why Zee is nervous about the heaving line, and he says he just wants to get it done. Lexi gripes to herself, and Courtney raps in the galley. In Mathew’s interview, he says, Courtney being on service is a refreshing change. He loves her. She brings the best vibes. Captain Sandy says they’re going to anchor in five, and Roy stumbles to the bathroom. Asa says, he’s annoying, and Katie asks Mathew if she can hear Roy in the galley. One of the guests tell Katie that she may want to clean the bathroom, since Roy peed everywhere but the toilet. Katie thanks them for letting her know. Courtney says she’ll go, and in Katie’s interview, she says, poor Courtney. She was on service for a hot minute.  

In Malia’s interview, she says, coming in at night can be tricky because the visibility is limited. Your confidence builds each time you go through one. Captain Sandy tells her that the wind is coming. Roy brings out a tambourine, and walks around the hot tub. The captain says, the current is wicked, and tells Malia to line her up. Zee is petrified. It’s a darker night than he thought it would be. Katie instructs Courtney on plate placement. Roy wonders what if he doesn’t embarrass himself, and just eats and goes to bed? but instead, he asks for more drinks, and talks about jumping off the boat. In David’s interview, he says, the pressure is on everyone with the night docking. Roy is yelling, and practically jumping off the side of the boat, when the same guest who gave Katie the good news about the bathroom, pulls him down. Captain Sandy hears the commotion, and asks, what’s happening? Asa tells Roy, go to bed now, but he continues to carry on. The captain says, WTF?   

Next time, a drunk crew, a nakey David, Malia is impressed, Mathew has a meltdown, Malia tells Mathew to STFU, Mathew packs, Lexi is done being nice, and pushes Zee. Wow.    

🏀 Time To Bounce…

You know it’s bad when you feel like you put in a full week on Monday. Or like it was seven days in one, to those who have stopped using the names of the days. If I’m not mistaken, tomorrow is the finale of The Haves and The Have Nots, which I will sorely miss. Until we bid it adieu tomorrow, stay safe, stay checking rainbows for that pot o’ gold, and stay not calling NYC The Big Apple. Nobody calls it that anymore.

July 16, 2021 – Lenny Gets Bad News, Jimmy Lee, New Songs, Other Gigs, Cameo Tease, Accusations, Crazy Like a Fox, Going Down, Togetherness, Rebuttal, Knot Tied, Update, Nominations, an Interview, an Egg Carton of Quotes & Paradise

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly tells Jason, it’s driving her crazy that Gladys wants them to bring Brando in, but he tells her, forget Gladys. Brando risked his life for them when he went to work for Cyrus. He’s proven he’s loyal, and if this is something he really wants… She says, so he’s okay with bringing Brando in, and he says, Brando is having a kid. The smarter choice is for him to stay away from the business, but he’s capable, he’s loyal, he’s smart. If this is the job he wants, Jason isn’t going to turn him away. Sam walks in, and looks at Carly and Jason.

At the pool, Sasha looks at Brando sunning himself, and starts to walk out. He notices her, and says he was going for a dip in the pool. Would she care to join him? She says she’ll have to pass. She can’t find any lounges to put her stuff on. He tells her to take his. He’s not letting his kid’s mom go without.

Dante tells Rocco, no cannonballs this time, but Rocco isn’t listening. Dante sees Chase on a lounge chair, and says, Chase is a cop. Can he arrest Dante’s kid? Chase says, Dante wants him to arrest his son for doing cannonballs? and Dante says he does. Scare him a little bit. He doesn’t listen to a thing Dante says. Chase says, last he heard, Dante rejoined the force, while he’s on a nice, long paid vacation. Did he bring handcuffs? Dante says, enough with this paid vacation stuff. Get himself back on the force and they can arrest his kid together. Just like old times, eh, partner?

Willow lets Nina into the gatehouse, and Nina says she got a text from Michael saying to pick Wiley up there. Are they upstairs? Willow says, Wiley is napping, and Michael is running late; a meeting with his family. Nina says she heard there was some drama last night at the ELQ Board meeting. Currently, there’s never a dull moment when the Quartermaines get together to talk about business. Willow wonders how old Wiley will be when he joins the fray.

Brook walks in, while Ned is on the phone. He says he looks forward to talking with Pasqual and his team, and Brook says, talking to the ELQ lawyers about Austin? What’d they say? Ned says, they need time to study the matter. Michael sent them the docs supposedly proving that Austin is Jimmy Lee’s son, but they’ll be asking for their own DNA test. Michael says, just to make sure the birth certificate and DNA test Scotty gave them are legitimate. She says it really burns her how great-grandfather cheated on great-grandmother Lila. The woman was a saint. Ned says, grandfather’s indiscretions are beside the point. They have to assume their own DNA test will prove Austin is Jimmy Lee’s son. He may actually be a relative. She says, but does that entitle him to a slice of the Quartermaine pie?

Austin looks at the staff photos on the wall at GH, and focuses on Alan. Monica says, doing his homework? and he says, Alan Quartermaine’s reputation was legendary. Gifted doctor, devoted father, pillar of the community. She says he forgot philanderer and scoundrel. He says he did. She’s his new boss. He’s trying to be polite. She says, or is he just trying to play dumb? Pull one over on her and her family, just like his father did back in the day.

Valentin says he thinks he may know Phyllis, but she says she doesn’t see how. Unless he’s a former patient. In which case, she apologizes for not recognizing him. He says he’s not a former patient, but he thinks his ex-wife may have been – Nina Reeves.

Sonny is about to leave the examining room, just as Anna is passing by. Anna hears the door handle, and stops, but a nurse asks if she can help Anna. Anna says, maybe she can. She’s looking for somebody. Sonny hears her voice.

Phyllis says, and he is? and Valentin says, he’s Valentin Cassadine. He assumes Nina told her about him, and supposes he didn’t come off terribly well. She says she’s sorry, but she can’t discuss her patients, former or current. He tells her that he completely understands, and for what it’s worth (🍷), he deeply regrets all the harm he caused Nina. She’s a very special woman. Phyllis says, yes she is, and she can tell him this much; Nina is doing just fine without him.

Anna tells the nurse that she’s looking for a Medivac pilot. His name is David Hopkins. Sonny listens on the other side of the door. The nurse asks if he was injured, and Anna says, not as far as she knows. The nurse says, then he wouldn’t be in the ER. She’ll take Anna to human resources. Anna leaves with her, and Sonny comes out.

Willow says, Wiley’s schedule is off this morning. He went down late for his nap, and he’s still down for it. Nina says, that’s okay. The Quartermaine pool will still be open. Willow asks if she’d like to reschedule, but Nina says she’d like to wait if it’s okay. She brought some of Wiley’s favorite snacks, and these really cute water wings. She shows Willow, and says, Willow and Michael probably have a ton of them, but they were so cute, she couldn’t resist. Willow tells her, stay, of course (🍷). Wiley will up soon, and he’d be devastated to miss an afternoon with his Grandma Nina.

Ned tells Brook, it’s too early to say whether Austin will end up with a stake in ELQ, and Michael says, it depends on the outcome of his lawsuit contesting great-grandfather’s will. Brook asks how Austin can claim rights to assets that his father never had to begin with, and Michael says, that’s for the lawyers to argue. She says, like Scotty? That’s the guy Austin chooses to go after their money? Let’s face it. Austin isn’t trying to legitimize dear old dad; he’s shaking them down.

Austin says he’s sensing Monica didn’t like his father, and she says, they had their ups and downs. He says, just like her and Alan, and she says, and Edward and Tracy. He asks if there’s a Quartermaine she didn’t have an issue with, and she says, Lila. And Annabelle. He says he doesn’t recall an Annabelle from the family tree, and Monica says, she was the family dog. He says, and a dog will never disappoint you, and Monica says, she got knocked up by a mutt way beneath her station. He says Monica doesn’t like the strays, but if she gives him a chance, he’ll try not to dig up the rose garden.

Dante asks Chase how’s newlywed life, but Chase says, married life still hasn’t begun. He can’t walk. Despite physical therapy, this is his great success. He wiggles a few toes, and Dante says, that’s great success. Chase asks when Dante became such a ray of sunshine, and Dante says since he decided he needed his partner back to stop him from doing questionable things. Chase says, like…? and Dante thinks back to kissing Sam. He says, never mind.

Sam goes to the MetroCourt restaurant, and Carly says, it’s been a while. Does she want a table or is she sittting at the bar? Sam says she’s meeting Maxie. She sees Carly’s ring, and says, nice rock. She asks if she can talk to Jason for a minute, and Carly says she’ll tell Maxie that Sam is there. Carly tells Maxie, Sam’s here, and Maxie looks over at Sam and Jason. She says, this should be interesting. Sam tells Jason, you and Carly, it’s finally happening. He’s sorry she didn’t hear it from him first, and she says, it’s not his fault. They keep missing each other. He asks if she told Danny, and she says she’s going to leave that one up to him. He thanks her, and she says she wouldn’t know the first thing to say to Danny because she doesn’t know the first thing about his engagement.

Brando brings Sasha a pillow, and asks if it’s too much sun. Does she want anything from the bar? She says she’s good, and thanks him. She asks if everything is okay, and he says, no… yeah… no… yes. He doesn’t want to invade her space, but he hasn’t seen a lot of her lately. She says she’s been busy, and it’s not like she’s seen a lot of him either. He says she didn’t tell him about her last check-up, but maybe she wanted him to stay away.

Chase says Dante just came back to the PCPD, and he’s already racking up demerits? Dante says, no, not him, and Chase asks, what’s going on? Is this even about work? Dante says, it’s about a woman.

Sam asks when Jason and Carly even decided they wanted to marry each other, and he says she knows Carly’s his best friend. She says, and he was able to express his feelings after Sonny died? He says they both know what it was like losing Sonny, and both have an empty space in their lives. She says, a shared loss, and he says, yeah. She says, and nothing else, and he says, they understand each other. They know what they’re getting into. She says she knows all about that. She’s always known where he and Carly stood with each other. First in line, ahead of everybody else. She walks away.

Carly tells Maxie that she’s not worried, and sits down. Maxie says, good. Then congratulations on her engagement. She knows Carly and Jason will make each other very happy. They’ve been friends for a long time, which is why she’s not too surprised. Carly thanks her, but says she really wanted to talk about Maxie. She’s not sure if Maxie is aware, but when Michael was a baby, he was kidnapped. Maxie says she knows; by her Uncle Tony. She knows the family lore. Carly says, the point being, she kind of knows what Maxie is going through, so if she needs a shoulder to cry on, Carly’s are available. She knows the police and the FBI are searching for Peter, but if there’s anything she and Jason can do, please let her know. Maxie thanks her, and Sam joins them, saying, sorry to keep Maxie waiting. She asks if she can speak with Carly for a second, and Carly says, of course (🍷). They step aside, and Sam takes Carly’s hands. She says she knows Carly and Jason wouldn’t have gotten engaged if there weren’t some sort of good reason, or if she hadn’t lost Sonny. So if there’s anything she can do to help, please let her know. Carly says, yeah, and Sam goes back to the table.

Nina says it’s sweet of Willow to say she made an impact on Wiley’s life, but she’s been away for so long, he’s had to get used to her all over again. Willow tells her not to sell herself short. Wiley knows when the people around him love him. He’s crazy about her. Nina says she was worried when she came back to Port Charles, that Wiley would run screaming from this stranger, but Willow says, that wasn’t going to happen. She picks up a digital photo album, and says, it was important that Wiley know who both of his grandmas are. Nina sees photo of Carly, then herself, and Willow says, she and Michael call this Wiley’s family. They tell Wiley about her all the time. Because Nina is his family.

Phyllis tells Valentin that Nina is staying with her and her husband in Nixon Falls. He says, that’s where Nina went when she was told she couldn’t see her grandson, and Phyllis says, Wiley. He thanks her for helping Nina, and she says, it wasn’t only her and Lenny. Mike had a lot to do with it as well. He says, Mike?

Sonny ponders the cap some more, when Lenny walks in with the doctor. Sonny asks if Lenny is done with the tests, and says he’ll get Phyllis. Lenny says, don’t, and Sonny asks, why? Lenny hesitates, and Sonny says, it’s bad, isn’t it?

Brook asks what they think; hold their noses and buy this guy off? Ned says, Austin is in this for his father, the late, not so great, Jimmy Lee Holt, and Brook asks if Ned ever met him. What was this guy like? Ned says he’s only heard stories, but what he does know for sure is, when Jimmy Lee left Port Charles for Pawtuck, grandfather washed his hands of him. Which is why when he wrote his will, he specifically said, Jimmy Lee and his heirs get nothing. Brook says, so if they give Austin some stock, they’re literally violating great-grandfather’s final wish, and Ned says, yes. Michael says, so they can’t buy him off, they can’t let him retain any stock… They’ve got to win him over.

Monica tells Austin that she was sorry to hear about Jimmy Lee’s passing. May she ask how? He says, in the end, it was the COPD. Not a pleasant ending he’s afraid. She says, no it wouldn’t be, and he says, there was nothing he could do to help ease his father’s passing. He could barely talk, but it didn’t stop him from asking about Edward. Monica says, after all these years. She hadn’t realized how much Jimmy Lee’s estrangement from Edward weighed on him. Austin says, he was on his deathbed, wondering how he had offended his father, begging for a chance to know how to make it right. She says, so now Austin wants to make it up to Jimmy Lee by getting a seat at the ELQ table that was denied him, right? He says, like it or not, he’s family, and he’s not going to let her, or any of the other Quartermaines, tell him otherwise.

Sasha asks why Brando thinks she doesn’t want him around, and he says, she’s busy with Deception… He pulls a chair up and sits down, saying, and then there’s his mom. Sasha asks, how is his roomie? and he says, full of unwanted advice. She asks if Gladys is the one who told him that she doesn’t want him in the baby’s life, and he asks if his mom is right. She says she wishes Gladys hadn’t said that to him, and he says he wishes he could feel better about her answer, but his mom isn’t entirely wrong, is she?

Jason asks Carly what Sam said, and Carly says, they have her support. It’s better than being damned to hell. She imagines Sam’s not too excited about their engagement. He says, Sam hasn’t told Danny. She figured he should be the one to explain. Carly asks what he’s going to say, and he says he’s going to tell Danny that they’re doing what they think is right, and that he loves Danny, and nothing is going to change. He’ll always be Danny’s father. She says, sounds good to her, and he asks her to tell him again exactly what happened with Joey Novak. She says, okay, but she doesn’t understand. She thought he said he wasn’t worried. He says, he’s not, but this guy could do something stupid; something that requires a response. She says, whatever Jason did hurt Joey’s pride, because he got up in her face and said, tell your fiancé he isn’t as secure as he thinks he is. He asks what she said, and she says she told Joey to say it to Jason’s face. Then she went to text him, but Brando stepped in, and Brando really knows what he’s doing. He says, maybe Brando saw her and thought she was going to throw down with Joey, and stepped in to do a good deed. She says, and if she would have thrown down? He says he would have backed her, but he’s glad it didn’t get that far. She says, her too, and he says he has to go see Monica. He’ll see Carly back at the house. He kisses her cheek, and she makes a soap face I can’t decipher. Maybe confused is the closest description.

Sonny asks how soon Lenny starts treatment, and the doctor says she’ll set up a series of appointments for him. She asks if Lenny has any questions, but Lenny says, not at the moment. She says she’ll give them some privacy, and leaves. Sonny says he’s going to get Phyllis, but Lenny says, she’s talking to some stranger. Let’s leave her be. Sonny says, Phyllis has to know, and Lenny says, she will, but she came here looking for hope. Let her hang on to that hope for another minute before he takes it away from her.

Phyllis tells Valentin, Mike works for her and Lenny in Nixon Falls. They own a bar called the Tan-O. Valentin says, and this Mike was helpful to Nina, was he? and Phyllis says, extremely. Anna returns, and asks if she’s interrupting, but Phyllis says, it’s perfectly all right. She has to check on her husband. Valentin says it was nice to meet her, and she says, him as well, and leaves. Anna asks, who was that? and he says, a friend of Nina’s. She says, small world, and he says, isn’t it? He asks where she’s been; he was worried about her. She says she has a lead on the pilot.

Dante tells Rocco, fifteen minutes, and sits back down next to Chase. He sees two umbrella drinks, blue in color, and asks, what the hell is that? Chase hands Dante one, and says, one sip of this baby, and he’ll be singing the name of the girl of his dreams. Dante says he’s still not going to talk, and Chase says, Dante is a cop; he knows how this goes. The harder a witness tries not to give a straight answer, the more they have to hide.

Maxie asks if everything is okay with Jason, and Sam asks if Maxie means how she feels about him marrying Carly. Maxie says she did hear Sam torched some of his belongings, and Sam says, wow, word gets around fast. Actually, she’s fine. It makes sense for Jason and Carly to get married. Maxie asks if Sam has been seeing Doc, and Sam says she doesn’t need a shrink. Really. She’s at peace with it. But it didn’t hurt to burn some of the mementos of the bad old days. Maxie says if it were her, the only way she’d feel peaceful about it is if she had someone to go home to, and Sam flashes back to Dante kissing her. She says, that wouldn’t help as much as she thinks, and Maxie asks why she’d say that. Does she have a man?

Brando says he and Sasha were doing so well when she shared their baby’s ultrasound with him. Then she went radio silent. He can’t help but wonder was it something he said or did? She says he’s been nothing but thoughtful and dependable, and he asks her not to give him that whole it’s not you it’s me speech. She says, okay, she won’t. Because it is him. He says he wasn’t expecting that, and she says, he’s exactly the kind of man she’d want to raise a child with. But if her choice is to raise this baby by herself, or to raise it with a man who’s working for the Corinthos family mob, or any mob, there is no choice.

Nina says, Willow has a picture of her and Wiley, and Willow says, she and Michael are always looking at the family album with Wiley and talking to him about his family. They want to make sure their son has relationships with everyone, even those he doesn’t see very often. Nina says, that’s really wonderful. Still, Wiley must wonder why his grandma Nina was away so long. Willow says, Wiley was at the playground a couple months ago. He fell and scraped his knee, and had to take it easy for a while. She told him that his Grandma Nina had a boo-boo of her own, and that’s why she had to go away. She had to take it easy too. Nina says, and if Wiley asks if she’s all better? and Willow asks what she’ll say. Nina tells Willow that she’ll say that she is. There’s a knock at the door, and Willow opens it to Carly, who says, Michael asked her to come by, but she wanted to see her grandson first. She realizes Nina is there.

Michael says, the closer Austin gets to them, the less likely he’ll wage war. Ned says, a charm offensive, but Brook says she has a better idea. Why don’t they hire a P.I.? Michael says, they don’t have time for an in-depth investigation into Austin’s background, and Ned says, especially when there’s no guarantee they’ll find anything defamatory. Michael says, Austin’s goal is Quartermaine recognition of his father, so why not give it to him? But Ned is the CEO-in-waiting, so it’s his decision.

Monica tells Austin, why fight a family when you can be part of it, right? He asks if she’s offering him shares of ELQ, and she laughs, saying, no. It’s not even in her control. Besides she doesn’t think he’d be all that happy with just shares. He says it wouldn’t make him happy or unhappy; it would make him family. When his father was disowned by Edward, the rest of the family never gave him a second thought. He thinks it would have been different if his father had shares of ELQ, and a vote to cast. She tells him, he said ELQ was family, and family is ELQ. He says, isn’t it? and she says he can ask her son Jason how he feels about ELQ. Jason approaches, and she says, and he’s still very much a part of the family.

Willow tells Carly, Nina has a pool date with Wiley today, but he’s still napping. Willow goes upstairs to check on him, and Carly says, Wiley has such a full schedule, she should have made an appointment first. Nina says, maybe after Carly talks to Michael, she could join them at the pool, but Carly says she doesn’t want to intrude. Nina says, it’s no intrusion. She’s sure Wiley would love having both his grandmother’s around. Plus it will give her a chance to toast Carly’s engagement.

While Austin is on the hospital phone, Monica tells Jason, Edward’s libido strikes again. Austin’s father, Jimmy Lee Holt, was the product of a dalliance between Edward and a woman named Beatrice LeSeur. Jason asks what Austin wants, and she says, he wants to be a Quartermaine. Jason says, is he? and she says, he brought his birth certificate and a DNA test to prove it. He asks if she wants him to shut this down, and she says, would he? Unless he’d prefer to keep his distance. He says, no. He’s happy to help.

Ned sees no reason why they can’t welcome Austin, until they figure out a way to shut him down, but Brook says, wrong. They don’t have time to welcome the good doctor into the family fold. He’s dangerous. Ned asks, how so? and she flashes back to Maxie wondering what if Austin got a glimpse of her and saying that everything might come back to him if he sees her. Ned asks, what makes Brook think Austin is anything more than a potential problem for ELQ? What does she know about this man that he and Michael don’t?

Anna tells Valentin, she showed her WSB badge to the head of human resources, and told her that David Hopkins was a person of interest. He says, and? and Anna says, they told her that he was at Ryan’s bar. He says, the one they just left? and she says, yes, opposite the hospital. He goes there after finishing his shift. He says, let’s go, but she grabs his arm, and says, she feels like a subtle approach is going to be necessary for this, so she wants to do this alone.

Maxie says, Sam does have a man in her life. Good for her. Who is he? Does she know him? How long has this been going on? Sam tells her, calm down. There’s nothing to tell. Maxie says, please. She has very little joy in her life, so she needs something to be happy about. Sam says, all right. There is a guy. Maxie says she knew it. Details please. Sam says, they kissed, and Maxie says, oh my God. What happened? Sam says, it wasn’t a big deal. She’d just found out Jason and Carly were getting married, she was totally wasted, they kissed, and it doesn’t count. Maxie asks if she’s kissed anyone else since she and Jason split, and Sam says, eww, no (because she’s five). Maxie says, then the kiss definitely counts.

Chase asks if he knows her, and Dante says, what part of he’s not talking doesn’t Chase understand? Chase asks if Dante wants to quickly cough something up. It’s better to just get it over with. Dante says, it was a weird night. She was in a rough place, and they got to talking. That’s all; it was nothing. Chase says, but Dante thinks it could be something? Maybe this mystery girl could turn into something if Dante gives it a chance.

Phyllis apologizes for taking so long, and asks if she missed Dr. Kishore. Lenny says, he’s afraid so, and she asks what the doctor said. What’s going on with his heart? Sonny puts his hand on Lenny’s shoulder, and Lenny says, it’s not his heart. It’s cancer. Phyllis starts to cry, and Sonny hugs her.

Dante says Chase wasn’t there; he was. She was in a bad place. He’s not going to be the guy who takes advantage of something like that. Chase says, sorry, and Dante says, Chase gets a get-out-of-jail-free pass since he’s on the newlywed train, and thinks everyone is wandering around all happy and in love just because he is. Chase says he highly recommends happiness, and if Dante ever gets another chance at it, do himself a favor and take it. Dante says he doesn’t know if it’s in the cards for him, but it would be nice.

Sam tells Maxie, okay, the kiss counts. Happy now? Maxie says, no, not yet. She’s going to dwell vicariously on this. Sam says, there’s nothing to dwell about. Maxie asked her there for a reason. What is it, and what can Sam do for her? Maxie says she needs to ask Sam a favor. She’s taking Georgie and James to Texas to visit her family for a while. Sam says, so she can stop worrying about Louise for a while? and Maxie says, and Peter. She needs to catch her breath, and put herself back together, and she can’t do it in Port Charles with everyone walking on eggshells around her. Sam asks what she can do for Maxie, and Maxie says she wants Sam to keep an eye on Spinelli. Ellie left him, and since Maxie is going to have Georgie with her, he’s going to need looking after. Sam says, poor Spinelli. Go to Texas, don’t worry about him. She’ll look after him.

Austin asks Jason where Monica is, and Jason says, she had a meeting. Austin says that he and Jason have something in common. He understands they’re both from the illegitimate branch of the Quartermaine tree, but Jason says, it doesn’t make him care any less about his family. Austin asks if he cares about ELQ, and Jason says, if it matters to them, it matters to him. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect them both; the family and the company.

Brook wonders why Austin is suddenly claiming rights to his family now. Something happened where now he thinks it’s the right time to fleece the Qs. Ned says he gets it. Brook is still trying to make up for selling her shares to Valentin, but she’s more than redeemed herself. There is no evidence that Austin is this threat she’s afraid he is.

Sasha says she overheard Brando’s mother say that he could be Jason’s righthand man, and Brando says he respects Jason. There’s worse people to work for. He worked for one. Sasha says, he only took the job with Cyrus to spy on him for Sonny and Jason, but she got close to Cyrus too, and almost died because of it. But at the time, she had no one to protect;  now she does. That’s all the reason she needs not to set foot in that world again. Is that enough reason for him? He doesn’t say anything, so she gets up and leaves.

Valentin asks if Anna is saying he can’t be subtle, and she says, yes. A woman on her own is far more approachable than a woman accompanied by a man. He tells her, play it any way she wants to, but there’s no way in hell he’s letting her go in there by herself without a wingman. She says, great, but they do it her way, and he says, she’s the boss.

Phyllis takes Lenny’s hand, and he tells her, Dr. Kishore decided to look further than his heart. He had a scan, and there’s a mass on his pancreas. She says, how large? and he says, it’s pretty far gone. Sonny says, that doesn’t mean Lenny doesn’t have options. The doctor said there’s chemotherapy, there’s surgery… Lenny says, that could put them in the poorhouse. He’s not going to do that to her. He leaves, and Sonny tells Phyllis, it’s all right, and she follows Lenny.

Nina says, Jax mentioned that Carly and Jason got engaged, and Carly says, she’s sure Jax did more than just mention it. Nina says he’s worried about Carly, and Carly says, for no reason. Her engagement to Jason, that’s the way things are supposed to be. Nina says, okay. She guesses it’s been a long time coming. Nina’s phone rings. She sees it’s Mike/Sonny, and ignores the call. Carly says she’s going to go talk to Michael, and Nina says, Carly… Carly turns back, and Nina thanks Carly for giving her time with Wiley. Carly says, the way their grandson smiles at Nina, it’s clear she makes him very happy.

Carly leaves, and Nina calls Sonny back. She says she’s sorry she didn’t answer his call earlier (like, literally two seconds ago), and he says he’s sorry to bother her. He didn’t want to make this call. She asks, why? What’s wrong? He says they need her; Phyllis, Lenny, and him. Is there any way she could come home?

On Monday, Maxie tells Brook, he could blow their whole story wide open; Spencer tells Nikolas, maybe it’s a bigger deal than he thinks; and Valentin has someone pinned to the bar with their arm behind their back.

🧔 Who’s Your Daddy…

All about Todd Franco Austin’s father.

🎼 Our Funny Valentin…

He doesn’t just sing at the Nurses Ball.

🧼 Soap Sunday…

See what else your favorites have been up to.

🐇 Kim Cameo…

But will she bring the bunny?

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/andy-cohen-teases-possible-kim-richards-cameo-rhobh-season-11

👠 Not So Pretty Mess…

The divorce saga continues.

Trustee Sues Erika Jayne For $25 Million, Accuses RHOBH Star of Hiding Money For Thomas Girardi and Demands She Return Jewelry, Money, and Assets Fraudulently Transferred to Her

https://people.com/tv/erika-girardi-accused-of-using-her-notoriety-to-hide-assets/

⚖️ Get On the Scale…

If Bethenny is crazy, I don’t want to be sane.

https://okmagazine.com/p/bethenny-frankel-difficult-scale-of-crazy-says-shark-tank-star-kevin-oleary/

📉 Ratings Nosedive…

While I probably wouldn’t miss Ramona, I don’t think she’s the reason for the ratings being down. I think the audience is ready for fewer fights and more fun. Although I think NYC is the least offensive of the franchise.

https://okmagazine.com/p/rhony-ramona-singer-fired-eboni-k-williams-downplay-drama-ratings-plummet/

👗 Porter’s Debut…

But will she inherit Sutton’s wardrobe?

https://pagesix.com/2021/07/14/sutton-stracke-will-always-remember-filming-with-her-daughter/

https://screenrant.com/rhobh-about-sutton-stracke-daughter-porter-stracke/

👏 Clapping Back…

Leah is not having it.

https://www.inquisitr.com/6493808/leah-mcsweeney-claps-back-at-critics-shaming-race-conversations-

👰🏼 It’s Only Been 20 Years…

Emma Bunton finally ties the knot with her long-time love and the father of her children. Loving the dress.

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3280987/emma-bunton-jade-jones-relationship-married-kids/

https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210714117505/emma-bunton-jade-jones-wedding-dress-secret-detail/

💃🏽 Tell Me What You Want…

Where my guilty pleasure is now.

https://www.distractify.com/p/spice-girls-now

🏆 An Award Named Emmy…

All the nominations. You can find the categories in the drop-down menu.

https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2021

🐅 Be There Or Be a Rectangle…

This Sunday at 2 pm, check out the Mupo and Friends interview with The Beastmaster himself. And I helped.

👄 Quotes of the Week

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around…  – Unknown

For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail – it’s just the opposite – we aim too low and succeed.Sir Ken Robinson, English Author, Speaker and Education Advocate

A woman once drove me to drink, and I never had the decency to thank her.Sir Winston Churchill

You’re the perfect candidate for a total disaster. – Dr. Terry Dubrow, Botched

An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind. – Mahatma Gandhi

Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. – Roald Dahl

If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things. – Albert Einstein

To bear defeat with dignity, to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility – these are marks of maturity and graciousness. – William Arthur Ward

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

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying. – Oscar Wilde

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. – Friedrich Nietzsche

If God sends us on stony paths, He provides strong shoes. – Corrie ten Boom

👩🏽‍💼 See You Around the Water Cooler…

It’s here again, those two days we used to, and might again, call the weekend. Regardless of what you’re calling it these days, make sure you stay safe, stay discriminating, and stay knowing a dog will never disappoint you.  

July 15, 2021 – Who Knew the MetroCourt Had a Pool, Moving In To Sell, For Only $15 Million & Cool

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis and Portia run into each other, making a move for the same lounge chair at the MetroCourt pool. (New set!)

New York City. Valentin brings coffee over to the table where he and Anna are sitting in a bar/restaurant. He tells her that he managed to locate the source of the singalong in the back room. Apparently there’s a woman leading them in a chorus of Danny Boy; she’s the owner. Anna is messing with her phone, but says, if there were any other circumstances, she’d join in. He says, no she wouldn’t, and she says he’s right. He asks if she’s heard from her aviation contact, and she says, she just got off the phone with her. Anna thinks David Hopkins is their key to finding Peter, and if the flight route is correct, he’s on his way to New York Methodist. Valentin points across the street, and says, that New York Methodist? That’s convenient.

In the New York Methodist emergency room, Phyllis says, this is ridiculous, but Lenny says his chest pains didn’t warrant a visit to the ER. (Good luck with that in NYC. Maybe they’ll see him in a month.) Sonny says Lenny has come a long way. He might as well see the doctor. The doctor comes out, and says they must be the Caulfields, but Sonny says he’s just a family friend. Phyllis thanks the doctor for seeing them, and says her husband is in a great deal of pain. The doctor says they’ll run some tests, and Lenny goes with her. Phyllis and Sonny hug.

Spinelli plays with the umbrella from his drink at the MetroCourt bar, when Jason approaches. Spinelli tells him, gracious greetings, and Jason asks if everything is okay. Spinelli says, the answer depends on which lens you’re looking through. He and Ellie are over.

Gladys and Brando go to the pool, and as Gladys sits in a lounge chair, she says she has to give it to the Widow Corinthos; she knows how to put on a scene. This place is hopping. It’s the perfect spot to show off her new look.  She takes her sun hat off, shaking her hair out, and we see she’s got highlights now. She says, risking her life to see that justice is served has given her a whole new perspective. He says, is that so? and she says she almost died. She has to embrace life after such a harrowing ordeal. Brighten things up a little; invest in herself. He says her hair does look good, and she says, Silas said it took ten years off her looks. She says fifteen, easy. He laughs and says, as long as she likes it. She sees a waiter, and asks how Brando thinks the bloody Mary’s work. On the house, like at the casino? He asks if this looks like a casino. If you want a drink, you pay for it. She says, too bad. She hopes she’s not cramping his style, and he asks what she means. She says he’s a young, good-looking guy. There are plenty of eligible young ladies here. He says he’s not trying to pick anyone up, and she says, so he and Sasha are a thing. It sounded like Sasha wasn’t too clear on where he stood with her, or his baby.

At the MetroCourt restaurant, Maxie thanks Sasha for doing this for her, especially on such short notice, and on her day off. Sasha says, of course (🍷). She was going to check out the pool anyway. What’s up? Maxie hands her some papers, and says, it’s research and press information that she’ll need to make another pitch to Labella. Sasha says she thought getting their products on the shelves was Maxie’s area of expertise, and Maxie says, it is. She’s taking a step back. Sasha says, from Deception? and Maxie says, from everything, but definitely from work. She talked to Lucy; she knows Maxie is taking a leave of absence. Sasha asks, for how long? and Maxie says, just for a few weeks. The kidnapping has been traumatizing – Sasha says, of course (🍷) it hasand being in Port Charles is making it worse. Sasha says she’s so sorry. She’s sure having a pregnant co-worker isn’t helping, but Maxie says, no. This doesn’t have anything to do with Sasha at all.

Brook comes into Nina’s apartment, wheeling Bailey in the carriage, and says, at ease, Yuri. She tells him that he can wait in the hallway, and Nina asks if he wants a bottle of water or something. Brook says, he’d prefer flat, and Nina goes to get it. Brook tells Yuri that it’s a secure building with vigilant doormen, so he can stand guard, but no accosting anyone. Nina comes back with the water, and he tells her (I assume) thank you in his native language. Nina says she doesn’t know what that was, but she’s got him. She closes the door, and Brook apologizes for the entourage. Nina says, Valentin? and Brook says, how’d she guess? Nina says she got there quickly, and Brook says there was some major drama at the house – what else is new? – so that was incentive to get there, but she also wants to prove herself to Nina and Deception. Nina thanks her for that, but says, this has nothing to do with work. Brook asks what it’s about, and Nina says she knows Brook’s secret.

Portia says she guesses she and Curtis had the same idea, and he says, he and TJ just wanted to get some sun. She says, it’s a perfect day for it, and tells him, enjoy. She starts to pick up her bag, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she thinks she’ll find somewhere else to sit. He says she was there first; they’ll find someplace else. She says, no, she will. TJ joins them and says, hello, and she says, hi, TJ. Wait. Dr. Ashford is what she should say, right? Congratulations. They’re all very proud of him. He thanks her, and says, he gives it a week before she and the senior staff are complaining about him like they do the other interns. She says she highly doubts it, and TJ asks if Curtis wants to swim. Curtis says he’ll be there in a minute, and TJ goes in the pool. Portia asks if it’s going to be awkward between them.

Nina says, Bailey’s not Brook’s, and Brook starts to protest, but Nina says, she belongs to Maxie and Peter. Brook asks how she found out, and Nina says, how does she think? Maxie. She’s losing her mind, understandably so. She needed someone to confide in. Brook says, she gets that, but she and Maxie agreed it was necessary to protect Louise from Peter. She must have told Nina that. Nina says she did, and Brook says, she didn’t believe Maxie? Nina says she did – she does believe her, that she’s trying to protect her daughter. The person she can’t figure out is Brook.

Maxie asks how Sasha’s pregnancy is going, and Sasha says, overwhelming. Maxie says, that’s pregnancy in a nutshell, especially when it’s your first time, and Sasha says, it’s a lot to take on alone. Maxie says, but she’s not alone. She has Brando to help out, right?

Brando tells Gladys, he has no reason to think Sasha doesn’t want him to be a part of her life, or the baby’s. Gladys smiles, and he says he doesn’t know; they haven’t talked about it. She says, exactly. Maybe Sasha is worried about him being a good provider. Brando says, the 1950s called. They want their sexism back. Sasha has her own company, and doesn’t need him to provide for anything. She says, so that’s it? He made his donation, now hit the road? He laughs, and says, my God, and she tells him, she’s just saying. Maybe it’s time for him to worry about his own career. He says, the garage is doing fine, but she says, fine isn’t good enough. Carly walks in, and Gladys says, now the <air quotes> Corinthos Coffee Company <end air quotes>, that’s where the money is. And there’s been a shake-up in management lately, to put it mildly. Brando needs to strike while the iron is hot. With Sonny gone, this is his time.

Spinelli tells Jason, he didn’t realize he and Ellie’s relationship was moving in a direction she’s not comfortable with. She said if she wanted to find a different life, she needed to act now. She’s not wrong. Jason says, no. She’s got to do what’s right for her, and Spinelli has to do what’s right for him. He doesn’t have to choose Jason and the business over Ellie. He can always walk away. Spinelli says, no, he can’t.

Portia says she meant every word she said the other day, and Curtis says, every word? She says, being together with him while he’s on the rebound… He says she’s not a rebound, and she says, it’s not worth the risk of losing him as a friend. She misses the way it used to be, just hanging out and having fun. He says he misses that too, and she suggests they just rewind. Go back to the way things were before she kissed him. He asks if she really thinks it’s that simple, and she says, probably not, but it’s worth a try. Tell TJ that she’ll speak with him later. She leaves, and Curtis watches her.

Spinelli says he misses Ellie, but the bulk of their relationship was during Jason’s absence. The person he was without Jason could fit into Ellie’s world perfectly; he let her take the lead. Jason says Spinelli can still be that person, but Spinelli says he doesn’t want to be. He likes working for Jason. It’s where he’s comfortable. It’s where he thrives. He wants to use his substantial skills, and wants to play for big stakes, take chances. He realized that, and it forced him to face the facts. Ellie’s life and career goals don’t match up with his anymore. Jason asks if Spinelli is okay with that, and Spinelli says he desperately wants her to stay, but that would be selfish. Holding on when he knows it’s wrong would be the wrong thing. Telling her that he’ll change when he knows he won’t. Jason says, to start a new life that he doesn’t believe in, and Spinelli says he knows he’s doing the right thing. Jason says, that doesn’t make it any easier, does it? and Spinelli says, no, it doesn’t. Jason pats him on the shoulder.

Carly tells Brando and Gladys, welcome, and Gladys asks if Carly’s ears were burning, or is she in the habit of sneaking up on all her guests? Carly asks if they’re enjoying themselves, and Gladys says, yes, but not as much as Carly is. She heard about Carly’s engagement to Jason, and Brando tells Carly, congratulations. He’s really happy for them. She thanks him, and Gladys says she’s sure her dearly departed cousin would agree. Carly suggests Brando get his mother a drink, and tell the bartender the tab is on her for the rest of the afternoon. Gladys says, so generous, and Brando leaves. Gladys says, Carly is finally deciding to treat them like family, and Carly says, Gladys is a lot of things, but family isn’t one of them.

Sasha says, Maxie is right; Brando definitely wants to be involved with the baby. Maxie says, but she doesn’t want him to be. Or maybe she doesn’t want to raise the baby at all. Sasha says, she does. It’s not exactly the timetable she envisioned, but she’s always wanted to be a mom. Maxie asks, what’s the problem? and Sasha says, it’s not a problem per se, it’s just that Brando’s such a great guy. He’s so excited about the pregnancy, and them being a family… Maxie says, but? and Sasha says, but he has close ties to Carly and Jason, and that whole life. It makes her a little nervous.

Phyllis tells Sonny, she’s trying so hard not to be one of those people asking constant questions while the doctors are still trying to figure things out. He says, she sees it all the time at the clinic, and she says she does, but she never realized until now how hard it is to just wait. Sonny says he’s glad they got in some sightseeing, and she says, her too. She and Lenny haven’t been to New York in so long, it brought back a lot of memories. She sits, and says, what about him? Does he think he’s ever been there before? He says, it did seem familiar for a second, but he thinks it’s just from TV and the movies. She says, so that’s where his mind was this morning. She noticed he was distracted. She figured he was thinking about his call with Nina the other day.

Brook tells Nina, she admits in the beginning it was all a manipulation. She wanted to redeem herself from the whole ELQ debacle. Nina says, in her father’s eyes, and Brook says, and in her own. When she initially reached out to Maxie with her proposal – Nina says, interesting word choice – Brook wanted to help her, but It was also serendipity. Maxie needed someone to hide a baby at the exact moment Brook needed a baby. It was a win-win, and it was at that time she learned what a psycho Peter really is. So that’s what it became for her, a way to protect this precious little girl, because Peter is way more dangerous than Nina knows. Nina says, Brook doesn’t have to tell her that, and Brook says she got so wrapped up in the Louise aspect, the whole stock thing just fell by the wayside. She had to play it out, since that was the original premise. Nina says, and if she lost interest, Valentin would get suspicious and might figure it out, and Brook says, exactly. Nina says this is where the plan loses her, because Valentin is nothing if not a great father. It’s his Achille’s heel. It’s where he goes from cold and calculating, to a goofy pile of mush. Brook says, true, and Nina says, so she also knows there would be no one in the world more willing to protect that baby from Peter than Valentin. So why not tell Valentin the truth?

Anna tells Valentin that she thinks they should wait for confirmation before they head over to the hospital. The longer they’re hanging out there, the more suspicious they appear. Valentin agrees, and says he can think of worse places to hang out. He asks if she knows what this place reminds him of. That pub in Dublin… She says, Mulligan’s, and he says, they were there celebrating their first field assignment from the Academy. Remember that? She says, vaguely, and he says, this from a women who remembered the name in two seconds flat. She says she doesn’t enjoy thinking about that time in her life, and frankly, neither should he. He asks if it’s their troubled past that’s got her in such a mood, but she says she’s not in a mood. This isn’t a mood. Yes, because what else would it be about? He says, us. Here and now.

Jason says Spinelli probably figured this out already, but he and Carly are… Spinelli says, getting married to present a united front to the outside world? Surprising, but at the same time, not surprising. Jason and Carly are soulmates. Perhaps not romantically, but in every other sense of the word. They support and love each other like no one else can. So it might be for optics, but he for one can imagine a more perfect union. He clinks his glass against Jason’s.

Brando sees TJ getting out of the pool, and says, what’s up? Cool spot, huh? TJ says he envisions himself spending a lot of time there. Brando tells him, have a good one, and starts to walk away, but TJ says, congratulations on the baby. He doesn’t think he said it when Brando told them Sasha was pregnant. Brando says TJ doesn’t have to do that, and TJ says, do what? Brando says, be the bigger person. TJ was the first real friend he had in this town, and he screwed it up by not telling him the truth. TJ says, Brando did, but he’s been thinking a lot lately about lost time, and was reminded that holding grudges doesn’t do them much good. So, seriously, best of luck to him. Brando says, thanks, and they bro shake.

Carly says she appreciates Glady’s assistance in ridding this town of Cyrus, but that is the end of their professional relationship. Gladys says, but it shouldn’t be for her son. Brando deserves a bigger piece of the pie. Carly says, what’s funny is, if there’s one thing that makes Jason not want Brando to be a part of the business, it’s because he’s attached to Gladys. Gladys says, it’s his birthright. He’s the only real Corinthos left. Or at least the only one old enough to want a piece of this. Joey Novak walks in, and Carly says, this conversation’s over. Gladys says, because Carly says so, and Carly says, yeah, pretty much. She walks over to Joey, and asks what he’s doing there.

Sasha tells Maxie, don’t get her wrong. She really likes the Corinthos family. When she was dating Michael, she got to know them pretty well, and she knows they’d put the safety of their loved ones above all else. Maxie says she can vouch for that, and Sasha says, but at the end of the day, there’s only so much they can do. She doesn’t want to raise her child like that. When every time they leave the house, she holds her breath, praying they make it home. Maxie says, FYI, she’s always going to feel that way as a mom. Mob life or no mob life. Sasha says, great, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) she completely understands. Sasha asks what she should do, and Maxie says she thinks Sasha needs to be realistic about Brando’s involvement in all of this. Like, how committed does he seem to this alleged organized crime thing? Sasha says, Brando only went to work for Cyrus as a favor to Sonny and Jason, and Maxie says she figured that. Brando seems like a really nice guy, and Cyrus definitely doesn’t. Sasha says she can’t really complain, since working for Cyrus put Brando in a position to save her life. Maxie says, fortunately, Cyrus was shipped off to federal prison where he belongs, and she knows from experience that Jason would never force someone to work for him who doesn’t want to. Brando’s kind of free to be the man he wants to be.

Sonny tells Phyllis that he talked to Nina, and it was nice, but it was kind of hard keeping this from her. She needs to know what’s going on with Lenny. Phyllis says, and she should, and she’s going to tell Nina once they have more information. Does he want anything from the vending machine? He says he’s good; he doesn’t want anything. She says, her neither, but she wants to get up and walk around. She tells him, don’t let Nina slip through the cracks. He’ll regret it if he does. She leaves.

Nina says, to keep Valentin believing, and loving, this baby as if it was his own child, it’s not fair. Brook says she doesn’t disagree necessarily, but it’s Maxie’s daughter; it’s her call. Nina says she knows, and she wouldn’t go against that. It just makes her sad. Brook says, all she can hope, is that when Valentin finds out, no matter how angry and disappointed he is, that he understands why she and Maxie felt the ends justified the means. Nina says, he will understand. The only thing up for debate is Valentin’s broken heart. He’s not going to stop protecting that baby. He’ll fight for that baby, and he will play his role to the hilt. They both know that. Come on. Brook says, okay, so what about Charlotte?

Valentin says, he and Anna aren’t children. He doesn’t know why they can’t discuss this like adults. She says because she’s way over it. He says he likes her. He has feelings for her, and she has feelings for him. She tells him, if he says so, and he tells her, he does say so, and so would she if she’d stop fighting it. She says, it was a kiss, a fleeting kiss, and he says, which had been building for years. There was nothing fleeting about that kiss. He’s felt this way about her his entire adult life. This is real. He can see it’s scaring her. She asks if she looks scared, and he says, no, but something’s happening here, and he’d like her to admit that. Her phone dings, and she looks at it. She says, Hopkins has returned to the hospital. It’s go time.

TJ joins Curtis on the chairs, and asks where Portia is. Curtis says, she found another spot. She said she’d see TJ around the hospital. TJ says he was hoping to get in good with her, but Curtis thinks he’s in good already. TJ asks if Curtis is ever going to talk to him about this. He knows there’s something going on between them. Curtis says maybe TJ should have spent more time being a P.I. instead of being a doctor. TJ says Curtis raced to Portia’s place when he thought she was in trouble, and Portia didn’t leave his bedside at GH. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon. Curtis says, one day, TJ could be one, and leans back in his chair.

Joey says, Mrs. Corinthos. He holds out his hand, and says, Joey Novak. She ignores his hand, and says, nice to meet him. What is he doing at her hotel? From a distance, Gladys and Brando watch. Joey says he thought Carly should know, her fiancé isn’t as secure as he thinks he is. She says, is that so? and he says, the Novaks are in a position to make things very unpleasant for her family, so please, give Jason this message. Jason got the jump on him once, but he’s not afraid of him. She says, it sounds like he wants to speak to her fiancé himself. Why don’t they call him down there? Brando walks up, and says, Mr. Novak. Brando’s heard a lot about him. It’s good to see him in Port Charles. Joey asks who Brando is, and Brando holds out his hand, saying, Brando Corbin. Sonny Corinthos is his cousin; was his cousin. Joey shakes his hand, and Brando says, if he can ever be of any assistance to Joey, his garage is over on Third Street. Any Novak vehicles in Port Charles, consider them taken care of.

Spinelli sees Maxie, and she says she’s glad she ran into him. She has a favor to ask him. Actually, he probably won’t think of it as a favor; he’ll want to say yes. She and James are going out of town for a few weeks. He asks where she’s going, and she says, to visit her family in Texas. Anna said she’d be as much in the loop there as here. Spinelli says, if anything comes up with Baby Louise, she’ll be the first to know. And the favor? She says she doesn’t want to intrude on their custody arrangement, but would he and Ellie be okay keeping Georgie while she and James are gone? He tells her that he’s not sure that would be the best idea.

Brook tells Nina to really think about it. If they tell Valentin the truth, she doesn’t think he’ll tell Charlotte? There’s no way he would allow her to continue falling in love with her little sister. Nina says, that’s already happening, but Brook says, except he doesn’t know, and Valentin is complicated. Like Nina said, he’s a really great father, and nothing’s more important to him than Charlotte. Nina says, and now Bailey, and Brook says, so why would they put him in that position? He either has to lie to Charlotte – which she’s not sure he would – or tell her the truth. Then they’re burdening this young girl… No, they can carry this. When this all comes crashing down, Valentin loses out big. And Brook hates that. So tell her. If Nina had to pick one person who she knew could handle this devastating loss, that she knew was strong enough to survive this, who would she pick? Nina says, Valentin.

The doctor comes out, and asks Sonny if Phyllis is there, but he says she stepped away. He’ll get her. The doctor says, that’s all right. Lenny has given her permission to bring him in on the conversation. Why doesn’t he follow her? She’ll let the staff know where to tell Phyllis to find them. Sonny goes into the examining room, just as Anna and Valentin walk into the waiting room.

TJ says, if Curtis doesn’t want to talk about this because of his mom, he gets it, but he’s not a kid. Curtis says, no, he’s not a kid, and TJ says, mom is mom. He’ll always want her to be happy, but Curtis is his family too. Curtis says the vibe TJ is picking up on between him and Portia was a slow burn, and it happened after he and TJ’s mother were separated. It doesn’t matter now, because he and Portia have decided to just be friends. TJ says, because it’s what Curtis thinks he should do, or because it’s what he wants to do? Maybe he should clear that up.

Sonny asks Lenny if they shouldn’t wait for Phyllis, but Lenny says, Dr. Kishore doesn’t want him to lose his place in line for a scan. They have to move quickly. Sonny says, sounds serious, but the doctor says, despite Lenny’s chest pains, there’s no immediate danger. She did see something in one of the tests that she wants to follow up on. It could be nothing. Sonny says they’re still going to do a scan, right? and Lenny tells Sonny, explain to Phyllis, so she doesn’t worry too much. Sonny tells Lenny to get checked out, and Dr. Kishore says, that’s the plan. She tells Sonny that he can wait there, but Sonny says he’s going to look for Phyllis. Lenny goes with the doctor, and in the hallway, Sonny sees a cap just like Mike’s smart cap, lying on the floor. He picks it up, and remembers telling Mike that he forgave him a long time ago, and wants him to go in peace and love. He goes back in the examining room, and ponders the cap.

Joey says he likes Brando’s attitude. Carly’s fiancé could learn a thing or two from this guy. Carly tells him, have a nice day, Mr. Novak, and Joey leaves. Gladys says she hopes Carly is properly grateful, and Brando says, mom. Gladys says, look what her boy did for Carly. Imagine the embarrassment if there had been a whole mob kerfuffle in Carly’s fancy pool and spa, which is supposedly separate from all of that.

Spinelli says, they’re separating, and Maxie says, no. He says, unfortunately yes, and she says she’s so sorry. He says it’s just that he doesn’t think it’s the best idea for Georgie to see Ellie right now. If Maxie doesn’t mind taking her to Texas, he’s sure she’d enjoy it. Maxie says, so will she. Ellie’s really leaving? Does Maxie need to talk some sense into her? Is she going crazy? Spinelli says, no, she’s made the right decision. She’s not comfortable sharing her life with someone who has dangerous associates. After Maxie’s experience with Peter, he’s sure she can relate.

Anna tells Valentin, she’s going to throw her badge around, and see if she can get anyone to tell them where David Hopkins is. Why doesn’t Valentin stay there in case he passes through? Valentin says he’s on it. Anna leaves, and Valentin walks over to where Sonny and Phyllis had been sitting. He literally runs into Phyllis, and she drops the sodas she’s carrying.

Curtis goes finds Portia, and asks if he can have a seat. She says, sure, and asks, what’s up? He says, as friends, he thinks they should get everything out in the open. She says, okay, and he says if she wants to explore this between them, he’d really like that, but if she doesn’t feel it’s a good idea for her, he gets that too. He still thinks she’s holding back because of his Aunt Stella and not because of herself. She asks, is that all? and he says, all right. He’s going to head off to the nightclub. She says, that’s right. Tonight is the official opening. He says, yeah. It’s a big night for him, but it could be a big night for them. If she changes her mind, she knows where to find him. Geez, you’d think he’d invite her as a friend.

Gladys says she’s proud of Brando, but he says, it’s no big deal. She says, it is. If he keeps stepping up like that, he’ll be Jason’s righthand man before he knows it. Sasha walks in and overhears. Gladys leaves, and Sasha makes a soap face like, I don’t know about this guy.

At the bar, Carly tells Jason that he just missed Joey Novak at the pool. Good times. He asks if there was a problem, and she says, there almost was. She was ready to go off on the guy, and Brando stepped in. She has to say, as much as she would hate to give Gladys what she wanted, Brando could be a real asset. He says he’ll keep it in mind, but in the meantime, don’t let Joey Novak provoke her. That’s what he wants. She says, that kid is a hothead, and he says, unlike her. Just take a deep breath. She says he’s right. She doesn’t want to escalate things. They’re trying to calm the waters; she gets it. He says that’s what they’re hoping their marriage will do.

Brook says so she and Nina are on the same page, for Maxie’s sake. Nina says, for Maxie’s sake, she won’t tell Valentin what she knows. Brook thanks her, and Brook’s phone rings. Brook says she has to take it, and asks Nina to watch Bailey/Louise for a second, jetting into the next room, and answering, ELQ, what’s up? Nina says hi to the baby, and tells her that she’s awfully cute. Look at her, all loved and cared for. Safe. That’s all that really matters, isn’t it? With all the secrets she’s keeping, who is she to judge?

Valentin hands Phyllis the soda cans, and apologizes, but Phyllis says she wasn’t looking where she was going. He says he hopes she wasn’t planning on opening them anytime soon, and she says, good tip. He asks if she’s waiting on word about someone, and she nods, saying, it’s not her best event. Him? He says, the same. He doesn’t think it’s anybody’s best event. She hands him one of the cans and says, it seems her friend has disappeared. He says he collided with her, the least he can do is keep her company until her friend shows up. They sit, and she thanks him, introducing herself. Phyllis Caulfield.

Sonny looks at the cap some more, while Anna is walking by in the hallway. Sonny turns the handle of the door to leave. Anna hears, and stops, looking at the door.

Tomorrow, Maxie says, this should be interesting; Dante tells Chase, it’s just like old times; Austin says Monica isn’t telling him what to do; and Sonny says, it’s bad, isn’t it?

Million Dollar Listing New York

Fredrik was back in NYC, and danced in the rain, which was the weather throughout the entire episode. In his interview, he said every cell in his body alive. He could hear the rumbling of the subway, and smell the garbage. He was home, and it was amazing. I actually understood this. When I would come back to NYC after visiting my homeland of Ohio, I’d be like, ahh, the smell of the subway stop, a combination of urine and garbage. He also had a lot of business to catch up on. He met developer Cliff at the 10th Street penthouse, which still wasn’t sold, along with the 8th floor apartment. To refresh your memory, the penthouse was nearly 5000 square feet, had a lot of marble, herringbone floors, 10 foot ceilings, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, more marble, and 8 terraces. All this came at the asking price of $15 million. The 8th floor apartment was 1600 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, and a 725 square foot terrace, for the asking price of $6.5 million. Fredrik said these were crazy times, but thought they could get it done if Cliff gave him an extension on the listing. Cliff seemed hesitant, saying Fredrik hadn’t sold it in a year. Fredrik told Cliff to remove 7 months because of the pandemic, which seemed fair. Cliff said Fredrik had been doing well by him until he went to L.A., and Fredrik explained that he wanted to find buyers for NYC in L.A., and vice versa. Cliff said, at this point, he wasn’t looking at how much he was going to make, but how much he was losing. He wondered why he should keep Fredrik, and if he should bring in new blood. Fredrik said he’d build a social media campaign. While Instagram used to be a fun guilty pleasure, now it was a catalyst for real estate sales. In his interview, Fredrik thought it would drum up interest, and took a selfie with Cliff, telling people to swipe up to see the listing. He immediately had 9000 clicks on the listing, and Cliff agreed to the extension, provided Fredrik move in, live there, and promote the hell out of it. I didn’t believe for one second this wasn’t set up ahead of time.

Steve was working on selling Artemis Farm, which was more of undertaking that he’d thought. He had Dorinda Medley on board, telling us that she wasn’t just the Queen of the Berkshires, she’d been a successful realtor. She had a true knowledge of upstate New York, and knew her stuff. He spoke with Dorinda on the phone, and she thought the farm was absolutely incredible, having different components that could be used for different purposes. Steve said he’d thought the buyer he was looking for would want something that hadn’t been listed. That hadn’t worked, so in a pivot move, he’d decided to list it. Dorinda said it was hard to describe, and she thought people really needed to see it. Steve said it was about the experience, and in his interview, he said he couldn’t overstate the value of one celebrity mention when it came to real estate. He promised to find a cool neighbor for Dorinda.

Tyler took his OCD client Andrea to meet agent Talia in a new building in the East Village, where Tyler said developers were investing. It was a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath ground floor duplex, with Miele appliances, quartz counters, and 18 foot ceilings. In Tyler’s interview, he said the apartment had what Andrea was looking for; nobody had lived in it before, it was private, and had outdoor space. She also worked at NYU, which wasn’t far. Andrea wasn’t thrilled with a humongous window that made her feel like she was on display. I guess no one had told her about those things called shades and curtains. Tyler asked what was up with her not wanting a previously used apartment, and she said she was freaked out knowing there was residue in the corners from humans. They decided to check out the penthouse, also for sale, and Talia pointed out that dealing with the doors was totally touchless, and you used your phone. Of course my mind immediately went to, what if power went out, and there were zombies, and… The penthouse was 1880 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, 16 foot ceilings, and views of both the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. There was also a private roof deck, but the stairs to it were part of the buildings staircase, so therefore public. I didn’t blame Andrea for being concerned people would disregard the roof being private. She told Talia that made it feel less like it was part of the apartment. She also wasn’t sure that she wanted to be that far east.   

Steve wanted to get a celebrity to the farm, and thought his kid was a star, so he took the family there by helicopter. No surprise, Baby Rose was very cute with the animals. He said upstate was hotter than ever, and he called his broker contacts to invite them to an open house. A farmer’s market was set up for the brokers to enjoy, as well as support the local community. As Steve joined them, the helicopter took off, bringing Rose and her mom back home. Noticed by the guests, Steve said that someone had come to see the farm that morning, but he couldn’t say who it was. In Steve’s interview, he told us, nothing said buzz like a high-profile flyover. I had to admit to being impressed by his cleverness. He said I was all about seducing brokers with the local lifestyle, and picked up the tab for their market purchases. KJ arrived, and in her interview, she said her clients were interested in luxury properties. They had places in Manhattan, but wanted a place outside the city as well, and wanted a turnkey property that was move-in ready. They didn’t want to do massive renovations. She admitted to not being a large animal person, and seemed hesitant of the horses. In KJ’s interview, she said her grandfather had horses, and she’d tried riding a couple of times, but fell off. It wasn’t her thing. In Steve’s interview, he said he was about as comfortable on a farm as he was reading Ryan’s blog. He showed the brokers the main house, a 6000 square foot 1900s colonial, with 6 bedrooms and 5 baths, 5 fireplaces, and a closet literally bigger than my first apartment. In KJ’s interview, she said she wasn’t sure she agreed with Steve’s assessment that it was country chic. It was very country, but not so chic. In Steve’s interview, he said it wasn’t about bringing the city to the country. It was about escaping the city. KJ wasn’t getting it. KJ said Steve wasn’t going to get $4.2 million for it.

Fredrik said living in the space he was selling was weird. He didn’t like showing his own bathroom or clothes, but instead of having an open house for 30 brokers, by using social media, he was reaching 30 million people. In doing a private showing, he said everyone saw something different in the pattern of a marble fireplace. He saw a huge commission The broker did point out Fredrik’s unmade bed, which is a big no-no, and I was surprised at him. Even Fredrik thought the asking price was high, but worried that if it was lowered, buyers would come in really low. It was the big question in real estate; to lower or not. Tyler brought Andrea to see the 8th floor apartment, and in Tyler’s interview, he said he thought it was overpriced, and worth $4.5 to $5 million in today’s market. The last time he’d gone to Fredrik’s open house, he hadn’t been the friendliest to Tyler’s buyer. In the grand scheme of things, it was water under the bridge, but he hoped Fredrik was nicer this time. In Fredrik’s interview, he said everyone was a tiny bit of a germaphobe right now, but it wouldn’t be easy avoiding germs. He loved NYC, but germs were kind of a part of it. Tyler said Andrea’s budget was $5 million, and in his interview, Fredrik said, that was like 40% off. There was no covid discount of 40%. Anything below $5 million was a lowball. Fredrik mentioned the amount of sales he was doing to Tyler, and in his interview, Tyler said, the more bragging some did, the more insecure they were, and Fredrik was shining a light on that. I dunno. The numbers are the numbers. They squabbled over what was worth what, while Andrea took a walk around the terrace. In Tyler’s interview, he said he thought Fredrik’s pricing proved he’d spent so much time in L.A., he didn’t understand how affected NYC had been by covid. He’d lost his perspective and his damn mind if he thought he was getting $6.5 million.

Steve told us that his driver Will was more than just a driver and an agent. He had a lot of side hustles, and it was a little known fact that he was in Dorinda’s cooking show on YouTube. Steve wasn’t sure how he ended up there, but thought it was because he was friends with Greg, who was also in the show. We saw a clip of Dorinda cooking, and two guys wearing aprons with no shirts did some test tasting. Broker Rich called Steve while he was in the car. Rich had come to Steve’s open house for the farm, and had given Steve a lot of positive input. We saw a clip, where Rich said it was like a Norman Rockwell painting. Even though the event was a massive success, Steve had yet to receive an offer, and he was getting concerned. Rich said he had clients who were interested, but not completely sold on living in the woods. They wanted to know if the seller would rent. They were offering $12,500 a month, with 6 months upfront. In Steve’s interview, he said it wasn’t what he was hoping for; he’d been hoping Rich would bring him a great offer. It was upsetting since he’d put so much work into it, and wanted to do right by Cornelia. He told Rich that he’d have to present it to his client, but they were on the market to sell. Don’t hold his breath. Rich said they did have something else lined up, and rentals were in demand, so he needed an answer quickly. Steve called Cornelia in Texas, and said she’d be getting $75K upfront. She asked what if someone wanted to buy it, and he said they’d break the lease. He also thought $15K a month was more reasonable. Cornelia liked the idea of having some immediate money, and also being able to show it to people. Maybe the renters would have friends who were interested. Steve said they’d put a clause in the contract to be able to show the house. He called Rich back, and said a little more money would make it work for his client, but the tenants would also have to vacate for a showing. Rich asked if 24-hour notice was cool, and Steve said that was acceptable. In his interview, he said it was risky, but he had zero offers. Cornelia would get $90K up front, and Steve would get a $6750 commission. He’d put money in Cornelia’s pocket, and he was going to get it sold.

Fredrik met with team member Keith about East 10th Street, and flashed back to Kelly Bensimon taking a pass on the property. Keith had a client that was interested in renting with an option to buy at $22 million, and Fredrick said Kelly not coming through was a bummer, but he was optimistic the seller would consider rentals. The asking price for the property was $28 million, which would be breaking a record, but dropping it to $24 million would still do it. Fredrik asked who the decision maker was, and Keith said, the wife. Fredrik asked what she was like, and Keith said she had a strong personality, and liked the arts, gardening, and cooking. In Fredrik’s interview, he said people thought real estate was easy. The listing had been lingering for 18 months, which meant he’d had it pre and post-covid. It was stressful, but he’d gotten into real estate to set records. Taking over the process, Fredrik made the call. The wife argued the price, but Fredrik said it was no financial risk; it was an option. She asked how many options he had, and he reminded her that the owner didn’t want to rent, and this was out of the goodness of his heart. But the option would be in place, even if they decided months from now, when real estate prices were going up. She said she’d talk to her husband, and Fredrik deliberately walked by subway grates, saying, he couldn’t hear, so call him back. He said Keith wasn’t kidding; the woman was on fire. She was a power mama. Keith got a text, and said it was tough to understand, but Fredrik did something right. They’d agreed to an option of $24 million. In his interview, Fredrik said it felt amazing being back in NYC. He’d just finished the biggest deal ever. It felt good. He and Keith went out for Italian food.

Next time, Ryan plays tour guide for international clients, Kelly wants to work with Fredrik. KJ’s clients are insulted about an offer, and Ryan gets fired. Maybe.  

🌆 Living Where You Work…

The $15 million penthouse.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1287846/see-fredrik-eklund-move-into-a-stunning-s15-million-penthouse-on-mdlny

🛣 Hitting the Road…

See you tomorrow for rounding out the week with soap, tea, and whatever wise words I can dig up. Until then, stay safe, stay changing lanes – both literally and figuratively – with caution, and stay investing in yourself. Brighten things up a little.

July 14, 2021 – Austin Tells the Qs His Agenda, Erika’s Hands Are Tied, Bershan Blows Up the Night & These Days

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Mike/Sonny asks what the doctor said about Lenny’s heart, and Phyllis says, his condition hasn’t improved. Lenny tells Phyllis, his heart’s not failing him now. There’s no need to tell him for a week or two. Sonny says, tell him what? and Phyllis starts to cry. Lenny says his old ticker is getting worse.

On the phone, Ava says she wants to get to Windymere as soon as possible, then back to town in an hour… No, she doesn’t have to wait. She’s Ava Cassadine, at least for the time being… Who, may she ask, is holding the launch at Spoon Island? Who has more right to that launch than she does? (Seriously? She has to wonder about that?)

Laura tells Nikolas that she’s sorry she brought Spencer up. She thinks she just made things worse. He says he’s fine, and he’s glad she tried to get Spencer to call him. Her heart was in the right place. A voice says, father, and Spencer walks in. Nikolas says, Spencer? and Spencer says he’s home. He tells Laura that he’s sorry he didn’t call. He wanted to surprise them all. She knows how he loves surprises. She says, he got what he wanted, and so did she, and hugs him.

Referring to Austin, Michael says, no offense, but who the hell is he? and Scotty says he’s glad Michael asked. Let him introduce… Austin says he’d really like to take care of this himself. He looks at Michael, and says, you’re Michael, right? I’m Austin. Austin Gatlin Holt. Ned says, so he’s telling them… and Brook interrupts, saying, she knows who he is. He delivered Maxie’s baby. He says, yeah, and Olivia says, in the woods? Before the baby was stolen. He asks if Brook knows Maxie, and she says she’s Brook Lynn Quartermaine. Maxie pointed him out to her the night her baby was born. She also just told Brook that he got hired at GH. He says he did just get hired at GH, which makes Monica his new boss. It’s a pleasure to meet her. Monica says, no GH staff members introduce themselves by sabotaging an ELQ meeting, and he says he thinks she knows why he’s there. Does she want to tell everybody, or does she want him to take care of it? She says, if his name is any indication, his father was Jimmy Lee Holt, and his mother was Terry Gatlin. Scotty says, that’s right, and that makes him the grandson of his old pal, Edward Quartermaine.

Anna walks through the hospital with security guard, who says, when Dr. Quartermaine brought him on as security chief, she made it clear he’s to do everything in his power to help the WSB and the PCPD with their investigations. She says she’s trying to track down a helicopter pilot, David Hopkins. He flew Medivac for GH, but she’s learned he since left Port Charles, and is living in the tri-state area. She was hoping he could use his contacts at other hospitals to pin down his whereabouts. She gives him the only photograph she has, and he says he’ll get right on it. He leaves, and Finn approaches Anna, and asks what that was all about. She says, the search for Peter.

Nina says, if Maxie needs help, she’ll get it for her. She knows that. Nina loves her, and will always love her, no matter what Maxie tells her, but Maxie has to talk to her right now. Is she afraid she’s going to steal Bailey? Maxie says she wouldn’t be stealing Bailey; she’d be bringing her back home where she belongs. Nina says Maxie doesn’t mean that. She knows Bailey’s home is with her mother. Maxie says she can tell by the way Nina is looking at her, that Nina thinks she’s lost it. She promises she’s not delusional. She’s not thinking of snatching a baby that’s not hers. She would be bringing her home. Nina says, and her home is with Brook Lynn.

Nina says she knows Maxie is hurting, and no one knows that hurt better than she does. Maxie says she was thinking about that as she was driving there; how Nina lost Nelle, and how she had to give up Avery. That must have been devastating. That’s why she wanted to talk to Nina. Nina is glad Maxie brought up Avery, because like her, Maxie can’t take a baby that’s not hers. Maxie says, that’s not what’s happening, and Nina asks, what is happening? She wants to help Maxie. Please. Maxie says Nina has to promise she’ll keep the secret forever, even if she thinks Maxie is wrong. Nina says, oh God, Maxie. What’s the secret?

Sonny says, the old ticker is still ticking, and Lenny says, for now. Phyllis says, Lenny, but Lenny says he’s just trying to be realistic. Sonny says, Lenny has to listen to the nurse standing beside him, and asks Phyllis what they do to get this ex-Marine in fighting shape. Phyllis asks if Lenny heard that. Mike’s not giving up on him, and neither is she. Lenny says, who’s giving up? He’s just trying to face facts; keep things real. Sonny says, if he’d kept it real, he woudn’t have been able to crawl out of that water. He would have just gone under and given up. Lenny says that was just him being stubborn, and Phyllis says, good thing he was. Sonny says they took him in, and gave him another chance at life. Lenny can consider this payback, but he doesn’t care. He’s not going to let Lenny go.

Laura says, Spencer is so grown, but Spencer says he’s just older, and a little wiser and cuter. She laughs, and asks how long he’s been in town. Where’s his luggage? He says he has a room at the MetroCourt, and Laura says she sees. She says Nikolas is so quiet. Doesn’t he have something to say to his son? Nikolas says, plenty, but he’s not sure if his son is there for him, and Spencer says, that’s understandable. Nikolas is the one who’s been reaching out, while he’s been keeping his distance. Laura says, none of that matters now. Does it, Nikolas? Nikolas says he hopes not. It’s good to see him. Spencer asks if that’s all he’s got, and says it’s good to see Nikolas too. He holds out his hand, and Nikolas asks if that’s all Spencer’s got, and they hug.

Michael asks, who was Jimmy Lee Holt again? Ned says, Jimmy Lee Holt was… Olivia blurts out, the bastard son of Edward and Beatrice Latour. Sorry. As a former single mother two times, she’s not judging him. Austin thanks her, and she tells the others, she read Edward’s memoirs, so sue her. Austin says, as he understands it, illegitimacy wasn’t unique among Edward’s offspring, and Olivia says, just wait until he reads the book. Brace yourself. Valentin says, that means Mr. – Austin says, doctorDr. Gatlin Holt is entitled to a certain number of voting shares, but Michael says, not so fast. Anybody can just waltz in here and say they’re entitled to voting shares. Austin says, can they? and Scotty tosses a manila envelope on the table, and says, here’s the proof. DNA, birth certificates, affidavits… All the proof that entitles his client to his rightful share.

Finn asks Anna how it’s going, and she says, slowly. He says, good luck, and she asks, how’s Violet? He says, she’s having one of those magical summers you only get when you’re that age, and Anna says, that’s beautiful. Tell Violet she misses her. 4th of July seems so long ago already. He says he’ll do that… or Anna could tell Violet herself. She’s at Lila’s Kids in the morning, but after that… She says she can’t do that. She’s in New York tomorrow. He asks if she’s seeing a show, and she says, nothing like that. Although she was going to pop into the store at The Plaza to see if she can find something for Violet. They loved reading Eloise together. If that’s all right. He says she doesn’t need his permission to do something nice for Violet, and she says she just didn’t want to overstep; give Violet the wrong idea. He says, about what? and she says, about you and me.

Sonny says he’s sure Dr. Ford is an excellent doctor, but Lenny is going to need a second opinion. Lenny asks Phyllis to tell this guy there’s nothing free in this life, especially the kind of second opinion he’s talking about. Phyllis says, Mike is right. There are plenty of specialists out there, and new treatments coming out all the time. And they have insurance. She starts to walk to the back, and Lenny asks where she’s going. She says, what good is her medical training if she can’t use it for her husband? She’s going online, and she’s not going to stop until she finds a cardiologist that can help him. She leaves, and Lenny tells Sonny, see what you’ve done? Now you’ve given her hope.

Anna tells Finn, forget she said that, and walks to the elevator. He follows, and asks if they can’t talk for a minute. She says, sure, and they walk to a bench. He says he’s always been up front and honest with Violet. She knows they’re not together anymore. They sit, and Anna says, good. She doesn’t mean… She means she’s glad Violet understands. He says he also made sure Violet knows she’s important to Anna. Anna says, she is, and thanks him. He says, and Anna is important to him; she always will be. She says, really? and he says, really. She says, after everything that went down with Peter and Chase, she was pretty sure he wanted nothing to do with her. He says he was angry. Sometimes he still is. When he was working around the clock to save Chase, there were moments he blamed her. She says, it was her fault, but he says, it was only one person’s fault – Peter. She says she’s going to find Peter and bring him to justice, and he says, justice would be good, but it’s more important to him that Chase is improving. She says she still has so much to make up for, and he tells her, stop. Can they stop talking about Peter for just one moment? Find a way to… She says, be friends?

Michael says, of course (🍷) they’re going to request that all the paperwork be independently verified. Ned says, Dr. Gatlin, and Austin says, he was wrong about that; just call him Austin. Ned says, Austin. He hates to be the bearer of bad news, but even if those documents are real, Austin has no right to any share of ELQ. His grandfather was explicit about cutting Jimmy Lee and all of his descendants out of his estate. As he’s sure Jimmy Lee knows. Otherwise, Jimmy Lee himself would be there. Austin says his father has the best excuse in the world not to be there. He’s dead. Six months ago. Monica says she’s sorry for his loss, and Austin thanks her. That’s why he’s here, to stake his claim. Because what was rightfully his, is rightfully Austin’s.

Nikolas says Spencer’s grandmother is right. He’s a grown man now. He’s just sorry he missed seeing it happen. Laura asks, what happened to his trip around the world? The last time she talked to him, he was on the Amalfi coast. He says, nobody goes there anymore; it’s too popular. She says it’s nice to know some things never change. He’s still a snob. Spencer says, just particular. He learned from experts. Nikolas says, obviously, he’s overjoyed to see Spencer, but after all those months of radio silence, why now? Spencer says he wasn’t sure he’d be welcomed; hence, the MetroCourt. Nikolas says, Windymere is Spencer’s home. Spencer is always welcome. He’s sorry if he made Spencer feel otherwise. Spencer says, it’s all right, father. It wasn’t him. Ava comes in, saying, who’s monopolizing the launch… She sees Spencer and stops short.

Nina tells Maxie, if there’s one thing she’s learned to do effectively, it’s keep a secret. Maxie says, good, because it’s a matter of life or death. Nina says she can see it’s tearing Maxie up. She’s here, and promises to keep Maxie’s secret, no matter what. Maxie thanks her, and says, Bailey isn’t really Brook’s baby. Bailey is hers. Nina asks what she means, and Maxie says she gave her baby to Brook to keep her safe from Peter. She starts to cry again, and Nina says, Brook had her baby in a hotel room in Ithaca, and Michael and Willow brought them back here. Maxie says, no. Bailey doesn’t exist; she never did. Brook’s baby is Louise.

Ava says hello to Spencer, and Spencer apologizes for tying up the launch. He wasn’t sure of his reception, and thought he might have to make an early departure. Nikolas says he told Spencer this is his home, and Ava says, of course (🍷) it is. Welcome home. She didn’t want to interrupt. She just came by to make sure the movers didn’t forget anything. Spencer says, grandmother told him that Ava and his father were experiencing difficulties, and she says, if by difficulties, he means divorce. He says, the last he heard, they were renewing their vows. What changed? Ava says, it’s okay. He doesn’t have to pretend to be sorry their marriage is ending. He says if he’d known, he’d have come home sooner, and she says, to hammer in the final nail? but he says, to be there for his father.

Finn tells Anna, what he’d like to think is they’re… What are they? Friends? Exes? He doesn’t think it matters as long as they’re good. She says she’d like that, but they both know there will always be this thing between them where she turned a blind eye to Peter and what he did. He says she had to learn the hard way. Peter had… has a way of bringing out the worst in people and making them betray their best intentions. He flashes back to being with Peter on the roof, and Peter telling him that Anna broke the rules. He didn’t sentence Chase; Anna did. Finn remembers throwing Peter down the stairs, and Anna asks if he’s all right. He says he’s sorry for being so hard on her. He realizes the truth can sometimes be complicated. He should have been more understanding. She shrugs, and thanks him. She asks, what changed?

Sonny asks, what’s the matter with hope? and Lenny says, it may help Phyllis now, but it will cost her a lot more in the end. Sonny doesn’t know what Lenny means, and Lenny says, whatever they do about his condition, it has to be within their means, because insurance only covers so much. Sonny tells him, don’t worry; he has it covered. Lenny says, he’s the one who pays Mike/Sonny. He knows how much Mike has. Sonny says, it doesn’t matter about the money. Lenny gave him a chance. It’s only fair. Lenny says he’s touched by the offer, but it ain’t gonna be cheap. And he can’t… He can’t drive Phyllis deeper into debt. He’s dying, and by the time he’s in the ground, Phyllis could lose the Tan-O, and for what? Sonny says, for the only thing that matters. She would do it for him.

Nina says, what about Maxie giving birth in the woods? and Maxie says, that’s all true. Nina says, and the hiker who happened to be a doctor helping deliver the baby… Maxie says, he’s real. He’s in Port Charles. Nina can ask him herself. Nina asks if Brook was with her when Louise was born, but Maxie says, it was just the hiker/doctor and Peter’s imposter nurse. Nina says, she didn’t take the baby? and Maxie says, she tried to. Maxie clocked her and ran. Nina says, after giving birth? and Maxie says, adrenaline is a wonderful thing. Nina wonders if she even has to ask Maxie how the nurse ended up in the mine shaft, and Maxie says, she lured the nurse into it, but she swears she didn’t push her. Nina asks how Brook got involved, and where’s Brook’s baby? Maxie says, Brook was only pretending to be pregnant. She was going to give Brook her baby without anyone knowing, especially Peter. It was the only way Maxie could protect her from the monster who is her father. Nina says she understands, but there’s one thing she’s unclear on. Everyone in town thinks Valentin is Bailey’s father. Is he in on it too?

Valentin says, on behalf of the Quartermaine family… Ned says, of which he’s not a part, and Valentin says he’s Ned’s granddaughter’s father, but Ned says, that doesn’t make him family. Valentin says, anyway, if Austin is joining them, the more the merrier. Olivia says, if there’s another member of the family, the voting shares get shuffled yet again, right? and Ned says, not for Jimmy Lee’s descendants. Olivia says, but he’s Edward’s flesh and blood, and Austin says, before the speculation starts to spiral out of control… Brook says, if he thinks this is spiraling out of control, he’d better head for the hills, because this is nothing. Austin says he’s heard. Their family squabbles are legendary. Olivia says if he thinks the squabbles are interesting, wait until he sees Thanksgiving. Austin says, to be perfectly clear, he’s not here for a free meal, Thanksgiving or otherwise. He was just hired at GH, and from what he understands, he’s going to be paid pretty well, so that’s not why he’s here. Monica asks, why is he here? and he says, because his father was really fond of Port Charles, even though Port Charles was never really fond of his father. Ned says, grandfather’s will was probated years ago. Scotty’s client may be related by blood, but he has no legal standing to be at this meeting. Scotty says he has news for Ned. Austin’s legal standing has just gone up a notch. Ned asks how he figures, and Austin says he’s contesting his grandfather’s will. A judge will decide his rights. Not Ned, or any of the other Quartermaines.

Lenny tells Sonny, Phyllis is his life. She’s his heart, his everything. Even so, she didn’t sign on for this; going broke just to buy him some time. Sonny asks if they promised to love each other in sickness and in health, and if they did, she signed up for it. Lenny says, til death do us part, and Sonny says, that’s not going to happen, because he’s going to find a way to meet these bills. Lenny asks how he can be so sure, and Sonny says he doesn’t know, but he’s going to find a way.

Maxie says, Valentin has no idea Bailey isn’t his daughter. Nina says, so every day he’s bonding with a baby that isn’t his? and Maxie says she’s focused on protecting her daughter from Peter. She hasn’t given much thought to Valentin’s feelings. Nina says, she gets it. Valentin is far from perfect, but… Maxie says, but what? Exactly what does Nina have a problem with? She’s trusting Nina with her daughter’s life. Nina says, all right. She won’t tell Valentin. They all have their secrets, and she swore she would protect Maxie’s. Maxie says, thank God. Nina has no idea how hard it’s been to be around her daughter, and pretend she’s not hers. She’s been doing a terrible job of covering, which is why she thinks she needs to put some distance between them until Peter is caught and behind bars.

Finn says, Anna is right; something has changed. She says it’s clearly troubling him. Is there anything she can do to help? He says, Anna… when the security guy calls her name. He hands her a paper, and says he may have found what she’s looking for. She thanks him, and Finn asks if it’s about Peter. She says, it is. Can he wait a minute? She has to make a phone call. He says, no worries, this can wait, and she leaves.

Nikolas tells Spencer not to worry about him. He can take care of himself. It’s Ava that… Spencer says, Ava what? What’s going on? Laura says his father didn’t want to worry him, and Ava says, she and his father have different priorities. Spencer says, clearly. What’s come between them that’s so insurmountable? Ava says, she’s sure Spencer recalls that her marriage to his father began for all the wrong reasons. It’s ending for all the right ones. Now if they’ll excuse her, she doesn’t want to interrupt this happy family reunion. She is glad he’s back. For his father’s sake.

Michael asks what right Austin has to challenge a will that’s already probated? Scotty asks Austin to let him handle this. Only their attorneys will be copied. He filed the papers today challenging Edward’s decision to give certain family members shares, and other family members nothing. Monica says, that was his right, and Brook says, it doesn’t have to be fair. It’s family. Just ask her grandmother. Ned says, all he left her was a jar of Pickle-Lila relish, and Austin says he’d like to know more about that. Brook says, enough about the pickles. Those were his wishes. Austin can’t just come in here and change things. Austin says, spoken like a true child of privilege, and Brook says, this family isn’t changing for him. Michael says they’ll have the documents checked out and go from there. Ned says, it won’t matter; the will is ironclad. Valentin gets a text, and says, excuse him. Normally he enjoys watching them savage themselves, but he is CEO, and can’t allow the proceedings to continue if there’s confusion as to who gets a vote, and how much vote they have. Ned says, he’s telling them, Austin doesn’t get a vote. Valentin says, either way, they can’t continue if they don’t know who gets how much voting share. It would leave the company open to all kinds of outcomes, and he’s not going to let that happen on his watch. Olivia asks if Valentin is correct, and Ned says, he’s not entirely wrong. Valentin says, this meeting is adjourned. Good day everyone. He leaves, and Monica says, for once she agrees with Valentin. They can’t pass judgement until they have all the facts.

Nina says she supports Maxie’s decision if she feels that’s what’s best for her and her baby, and Maxie says, but…? Nina says, but, if Maxie and Brook brought Valentin into the loop, he would go along with it. The only difference is, he won’t have his heart broken any more than it’s going to be. Maxie says she can’t risk telling him, and Nina promised she wouldn’t either. Nina says she won’t; it’s Maxie’s secret to tell, but she really wishes Maxie would. That way she could stay in Port Charles and fight. Lure Peter out of the shadows, and Valentin will be right by her side. So will Anna, and Britt, and Aunt Liesl, and her. They love her. She’ll have an army of people at her side, and if Peter dares show his face… Maxie says, Peter won’t show his face. And they’ve lost too many people for her to ask anyone to risk their life for her mistakes, but she can’t think of anyone she’d rather be in a foxhole with. Nina says, they’re sisters. Whatever Maxie needs. Nina hugs her.

Lenny says, fine. Mike/Sonny wants to help him live longer so he gets more time with the woman he loves, he doesn’t have the strength to fight him. Sonny says, don’t worry. When Lenny gets better, they’ll put on the gloves, and he’ll kick Lenny’s butt. Lenny says it feels like he already is. He’s not going to quit, is he? Sonny says Lenny’s not going to quit either. They can’t do that, for Phyllis. Phyllis comes back in, and says she’s been looking for just the right specialist. She sets the laptop on a table, and says she thinks she found one.

Anna says she had to adjust her travel plans, and Finn says, New York? She says, yeah, and Valentin joins them. He says he got her text. Sorry if he’s interrupting. Anna says, Valentin’s been helping her with her search for Peter. Valentin asks what she’s got, and she says he knows she was looking for the helicopter pilot. She found a lead, and she’s going to follow it to New York, but she realizes he’s working hard at ELQ, so she’ll just keep him posted. He says things are very much up in the air at ELQ, and that’s not going to stop him from going with her.

Austin apologizes for melodrama, even if it is kind of a family tradition. Ned asks what he knows about the Quartermaine family traditions, and Olivia says he doesn’t know the half of it. Austin says, she’s Olivia, right? He saw her at the MetroCourt. She says, nice to meet him. Don’t mistake her friendliness for being on his side. This is her family. He says he’s her family too, and she says, remains to be seen. Austin says, please understand. He’s not there to take anything away from any of them. He’s just there for vindication for his father, and to take his seat at the family table.

Laura says it’s so good to have Spencer home, and he says, it’s good to be home. Ava tries to slip out, but Nikolas sees her. He asks if she found something, and she says, this was left behind in one of the drawers. Does he remember? She shows him a bracelet, and he says, of course (🍷) he remembers. He saw it in the window of that boutique on Charles Street. He bid against someone for it. Spencer says he hopes Nikolas didn’t bid too high, and Laura says, Spencer. Nikolas says he would have spent ten times as much, and she says, yes. She thinks she’ll give it to Avery; she’ll love it. He says, as long as someone is enjoying it, and she says, Spencer doesn’t need the launch after all. She’ll be on her way. She’s so glad he has his son back. She hopes it’s a comfort. She leaves, and Laura says, wait, and follows. Spencer says he’s sorry Nikolas is upset. He wishes there was something he could do. Nikolas says, spare him the crocodile tears. It’s what he wants, isn’t it?

Ava tells Laura, this really isn’t necessary. Laura has always been polite about it, but Ava knows she’s never approved of her marriage to Laura’s son. Laura says, that’s not true. As time has gone on, she’s seen that Ava and Nikolas belong together. Ava says she has a choice to make. Her marriage or her daughter’s safety. It’s really no choice at all. Laura says she understands. She really does, but she wants Ava to know she’s going to do absolutely everything in her power to find this sick bastard who came between Ava and Nikolas, and bring him to justice, so that Ava can be with her family. So she can be with their family.

Spencer says Nikolas wasn’t there when Ava went back on her word, and refused to testify against Valentin. He thought Valentin had killed Nikolas. Nikolas says Ava had a badly scarred face from the fire, and Spencer of all people, should have sympathy for that. Spencer says he didn’t come home to start a fight. He’s here because… Nikolas says, because? and Spencer says, because he loves Nikolas. And believe it or not, he misses Nikolas, and if his grandmother says Nikolas needs him, isn’t that reason enough? They hug, and Laura comes in and smiles.

Austin says he doesn’t expect them to hand over the keys to the kingdom, but he does hope the next time they see each other, it’s a little easier, because there’s going to be a next time. He walks to the door, and they all follow. At the front door, he turns and says, you know, it used to make him really sad that he didn’t know his grandfather. That he didn’t know what it felt like to be in a home like this. And he really looks forward to getting to know them, and spending some time with them. Because they’re family, right? He walks out, and they stand there like a sad family portrait.

Maxie says she knows Nina has other things on her mind. Other people in Nixon Falls. Nina says, wherever she is, be it there or Nixon falls, if Maxie needs her, find her. She’s really proud of Maxie’s courage. Maxie says, courage? She’s running for her life. She doesn’t know if she’d call that courage. Nina says Maxie is doing what she needs to do to save her baby. The next time she sees Maxie, she hopes it’s in Port Charles, with her little girl in her arms. Maxie hopes so too, and thanks Nina for keeping her secret. She knew if anyone would understand, it would be Nina.

Sonny says it looks like Phyllis hit paydirt, and she reads the doctor’s credentials, and says, education and training at hospitals so impressive, even Lenny has heard of them. Professor at an even better school. She’s also director of cardio care at one of the highest rated hospitals in America, and she specializes in Lenny’s form of heart disease. Lenny says, sounds expensive, and she says, sounds like they found their second opinion. Sonny says, hear that Lenny? Phyllis has spoken. Lenny says, she does that, and Sonny tells Phyllis, do him a favor. Keep Lenny on his meds, and he’ll take care of the rest. Phyllis asks Lenny if he heard that. She and Mike/Sonny have decided they’re all going to New York Methodist Hospital whether he likes it or not.

Valentin asks Anna, what’s the new lead? Finn says he’ll leave them to it, but Anna says Finn deserves to hear this too. The helicopter pilot is now flying out of New York Methodist, and if she’s right, he was piloting the chopper that almost landed on the roof the night Peter disappeared. Valentin says, if anyone can tell them if Peter got on board the chopper, it’s him. Anna tells Finn to wish them luck, and he says, good luck. Anna and Valentin leave, and the smile falls from Finn’s face.

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Sasha that she’s taking a step back, Nina says she can’t figure Brook out, Gladys tells Brando that it’s his time, and Sonny tells Phyllis, it does seem familiar.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

We revisited the stupidity of last week’s altercation between Sutton and Crystal, when Crystal tried to educate us on the definition of violate, and Sutton said Crystal had ugly leather pants. Garcelle took Crystal aside, and told her that the word she’d used wasn’t cool, but Crystal said Sutton had crossed the line. In Garcelle’s interview, she said, girl, please, which about summed it up. More hot toddies were consumed, and in Dorit’s interview, she said, insulting someone’s outfit goes below the belt. I wondered how long it took her to think that one up. Sutton apologized for what she’d said about Crystal’s pants, but said it was hard for her be with Crystal, since Crystal had been talking smack about her. Crystal refused to apologize for Sutton’s actions, and said Sutton was an inappropriate and awkward person. Period. Everyone was obviously surprised and/or shocked by this, and I wondered why no one said anything about this mean girlchild. Garcelle asked what Sutton wanted to move on, and Sutton said Crystal had hurt her, especially using the word manic; it was too much. Crystal stomped her foot and said she wasn’t taking it back. Dorit tried to explain why it was wrong, saying Sutton had confessed that her father committed suicide and was manic. Crystal said she wasn’t judging Sutton based on her father, but understood why it was a trigger. She took it back, which sounded juvenile, and LisaR made her repeat everything, which was even more juvenile. Sutton said she was more than happy to move on, and in her interview, said she was lowering her expectations and moving on. LisaR said, be true to yourself, take it a day at a time, be in the moment, and lock your door. Apparently, she’s writing fortune cookies now. Hey, she’s admitted she’s a hustler.

Kathy, Dorit, and Kyle tested positive for covid, and Kyle got seriously emotional along with it. We saw the headlines saying Erika had helped Tom embezzle from airplane crash victims, and that their divorce was a sham used to hide assets. Erika told the women, things were said that were wrong, and people were believing it. It was terrible, and she did nothing wrong. Her divorce wasn’t a sham. In her interview, she said, divorce was painful, and for it to be called a sham made it even more so. It took a lot of courage to leave, and in two seconds some a-hole said it was a sham, and had everyone believing it. The lawsuit was against the firm, and she was being attached to the firm. LisaR said Erika was strong, and would get through this. Erika said she had high anxiety because of lockdown, and she didn’t do this, and started crying.

LisaR and Crystal visited Erika in her new place, bringing muffins and liquor respectively. Erika said the best part of the house was outside, and they sat in the cabana. LisaR said it had a great vibe, and Erika said her new motto was, why not? as she poured champagne. Garcelle went over to Kyle’s place, and Kyles said she’d been cleared, but wanted to stay safe. She met with Garcelle in the backyard; her standing on the upstairs terrace, and Garcelle on the ground. Garcelle said Kyle looked good, considering, and in Garcelle’s interview, she said she and Kyle had come a long way. We flashed back to the Reunion where Kyle said Garcelle hadn’t ponied up her charity bid, and Kyle subsequently apologizing. Garcelle said she couldn’t believe she was playing Romeo to Kyle’s Juliet, but she wasn’t drinking poison for Kyle. Kyle said her family had burned rubber leaving when she tested positive, and in her interview, she talked about her character having Scarlet Fever on Little House on the Prairie. She didn’t need life to imitate art. She told Garcelle that she wanted to do a girls trip to La Quinta, and was inviting everyone.

Erika said she was not good, and had called her shrink. LisaR said it was hard when you put a person on a pedestal… and Erika said, then found out they were a POS. In her interview, Erika said she didn’t want Tom’s actions to kill what she’d created. Garcelle told Kyle that every day there was another horrible allegation. Erika told LisaR and Crystal that every day she asked herself what else was coming. In Erika’s interview, she said Tom wasn’t going down with the ship. He was taking all of them with him. People who’d stayed loyal to him. Garcelle told Kyle, she didn’t think Erika knew; they all understood husbands had secrets. Kyle said, maybe Erika saw it coming, and got out. Erika talked about being in the dark as far as Tom’s finances went, and we found out that Crystal was also clueless, which was much less of a surprise, since she’s five. LisaR said most women didn’t know anything about the home financial situation, because they didn’t make the money. She paid the bills in her household and knew everything. In LisaR’s interview, she said she’d always known where the money was, and where the dead bodies were buried. Erika said the more money Tom made, the more he shut her out. In Crystal’s interview, she said she knew Rob would be happy to share the information, but if he didn’t, it would be a red flag for her. In Erika’s interview, she said she knew how mean, vicious, and utterly dismissive Tom was. He wins; you lose. That was the way it had always been.  

Kyle visited Kathy, who showed her some Christmas wreaths she’d made. Kyle said she was still depressed, and Kathy said covid was an emotional thing. Kyle whined about not doing a good job parenting right now. Portia had slept through some of her classes. In Kyle’s interview, she said, while other parents talked about their kids missing their friends, her fear was that Portia would like being alone. Kathy said Kyle wasn’t alone, and in her interview, told us that she and Kyle hadn’t been on good terms for a while. It felt wonderful to be there for each other. They talked about Erika, and Kathy said, at the end of the day, life was a poker game, and everybody had to show their cards. Kyle told her, shut up.

LisaR visited Sutton, and met her new blonde lab puppy Waylon. Her daughter Porter was also home. In Sutton’s interview, she said Porter was her oldest child and a college freshman. She was a girlie girl like Sutton, and quiet, not like Sutton. She was double-majoring in history and French, and was a mother’s dream. Sutton wanted to keep her kids being kids for as long as possible. She also said, divorce sucked, and Erika’s was the worst ever. She told LisaR that she wasn’t making any judgements without knowing the facts, and LisaR said, why would she? I dunno. Maybe because that’s what most of them do on this show?

Kyle met Erika in the park, and Erika said she’d never been so overwhelmed. She was in a place where her hands were tied. She’d never have predicted this. She said she had a story, but couldn’t tell it. It was so hard. They were both crying, and Erika said there was nothing she could do but wait to tell her side of the story. The feeling of not knowing was huge. Things were alleged, and it was a lonely place to be. Being the possible target of a Federal criminal investigation was not cool. Things were said that were untrue, and everyone was questioning everything. It was lonely and quiet. She said Kyle would be shocked to find out how quickly people turned from you and distanced themselves, but they’d been there when times were good. In her interview, she said, if you wanted to know who your friends were, go broke, go to jail, or ask where to bury the body. Tom was a proud man. He was resistant to anything, even a conversation. She told Kyle that she’d noticed he couldn’t see or hear well, and apologized for laying all of this on her. Kyle said, that’s what friends were for, and Erika could always call her. Another headline said Tom wanted Erika to pay his attorney fees, and she said he knew she couldn’t perform. He knew everything. In her interview, she said, as much as he’d encouraged her, she thought he envied her. His view of her had changed. Who TF did she think she was? He gave her the ball, and she ran into the end zone with it, and now he didn’t like it. People didn’t know what it was like. They saw it was so great on the outside, but it wasn’t so great at home. She didn’t think anyone understood how the outside looked one way, but she’d go to hug him, and he woudn’t hug her back. She told Kyle, Tom was down to punish her ass to the ground, and Kyle said Erika had to be scared for her future. Erika said it was all she could do to wake up, and not want to go back to sleep. It was a disaster. Tom was in his own personal hell, and she couldn’t help him. It was torture to see someone melt.   

Next time, a trip to La Quinta, Tom’s assets are frozen, and Erika says she’s not going be okay for a long time.

The Real Housewives of New York City

When we last left, Ramona had literally run away from a conversation with Eboni because it was too heavy for her. She told Sonja that she knew the issues were out there, but if she talked about them all the time, she’d go crazy. Eboni said she didn’t give a damn about changing Ramona, but wanted to go forward from a place of authenticity. Ramona didn’t get to tell her to lighten up, and change the topic. Sonja said Eboni was energizing her, but Ramona only wanted to hear about the matchmaker. In Sonja’s interview, she said the women didn’t listen, and had to learn that skill. Eboni said she wasn’t mad, she just wanted to have a conversation. Ramona wouldn’t engage, putting her in a tough position. They sat down at a beautifully decorated table for a gourmet meal, and Eboni wanted to tell them something. All of a sudden, Leah started bawling, but said it wasn’t about her. Ramona wondered why the waterworks, and Leah pointed at Eboni. Eboni said she wanted to share that her grandma had passed. I think Eboni would have gotten through this announcement just fine, but Leah’s crying made her cry. There was a group hug. In her interview, Eboni said, this is where Ramona shows up. They might have their differences, but she was big sister Ramona at times like this.

Eboni wanted a tattoo, but Ramona said she was emotional and should wait. In Eboni’s interview, she said she didn’t want to wait to honor her grandmother, and knew this was the moment. She told tattoo artist Ryan, don’t f*** it up. In Leah’s interview, she said she and Eboni had lost their grandmother’s within two weeks of each other, and getting tattoos together was beautiful and special. She got the name Marie tattooed in her wrist in script, and Eboni got Katie. Sonja got drunk. In her interview, Bershan said nothing logical was coming out of Sonja’s mouth. Ramona wouldn’t quit trying to get Eboni to change her mind, and Leah finally told her, if she couldn’t be supportive, get out. In Eboni’s interview, she said, it hurt like a bitch, and in Leah’s interview, she said Ramona had the amazing talent of being annoying in every situation. In Bershan’s interview, she said Eboni’s delivery wasn’t going to work with this group. They didn’t want a preacher or a teacher, but a friend.

In her interview, Leah said the women were going to get a history lesson whether they wanted to or not. They were there to be 100% tourist. They went to Pioneer Village, a recreation of Salem 1630. Tour guide Daniel told them to put on pilgrim costumes, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said she hadn’t come this far in life to dress like that. She and Ramona suddenly had to go to the bathroom, and Eboni said, wearing the colonizer’s uniform rubbed against her spirit, and passed. Eboni and Leah discussed Sonja’s drinking, as Sonja once again blamed it on her water pill. Leah said, it was always everything and everyone else, but not the drinking.

Ramona made poopie on the bathroom floor, causing Sonja to pee herself laughing. Once again proving the casts on these shows are really five. The women went to an Italian restaurant. You could tell by the red checkered table cloths, but it was still Salem-ed up. The owner came over to their table, and LuAnn was compelled to speak to him in Italian because she couldn’t help herself. Bershan said the group was boring, and they were being grandmas, but I wasn’t sure what she wanted, since it wasn’t like they were in Vegas. In Leah’s interview, she said that wasn’t the way to get to know people. Steam came out of The Countess’s ears, and LuAnn said Bershan had the audacity to call them old ladies. She didn’t know them. Bershan said she didn’t mean to be insensitive, but LuAnn said that was exactly what she was being. In Bershan’s interview, she said she just wanted to change the mood. Are they on a girls trip or not? Again, I wasn’t sure what it was she wanted out of it. Eboni suggested Bershan tell them about herself, and Bershan said she was suing a lot of people. Sonja said never sued anyone; they sued her. Bershan said she was in some kind of fight with her ex over her eggs, and in LuAnn’s interview, she said that didn’t mean Bershan got to scramble theirs. Bershan made fun of how animated Sonja can get, and said Sonja never wanted to be normal; just an effing clown. Ouch.

Leah said Bershan didn’t know them well enough to make those judgements, and LuAnn said, how dare she talk to any of them like that? In LuAnn’s interview, she wondered where Ramona’s loyalty was, since she was laying low. In Ramona’s interview, she said, Bershan was never like this one-on-one. She was always embracing and funny. This isn’t funny. After the waitress was sufficiently uncomfortable, they ordered food. Ramona got on a nearby table, and danced, even though I don’t think there was any music. In her interview, she said she wanted to steer the boat in a new direction. Bershan was being embarrassing. Bershan said someone in the group had been dissing Leah, and in her interview, Leah said Bershan was a bullsh*t artist, who put herself in this position. She said Bershan came at her, and didn’t want to finish it. After the entire table cajoled, pleaded, and threatened, Bershan finally said that Ramona told her that she didn’t really connect with Leah a lot. This was the big reveal?  We saw a clip where Bershan asked if Ramona considered Leah a friend, and Ramona said she wasn’t sure, but they were working on the relationship. Leah said she didn’t connect with Ramona either, even though she’d just called Bershan a bullsh*t artist, and she left. LuAnn suggested Ramona dance on the table some more, and they all left Ramona and Bershan sitting at the table. I hope they tip these poor people who have to wait on their sorry asses, and then they dine and dash. In Ramona’s interview, she said she didn’t blame them for leaving. She wanted to leave too, but she was the one who brought Bershan. Sonja was straggling behind the others, and about to sit back down, probably forgetting why she got up in the first place. She said she’d stay for Ramona, and told Bershan that she was rude and not intuitive. In Sonja’s interview, she wondered, who would take advice from this woman? She wouldn’t. The three of them went outside – again, I hope after leaving a tip. Ramona said Bershan messed up big time. She went after Leah, when all Ramona had said was that Bershan should make her own decision about Leah. They were so loud, people were looking out their windows from apartments up above. Ramona told Bershan that she never said anything negative about Leah. While she was saying this, she helped Sonja drink a glass of wine through her mask.  

Bershan called them phonies, and Ramona ran back in the restaurant to get her scarf. Sonja went with her, and said Bershan was a wet blanket. Leah, LuAnn, and Eboni were already back at the hotel, when Bershan showed up, saying she was sorry; she’d had too much to drink, Leah said she didn’t get to do that because she Bershan hadn’t had a lot to drink. In Leah’s interview, she said Bershan couldn’t use drinking as an excuse, and pretend she didn’t blow up the whole effing night. Bershan said she thought Ramona set her up, although she didn’t exactly explain how, and she’d been the one to bring it up. Sonja and Ramona stumbled into the elevator, and went to the basement. Eboni told Bershan that she thought an apology would go a long way. In Eboni’s interview, she said she thought Bershan was sorry about the fallout, but not for her actions. Leah said she’d thought she and Ramona had a breakthrough in the Hamptons. That’s why it hurt to hear that Ramona said something negative. We flashed back to Ramona comforting Leah, and talking about Leah’s grandmother.

Sonja and Ramona stumbled back to the others, and Sonja said Bershan still rubbed her the wrong way. Bershan told Sonja to walk away, and said Sonja was being a clown again. In Ramona’s interview, she said she’d just put out a fire. Now Bershan was torching the room. In LuAnn’s interview, she said it wasn’t bad enough Bershan called Sonja a clown the first time. Now she was going in for the second round. Sonja and Bershan made animated gestures at each other, and Bershan said, where’s your speaking, bitch? Leah said, enough, and Sonja said Bershan was projecting. Use your brain, bitch.  

Next time, Sonja and Bershan get in each other’s faces, and security is called; LuAnn says, Ramona started this sh*t; Leah talks to Sonja about her drinking; a session with a medium; and a haunted house.   

🌅 Before the Dawn…

I had an exciting day yesterday, contributing to the next Marc Singer’s interview on Mupo & Friends on YouTube. It will be airing this Sunday, July 18th, at 2 pm. You can always catch it another time, but there’s live chat during the premiere, and we can talk. Sort of. Join me tomorrow for soap and what will no doubt be the most amazing properties you’ve ever seen, but will never ever be able to afford. Until then, stay safe, stay ethical, and stay remembering, at the end of the day, life is a poker game, and everybody has to show their cards.

July 13, 2021 – A New Quartermaine Appears, Candace Is Haunted By Her Past & Wake Me

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Valentin  tells Michael, today’s the day. The Quartermaines are voting him out as CEO of ELQ. Michael says, that’s the plan, and Valentin wonders who he should congratulate as his successor, Michael or Ned.

Brook says, Maxie is going to leave Port Charles? and Maxie says, it’s her only option. Brook says she has to calm down, and quit being so extreme. All she has to do is follow the plan, and they can make this work. Maxie says, they can’t. Monica is already snooping around, threatening to tell her parents that she’s losing it. She doesn’t know. Maybe she is. She doesn’t trust herself anymore, and can’t keep going with these lies.

At the hospital, Scotty says hello to Austin. So he’s a doctor, and delivered Maxie’s baby in the woods. Scotty once delivered a baby in a snowbank. Austin tells him, you don’t say, and Scotty says, so now Austin works at GH. He’s a man of many talents. Austin says Scotty has no idea, and Scotty says his girlfriend is a doctor too. However, sometimes there might be sensitive matters where it would be nice to talk to a guy. Now he can get free doctor advice. Austin says, quid pro quo. He can count on Scotty for free legal advice? Scotty says, no. Hell, once they make this move, Austin will make so much dough, he won’t even need a job.

Nina calls Sonny/Mike, and says it’s good to hear his voice. She’s sorry it took so long to return his call. He says he knows she’s a big-time magazine editor, and she’s probably spending a lot of time with her grandson. How is he? She says, he’s absolutely adorable. She spent this morning with him, and she’s spending as much time with him as she possibly can. Enough about her. How are things in Nixon Falls? He says, good, but she asks if he’s sure. The last time she spoke to Phyllis, she got the feeling something was wrong. He asks why she doesn’t come check it out for herself. Phyllis misses her, and so does he. She says she misses him too, and he asks if she has any idea when she’ll be back in Nixon Falls. Ava comes in, and Nina says she hopes he doesn’t mind, but can they talk about that later? She lowers her voice, and says she just called to let him know she thinks about him all the time. They’ll talk again soon. Sonny says she can count on it. He hangs up, and smiles.

Ava says, look at that, a smitten kitten. Nina says, all right. Stop it. Ava says she’s just glad Nina looks so happy. At least one of them is.

Trina walks in the park, messing with her phone. Spencer looks down from a tree, and says, fancy meeting her here. She asks if he actually has a home, or is he living in the park? He says, it’s not like she’s not there all the time too. Hard day’s work? She says she decided to organize the gallery before the professional cleaners come in. He asks if it was hard being there, considering what happened last time, and she says, he means getting doused with fake blood? Gross, but ultimately harmless. Besides, she had to go back sometime. She’s trying to make things easier for Ava; that’s her boss. She’s going through a really painful divorce. In fact, right now, she’s moving out of the home she and her husband shared.

Laura walks into Windymere, as men are taking boxes out. She finds Nikolas sitting alone, and says, so the movers are here? She guesses that means Ava’s leaving. He says, Nina invited her to crash at her old penthouse. She took a few suitcases there, and the rest will go into storage. Laura says she’s so sorry, and he says he tried to convince Ava to run away with him to Cassadine Island in Greece. He told her they could take Avery with them, but she refused. His only chance to hold onto his marriage was to find the stalker. She asks if he thinks it was worth the risks he took.

Nikolas helps Trina join him up in the tree, and asks, what happened to her boss’s marriage? Why is she getting a divorce? There has to be a reason. Did something happen? Did she cheat? Trina says, no. Ava loves her husband. She’s being stalked. All that fake blood that fell on Trina the night of her graduation party was meant for Ava. The stalker wants her away from her husband. He asks why the stalker would care if she’s married, and Trina says she doesn’t know. Why would they pour fake blood on her? The whole thing is creepy. Ava was worried something would happen to her daughter Avery, so she did what the stalker wanted, and filed for divorce. Trina doesn’t think Ava and Nikolas will ever be able to be together again, and he says, tragic. Kind of like Romeo and Juliet. She says, let’s hope it ends better than that, but with some crazy person after Ava, who knows?

Nina says she’s so glad Ava decided to stay at her place, and Ava thanks Nina for having her. She didn’t feel safe at the MetroCourt, a big public hotel, but there, the doormen are practically family. They won’t send anybody up because of the threats. She feels less vulnerable there. Nina says she’s glad to help, and Ava says, it won’t be long. Just until all this stalker craziness is over. Then she’ll be gone and out of Nina’s hair. Nina can have the place to herself, and invite her mystery man for dinner.

Sonny asks if Lenny and Phyllis have heard from the doctor yet, but Phyllis says, not yet. They just went for a beautiful walk. The weather is perfect, but even that couldn’t take their minds of the new round of tests they did on Lenny. Lenny thinks all the waiting is making his ticker worse, and Phyllis says, not funny. Sonny says, take a seat; he’ll get Lenny some water. Lenny says he was just kidding. He’s feeling fine. He appreciates Sonny stepping in while he was taking it easy. Sonny says he can’t believe Lenny has a problem with his heart because Lenny has one of the biggest hearts he knows. Lenny thanks him, and says he’s going to balance the books. Sonny says he can do that, but Lenny says, the truth is, if he doesn’t do something to distract himself, he’s going to lose his damn mind. Lenny goes in the back, and Sonny says, Phyllis is a nurse. Does she have any idea what the test results are going to say? How bad is it?

Olivia says, just five minutes ago, she and Ned were talking about how cute Bailey is in her crib. Now she comes downstairs to the truly ridiculous business of ELQ. Valentin says, the irony being the only reason the Quartermaines are once again majority shareholders is because of Bailey. Michael says, enough. They all know they can go around and around their family drama, but that’s not why they’re there. They gathered all the family proxy votes; now it’s time to decide who’s going to replace Valentin. Valentin says, if they can reach a consensus, but Michael says, that shouldn’t be hard. If any of them were planning on voting for him, don’t. He wants Ned to be the next CEO of ELQ.

Maxie tells Brook, every time she drives over there to see… Bailey, she tells herself if will be the last. From here on out she’ll be good and keep her distance, but as soon as she leaves, she’s thinking up excuses to come back. She knows it’s dangerous for Bailey, but she has no will power left. Brook says she feels for Maxie. Maxie has paid a tremendous price to keep her baby safe from Peter. But don’t leave town just yet. Peter might be captured or even killed soon, and she can bring her daughter home safely. Maxie says she doesn’t think she can hang on that long; it’s too painful. Brook says she’ll support Maxie whatever she decides, but does she really think she’s in the right frame of mind to make such an important decision? She’s so emotional right now. Understandably so, but she misses Bailey so much, Brook can’t bear to see her in any more pain. Monica comes in, and says, Maxie is here again.

Maxie says, Monica doesn’t have to say anything. She picks up her bag and heads for the door, but Brook tells her to wait. Maxie says, it’s fine. Maybe Monica is right about her, that she does need help. Monica says she’s not judging Maxie. What’s happening to her is just tragic, and she’s worried about Maxie. There’s no shame in asking for help. Brook suggests Maxie listen to Monica, and not rush into anything. Maxie tells Brook, say goodbye to Bailey for her. Tell her she… Just tell her that she said goodbye. She leaves, and Brook says, my God, it’s so awful. Monica says, she needs help. At least she admitted that. Monica knows a thing or two about losing a child. The pain never ever goes away. You just have to learn to manage it. Brook says she’s sorry for Monica’s loss, and Monica tells her to go say hi to Bailey. She’s sure Bailey would like to see her mom.

Ned says he appreciates the gesture, but what made Michael decide? Michael says he thought long and hard about his priorities. He’s got a son now, and the rest of his family. Plus, he already has a job at Aurora Media, and a large staff that relies on him. He can’t abandon them, or his other priorities to commit himself to ELQ. And more important, he thinks Ned is the best man for the job, and the rest of the family will vote him in. Ned says, but first – he turns to Olivia – he wants to know what his wife thinks.

Austin tells Scotty, he loves the art of medicine; he’s more than just the sum of his parts. He can help people, it gives him purpose, so it’s likely he’ll continue to practice, even if he doesn’t need the paycheck he provides. Scotty says, that’s fine by him. There’s a lot of patients suing for malpractice; that’s his specialty… Austin says he doesn’t understand the energy in Port Charles. Not one of his patients in Pawtuck ever considered suing him. Scotty says, there’s always a first time for everything, especially when people get wind of what Austin is about to do to the most powerful family in this town.

Phyllis says she’s known Lenny’s cardiologist for years; he’s practically a town fixture. But after Lenny finished getting all those tests run, Dr. Ford didn’t have much to say. She’s an experienced nurse, and can usually tell good news from bad, but she couldn’t read between the lines. Sonny says, ahh. Maybe the doctor hasn’t had a chance to look at the test results yet. She says, it’s probably something simple like that. She’s sure Lenny’s meds have helped him. He seems a lot better, right? Sonny says, absolutely, and Phyllis says she could barely keep up with him on their walk. She asks if Nina ever called him back, and he says they had a great call, except for the part where he lied to her.

Nina tells Ava, she was away from Crimson for longer than she intended, and has a lot of work to catch up on. All her free time is dedicated to Wiley, so she doesn’t have time for Mike to visit her. Ava says she’s confused. She thought Nina really loved Nixon Falls. Isn’t she ready to go back to Pennsylvania? Nina says she’s not ready to leave Wiley. It must be very hard for Ava, being apart from Avery. Ava says she thinks about Avery every minute. She just has to focus on the fact that Avery is happy with her sisters, and safer with Ava keeping her distance. Nina asks if there’s any new news about the investigation into Ava’s stalker, but Ava says, it’s going to take a while, if they ever catch him. Nina says, that leaves Ava living apart from Nikolas, and Ava suggests they move on to a happier topic… Nina’s new man. Why doesn’t Nina tell her the reason she doesn’t want him to move there? Or at least come for a visit.

Back on the ground, Trina messes with her phone, and Spencer jumps down from the tree. He says he sees she’s one of those, and she says, one of those what? He says, an ostrich person. Always looking down, hoping to find something better on your phone instead of what’s right in front of you. She says, sorry for her bad manners, but her friend Josslyn doesn’t believe he’s real again. Since he failed to show up on the 4th of July, Josslyn thinks she’s a figment of Trina’s imagination. Like she’s Jan from The Brady Bunch, and he’s her very own George Glass. He says, who? and she says, he doesn’t watch classic sitcoms? He says, no, and she says, then she’s going to do what Jan Brady couldn’t. She positions her phone to take of selfie of the both of them, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she’s more than an ostrich person. She’s also a selfie person. Come on. Let’s show Joss that you’re real. He says, no selfies.

Nikolas tells Laura, knowing that Ava’s just a launch away is killing him. It’s all he can do not to go to her right now. Laura asks what that would accomplish. She thinks he has to honor her wishes and stay away, Nikolas says, giving the stalker what he wants, only emboldens him to ask for more. Then it becomes more threatening. How long are they supposed to be his puppets? Months? Years? How can he sit in this empty, echoing house, and wait to see what happens next? She says she thinks they’ll be able to find the stalker sooner than they think. She has an update on the investigation.

Ned tells Olivia, before she says anything, he wants to make himself clear. If running ELQ is going to push her further away from him, he’ll turn this down. She’s much to important to him, and he doesn’t want to destroy the progress they’ve made in getting back together. She says her problem was never with the job. It was how far he was willing to go for business. He completely turned his back on his daughter. He says, now he’s willing to turn his back on ELQ to make up for that, and she says, they split up. Brook left town. She thinks he’s done his penance. For what it’s worth (🍷), she agrees with Michael. She thinks he’s the best man for the job, assuming he can keep it in perspective. He says he will. He promises her that he will, and when he proves himself, maybe, just maybe, they can try again. She says, they’ll see. One day at a time. They hug, and Brook sees. She smiles.

Phyllis says, Mike/Sonny lied to Nina? That doesn’t sound like him. Did he say he wasn’t missing her? Sonny says, no. They got all that out in the open. He told her that he missed her, and she said she missed him. She asks if Nina mentioned when she’s coming back, but Sonny says they didn’t get that far. She had to get off the phone. He just hopes she gets home soon. Phyllis asks what the lie was, and he says Nina asked if everything was okay in Nixon Falls, and that’s the part where he lied. He told her everything was fine. They both know that’s not the truth. Why hasn’t Phyllis told Nina what’s going on with Lenny?

Nina says she told Ava before, she and Mike/Sonny do not have a future in Port Charles. Ava asks why she’s convinced of that, and Nina says she has too much history there. The best thing about Nixon Falls was that no one knew her. Here, she’s always running into old boyfriends, and reminded of her mistakes. There, she can be a new person. She could be happy. No one was hurting her. Ava says, not to mention, she didn’t have to deal with Carly. Nina says Carly still felt the need to come after her in Nixon Falls. (Another reason for me to hate Carly.) Ava asks, how so? and Nina says because she had this weird idea Nina was going to go to court to get visitation rights for Wiley. She warned Nina that she was going to dredge up every horrible thing she ever did in her life, so the fight would be as ugly as possible. Ava makes a face, and asks how things are now that Nina is back. Nina says, cordial, but guarded. Her doorbell rings, and she says, Carly seems to want to give her a chance… for now. She opens the door, and it’s Maxie, who’s crying. She says she needs Nina’s help. Please.

Laura tells Nikolas, they’ve analyzed the boot print found at the gallery. It turns out it’s a hiking boot made by a very small American company that’s not online. It’s only sold at a few specialty stores around the country, and she doesn’t think it’s going to be very hard for them to figure out who purchased it in that size. He says, what if they paid in cash? and she says, one step at a time. For now, she’s grateful that they have a solid lead to follow up on. And let them follow up on it. Don’t intervene, don’t interfere with this. She really doesn’t want to see him hurt like that again. And he will be if he keeps taunting this guy. He says, if he doesn’t intervene, what’s next? What if the stalker targets someone else he loves?

Trina says Victor/Spencer won’t let her take a picture with him? She’s starting to think he really is hiding something. He says he’ll take the photo on his phone. He’ll add a cool filter to it, and if he likes it, he’ll send it to her. He can’t allow unauthorized selfies floating around. She says she could think of a lot of words to describe him, but didn’t think diva would be one of them. He says not everyone is as careful about lighting and framing and retouching as he is, and she says, oh, he’s one of those people. He says, touché. He shouldn’t have stereotyped her for texting. Can he buy her a snack to apologize? but she says she had something on her way to the gallery. He asks how’s the clean-up? Are they any closer to finding out who was at the gallery? She says, actually, they are, and he says, what do they know? Did they tell her anything? She says, the investigators are going over the gallery again. She pretends to be working, but really, she’s listening in. He asks what she heard, and she says, they found the guy’s shoeprint; some kind of designer boot. They even have the size. Isn’t it amazing?

Laura says, when Nikolas told her he’s afraid people he loves might be in danger, is he talking about Spencer? He says, yes, and she asks if he’s heard from Spencer recently. He says he and Spencer are estranged. Why would she think he heard from him? She says she and Spencer talk regularly. He was on the Amalfi coast when she last heard from him, and headed for some far-flung places after that. He says, good. If the stalker decides to go after Spencer, he won’t be able to find him. She didn’t say anything about any of this to Spencer, did she? She says, nothing specific. She did tell him that Nikolas was going through a rough time, and it would be nice if he gave Nikolas a call. She’s very disappointed that he didn’t reach out.

Trina tells Spencer, it’s a very expensive brand. It’s only a matter of time before the police track him down. He says she must be relieved, and she says, once they catch him, Nikolas and Ava can call off their divorce. He says he didn’t realize the time; he has to go. She asks, why? Is he worried her mom is going to swoop in again, and start asking questions? He says he didn’t mind that at all. He sometimes wonders what his mom would be like if she was still alive. She says she can’t imagine what it would be like if her mom wasn’t around, and he says he’ll look for her next time he’s in the park. She says, or he could call her, and they could make a plan. He says, that would take the spontaneity out of it. He loves a good surprise. He walks off, and Trina watches, little hearts popping out of her eyes.

Austin tells Scotty, he’s not afraid of what he’s about to do professionally. His work speaks for itself. Scotty says he doesn’t know about that, but Austin is about to make a lot of enemies today. He’s making a move on Michael Corinthos, so there could be a price to pay. Austin says he’s not uncomfortable with that, and Scotty asks if he’s ready. Austin says he’s been ready for a long time.

Phyllis tells Mike/Sonny, Nina’s got so much going on in her life, she didn’t want Nina worrying about Lenny. She should be enjoying her time with her grandson. He says, Nina’s a smart woman. She’s already suspecting. She even asked him flat-out, but he didn’t want to say anything since it’s not his place. She says sorry if she put him in a tough spot, and he says she’s a strong woman. She does everything for everybody else, but who does for her? He knows she doesn’t want to talk about this, but she’s going to have to. If not with him, with Nina. Lenny comes out, and says he doesn’t know if it’s the new meds, or that business is booming again, or maybe it’s just that he’s still in love with his wife after all these years – he puts his arm around Phyllis’s waist – but all of a sudden, he feels like he’s twenty again. She says, really? Twenty? He says, maybe thirty. Thirty-five tops. They kiss, and Sonny smiles. He flashes back to Nina kissing him.

Ava says she’s heading out. She needs to do a final check at Windymere. She leaves, and Nina asks Maxie, what’s going on? Maxie says, when Nina left town, did that help her feel better? Or did she just end up missing Wiley more? Nina says, she thought of Wiley every single day, but it was a little easier knowing that he wasn’t right across town and she wasn’t seeing him. Plus, she had other distractions. Why? Maxie says she’s thinking of leaving Port Charles. She’d take James with her, and Georgie would stay with Ellie and Spinelli. Nina says she doesn’t think their situations are comparable at all. When she left town, she thought she was alone; she was alone. Almost everyone in this town betrayed her, except for Maxie. Maxie has so many people who love her. She has her mom and Mac, and Nina loves her. Does she really want to leave all that? Maxie says, no, but Bailey is here too. Nina doesn’t understand. What does Brook’s baby have anything to do with this? Maxie says she told Nina how she and Brook had bonded during Lamaze class. She stared visiting Bailey… a lot. So much so, that Monica thinks she has a problem. Nina says, that’s absurd. If Brook doesn’t have a problem with it, why should it concern Monica? Does Maxie want her to call Monica? Maxie says, please don’t. The truth is, she has been visiting Bailey too much. It has to stop.

Brook congratulates Ned. Thank God things are being patched up after she made a mess of them. All it took was one little baby to make things right. Ned says, right is relative. Valentin is still living here. Brook says, he’s actually very good with Bailey, and her bodyguard comes in handy once in a while. Olivia says she has to admit, Valentin is very sweet with that little baby. Ned says, still. He’s sorry Brook had to go through all this, and Olivia says, all’s well that ends well, right? She thinks they should just appreciate all the light that baby has brought into this family. She really is a gift. Brook says, she’s a gift, that’s for sure. Michael and Valentin come in, and Michael ask Ned, since he and Olivia talked it out, is he accepting the CEO role? Ned says, yes, with pleasure, and they shake hands. Ned says, in his mind, he’s just keeping the CEO seat warm, so Michael can take over one day. And then, maybe even Wiley can take over from Michael. Olivia says before they send Wiley off to Harvard Business School, she’s going to check on Leo. She leaves, and Brook asks if Valentin is ready to bow out gracefully. He says, once all the votes are in.

Monica sees Olivia in the foyer, and says she gets the feeling Olivia and Ned are inching closer together. Olivia asks what is it with the Quartermaines? They always want to rush things. They’re moving toward each other very slowly. Monica says she knows Olivia loves Ned, and Oliva says Monica also knows, it’s not that simple. Monica says, it’s also not that complicated. Don’t let anger steal any more time from her and Ned than it already has. She remembers she and Alan had the best times when they opened up their hearts, and let it all hang out. Sometimes she thinks forgiveness is almost as sweet as love.

Nina can’t imagine how much Maxie misses Louise. Can she explain why visiting Brook’s baby is so bad? Maxie tells her, Monica says she needed counseling; maybe she does. Nina says, there’s no shame in asking for help, but what does Maxie need help with? Maxie says, when she’s with Bailey, she can’t bear to leave her. She wants to hold her all the time, and be with her every hour of every day. Nina says, Maxie knows she has a troubled past with babies, so she’s saying this with love and care. She takes Maxie’s hand, and says Maxie does know Brook’s baby isn’t her baby, right? Maxie says, no. She doesn’t know that. That’s why she thinks she needs to leave Port Charles.

Lenny wants to take Phyllis to the Shadow Lounge, where they can dance the night away. She says she likes the sound of that, and Lenny says Mike/Sonny will have to run the bar by himself. Sonny says, go, celebrate, have fun. Phyllis thinks she’ll go by Martha’s shop and get a new summer dress, and Lenny says he’ll have his suit pressed and ready to go. Dr. Ford walks in, and says he was in the neighborhood, so he thought he’d stop by. Consider it a something like a house call. Sonny says he’ll be in the back.

Nikolas says he hurt his son deeply, but Laura says she never believed he’d stay angry this long. Spencer adored Nikolas, and she knows deep down he still does. Nikolas tells her, what can he say? He misses his boy. He doesn’t know if Spencer is graduating now, how he’s traveling, or what makes him a man. Unfortunately, he taught Spencer how to hold on to a grudge when he nurtured his anger at Valentin for years. He wishes Spencer would come home, and make the situation with Ava somewhat bearable.

Trina thanks Ava for meeting her at the park, and Ava says she was headed to Windymere, but wanted to see what was going on with Trina first. Trina says she wanted to talk about a barback at the Savoy, and Ava asks if it’s the one who talked her into going in to her own party. Trina says she ran into him a couple of times since then, and it was interesting. Ava asks if she likes him, and Trina says, maybe there are some perks to being drenched in fake blood.

Spencer takes the shoes with the fake blood covered soles out of his bag. He looks around, and puts them in a dumpster.

Valentin suggests they bring the meeting to order; skip the formalities and go straight to a vote. Michael seconds it, but Scotty walks in and says they can’t start yet, and Monica asks who let him in. He says he knows his way around this museum, and Monica says if she didn’t invite him, he’s trespassing. He says he’s there on ELQ business. They can’t begin unless all the Quartermaines are present and accounted for.

Maxie tells Nina, she has to go before she does something she regrets. Nina says she’s not thinking of stealing Bailey, and Maxie says she doesn’t know what she’s going to do. Her heart is with Bailey; they’re one. Nina asks what she means. Louise and Bailey aren’t the same baby. If Maxie needs help, Nina will get for her. She loves Maxie forever. No matter what Maxie says, nothing will change that, but Maxie needs to talk to her right now. Is she thinking about stealing Bailey. Maxie says, it woudn’t be stealing. She’d be bringing her home where she belongs.

Phyllis thanks the doctor for coming in person, and he says he wishes he had better news. He leaves, and Sonny comes out. He asks what the doctor said about Lenny’s heart.  

Ava asks if Trina’s friend has a name, and Trina says, Victor. Ava says, no last name? and Trina says he hasn’t told her. She barely knows anything about him. Ava says, except that she’s interested, and Trina says, yeah, but he’s a little elusive. They’ve been running into each other, and he has her number; he can call her. Ava says, if he doesn’t, he’s a fool, and Trina asks how Ava is. She heard they got a lead on the stalker guy from his boots. Ava says she’s supposed to feel hopeful, but everything is so bleak right now. Trina asks if Ava wants her to go along to Windymere to keep her company, and Ava says, that’s sweet, but she’s fine. Don’t worry about her. When things settle down, she’ll take Trina shopping to replace the clothes that were ruined. Trina says Ava doesn’t have to do that, but it would be fun to have a girls day out. Ava says they can talk about Victor, and Trina says, if she ever hears from him again. Ava says she thinks Trina will, and Trina tells her, good luck. She’s rooting for Ava and Nikolas to get back together again, and for that creep to be behind bars where he can never hurt anyone else.

Laura tells Nikolas that she’s sorry she brought up Spencer. She thinks she just made it worse. Nikolas says he’s still glad she called; her heart was in the right place. Spencer walks in. He says, father, and Nikolas says, Spencer. Spencer says, he’s home. 

Ned asks what Scotty is talking about. All the Quartermaines are represented, either by proxy or their presence here. Scotty says, wrong, Ned, and Michael says Scotty seems to have all the answers. Which family member is missing? Austin walks in, and says, him. But he’s not missing anymore. He’s here now. Brook asks what he’s doing here, and Ned asks if she knows this guy. Michael says he doesn’t know what they’re up to, but this is a family matter. Scotty says, exactly, and Monica asks if Valentin had anything to do with this, but Valentin says, he’s just as curious as they are. Michael says, no offense, but who the hell is Austin. Scotty says, let him introduce them, but Austin says he’ll take care of this himself. Austin says, he’s Michael, right? He’s Austin. Austin Gatlin Holt.

Tomorrow, Ava wonders who has more right to the lodge than she does, Austin says what was rightfully someone else’s is now rightfully his, and Sonny doesn’t know how, but he’ll find a way.

The Haves and The Have Nots

Candance says, what? and Oscar says, we’re all here. She asks, who the hell is we? and Erika appears. She says, me. War appears, and says, and me. Candace’s son appears, and says, me. We flash back to each of their deaths, and Oscar says they’re all here to destroy her. Erika says, we all hate you, bitch, and War says, he gets her first. I’m going to kill you, bitch. Candaces flashes back to everything she did to them or they did to her. She says, what? and Oscar repeats, we’re here to destroy you. Candace flashes back to pushing him out of the window, and Erika says she deserves to die. Candace calls for Benny. Benny tells her, wake up, and asks if she’s all right. What happened? Did she have a bad dream? She says, yeah, and he asks if she’s sure she’s all right. She says she needs to get out of this hotel, and he says he thought she wanted to stay under the radar. She asks where he’s been, and he says, with that girl. She says, the whole time? and he says, yeah. She asks if he talked to Mitch, and he says, no. Did she? She says she tried calling him. Vinnie… Benny says, what’s going be is what’s going to be. Don’t worry. She says, it’s hard not to worry about him, and he asks if she wants to talk to him about her dream; it seemed pretty bad. She says she doesn’t want to talk about it, and gets agitated. He tells her, calm down, and she jumps up and goes into the bathroom.

David’s guard Leo (they finally said his name) gets Wyatt on the ground, and David comes running down the stairs, asking, what the hell is going on? Madison says, Wyatt escaped from the hospital, and Leo says, sorry, sir. Wyatt says he’s not going back to jail, and David says he’s calling Wyatt’s father. Wyatt says Jim will kill him, but David says, he won’t. While David is looking at his phone, Wyatt catches Leo off-guard (no pun intended), but Leo gets Wyatt’s hands behind his back, and cuffs him. David says, it’s nice to see his money working for him. Wyatt calls to Jeffrey, who says he can’t help Wyatt. Madison suggests calling the cops, but David tells him that he said he was calling Wyatt’s father. He’ll handle this. He calls Jim, and says, Wyatt is there at his house. He came to see Jeffrey. He’s high. Jim says, dammit, and David says Jim better come get him. Jim says he’s on his way. Madison asks to look at Leo’s injured hand, and says, it’s turning orange. Leo needs to get some ice on it. Jeffrey says, Leo knows that, and he thinks Leo knows where the kitchen is. Madison says Leo needs to keep an eye on Wyatt, but Jeffrey says Wyatt is fine; his hands are tied. Wyatt says Madison isn’t doing his job, and Madison says he’s not on duty. Madison asks if Jeffrey is jealous, and Wyatt says, what are you two? Jeffrey tells Madison that he’s fine, and Madison says he was just joking. Jeffrey asks if they can just drop this, and Wyatt says they’re making him sick. Madison says Wyatt should be thankful he’s not getting a bucket piss to throw at him, and Wyatt says Madison is supposed to be a nurse. Madison says he’s off duty, and David says Wyatt’s father is on his way.

Veronica pulls into David’s driveway, and Leo tells her that she needs to leave. She says she sees David still has a rent-a-cop, and he asks her to leave again. She says, make me, and he says he will. She says, touch her, and she’ll make sure he pays. Tell the bastard she’s here. He tells her not to step one foot on the property, and she says, then tell him. Leo tells her, stay there, and goes into the house. Veronica and William (another name I finally got) get out of the car, and Veronica says, this gonna be fun, girl. Leo tells David that Veronica is there, and David says, tell her to leave. Leo says, she won’t, and David says, all right; he’ll handle it. He tells Jeffrey, stay here, but Jeffrey says, no. He’s coming. They go outside.

David and Jeffrey go over to where Veronica and William are standing by the car. David says Veronica needs to stop coming there. She says she needs to talk to Jeffrey. She’s glad he’s there. There’s someone she wants him to meet. David tells her, leave now, but she says, no. He says he means it, and she says, Jeffrey, this is your father. David says, what the hell? and William says, sorry. David tells them to get their asses out of here, and Veronica tells Jeffrey, this is his real father. She had to pull him out of a gay bar. That’s probably where Jeffrey got it from. The same DNA. David tells Jeffrey, get in the house, and Veronica says, William and Jeffrey’s other daddy were business partners. Come on, meet your daddy. It’s your daddy, son. She starts to sing, it’s your real daddy; it’s your daddy. Jeffrey asks David what she’s talking about, and David says, she’s crazy. Go back in the house. Veronica says, come on, man. Jeffrey looks just like him. David says she’s sick, and Veronica says she remembers. He said she was a sick bitch. David says, come back one more time, and see what happens. She says, it’s always threats; do something. I’m Veronica, bitch. You can’t kill me. She doesn’t die, but he does… and Erika did. He says Veronica made sure of that, didn’t she? and Veronica says she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He says, Erika and Maggie Day, she murdered them both. She says again that she doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and he says her day is coming. Leave here now. She says she will, but doesn’t, and says, here, Jeffrey, like Jeffrey is a dog. She opens a manila envelope, and says, see this? taking out a paper. David tells her, don’t come near his son, and she holds the paper out, saying, DNA results. Look at it. She shakes it, and says, this is your father. David says Jeffrey doesn’t want it; leave. She laughs, and says, listen to him. Look at him. He says, now, and she says, okay, but calls to Jeffrey to take the results. She sees Madison, and says, is that girl in there? Hey girl! Madison waves, and she says, how ya’ll doing? She tells Jeffrey that William is still his daddy. It doesn’t matter if he walks away. William says they shouldn’t be doing this, and she says, shut up. If he wants a ride home, shut up and take his raggedly shoes and raggedy-ass self, and get in the car. She criticizes his shirt, and says he and Jeffrey dress alike. She yells to Jeffrey that his daddy works it better than he does. William gets in the car, and she tells him, just because he’s gay, that doesn’t mean he can’t open her car door.  

Inside, Jeffrey asks David what that was about, and David says Jeffrey knows how his mother can be. Jeffrey says William looks like him. He knows his mother, and wouldn’t be surprised if she was cheating. David says Jeffrey knows she would do anything, and Jeffrey says, this is a new low. David says Jeffrey is his son, and he’s Jeffrey’s father. He doesn’t want to hear another word. Now sitting in a chair with his hands cuffed behind his back, Wyatt says, who cares? Let him out. David says Wyatt’s father is coming, and Wyatt says, Jim will kill him. David tells him again that Jim won’t kill him, and tells Jeffrey to watch him. He needs to make a phone call. He goes upstairs, and Wyatt says, Jeffrey… but Jeffrey says he doesn’t want hear it. Wyatt says Jeffrey is supposed to be his friend, and he’s just leaving him there? Jeffrey says, he is, and starts to leave. Wyatt asks where he’s going, and Jeffrey says, goodbye. Wyatt asks, what the hell happened to Jeffrey, and Jeffrey says he got over Wyatt. Wyatt asks if that’s how Jeffrey treats a friend, and Jeffrey says, a friend who won’t do right by himself. Wyatt says, get out of here, and Jeffrey tells him, that’s what he always says. Jeffrey and Madison go upstairs, and Wyatt asks Leo to take off the cuffs. Leo says, no chance.

Jeffrey and Madison go into Jeffrey’s bedroom, and Madison asks if Jeffrey is stressed. Jeffrey says, yeah, and Madison rubs his shoulders. He says, two things. Jeffrey doesn’t need to be jealous of Leo. Jeffrey says, he’s cute, and Madison says, yes, he is. Jeffrey says Madison was flirting, but Madison says, no, he wasn’t, and they’re not even in a relationship. They’re just having fun, right? He sits next to Jeffrey, who says, what if he wanted more? Madison says, that should take time, and Jeffrey says he knows, but he likes Madison. Madison says he likes Jeffrey too, and Jeffrey says he wants to see what a normal relationship is. Madison asks what he means, and Jeffrey says, after Justin, he wants to see what a normal relationship is like. Madison says, they have the time, and Jeffrey agrees. Jeffrey reminds Madison that he said two things, and Madison says, Jeffrey’s mother. Jeffrey says, she’s a nutjob, but William does look like him. Madison asks if Jeffrey has ever seen William before, and Jeffrey says, no, but his mother had the DNA results. Madison says, they can be doctored, and asks if it bothers Jeffrey. Jeffrey says, he knows his father is his father, and Madison says he can find out. Go get tested with him. Jeffrey says, it would kill his dad if he asked, and Madison says, don’t ask. Just get his toothbrush, or hairbrush; something. They can tell with that, Jeffrey says, really? He can’t. Madison says David is a supportive, loving man; just go with that. Jeffrey thanks him.

Veronica comes in, and tells Laura that she needs a drink. Laura say she has one right here, and there’s also someone waiting for Veronica. Veronica says, who? and Laura says, Mr. Marco (wow. it’s like winning Bingo), and Veronica asks if Laura got her new dresses. Laura says they’ll be ready tomorrow at 4, and leaves, as Marco comes in. Veronica says, bonjour. Como se vas? He says he’s good, and she says, he looks like he’s been in a fight. Was he that much of an opponent? Marco says, he was okay, and she asks if it’s done. He says, yes. Can he have his money? She says she’ll have it in an hour. She know it would be done this quickly. He says he wants it now, and she says, he’ll have it. He says he doesn’t know what kind of element she’s used to dealing with, but he’s different. He wants his money and wants it now. She says, fine. She’ll go upstairs, and get his money. But instead, she starts rubbing his shoulders, and asks how that feels. He says, like he’s waiting for his money, and I laugh. He tells her to please go get it, and she says, yeah. He gets up, and she asks where he thinks he’s going. He says he’s going with her, but she says, stay right there. He says, hurry, and she says he needs to relax. He’s a little demanding for her taste. He says, sometimes. She walks back to the coffee table, takes her bag, drains her drink, and heads upstairs.  

At the Iron Bone, Vinnie sits in a booth with a drink. Mitch comes out, clutching his stomach, and Vinnie asks if he’s all right. Mitch says, yeah, and Vinnie says, good. Mitch says, just let this go, but Vinnie says he can’t do it. He spoke to Sandy, who told him what happened. Mitch says Vinnie doesn’t even like Rianna, but Vinnie says, Sandy seems to like her, and Rose is warming up to her. Mitch says, they’re not even together anymore, and Vinnie says, it don’t matter. He sent Sandy to get Benny, and he’s on his way now. Mitch gets up, saying, he has to talk to Benny, but Vinnie tells him, stay out of this one. Mitch isn’t going to talk to him. Give him the phone. Mitch hands his phone over, and says he let Vinnie beat his ass as punishment. Why won’t he let Mitch try to smooth things out? Vinnie says Mitch knows how Rose is about family, and Mitch says, there’s nothing he can do to stop this? Vinnie says, no, and he’ll get caught in the crossfire. Have a drink. Relax. Sandy’s got this. Mitch says, Sandy is going to take him out? and Vinnie yells for Micky to get Mitch a shot. It will take the edge off. Mitch says he doesn’t want one, when Sandy walks in. Vinnie asks why he’s there, and he says he’s waiting for Sal. Mitch says, to do what? and Sandy says, Uncle Vinnie is in charge, and said he could do it. Vinnie tells Mitch, stop bleeding for this kid, Sandy says Mitch acts like he has a hard-on for Benny. Mitch says, Benny is a good kid, and Vinnie says, he’s a dead kid. He tells Sandy, go do it, and Mitch says Sandy ain’t no murdering bitch. Sandy asks why Mitch is going to bat for Benny’s ass; he’s going to show him. Mitch says Sandy walks around hating Black people, and his girlfriend is Black. Sandy says, that’s different; she’s half Black. Vinnie says Mitch’s friend is so stupid and so dead. Mitch says he can’t do this. Please, man. Vinnie says, he’s pleading for this kid again, and tells Sandy, go do it. Make it bloody as hell. He has a nephew pleading for this kid. Take him out. Sandy leaves.

The guard opens the door to Kathryn’s cell, and puts another inmate in. Kathryn says, excuse me. I’m supposed to be alone. The guard tells her, says who? and Kathryn says, her attorney. The guard asks where Kathryn thinks she is, and Kathryn says she thinks the guard should check with her superiors. The guard says, lady, shut up, but Kathryn says she will not. The new inmate says, looks like she has a roommate, but Kathryn says, it’s a mistake. She’ll have to move. The inmate says, bitch please. Kathryn says, young lady… but the inmate says she’s not in the mood to talk. Kathryn yells for the guard, and the inmate says, stop making that damn noise. Kathryn asks who she thinks she is, and the inmate says, the one who’s going to beat Kathryn’s ass if she doesn’t shut up. Kathryn says she’d like to see her try, and the inmate asks if she’s rich or something. Kathryn says, as a matter-of-fact she is. The inmate says, she was looking for a bottom bitch. She’s going to make Kathryn hers. Kathryn asks what that’s supposed to mean, and the inmate says she’ll see. She’s going to love it. Kathryn says, touch her and she promises the inmate will regret it. The inmate says she’s going to love Kathryn. She’s never had a grandma. Kathryn yells for the guard again, and the guard says, what is it? Kathryn says she’s supposed to be alone. Check her records. She’s Kathryn Cryer. She’ll have the guard’s badge if she doesn’t get this hooligan out. The guard says, sorry, and walks away. Kathryn says, dammit, and the inmate says, so she’s Kathryn Cryer. Kathryn says, that’s her name. The whole town knows her name. The inmate  says the whole town will know she got her ass whooped. Doesn’t Kathryn want to know her name? It’s Diamond. Kathryn says, how original.

Hanna comes home to find a young woman with a baby standing in front of her house. She says, cute baby, and asks if she can help the woman. The woman says her name is Tanisha, and asks if Benny is there. Hanna says, no, and she asks if Hanna knows when he’ll be back. Hanna sys, he doesn’t live there anymore, and Tanisha asks if Hanna knows where she can find him. Hanna asks who she is, and she says, a friend. Hann asks how Benny knows her, and she says, it’s a long story. Hanna says she’s got time, and Tanisha asks if she’s Benny’s his mom Hanna. Hanna says, Miss Young, and Tanisha says she’s glad she found Hanna. She needs to talk to Benny. Does she have his phone number? Hanna says she does, and Tanisha asks if she can have it. Hanna says, how about if she calls him for Tanisha. Tanisha says, okay, and Hanna asks if Tanisha wants to tell her what this is about. Tanisha says, it’s just really important that she talk to him, and Hanna makes the call.  

Benny tells Candace, here we go. It’s mama; he knows it’s not going to be good. She says, don’t answer, but he says, she’ll be mad. Candace says, she’s already mad. Benny answers, and Hanna says, hold on. She hands the phone to Tanisha, and holds the baby. Benny asks, who is this? and she says, Tanisha. He wonders who Tanisha is, and she says they met a while ago at a club. She’s been trying to find him. He says, for what? and Hanna says, Lord have mercy. Tanisha says she needed to talk to him in person, and he says, about what? Hanna says, is this his baby? and Tanisha says, yeah. Benny says, what? and Hanna says, you have a baby. He looks like Benny. Benny says, hold on. What the hell is she talking about? Tanisha says he has a son, and he says he doesn’t know her. She says, that doesn’t make her feel good. It was only one night, but it happened. He says he’s sorry for what she’s going through, but she’s got the wrong guy. She says, it’s him. She had to find out his last name. Hanna takes the phone, and hands back the baby, She tells Benny to talk to Tanisha right now, and he says he doesn’t know who she is. Hanna says, his penis did. The baby looks just like him. Talk to her right now. She means it. Now. She hangs up ,and invites Tanisha in.  

Jim walks into David’s house, and says, what the hell? How did Wyatt get out? Wyatt says, he’s out on bail, but David says, no he isn’t. He broke out of the hospital. Jim laughs, and says, really? He’s actually proud. David says Wyatt stole a bunch of drugs and meds, and Jim asks if that’s true. Where are they? Wyatt says he took them. Just let him out. Jim says, come on, and Wyatt asks where they’re going. Jim says, they’re going home, but Wyatt says he’s going to his loft. Jim says he doesn’t have a loft anymore, and Wyatt says, mom never sold… but Jim says Wyatt is coming with him. Wyatt says he’s not going, and Jim asks, what happened to their conversation at the hospital? Wyatt said he’d go upstate to rehab. They agreed that’s where he was going. Wyatt says he’s not going there, and Jim says, listen you ungrateful little prick. I’m taking your ass to rehab or dragging it to jail. What happened to, I love you, dad; I’m going to rehab. Wyatt tuned into an a-hole just like his damn mother. Wyatt starts to slump, and Jim says, he did the same thing when he didn’t want to eat his peas. Wyatt passes out, and Leo says, he doesn’t have a pulse. He undoes the cuffs, and Jim asks, what’s the matter? Leo and Jim try to get Wyatt to the floor, and fall with him in the process. Madison comes in, and Jeffrey asks, what’s the matter? Madison is already checking out Wyatt, and starts to do chest compression. He says, get an ambulance, and tells Jim, it could be a lot of things. Jim asks if he could be more specific, and Leo calls 9-1-1. Madison tells Jim, back up, and continues to work on Wyatt. Jim wonders, where’s the damn ambulance?

Candace asks Benny what that was all about, and Benny says, some girl says she had his baby. She says she told him to wrap it up, but he says, it makes no sense. He doesn’t remember her. Candace says, all the more reason to use protection, but he says, no; he can’t recall it at all. She asks what mama said, and he tells her, she said, go there and talk to her. She says he needs to find out if he’s a baby daddy, and he says, not funny. He’s not going… Mama said it looks just like him. She says, messing around with random women, and not using protection, he’s got know it was going to happen. He says he’s always been safe, and she asks if he’s been using protection or pulling out. He says she doesn’t know him like that, and she says she’s his sister. She does know him. Go find out. He says, this is crazy, and she tells him, be careful. He says, speaking of that… He calls Mitch, and gets voicemail. He leaves a message to call him back, and tells Candace, he’s not answering. She says, let her try, but she gets voicemail too, and leaves the same message. She tells Benny, relax, but he asks how he can relax right now. She thinks they should leave the hotel. If they’re not there, no one can hurt him.

The phone rings, and it’s Sandy. He says he’s outside. Benny knows who this is. Come outside. Benny asks what the hell Sandy is talking about, and Sandy says Benny heard him. He’s not going nowhere. Benny tells him, do what he’s got to do, and Sandy says he’s waiting on Benny outside. Come now. Sandy hangs up, and Candace asks, who was that? Benny says, it was him, and she asks how he knows Benny is there. He says, Mitch told him, but she says, no way. He woudn’t have. Benny says, Sandy is his brother. He looks out from the side of the curtain, and says, he’s not out there. Dammit! He’s at mama’s. Benny dashes out.

Sandy does a drive-by at Hanna’s house. He riddles the house with bullets, and speeds away.  

Next time, Candance goes to the Iron Bone to see Mitch, Veronica says she wouldn’t be Veronica without enemies, Benny suggests he and Sandy handle the problem like men, and Diamond says she’s going to beat Kathryn’s ass. It’s the finale – sniff… Tyler Perry is not holding back. Who will make it out alive?

😴 Nothing To See Here…

It’s been a super long day, so NYC tomorrow, and in the meantime, stay safe, stay venturing out of your comfort zone, and stay not being an ostrich person, always looking down, hoping to find something better on your phone instead of what’s right in front of you.