Nov9

November 8, 2020 – Dwight Almost Makes a Change, the Travelers Hitch a Ride, an Explanation, Final Question & Early

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What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

Shari looks at an infinity symbol she’s written on her letters to Dwight, while he makes breakfast for dinner. Candles are lit everywhere. He tells her, the bubonic plague couldn’t even keep them apart. She says she forgot a lot of places she wrote from, and he says it kept him going. In a way, they were connected. No matter where he was, or what he was doing, he wanted to make sure he was the man she fell in love with, so she’d have nothing to feel sorry about. They kiss. Dwight hears voices on the radio, and realizes he forgot to check in. He says, sorry about that, and tells Hill that they’d had to clear a herd. Hill says Ginny wants them to head back, but Dwight says there are some spots on the map they’d like to check off. He thinks it will be worth their while. Hill says, it had better be, and tells him to be back in 48 hours. Shari asks if Dwight wants to look for Al, and he says he’ll go when the sun comes up; he doesn’t want Shari mixed up in this. He says they could run away, but she says Ginny hunts people down. He says, not if she thinks they’re dead, but Shari is worried Ginny would still find them. He says, there’s got to be a place she won’t. They got back to each other. If they can do that, they can do damn near anything. Shari says, sorry. She can’t run away with him. She gets up.

Dwight hears something, and it’s not Shari. He takes his pick ax, approaches the door, and asks, who’s in there? He hears banging, and calls to Shari. He goes closer to the door, and someone comes in wearing a mask like in those home invasion movies. Dwight turns around to find more of them, when they grab him, and a cover is put on his head.

Dwight has zip ties on his wrists, and the hood is removed. He asks where he is, but none of the masked people say anything. He yells for Shari, and tries to attack one of the masked people. He’s pretty good at this, since he knocks the guy down, and gets his gun. He says, tell him where his wife is, and the guy says nothing. Dwight looks up, and  the wall is lined with snipers. A masked woman says, it’s okay, and takes Dwight’s gun. She takes off her mask, and it’s Shari. Dwight asks, what’s going on? Who the hell are these people? She says she wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for them, and tells them to lower their guns. She tells Dwight, they’re outcasts, people Ginny didn’t think were good enough, people she was going to kill. Shari calls for a meeting, and Dwight asks why she didn’t tell him. She says she didn’t think he’d want to be a part of it, and he says, of what? A now unmasked Oswald says, there’s no telling what Virginia is going to do next. Dwight says he doesn’t know, but Oswald says he doesn’t buy it. Shari says he’s telling the truth, but Oswald whips out a video of Dwight and Al communicating with Virginia. He says, that’s the only explanation, and Dwight asks why they care where Ginny is going to be. Oswald shows Dwight a video of Al telling him, whatever they say, don’t do it. Oswald says they needed assurance of his cooperation, and Dwight says he and Al work for Ginny, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy it. He asks where Al is, and Oswald says if he doesn’t tell them where Ginny is going to be, they’ll be scrubbing his friend’s brains off the tile for weeks. He starts to count down.

Another masked guy arrives, and asks what the hell they’re doing. Oswald says, getting answers, and the guy says, not like that. He takes off his mask, and Dwight says, I’ll be damned. Shari asks if they know each other, and Rollie (an ex-henchman of Logan’s) says, remember the guy he told her saved his life? Twice actually. He tells Oswald that he was working for Ginny once too; let him go. Whatever they’re trying get out of him can wait. They have to roll out now; it’s their only chance. Dwight asks what’s happening, and Rollie says, a Hail Mary. Shari says they might have a shot to bring them down, but they need to blow up the van. Al joins them, and says they can’t blow it up. It’s designed to be impenetrable; they won’t do sh*t. If they want to take Ginny down, they don’t destroy something like that. They steal it.

The group waits on horses Shari takes Dwight’s hand. They all put their masks over their faces as the van approaches. As it passes, they take off behind it. Inside, the driver radios that he refueled, and he’s heading back. He sees the riders in his rearview mirror. One rides up to the van, and cuts the wire for the radio. The driver says, sh*t. Dwight asks if he’s really doing this, and Al tells him, ride like hell. The driver says, not today, and opens up the widow for the guns, but the riders get close, so it shoots over them. The bullets run out, and Dwight gets close enough to climb on. The driver floors it, then makes a sharp turn, but Dwight hangs on. The driver turns the other way, and Dwight climbs higher, getting to the top. The driver jerks the van around some more, but Dwight is tenacious (would that make him Tenacious D?). The driver sees the riders coming, and cocks his gun. Dwight is in the cab, and says the driver is out of bullets; they’re not. He smacks the gun out of the driver’s hand, and as the driver reaches for it, Dwight kicks his ass right out of the van. He gets control of the steering, and manages to stop.

Everyone has gathered at the van, and Dwight says, he got away. He saw the driver’s face, and he’s going straight to Virginia. Morgan rides up on a horse, dragging the driver behind him. Dwight says, Morgan, and Rollie asks if Dwight saved his life too, but Dwight says, the opposite actually. Morgan asks if hey lost something. He laughs, and looks at the driver, saying, he thinks he found it. 

Al says Morgan realizes she has to interview him again. She asks what he wants when they’re settled, and Dwight says he thought Morgan was dead. Morgan says, Dwight knows he doesn’t die. He’s letting Ginny believe he’s dead. Dwight asks how he survived, and Morgan says, some woman saved him. He’s not sure who. Al asks if he’s been out riding like the Lone Ranger. He says he kept them in the dark to protect them. Things changed since that night in the gulch. Dwight says, no sh*t, and Morgan asks how long since he found Shari. Dwight says, a little over a week. Ginny had nothing to do with it. Morgan says he’s happy for Dwight, and Dwight says he couldn’t have found her without Al. Morgan asks how long Shari has been with these folks, and she says, a few months. They were kicked out of where they were. Al says it’s a better situation than the one they left behind, and Morgan asks if Dwight knows where everyone else is, but Dwight says he’s been on the road. Morgan asks if they know where Grace is, but Al says, sorry. Morgan says, they’ll find her. They’ll find everybody.  

There’s a German Shepherd behind a fence where Shari’s group is staying, and Al asks what the dog’s story is. Rollie says they found the dog near a wildlife sanctuary. They tossed him scraps, and he’s been with them since then. He thinks the dog has wolf in him. He tells Dwight, they may have had differences in the past, but after what Dwight did today, he’d go so far as to consider Dwight a friend. Shari asks what Morgan is doing out on his own, and he says he’s looking for somebody. He thought she might be with them, but he’s glad he found them. He’s building something. He found somewhere Ginny can’t find, and need people like them to help make it what it can be. Shari says they don’t need a place. They’ve got everything they need to take out Ginny. Morgan doesn’t think now is the time to strike, but Rollie says, it’s the perfect time. Ginny has no idea they have firepower. Morgan says, that doesn’t mean they need to use it. Shari says she was told Morgan believes all life is precious. This is different. If one can control so many others… Morgan says, he’s been through this war too long, and seen the end of too many lives; so has her husband. They have friends that are still inside. If they strike, and it doesn’t go their way, they’re putting all of them in danger. Al says they want to make sure to get their people out first. Morgan says, not until they have somewhere to go. He’s got a place he’s getting ready. He’s going there tomorrow. Whether they come or not, all he’s asking is that they don’t make a move until the right time. Please.

Dwight has a smoke, and Shari asks if he wants to go with them. He says Morgan and Al are like family. They’re a big part of the reason he is who he is now. She asks if Morgan wasn’t how he ended up inside Ginny’s walls, and he says they wanted a place to disappear. They should give it a shot. They can get Ginny when the time is right. Shari asks when that will be. She appreciates what Morgan is trying to do, but they have a plan; right here, right now. The only way to have what they want is to take her out. She tells Dwight, if he wants to, go with Morgan, but she’s not leaving until Virginia is dead. He ponders, then says he’s not leaving without her.

In some kind of cave, the driver is bound to a chair with a hood over his head. Loud music is playing. Dwight, Shari, and Oswald come in wearing their masks. They take his hood off, and Dwight asks where Virginia is going. He’d better not say again that he doesn’t know. Dwight thinks he has a lot of guts, but he needs more. Dwight dumps a bucket of literal guts on him, and the driver says, what the hell? Does Dwight think that will make him talk? Dwight says, no, but he might. Rollie comes in with the dog, baring his teeth and growling on the end of his leash. Dwight asks where Virginia is going to be next, and the driver says, if Dwight kills him, he’s got nothing. Dwight says he’s got one happy dog. The driver asks, what did she do to you a-holes? and asks Shari if the cat’s got her tongue. Dwight says, don’t talk to her. He removes his mask, and says he will kill him. The driver says he sees why Dwight wears a mask. Dwight says the driver has seen his face now. He can’t let him go back, unless he helps them deal with Virginia. Where is Virginia going to be? The driver says Dwight is the a-hole with the chess pieces. What happened? He saw Dwight at the truck stop. Dwight grabs his neck, and  the dog is practically in the driver’s lap, snarling and snapping. Dwight kicks the driver’s chair out from under him. Morgan comes in, and asks, what’s happening here? Dwight says he’s asking questions, but it seems the driver doesn’t have the answers he’s looking for. Dwight and Morgan leave. 

Outside, Morgan tells Dwight, he’s got to wait, but Dwight says they might not get another chance. Morgan says he’ll put people they know in danger. Why go there in first place? He’s got a place waiting. Dwight says, Morgan tells him that he’s got a place where it’s safe; where he’ll help protect them. He’s heard it before. Why is this place, this building, any different? Morgan says, he’s different. He does things different. Dwight says he’s sorry, but Shari is right. Nothing will be different until Virginia is gone. Morgan says he can’t let Dwight do this, but Dwight says he is doing it. If Grace was asking Morgan to do the same thing… Morgan considers that for a moment, and says, sh*t. Dwight walks away.

Back at the tank, Shari asks if Dwight wants to talk about it. He says, no, and Rollie asks if he wants the dog back out. Dwight says, there are other ways to get the guy to talk, and Rollie asks, what ways? Dwight says, ways that will make him wish they were still using the dog. Shari says they don’t need to find out where Ginny is going to be. They can make her come to them. Rollie says, she’ll smell that coming a mile away, but Shari says, not if it’s coming from her own people. Isn’t time for Dwight’s next check in? Dwight says it is, and gets on the radio. He asks if Hill copies, and Hill says he’s late. Dwight says they found a place where there are still living people, and Hill asks, how many? Dwight says, over 100. They want to make sure Ginny makes the first overture. Hill tells him, stay put. They’ll be there by nightfall. Dwight tells Shari, soon enough, it will all be behind them. I tell him, famous last words.

Dwight says he’ll show Shari how to do the guns; sometimes it sticks. He asks, what’s wrong? and she wonders if he was really going to let the dog kill that guy. Dwight says he had to let the guy think that’s what he was going to do. She asks if he had to do that before, at the Sanctuary. He says, they can’t take any chances on screwing this up, including Morgan and Al. They might have to stand by until he’s done. She says, she thought he told her they were like family, and he says they’re like family; she is his family. He’s not going to let anyone get in the way of what he has to do. She asks what he has to do, and he says, when Ginny gets there, he’s killing her himself.

Morgan says, Al lied about the van, and she says, if worse comes to worse, she can take out the steering column. She hopes she can get the tank out of range. Otherwise it might blow up. Morgan says, screw up their people and pay the cost. Dwight knew if he tried something, there would be consequences. It might not work, and he’s going to make it worse. He tried it Dwight’s way. This time, they’re doing it his way. Al says, it’s not his call. It’s theirs. Rollie opens the gate, and stands there with her crew. Morgan sets aside his ax, and raises his hands, saying, okay. Al raises hers, and they all go out. Shari looks sad.

Rollie opens up one of the buildings, and says, the driver is out cold. Dwight asks if they searched him. Morgan says he’s sorry, and asks if Dwight is too. Dwight says, no, he’s not, but they both want the same things. Maybe Ginny does too. They all have their own lives, and their own rules, so there’s a fight. Somebody’s got to lose. He asks if Shari is okay, and Shari tells the guard, make sure he stays in there too. She tells Dwight, she can’t have him be part of this. It’s the only way. She won’t let him be the person he used to be. He goes inside with Morgan and Al, and Shari walks off.

They pull the van into the woods. Rollie tells everyone to get into position now. They should be here in 10 minutes.

Dwight pouts, Al bites at the ties on her wrists. Dwight says, Morgan was right. Taking Ginny out now is not the right time. He wanted to be with Shari so bad, he thought this was what she needed. Morgan says, Shari has to figure out what she needs for herself. Morgan says he spent so long thinking his way was the only way, he didn’t realize the trouble he was causing them. He didn’t realize he had to change until it was almost too late. Dwight says Shari is in the dirt with them, and Morgan asks what he’s doing to make sure she doesn’t have to go through what they did.

Rollie radios that they’re heading toward the gates. Shari cries quietly. Several cars come up the road, and form a line across it.

Dwight gets himself free. Rollie tells Shari they’ve got company, and she asks, who? Dwight opens the passenger door, and she asks what he’s doing. He says the same thing she was trying to do for him. Don’t be a fool.

Ginny isn’t with them, and Dwight tells Shari, don’t do this. Don’t kill her own people. She’s about to end up dead too. Wait a while. Work with them. It’s not going to work the way she said. Shari says, somebody has to do something, and Rollie radios, it’s now or never. Dwight tells her, she said she didn’t want him to turn into someone he hated. He doesn’t want that for her either. On the radio, Hill says, if Al and Dwight are listening, there had better be a damn good reason for this. Shari puts her hand on the lever to open up the guns, but her hand shakes. The cars leaves, and she smacks Dwight. She says he had to make it hard, and gets out of the van.  

Shari cries in her room. Dwight knocks at the door, but she says, not now. Dwight hesitantly comes downstairs. He site, then kneels in front of her. He asks what Ginny did to her, and she says, it’s not about Ginny. It never was. She gets up, and Dwight says, it’s about Negan. She says she could have done something a hundred times, but she didn’t. He says, this isn’t then. They can’t change the past; not him or her. He wanted to be with her more than anyone, but not like this. People are trying to change them into something they weren’t. He’s not standing around and watching it happen again. She says, then he needs to leave. She needs this. There’s the truth. That’s who she is, but he’s right; they can’t change who they are. At least he can’t because – she takes his face in her hands – he actually reminds her of who they used to be, before all of this. So go. She tells him louder, go. He leaves, and she cries.

Dwight leaves the building, and approaches the dog. The dog growls at him, but he puts his hand on the fence, and the dog licks it. He opens the gate, and lets the dog out. Great, now I have another dog to worry about. Dwight takes a last look.

Dwight meets Morgan and Al, who tells him that Shari and the others took off with the driver. Al asks how she is, and Dwight says, not good. He doesn’t think she’s going to be for a while. Morgan tells him, come with them, and he says he’d really to take out Ginny. Morgan says they will, but they’re going to need more than the van. Al says Dwight found his way back to Shari; she’ll find her way back to him. Dwight says he needs Al’s hat and jacket. He puts it on a zombie, and puts his own on another one. They put hoods on the zombies, and Morgan beats the crap out of the zombies’ heads. They lead the zombies away, and Morgan asks if Dwight is sure they’ll find them. Dwight says, they patrol every day. Al says, she’s got some people she wants Morgan to meet, and the three of them drive off.  

Al and Dwight open a truck, where Nora and the others have been waiting. Morgan asks, what’s going on? and Al says, they’re looking for a place to settle down. She thinks she’s found one for them, with help from a friend. Nora asks if they can trust him, and Al says she thinks so. Morgan says, he has to warn them, the place they’re going needs work. The people come out of the truck, and Dwight gets inside. Above the door, he draws an infinity symbol and an arrow. Morgan leads Everyone down the road on his horse.  

Next time, John suggests he and June leave, June performs surgery, and Ginny says, it doesn’t have to be the end.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Hope spoke in a voiceover, as we saw shadow puppets go from a happy world to an apocalypse. She told us, it had been a world with pets and homes, jobs and weekends, then everything changed. People died and returned; neither living or dead. The love they’d felt had been erased. The memory replaced by a hunger that was never satisfied. Everything they’d counted on couldn’t save them. Roads crumbled, cities fell, and to those born right before, the end of world was their beginning.

Iris, Hope, Silas, and Elton found the guy stalking them in the woods. Felix had gone looking for them, caught up, and questioned the guy. He said his name was Percy, and he’d just been taking a leak. Hope said, and he suddenly decided to rob them? but he swore he hadn’t, and had nothing on him. Felix said there were no signs of anyone else being with him, and they invited Percy to eat with them. Percy explained that he’d teamed up with a pair of nice enough guys named Mike and Tony. They gave a biker vibe, and bickered like an old married couple, but they ended up robbing his ass. They said they were from a settlement that seemed friendly to newcomers, so they found a place to camp, and went to sleep. When he woke up, they were gone, and so was his stuff. He said they were headed for an abandoned town called Andersonville, and he was going to get back what was his. Felix said he should be grateful for his life, and move on. Percy said it wasn’t a vigilante deal or the principle, but some things can’t be replaced. Elton said he understood that.

Percy told them, early on after the apocalypse, he was looking for a place to camp in the snow. He heard zombies coming, and thought, the world was so screwed up, why fight so hard to live in it? He got on a car roof, closed his eyes, and braced himself for the end, but nothing happened. He opened his eyes, and saw 200 bison crossing the overpass he was on. It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. The real is surreal. Hope realized the timeframe wasn’t right, and thought he’d stolen the car. He said telling them he had a car, was like telling someone he had buried treasure, and not expecting them to look for it. He’d been in a truck carrying refined fuel, when it was stolen from him. Iris suggested they help him get his truck, then he could drive them where they needed to go. Felix thought it was too risky, and Huck suggested they get back-up, but Iris said they had no time. Percy said when his truck was hijacked, he hadn’t seen any guns. Felix relented, and said they’d go at dawn.

Elton told Hope about his mom, saying, she was the coolest. She saw death and decay as no better or worse than any life cycle. He was working on finishing his mom’s manuscript about nature, and said he wanted to pass the book along when he was done. Iris explained to Percy that she and Hope were going to save their father, and he thought she was lucky still having someone to save. Silas told Felix that he didn’t like Percy, and didn’t understand how anyone could.

They got to Andersonville, when a truck pulled in. Percy said it was his truck, and Felix thought they should do a smash and grab. Silas thought they shouldn’t do this. The truck stopped, but there was no movement, and Felix and Percy went to check it out. Percy said the driver was dead, and Felix wanted them to go back to the campsite, but that was a no. Felix agreed to help him, and Elton and Hope went around to the front of the building to find a door that wasn’t boarded up. Felix told  them to stay there, and I wondered why he continued to give orders when no one ever listens. He met Percy inside, while Iris paced. She told Silas she was going in, and he said she’d promised Felix she wouldn’t, like that meant something. She asked how they were going to save her dad if they were always waiting for people to save them, and Silas said he wouldn’t stop her. I would go zero places by myself in the apocalypse.

Iris found an entrance, and a random mannequin scared the hell out of her. She almost shot Percy, then a zombie popped its hand through a gate, and scared the hell out of me.

Elton told Hope that her dad had encouraged him to finish the manuscript. Her father hadn’t known his mom, but admired her research. Hope looked at the picture of Elton’s mother, the same woman she’d killed the night the sky fell. The thunder continued off and on, and I wished it would rain already, since that’s been going on since last week.

Felix checked out the building, killing random zombies, while Percy and Iris searched upstairs. Percy rifled through some pants pockets, and found car keys. The weird part is, I didn’t catch any explanation as to why the driver didn’t have keys or why they weren’t in the truck. As they started to leave, Percy looked in a room, and saw his stuff. He gave Iris the keys, and told her, find Felix and start the car. He was getting his stuff back. She left, but on her way downstairs, heard him argue with someone for a moment, then heard a gunshot. She debated with herself on the stairs, but went back up. Felix heard zombies, and got ready. It finally started to rain, and while Silas was staring at the door, the truck driver got up. Iris found an empty room where Percy had been, and the driver was apparently not a zombie as we all thought. He grabbed everyone’s stuff, jumped in the truck, and took off. Hope looked around, but found nothing except a zombie in the bathtub. Silas ran in to get Hope and Elton. Hope ran after the truck.

Iris saw Percy also headed for the truck. They locked eyes, and Percy ran, going out one of the windows. Iris followed, but fell into a dumpster. Percy jumped into the back of the truck as it drove away. Hope told Iris that help was coming, but a zombie popped out of the garbage. Iris got ready to spike it in the head, but then another one popped up behind her. Silas and Elton dealt with a bunch of zombies, while Felix got the dumpster gate down, rescuing Iris. Percy came back, and the driver told everyone to get in the truck. They left just in time, since it was going to be zombie city in a moment.    

Felix said, no good deed goes unpunished, and Percy – who called the zombies has-beens – introduced his Uncle Tony aka the driver. Felix asked if they should feel grateful that all Tony and Percy had changed their minds, and Tony said, out there, this was as good as it got. Tony did magic tricks, and told them he’d worked in Vegas as an illusionist and ventriloquist. Percy explained that his mom had split, and Tony raised him. Tony said Percy was a quick study; he was grifting kids in the sandbox. Iris was seriously bummed, and wandered off to be moody. Percy followed her, and she said he didn’t have to pretend that he cared now. She’d thought she had good instincts. Percy said she did; she came back to help him. He’d done this grift before, and every single person had taken the keys and run. She saw him as someone worth saving. That’s why he came back. She’s who he wanted to be now, and it was on him to prove he could be more like her.

Hope wanted to read Elton’s mom’s book, and he said he thought he must have been the last person who knew her. Now someone else would. At this point, I wondered if she was really dead. Tony tinkered with the truck, when Felix said he wanted to talk. Tony said he intended to make good on the ride, and asked about the emblem on Felix’s jacket. Felix said it was a university emblem from where they lived, and Tony told him not to bullsh*t bullsh*tter, especially one from Vegas. He thought whoever Felix was involved with didn’t mess around. He saw helicopters with the same emblem, periodically flying by. He said they’d incorporated avoiding these a-holes in their routine. He asked Felix, if they were in a bind, could his patch get them out, and Felix said, of course it could. Tony said he’d take them tomorrow, but first, a little acting.   

Silas told Felix, some people made starting over look easy. Iris told Hope, she wished she knew what was a lie, and what was real. Hope said Percy and Tony weren’t much different from them. They all had parts they wanted to hide. Tony and Percy did shadow puppetry like at the beginning, about the end of the world. It started out happy, then got sad, but ended with hope.

Next time, the group gets ahold of a military map, Percy says there’s fuel for the taking, and Iris is held hostage.  

After the preview, there was an extra scene. We saw a female scientist looking over Hope and Iris’s father’s notes, including personal correspondence from the girls. She received a call from Elizabeth, and promised Elizabeth that the doctor wouldn’t be a problem when the group arrived. After she hung up, we heard zombie noises, presumably from the ones she’s experimenting on. See below for more on this.

⚰️ Dead End…

A detailed explanation of the end after the end.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-world-beyond-post-credits-scene-explained-crm-106-shadow-puppets/

😢 What Is Goodbye…

Saying farewell to a class act.

https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Trebek-brought-consensus-class-to-a-nation-in-15711891.php

🌱 Back To the Beginning…

Once again, it’s Monday, or another day, depending on whether or not you’re still paying attention. No matter what, I’ll see you on Deck tomorrow. For now, stay safe, stay exceptional, and stay away from people wearing masks. Unless you’re one of them. Or unless it’s Halloween.

Nov7

November 6, 2020 – Finn Is Smarter Than Alex Thought, Meet Alex, a Return, an Exit, a Reunion, an Excuse, Chill Already, Rose Gold Bride, Fantastic Farewell, What’s On, Kanye’s Tally, a Dozen ‘N’ One Quotes & Kinky Autumn

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Britt plays pool at The Floating Rib. Jason says, nice shot, and she can’t believe he just paid her a compliment.

Alexis is working on her drinking, when Sam comes by. Sam knocks incessantly, and Alexis pulls herself together, and hides her glass and bottle. She asks to what she owes this pleasant surprise, and Sam says she told Alexis that she’d be checking up on her. Alexis says, a heads up would have been nice, and Sam asks, why? So she could have time to stash her bottles, or has she sobered up enough to realize she needs help?

Julian comes out of the elevator at the hospital, and sees Ava. He asks if she’s heard anything about Ryan’s condition, and she says, if there’s any justice in the world, he’s dead already. But life isn’t always fair. Julian says, is he alive? Is he awake? Is he talking? Is he giving Julian up to Sonny? What?

Sonny tends the fireplace in the living room. Taggert knocks at the door, and Sonny lets him in. Sonny says no one’s there, and Taggert asks if he can borrow a cup of sugar.

At The Rib, Peter asks Lulu how things went with her source, but she says he was more interested in hitting on her than spilling secrets about Cyrus. She says she and Jackie roughed out the first piece. It definitely looks like Cyrus is using GH to launder drug money, even without her ex-source to back it up. He takes a look, and says there’s no way he can publish this.

Finn answers the phone, thinking it’s Robert, but it’s Anna. She tells him that he’s in danger. If he’s at the house, she needs him to get out. Alex walks in with Maxie, and Anna asks if Finn can hear her. She asks him to talk to her. Alex (pretending to be Anna) asks Finn if they’re up for company. Maxie caught up with her, and offered to go over some wedding details.

Maxie says if now is a bad time, feel free to kick her out. Anna asks if Finn is still there. What’s going on? Finn says, guess what, Peter? I found her. Maxie just walked in the door with your mother. Anna says, understood. Keep them there as long as he can; they’re on their way. She loves him. She tells Robert, Alex brought Maxie back to the house.

Peter tells Lulu, there’s no way Jackie said that story was ready. They have no proof to back up their allegations. Lulu says she didn’t have time to show it to Jackie. Jackie had to fly out to cover a breaking story, but they did discuss the possible corruption at GH. He says she doesn’t quote a single source. She had no one to go one record, no evidence, and no documentation. Is she trying to get them sued? She says she’s sorry. She lost her game when Dante came back. He asks if she needs to take personal time, but she says, no. Cyrus is a threat to Port Charles, and has to be stopped. He says he loves that she’s passionate about this. It’s what makes her a good journalist, but what makes her a great journalist is when she backs it up with proof, and actual facts that will hold up in court. She asks what they do. So they do nothing while Cyrus burns down Port Charles? He asks if he said that.

Sonny tells Taggert, Carly and Josslyn are out for the night, and the guard will let him know if anyone shows up. So they have a couple hours to kill. He pours two drinks. Taggert says he never thought he’d be living next door to Sonny, or that Sonny would be protecting him. Sonny says he’s protecting Taggert’s daughter, and Taggert says he appreciates that. He says he’s sorry about Sonny’s father, and Sonny thanks him. Taggert asks how Sonny acquired the property, and Sonny says he bought it so Jax wouldn’t move in. Taggert says, that makes sense, given their history, and Sonny says, it’s been standing empty since the last owner died. He sits, and Taggert asks if he knew them. Sonny says it was his ex-fiancé Connie. She was murdered. Taggert says he’s sorry, and asks if they got her killer. Sonny says, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Ava tells Julian, Ryan is out of surgery, but still unconscious. He lost a lot of blood getting that knife in the back. Julian says, so if he dies, it’s not totally unexpected. She says she knows what he’s thinking; stop it. There’s a guard outside Ryan’s room, and no one gets in or out without being stopped. They go into an office, and she says she does have the possibility of good news though. She heard the nurses talking. Ryan’s brain was deprived of oxygen because of the blood loss. They don’t know the extent of the damage yet. Julian says, Ryan could be a vegetable, and Ava says, it’s possible. Julian asks where the chapel is; he wants to start praying. Ava suggests he pray they get their hands on the letter. He says, Ryan didn’t have it on him? and she says she saw the warden give the cops Ryan’s belongings, and there was no letter. He says, they more than got the job done, and she says, they? What has he done?

Jason says he’s surprised Britt has time to play pool. Monica worked long hours when she was Chief of Staff. Britt says she’s been at GH since dawn, and will be back in the trenches until 8. She’s taking a break from all the sniping and dirty looks. She’s sure he’s heard she’s not the most popular person there. He says he’s heard. She says, that’s why she plays pool. It’s fine if you play well with others, but it’s fine if you play alone. She prefers to go solo. He says he thinks she hasn’t found the right person to play pool with.

Sam says Molly and Kristina have noticed Alexis is suddenly unavailable. She isn’t picking up the phone or answering her texts. Sam hasn’t told them she’s relapsed. She was hoping to get Alexis to a meeting or detox. Alexis says, detox? Isn’t that a little premature? She’s not living in an alley yet. Sam says, not yet. Does Alexis realize Sam took the kids to the Quartermaines’ and Olivia was there? Alexis says she wanted to join them, but Sam was late. Sam says, Alexis was early. Olivia didn’t want to say anything, but she found a bottle of booze in Alexis’s purse. Alexis says, Olivia was rummaging around in her purse? What business is it of hers? Sam says, it’s Olivia’s business because Alexis is in her house with Leo and a bottle of booze hidden in her purse. Alexis asks if Olivia told Ned, and Sam says, if Alexis is really worried about Ned’s reaction, they really have a problem. Alexis says the only problem she has right now is Sam. When did she become such a nag? Sam takes the bottle and glass out of the cupboard, and asks if Alexis wants to explain this.

Alexis says Sam isn’t allowed to rummage in her cupboard, and Sam asks, why hide it? Alexis says because she doesn’t want another lecture. Sam says, please tell her what’s going on. The last time Alexis fell off the wagon, Julian took her to a meeting and it was one drink, because she loved herself and her family. Does she not care anymore? Alexis says she just wants to feel good. Can’t Sam just let her feel good? Sam says, sorry. Neil wouldn’t want this. Alexi says, who knows what Neil wanted? Sam says she knows Alexis thinks she didn’t know him, and Alexis says she didn’t. if her this is her only way to cope, can’t Sam just sit back and let her do that, and accept it? Sam says, so when her children are there sleeping, Alexis can nearly burn the house down again? She can’t accept that. Alexis says Sam is exaggerating; blowing one incident out of proportion. Sam says, it’s no exaggeration that Alexis is a risk to her children when she’s drinking. Alexis says, that’s a laugh. Sam sleeping with a hitman doesn’t make her look like mother of year.

Jason is an excellent shot, and Britt tells him, the object of the game is for them to take turns. She supposes she shouldn’t be surprised he’s a pool shark. What’s his secret? He takes another shot, and she says remind her not to get in his crosshairs. Or is she already, working with big bad Cyrus? Jason says, is she? and she says she’s not taking sides between Cyrus and Sonny. The only side she’s on is her own. Jason says, Cyrus did hire her. Mind telling him how that happened? Britt takes her shot, and she’s as good as Jason is.

Ava asks Julian, who are they, and what did he do? He says he needed someone who could gain access to Pentenville, and take care of their Ryan problem. She says, so it’s their problem now, and he says, so he made a bargain. She wonders why she has the feeling Julian got the worst of it, and he says, Ryan was going to tell Sonny that he knew about Michael’s son, and had Nelle’s letter as proof. He was desperate. Ava wonders when was the last time he wasn’t. He’s dug such a hole for himself, and every time she looks, it’s deeper. Every action he’s taken has made it worse. Now he’s made a bargain. What exactly did he offer to have Ryan killed, and what happens when they want to collect?  

Lulu asks if Peter has a plan B for taking down Cyrus, and he says, the human interest angle. He hears there’s a record number of OD cases at the hospital. Who were they? They had jobs and families; who are they leaving behind? How is the GH staff coping; the police, the paramedics? They just did a telethon for frontline workers. Is the drug epidemic causing them to focus on that, rather than other concerns? Lulu says, less accusations, more comment on the human toll, and he tells her to get as many people on the record as possible. His phone dings, and he says he has another meeting. He thinks Lulu’s story will be inspiring. He leaves, and Lulu says, maybe, but will it put Cyrus back in prison?

Maxie thanks Finn for asking Peter to be a groomsman. He’s very touched. Alex says, they’ll be one big happy family, and Finn says he just remembered that he has to get groomsmen’s gifts. He could use some advice. Maxie says, luckily, he has an expert there, and Finn asks if Alex/Anna minds putting the kettle on, while Maxie fills him in on the appropriate gifts. Alex says, of course (🍷), and goes to the kitchen. Maxie says she’s thinking cufflinks, and he says she needs to go right now.

Robert wonders how many possible hostages there are, and asks Anna, what about Violet? She says Violet is at a sleepover, and Robert says he wants to call in a SWAT team, but Anna says, no. Alex won’t hesitate to kill Finn. She thinks Anna is dead, and doesn’t realize Finn is on to her. Robert asks how she wants to do this, and she says they should go in together. She thinks that’s the best chance they have.

Finn starts to push Maxie toward the door, and she asks what he’s doing. He tells her, just do what he says. Leave. She says he’s scaring her, and he says, that’s not Anna; it’s her sister. Alex walks in, gun drawn, and says, he’s much smarter than she gave him credit for. Really? I highly doubt an infectious disease specialist is stupid, and they’re probably good at solving puzzles.

Britt tells Jason, it’s a mystery. Cyrus offered her a job as Chief of Staff, and it was too good to turn down. Jason says, maybe. Or maybe something else happened that brought her back. She ask if he’s psychic, and he says he just pays attention. Lulu comes by, and asks if there’s room for one more. She has a score to settle with Britt.   

Sam asks why Alexis brings up Jason whenever Alexis wants to hurt her. Alexis says Sam isn’t the only one who gets to throw stones. How many times has Jason put the kids in danger? And what about Sonny with Kristina and Michael? She won’t even ask about Morgan. That’s obvious. Sam says, that’s cruel, but Alexis says, it’s a statement of fact. They’ve hurt people and worse, and when the enemy retaliates, they threaten their loved ones. Sam tells Alexis, listen to herself deflecting. This has nothing to do with Sonny or Jason. Alexis chose to pick up a drink and hurt her family, which includes Scout and Danny. Alexis says she’d never hurt her grandchildren, and Sam says, really? She wouldn’t visit them drunk, or drive them to the park after downing a bottle of vodka? Alexis says Sam knows that would never happen, but Sam says, actually, she doesn’t. If Alexis doesn’t agree right now to get help, she’ll never allow Alexis around her kids again.

Julian tells Ava, stopping Ryan was worth it, but she says she doubts he’ll feel that way when the favor is called in. She doesn’t know who the devil is, but Julian sold his soul to him. He says, better than Sonny having him killed. Now the letter has disappeared, and he can finally stop looking over his shoulder. She says she knows that look. Ryan’s not his only problem. He asks if she remembers the guy on the pier. He stopped Julian from shooting Nelle. She says Julian told her his gun went off, and he accidentally hit the guy. Julian says, he recovered, and he’s not only alive and well, he knows Ava’s intern. Ava says, Trina? and Julian says, he left this at the bar. He shows her the phone with the picture of Trina and Taggert, and says, that’s the guy who jumped him. She says, oh my God.

Sonny says it feels like Connie’s murder happened yesterday, and Taggert says he doesn’t know how Sonny can forgive the woman who murdered his fiancé. Sonny says he hasn’t forgiven her, but they have an understanding. He has no choice. She’s Avery’s mother, and he’d do anything for the sake of his daughter and kids. Taggert says, on that, they agree. Sonny says, Ava’s life was dismantled by Ryan Chamberlain. He’s not excusing what she did to Connie, but it balances the scales a little, and gave him insight into why she does what she does. Taggert still thinks Ava should go to prison, and Sonny says, that’s easy for him to say. It’s not his family at stake. Taggert says he’s right about that, as much as it kills him to say Sonny is right. Sonny says he’ll have to tell Carly that Taggert is alive and living next door, but Taggert says, the list of people who know is already too long. Epiphany and Jordan, and now the bartender on Halloween. Sonny looks at him.

Alex says this happened faster than she planned, and Finn asks if she thinks anyone is going to believe she’s Anna. Maxie doesn’t understand why Alex is doing this, and Finn says, because she’s a narcissist with a borderline personality. Alex says don’t make her angry, and Finn says, let Maxie go. She has nothing to do with this. Alex says, Maxie is carrying Peter’s baby. Finn is expendable. Maxie asks what Alex wants with her baby, and Alex says she’ll explain when they’re on the open water. They’re going on a trip. Maxie says she’s not going anywhere, and strongly advises Alex to run as far and as fast as she can. Once Robert catches up to her… Finn tries to grab the gun from Alex, and they struggle. Maxie yells, no!

Alexis asks if Sam is really saying she can’t see her grandchildren, and Sam says she has no choice if Alexis keeps drinking. Alexis says, she’d never hurt her grandchildren; she loves them. Sam knows she loves them, and they love her too. That’s what’s making this so hard. If Alexis decides the glass she’s holding is more important than her grandchildren, Sam can’t help her. Alexis says, so Sam is telling her, if she doesn’t go to a meeting or detox, and satisfy Sam’s demands for her life, she’s not going to let her see her grandchildren. Sam says, yes. She’d do anything to protect her children. Alexis says, except leave Jason.

Britt tells Lulu, long time. She’s surprised they haven’t run into each other. Lulu says, that was no accident, and Britt says, have at it. She’s bracing herself for another lecture on what a terrible person she is. Lulu says, Britt being Chief of Staff at GH, no wonder the hospital is such a mess. Britt tells Jason, see why she prefers to play alone? It’s time for her to get back to work, and make the hospital more of a mess. She leaves, and Lulu says, Britch is the perfect name. She thinks she’ll do an exposé on Britt. Jason says she’d be making a mistake.

Sonny says Taggert didn’t tell him that he was spotted, and Taggert says he didn’t have a chance before Jason hustled him there. Sonny asks, what happened? and Taggert says, Trina and her friends were hanging out, and the mask for his costume allowed him to follow them. The bartender suspected something, and when they left, he and he bartender got into it. The bartender ripped off his mask, and Taggert recognized him as the guy at the pier; the one he stopped from shooting that girl. Sonny asks if he’s sure it was the same guy, and Taggert says, no question. Sonny asks where he works, and Taggert says, Charlie’s. He acted like he ran the place.

Julian asks if Ava knows the man in the picture, and she asks if he’s sure this is the man. He says he didn’t get a good look, but when he saw him, it all came together and clicked. Who is he? Trina’s uncle or something? Ava says, or something. Julian is an idiot. That’s Trina’s father. Julian says she told him that Trina’s father had been killed in a shootout with Cyrus, and she says she’d thought so. So did Trina. Julian says Taggert doesn’t look six feet under to him.

Robert and Anna go into Anna’s house. Anna sees Finn on the floor, and runs to him. She sees he’s been shot, and she tells him, talk to her.

Alex has Maxie tied up on a boat (The Haunted Star?). She says, isn’t technology marvelous? It would have been tedious to try and hold a gun on her and steer at the same time, but she let autopilot handle it. Maxie says she has two other children, and they’re going to wonder what happened to her if she doesn’t get home soon. They’re sweet and innocent, and Alex is going to ruin their lives if she hurts her. Alex says she’d never hurt Maxie. She’d never put that precious cargo in jeopardy. Maxie asks why she’s doing this, and Alex tells her, relax. The helicopter will meet them soon. Maxie asks how long Alex is planning on keeping her hostage, but Alex says Maxie’s not her hostage; Maxie is her guest. Maxie laughs, and says, okay. She’s never had a hostess hold a gun on her before. Alex loves her sense of humor. They’re going to have so much fun together. Just one big happy family.

Robert talks to the paramedics, telling them Finn has been shot, while Anna tells Finn, stay with her. Don’t try to talk. He says, Alex took Maxie, and she asks, where? He says, the harbor, and Anna looks at Robert. 

Alex comes back, and says, good. Maxie is still there. It won’t be long before their scheduled rendezvous. Maxie asks who they’re meeting, and Alex says, friends of hers. Maxie says, none of this makes any sense. Peter is Alex’s nephew, and she’s never wanted anything to do with him. What sparked the sudden family togetherness? Alex says, she and Maxie have more in common than Maxie realizes. Peter has a lot of secrets. In fact, Alex is willing to let Maxie in on a secret of her own.

Robert puts out an APB on Alex, and tells them to consider her armed and dangerous. She’s got a pregnant hostage, one Maxie Jones. He wants them around the waterfront, since she’ll try to escape by boat. Anna tells Finn that she loves him very much, and to stay with them. She jets, and the paramedics tell Robert that they’re ready. He asks where Anna is, and a paramedic tells him, she left. He says, damn that woman.

Sonny says, Taggert thinks the guy runs Charlie’s? and Taggert says, it looked that way. Does Sonny know him? Sonny says, Avery’s mother? It’s her lowlife brother. He shows Taggert an article in The Invader, and asks if that’s the girl he saw that night. Taggert says, yeah, that’s her, and Sonny wonders what Julian has gotten himself into.

Lulu says she knows Jason was gone most of the time Britt was in Port Charles. He didn’t experience her lies and manipulations first hand. She’s not a good person. Jason says, the point is she works for Cyrus at GH. Cyrus has already fired people close to him and Sonny. Lulu isn’t doing herself any favors by attacking Britt. Britt doesn’t care what anyone thinks, but what Lulu thinks will draw attention to Cyrus. Lulu says, good, but Jason says, it’s not good. Cyrus has only fired and reassigned people at the hospital. They don’t know how far he might go. Lulu asks if Jason thinks Cyrus would come after her, and he says he thinks she should take a step back and let things unwind. Jason’s phone rings. It’s Sonny, who says he just received an interesting piece of information. He needs Jason to do something. Jason listens, and says he’s on it, and Lulu says it sounds like he has to go. Jason says, seriously, just be careful, and leaves.

Lulu sits, and says, so Peter wants a different angle. How about this one? She starts to type on her tablet.   

Ava says, so Taggert survived the shooting, and somehow faked his death. Poor Trina. She’s been grieving her father for no reason. How could Taggert let her go on like that? Julian guesses that’s why he was hanging out in Charlie’s, to be close to her, but Ava says, if he’s in Port Charles, he can’t keep lurking around. Sooner or later, someone else is going to see him. Did he recognize Julian? Julian says, Taggert said he wasn’t the guy at the pier, but he thought Taggert was lying. She says that means Taggert can connect Julian to being with Nelle the night of Wiley’s kidnapping. Julian says if Taggert wants to be dead, he doubts Taggert will report him, since he’ll have to reveal himself. Ava says, unless… Unless he finds a way to tell Sonny, Sonny puts the pieces together, and figures out Julian kidnapped Wiley. Julian says he was trying to kill Nelle; not help her. Taggert knows that. She says, but why would he want to kill Nelle? That’s what Sonny will want to know. (Not to mention, Julian was admitted to being roped into marrying her later.) Ava says, Ryan could recover, and tell Sonny about Julian’s part in the baby switch. Julian can’t stay there. She wants him to run. Disappear while he still has the chance to live.

Sonny says Taggert’s got to go; he has guests coming. Taggert says it wasn’t his intent to be spotted. He just wanted to see his daughter. Sonny gets it, and says, in the long run, it’s probably better this way. Now the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

Julian tells Ava, the whole point of eliminating Ryan was so he didn’t have to leave his life behind. She says, we can’t always get what we want, and Julian says, then find a way for him to stay. She can start by checking on Ryan. She says she doesn’t take orders from him. She’s tempted to turn him over to Sonny herself. She walks down the hall, and Jason comes out of the elevator. He tells Julian, Sonny wants to see him, but Julian says he’s busy. Jason says, let’s go, and steers him to the elevator. Ava sees them go into the elevator together, and says, oh, God. Sonny knows.  

Lulu types, an unnamed source on the hospital staff claims changes occurred due to a rivalry between the Chairman of the Board, Cyrus Renault, and local businessman, Sonny Corinthos. Mr. Renault says he’s a philanthropist, but how does he explain demoting and firing long time hospital staff who are connected to Mr. Corinthos? I’d say Peter is going to want to print that even less than the article she showed him.

Sam says, for the thousandth time, this has nothing to do with Jason, and Alexis says Sam is in denial. For the record, the ultimatum usually comes after the intervention. Sam forgot the circle of chairs, the deadly serious loved ones, the counselor, and the long tragic stories they read, telling her what a horrible person she is, and how she ruined everyone’s lives. Does Sam want her to schedule a do-over? Does next week work? Sam says, clearly, Alexis has made her decision, and she’s going to have to deal with the consequences. She’s having lunch with Kristina and Molly tomorrow, and she’s going to tell them Alexis is drinking again. She’s sorry. She tried to help. Alexis needs it, and she just wishes Alexis was able to take it from her. She leaves, and Alexis goes back to her drink.

Finn is brought into the hospital, and a Britt says he needs to be stabilized. The paramedics take Finn away, and Peter asks Robert where Maxie is. He got Robert’s message; was she hurt? Robert says, Anna has gone after Maxie and Alex; that’s all he knows. Peter asks if Finn was shot, and Robert says they found him bleeding out in his living room. That reminds him, someone is going to have to tell Finn’s brother.

Maxie says she’s not interested in Alex’s secrets, and Alex says, not even when they concern Peter? Maxie says, especially when they concern Peter. It’s all lies. Alex says, denial will only get you so far. She learned that the hard way; so has her sister. The boat rocks violently, and Alex falls, dropping the gun.  

Peter goes in to see Finn. He asks if Finn can hear him. Was Maxie hurt? Anna is trying to find her. Finn says, Anna wants to much to be his mother.

Maxie asks, what was that? and Alex says, something hit them. Anna comes in, and she and Alex face each other, guns drawn.

On Monday, Chase says tell him that his brother is going to live, Robert asks Valentin where he thinks he’s going, Anna and Alex have a shootout, and Peter calls for help.

😈 Anna’s Evil Twin…

Everything you need to know about Peter’s real mother.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2053671919337/annas-twin-alex-on-general-hospital-everything-you-need-to-know

💉 Back In a Big Way…

And you thought she was just lounging around the Hague.

Kathleen Gati (Obrecht) On Her GH Comeback

🙋🏼‍♀️ Bye-Bye Lulu…

I can’t say I’m going to miss her, although I do like Dustin. And will Dante stick around? Will he ever complete the mission?

Emme Rylan Addresses GH Rumors

🌲 Head Back To Pine Valley…

Get your All My Children Reunion fix here.

Watch the ALL MY CHILDREN Reunion

🍸 Nice Try…

I’ve never heard this excuse for drinking before. Not to mention, there’s this thing called a non-alcoholic beverage.

https://people.com/tv/rhonj-margaret-josephs-housewives-drink-because-dont-eat-on-camera/

While we’re on the subject. Leah bares her soul.

https://people.com/tv/rhony-leah-mcsweeney-breaks-down-about-past-struggle-with-alcohol-guilt/

🤐 Just When It Can’t Get Stupider…

Please, people. Stop being offended so easily, and beyond the expiration date.

https://pagesix.com/2020/11/05/andy-cohen-slammed-for-forgiving-claire-mccaskill/

👰🏾 A Burlap Sack Would Have Worked…

Cynthia looks good in anything in any color. Although it is a gorgeous dress.

https://pagesix.com/2020/11/05/why-cynthia-bailey-chose-a-rose-gold-wedding-dress/

🧙🏽‍♂️ Goodbye Grindelwald…

2020 was no one’s year. Some of us more than others.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54846285

🖥 Viewing Possibilities…

What’s playing on the small screen.

https://www.tvguide.com/news/the-best-shows-and-movies-to-watch-this-week-the-undoing-the-mandalorian-season-2/

🗳 Just In Case Your Wondered…

Or maybe you voted for him. Why not? I almost wrote in Andrew W.K. or my dog Ralph. Almost. I didn’t though.

https://ourcommunitynow.com/news-national/heres-how-close-we-came-to-having-president-kanye-in-the-white-house

📯 Quotes of the Week

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller

I’ll tell you what leadership is, he said. It’s persuasion and conciliation and education and patience. It’s long, slow, tough work. That’s the only kind of leadership I know. – Jim Mattis

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not. – Oscar Wilde

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. – Albert Einstein (And always remember, there is no room for mediocrity in karaoke. At least according to one kid I met there. I almost choked on my drink when he said that.)

Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. – Vince Lombardi

You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you. – Katherine Johnson

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. – John Powell

Sometimes you make the right decision, and sometimes you have to make the decision right. – Dr. Phil

Art is not what you see but what you make others see. – Edgar Degas

If you haven’t read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren’t broad enough to sustain you. – Jim Mattis

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

Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie: A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby. – George Herbert

To thrive in life you need three bones. A wishbone. A backbone. And a funny bone. – Reba McEntire

🏋🏽‍♀️ Carrying On…

We made it through to another weekend, that thing we used to look forward to because we could go out with friends. No matter. Some of us are back at work, others never stopped working, and some are just limping along, but it’s only up from here, right? Right? See you when the Dead walk, and no matter how you roll the weekend, stay safe, stay expecting better times, and stay being smarter than everyone else thinks. Especially an evil twin.

Nov6

November 5, 2020 – Franco Asks Jason For a Favor, Shep Apologizes – Twice, Andy’s Bad Sweater Day, a Peach of a Dog & Tom’s November

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Since it’s been that kind of week, I missed the beginning, but here’s what you need to know. Alex (pretending to be Anna), Peter, and Maxie went to Charlie’s for dinner. Peter suggested inviting Finn, but Alex/Anna said Finn was busy. While Jason waited for Franco at The Floating Rib, Robert asked to talk to him about Spinelli. Lulu met a source at The Rib, and asked how he knew Cyrus. He suggested doing the interview in private at his place, and Dante appeared, saying Lulu was taken. Curtis flew into the hospital, and asked Cyrus what he’d done to Jordan, but Cyrus said he was the reason Jordan got medical attention so quickly. And that’s where I came in.

Lulu tells Dante, he may not have noticed, but she’s doing an interview. She thanks him for suggesting a secure location, but says she doesn’t need rescuing. Dante tells her, he didn’t say she did. He’s just laying the ground rules so there’s no misunderstanding. The source says he knows Dante. Is he with the PCPD? Lulu says, Dante used to work there, but he has a new job. He probably should be studying up for it. Dante says, okay, but he’ll be right over there, pointing to a nearby table. Lulu apologizes, and asks where they were. He was about to tell her how he become acquainted with Cyrus. He says, never heard of him, gets up, and jets. Dante comes back, and says he didn’t think that guy was a reliable source anyway. Lulu says they use plenty of unreliable sources, and she can just check out the information they give her. That was the next step, but now she’ll have to start over with a new source. She worked like hell to get that one. Dante says, he’s a dirtbag, and she says, at least they agree on that. Dante, of all people, should know when you investigate a crime boss, you don’t meet the best people. He says when he was investigating a crime boss, he met her, and she says, look at how that turned out. She tells him, sorry; she shouldn’t have said that, and tells him not to take it the way it sounded.

Jason says, Spinelli would rather see Maxie with a broken heart than dead, and Robert says he never thought he’d see the day Jason took the moral high ground. Jason says, Robert hasn’t changed his mind about busting Peter, even though it will hurt Maxie, has he? Robert says he owes it to the Bureau and his family. You’d think Spinelli would be a better liar. He’s a surveillance man, a hacker, and a P.I., but he constantly trips over his own feet… Jason says, when it comes to Maxie. Robert says, he told Spinelli, no more pot shots, support the marriage, support Maxie, but Jason says, it’s not easy. Robert says they’re not looking at easy; they’re looking at necessary. When it hits the fan, Maxie will see this bastard for who he is, and will need every friend she can find, especially Spinelli.

Cyrus says, he would never wish harm to Curtis’s wife. She’s far too valuable a member of the community of Port Charles. He assures Curtis, he had nothing to do with Jordan’s collapse. Portia asks Curtis to join her and his wife – privately – in Jordan’s room, where she’ll explain everything. Curtis says, they’ve wasted too much time standing with Cyrus, and goes into Jordan’s room. Cyrus asks if he can have a word with Portia, and she asks if that’s an order. He says, a request.  

Curtis asks, what happened? Is she okay? There’s no response at first, but Jordan slowly turns her head and looks at him, motioning him closer. She says she’s never been better.

Franco asks Elizabeth how he got so lucky. He’s actually asking; it’s not rhetorical. He loves her, and after the life he’s led, he’s just the luckiest guy in the world. She asks if he’s okay, and he says, right this second, he’s better than okay. His life, their life… He says he has to go, and Elizabeth asks where he’s going. He says he’s got to see a guy about a commission.

Finn sees the envelope from the lab in the wastebasket. He looks inside, but it’s empty. He makes a call, and says he’s at the house. How soon can they get there?

Alex tells Peter and Maxie, she wants to hear all about the wedding plans. It means so much to share moments like this together; it’s more rare than they realize. Maxie says she doesn’t know what she’d do without Anna. It means a lot to Peter to have her in his life. Peter says, more than she knows, and Alex says, nothing or no one is ever going to tear them apart again.

Valentin tells Anna, sorry. She says, if that’s an apology there are some things she can forgive; others, not so much. He says he should have taken Alex out when she called Peter her son. He missed his shot; sorry. She says he can make it up to her by helping to get them out. He says if they do get out, he’s going after Alex immediately. Anna doesn’t want that, and he says, she won’t commit to killing Alex, even after what she’s done? Anna says she’s not killing her own sister, and Valentin says maybe Anna should send her a thank you card. Be sure to tell… He says, Charlotte, and Anna says they’ll find a way. Valentin says he may have one, and makes a Hulk noise.   

Lulu tells Dante, it’s not that she doesn’t appreciate a rescue, but she didn’t need a rescue. She knows how to take care of herself. He says he just wanted her know that he never stopped wanting the best for her, even if he’s not a part of it.

Epiphany and Terry go to Elizabeth’s house, and Epiphany asks, what’s in the medicine cabinet? And she’s not talking about the bathroom. Elizabeth says she’s got a nice cabernet, and Epiphany says, perfect. They can give her input after they empty the bottle. She suggests Terry use her skilled hands to open the vino, and goes to the kitchen to get glasses. Elizabeth says she heard Epiphany gave the department head such a hard time, he went in his office, locked the door, and wouldn’t come out.   

Cyrus tells Portia, he knows the hospital treats all patients equally, and she says, as equal as their medical coverage will allow, since he took over. He says, if there’s such a thing as VIP treatment, make sure Jordan receives it. She tells him not to worry. She’ll make sure Jordan gets everything she needs.

Jordan tells Curtis, she passed out in front of Cyrus, or that’s how it seemed. Portia was there to treat her like they’d arranged. They staged the whole thing. They’re going to tell Cyrus she has complications from the transplant. Portia comes in, and Curtis asks if Cyrus is still out there. Portia says she sent him on his merry way, and asks if Curtis is up to speed. Curtis says he is, about his wife. Portia, not so much. Jordan says Portia suspected she was on the take, so she told Portia the truth, that Cyrus threatened to kill TJ. Portia says, now that she knows, she’s offered to help. Curtis says, so they have a new teammate. What’s the plan? Portia says Jordan needs time to regroup; doctor’s orders. Curtis says, it’s the perfect cover. They can get away from that bastard, and turn the tables on him.  

Terry asks Elizabeth where her hubby is, and Elizabeth says he’s finding out about a possible commission. He’s been networking like crazy, and lining up work. He’ll be busy for another year. She asks why Terry is so quiet.

At the Floating Rib, Franco thanks Jason for meeting him. He knows he’s not Jason’s favorite person, and it’s something he’s relying on. Jason tells him, get to the point, and Franco says he likes that Jason doesn’t waste time. He’s grateful for that, since he doesn’t have time to waste. Jason asks what Franco wants, and Franco says he wants Jason to kill him.  

Robert arrives at Anna’s, and asks Finn to tell him again why he’s there. Finn asks if Robert has spoken to Anna, and Robert asks, why? Finn says he hasn’t seen Anna since yesterday. They were supposed have dinner with Chase and his mom, but Anna canceled at the last minute. She said she was waiting for test results. He shows Robert the envelope, and says, according to the lab, she got the results last night. She had them when they spoke. Why would she lie? Robert asks if something is wrong with Anna, but Finn says, the tests aren’t about Anna. They’re about Peter.

Maxie excuses herself to go to the restroom – again. She leaves, and Alex tells Peter, she remembers what it was like expecting him. He says she’s never talked about that before, and she asks why he thinks that is. He says he assumed it was too painful a subject. She says, seeing him with Maxie, and about to become a parent himself, she thinks she’s made peace with that time in her life. He asks, what changed? and she says, funny he should ask.

Valentin says he can’t use his hands, and Anna says he’s still too drugged. She fiddles with the handcuffs.

Lulu tells Dante, she knows there are no guarantees in life, but she needs them. Not for herself. When he left, Charlotte still had Valentin, but Rocco lost his dad. He needs to stick around. He says, that’s the plan, but she says she needs more than a plan. Rocco needs his father. She needs a guarantee that Dante isn’t going to leave again. It would be worse than if he hadn’t come back at all. He says he’s not going anywhere, and if she ever needs anything, all she has to do is ask.

Jason says, Franco wants to be killed by him, and Franco says, trust him. It’s as big a surprise to him as it is to Jason. Jason says, don’t call him again, and starts to leave. Franco says, don’t make him beg. How many times has Jason thought about killing him? How many times has he tried? Think it over. It’s what he’s always wanted.   

Terry tells Elizabeth, it’s just been a long day with patients. Epiphany says she thought they were supposed to be cheering her up, and they wanted to take her mind off her losing her man. They could bring down the mood at a funeral. Elizabeth says she thinks she knows what it is. Terry gets the bottle of wine open, and pours. Epiphany says she’ll take that transfusion.

Portia says, Jordan needs bed rest, and time off work; and no working at home while she recuperates. Curtis asks, for how long? and Portia says, there’s no time table, but don’t press his luck. Jordan says they have to look into a homicide that from 40 years ago, and Portia asks what Cyrus has to do with that. Jordan says, that’s what she’d like to know. The file has been heavily redacted. Curtis says, for some reason it’s important to Cyrus. Cyrus asks if he can come in, and says, what happened? Is Jordan okay?

Robert asks Finn what the tests prove, and Finn says, Peter has a genetic marker that Anna doesn’t have, and neither did Faison. If Peter didn’t inherit it from them, that means he got it from Alex. Robert says, making Alex Peter’s mother. No wonder Anna was on tenterhooks. Finn wonders, why lie if she had the results? and Robert says, now she’s missing. Finn asks if it can be a coincidence that Anna and Valentin wanted to lure Alex out of hiding. Robert asks what Valentin has to do with it, and Finn says, for whatever reason, Anna trusts him to help bring Alex in.

Alex tells Peter, she realizes if not for her choices and the ruthless way she pursued her career, using Faison, she wouldn’t be sitting opposite the one person who made it worthwhile. Peter says, all of it? and she says, a lot of it. He says he’s never heard her speak this way, and she says, they’ve come so far. From here on out, she’s never going leave anything unsaid between them. Moving forward, they’re stronger together than apart. He tells her that she’s saying what he’s always wanted to hear his mother say. Alex says Peter needs to assert himself; the real him. He asks how she knows that, and she says she knows him. He’s her son, and she knows him better than he knows himself.

Valentin and Anna continue to cough. Anna gets out of the cuffs, and undoes her feet. She goes around, and helps Valentin. He’s still weak, and tells her to go, but she says, stand up, and puts his arm around her. He says there’s no time, but she drags him to the door. The pressure cooker vibrates.

Anna and Valentin make it outside, just as the building blows up. Valentin says, nice job, and she asks if he’s okay. He says he’s fine.

Lulu tells Dante, she needs him to take of the kids. She can take care of herself. After he left, it was really hard. She missed him, and doubted herself. She needed him to rescue her at that moment, but he wasn’t there. He says, but Desmond was there, and she says, Dustin was wonderful to her and the kids. She can’t set that aside or ignore it because he’s back. He says he’s not asking her to, and she says, not yet. He says he’s not going to, and she asks why he’s there.

Jason says, no matter how many times Elizabeth tells him that Franco has changed, he’s still the same sick bastard he always was. Franco tells him that the tumor is back, and it’s inoperable. He doesn’t know if it will affect him the way the other one did. He doesn’t know what he’s capable of doing, and doesn’t want to find out. This is the ask. If he starts to repeat the same behavior, will Jason stop him?

Jordan insists she’s fine, but Portia says she’s not. She needs to see a specialist. Portia tells him she thinks there might be complications with the transplant. Curtis says, Jordan needs to see the doctor who did the transplant, and Cyrus asks if they’re on staff. Curtis says, they were, but they were part of Cyrus’s cost-cutting casualties. He’d like to take her to see the doctor tonight, and Portia says she’ll arrange it. They all agree Jordan should see someone familiar with her condition. Cyrus asks if there’s anything he can do in the meantime, and Curtis says he’s done enough. They’ll take it from there. Goodbye. Cyrus leaves, and Jordan sits up. She guesses this means Curtis is in.   

Alex tells Peter, it’s just the two of them right now, so she can talk. She considers them to be extraordinary people. They may blend in, but their ambitions and needs are greater than what the world is capable of offering. It’s on them to shape the world. Normal and everyday doesn’t apply to them. If he trusts her, she can help him become the man he’s destined to be. Maxie comes back, and asks what she missed. Alex says they were just talking about the future, and it’s so much brighter than they ever thought possible. She touches Maxie’s baby bump, and says, isn’t that right, Peter?

Finn tells Robert, Valentin’s phone is going straight to voicemail. Robert asks if Finn thinks Anna shared the test results with Valentin, and they concocted a plan to lure Alex out. Finn says he’d like to think Anna would let him know first. Robert’s phone rings, and he says, ooh. He’s on his way. Finn asks, what’s ooh and what’s wrong? Robert says, there was a gas explosion at a warehouse, and Finn asks what he’s thinking. Robert says, a gas explosion, Valentin and Anna are both gone. Oh yeah, it’s got to be a coincidence.

Dante says he knows he gave up on his and Lulu’s life when he left, but that doesn’t mean he stopped caring. Lulu’s phone rings, and he says, Dustin? She says, yes. He’s checking see how her interview went. He says, sorry about that. He didn’t mean to mess it up. She says, it’s okay. He really was a dirtbag. Dante gets up, and says she should go. He happens to know firsthand the risk of leaving someone waiting.

Jason tells Franco, he’ll do some research. He wants to make sure Franco is telling the truth. Maybe he wants to set Jason up to go down for his murder. Franco says he’s counting on Jason being professional, and covering all the bases. He doesn’t want Elizabeth blaming Jason or feeling any pain. Jason says that’s what Franco would tell him if he was setting him up. Franco says the only thing they have in common is Elizabeth and the boys. He’s counting on Jason to do what needs to be done for them. He’s straight up begging. Please do what he’s asking.

Elizabeth says Epiphany has been blaming herself for Milo leaving for the last fifteen minutes, and Epiphany says, she practically pushed him out the door. Elizabeth says she encouraged him to follow his dream, and Epiphany says Elizabeth is right. She was supportive and encouraging, and she was there, but now he’s gone. She starts to cry, and says, at some point, Milo stopped giving the relationship attention and love and care it needed and deserved. She was too busy to notice, until she did. Terry says she knows what went wrong. Now it’s time to dry her tears, and get back out there. Epiphany says, tonight? and Terry says, when she’s ready. They toast to new beginnings, and clink glasses.

Portia says they’re all set. She’s made up an order for Jordan to visit her neurologist, and the appointment is set up, so it’s on the books. Curtis says they’d better get out of there before Cyrus sends in one of his doctors in for a consultation. Once they get out of sight, they know exactly where they’re going. Portia says, don’t mind her; she just made it possible. Curtis says, 1257 Wilson Avenue, an arts and crafts classic. He wonders who Cyrus has stashed there, that he sends them monthly payments of five or six figures. Portia asks, what about the murder? and Jordan says they’ll work on it when they’re on the plane. They’ll come back with leads, and get Cyrus on two fronts.

Alex says she has to get back to Finn, and tells Peter to take care of Maxie; Maxie is carrying her grandchild. Peter says he will. He worked hard to get the family he deserved. Alex says, that’s something they have in common. When she’s gone, Maxie asks, is it just her, or did Anna seem different? Peter says, she did.

Anna tells a fireman, there was no one else in there; just the two of them. He says paramedics are on their way, and she says she needs to talk to the DA. Robert walks in, and says, why did he know she was involved in this? Anna says, not her; Alex.  

Curtis asks if Portia is sure she covered all the bases. If Cyrus finds out they played him… Portia says, everything is done on her end, but she has no control over what happens after. Jordan says, it’s great to have another ally. Trina would be proud if she knew. Portia says, she better not. She’d march up to Cyrus and do or say something to let Cyrus know they were bringing him down. She leaves, and Cyrus sees her in the hallway. He asks if everything is all set, and she says, the arrangements have all been made. She tells him, goodnight, and walks down the hall. He looks at the closed door to Jordan’s room.   

Jordan says she always wanted to take Curtis to the Pacific Northwest; her old stomping grounds. This isn’t what she had in mind though. He says, it’s not ideal, but if they pull this off and bring Cyrus down, it will be the best vacation ever. He asks what they’re waiting for, and she goes into the bathroom to get dressed.

In the alleyway, Dante takes out his phone. He reads a text that says, complete the mission, which we haven’t heard in five minutes. He takes a pill and moves on.

Jason tells Franco, he’ll do what it takes to protect Elizabeth and the boys. Franco thanks him, saying he knew he count on Jason.

Elizabeth asks if Terry and Epiphany want to wait inside, but Terry says their Ride Share is only a block away; they’ll be fine. Epiphany thanks Elizabeth for the vino and the veritas. Maybe there is life after Milo. Elizabeth says she knows there will be. Outside, Epiphany asks what’s going on between Terry and Elizabeth? Terry says, shop talk, and Epiphany says, uh-huh.

Finn calls Elizabeth, and asks if Violet is still up, but she says, Violet has been down for hours. She asks if something is wrong, and he says he’ll explain when he gets there. Lock the door, and don’t open it to anyone. He’s on his way.

Robert tells a fireman to contain the fire, and Anna asks to use Robert’s phone. Robert hands it to her, and tells the fireman, the woman who lit the fire is dangerous. There might be surprises waiting inside that they don’t know about.  

Finn answers the phone, saying, Robert? but Anna says, it’s her. He says, thank God, and she asks where he is. She says if he’s at the house, he needs to leave. Alex walks in, and Anna says, Finn? What’s happening? Can he hear her?

Tomorrow, Sam tells Alexis that she’s never allowing her around the kids again, Peter tells Lulu that there’s no way he can publish this, and Sonny says he’s going to have to tell Carly someone is alive.

Southern Charm

We were still at Shep’s Dumb and Dumber party. Craig has now taken Cameron’s place as narrator, but it’s not the same. Leva and husband Lamar, who reminds me of a shorter Ving Rhames, arrived, and Leva asked to speak to Kathryn in private. Leva asked why Kathryn was going after her friend, meaning Cameron, since Kathryn had told Craig gossip about Jason having an affair. Leva said Cameron had a beautiful family, and she didn’t want this happening, but Kathryn said she had a family she thought was beautiful too, and Cameron had no problem going after her. We flashed back to that on many occasions, and it wasn’t good look. In her interview, Kathryn said, what goes around comes around. Leva said if Kathryn hurts someone she cares about, Kathryn was going to have a problem with her, and she didn’t want a problem. She was letting bygones be bygones. Kathryn said, sounded good to her, but in her interview said, if it was her or Madison, they’d get on a group text about it. Shep told Craig about Madison and Peter having hooked up. Then Peter’s girlfriend Liz tried to stir the sh*t by telling Austin that Madison had a fling with Peter, and he should be careful about who he dates. It was so stupid, since it wasn’t like Peter had cheated on her with Madison. I just didn’t get it. Maybe Peter needs to be careful about who he dates. Liz seems like she has serious insecurity issues. Patricia and Whitney took off early due to lack of food. I actively looked for a chair, or seating of any kind, and saw none. Madison said something to Shep about being a d-bag for inviting Peter, and left. Shep made a speech saying his guests were the coolest in Charleston. They were the best, and he never wanted to leave because of them. Outside, Madison told Austen about Peter.

Craig had a meeting with his partners, and distribution to Wayfair and Bed, Bath, and Beyond was discussed. I’m impressed. Kathryn’s place looked like a cyclone had hit it, since she’s renovating and moving in. She wanted to get things finished as soon as possible, so she could move the kids back. Austen said he’d felt ambushed, and in his interview, he said Shep couldn’t help himself. Now everyone was talking sh*t behind his back. Shep vowed to Taylor that he wouldn’t gossip anymore. In his interview, he said new girlfriend Taylor made him a better human being. She wasn’t trying to change him, but maybe fine tune him. Austen pouted, and Madison said they’d been through enough sh*t. It was just another test of their relationship

In Danni’s interview, she was doubtful as to whether Shep’s relationship would last. She said as soon as Shep felt cornered, it was peace out. Kathryn told Danni that John kissed her, but he was legit recently divorced, so it wasn’t happening again. We found out Kathryn and Thomas hooked up a few months ago, and I wondered why she’d want to even go near him at this point. Were they drunk? Austen got together with Whitney and Craig for dinner, and Whitney said, how lucky was he, to be with the pillow and beer magnates? Austen said he had beer on tap in the highest volume bars in Charleston. He asked what he was supposed to think about Shep inviting Peter to the party, and Whitney thought Shep had a good heart. Whitney toasted to pillows and beer, and Craig thought that sounded like a sex tape.

Leva’s son’s name is Little? I can’t imagine him not being bullied for that. In Leva’s interview, she explained that she and Lamar were restauranteurs, owning Republic, Bourbon n Bubbles, and Medu; and getting ready to open a sports bar called 1st Place. They’d wanted to bring Miami and New York to Charleston, built it, and they came. She told us when she and Lamar first started dating, people stared. There weren’t many mixed race couples in town. She’d told Lamar that she didn’t know where they fit, and he said people like themselves were needed to change the social climate.

Craig, Shep, and Austen went to the gym. Shep insisted that inviting Peter and Liz wasn’t a set-up, but he was sorry. In Craig’s interview, he said he was fascinated. He’d never seen Shep apologize. Austen wanted nothing more than for everyone to act like adults. New guy John visited Patricia, and wisely brought flowers. He asked for a vodka martini, but got a lecture on the how much better gin was instead. Michael told him that gin was botanical, and vodka came from a potato in the dirt, and Patricia added that vodka was déclassé. I don’t know about that, but I don’t drink gin. I had gin once, and had a hangover for three days. In John’s interview, he said his family had been in Charleston for eight generations. He’d gone to school with Shep, and Patricia asked if Shep was wild and crazy then. John said he was an absolute lunatic. John had come back to Charleston after his divorce because San Diego wasn’t home. Charleston put him in a good headspace, and he was a better co-parent when he was in a good headspace. I rolled my eyes at the word headspace. Patricia asked what he thought about Madison, and he said she was stunning, but also with someone. Patricia said she didn’t think for long. Madison was career driven and ambitious, and her boyfriend was lackadaisical. Whitney said Austen was making an effort, but Patricia said he only had his beer in a couple of places. He wasn’t Budweiser, and Madison deserved Budweiser.

Austen set up a booth to showcase his beer at the Charleston Food and Wine Festival, which he said was the premiere springtime festival in Charleston. Craig said he liked Austen’s merch, but hated the word merch. In Craig’s interview, he said that Madison was maybe not the best for Austen’s mental health, but invaluable businesswise. Kathryn told Danni that she’d decided she was going to act like the kiss didn’t happen when she saw John. In Kathryn’s interview, she said Madison was more John’s type. An old lady came to check out the beer, and said they were pathetically good looking. Madison said the beer must be working. In Madison’s interview, she said Austen hawking his beer was super sexy. The more beer he was slinging and selling, the more she was liking it.   

Shep came by, and Austen told Madison to let him handle it. She said if Shep gave her sh*t, she was going to give it back. Shep told Madison that he felt bad, and apologized. Austen said he heavily preferred that they talk about this another time. Shep said he was coming hat in hand, and Madison asked how many times they were going to do this. Austen interrupted, saying he didn’t think this was the right place, but in Shep’s interview, he said he thought it was the perfect place. When they meet someone in the Mafia, they always pick a crowded place, where no one can do anything crazy. Shep said he wanted to stay out of their relationship, and Madison told him that she wasn’t going anywhere. Shep said he didn’t want Austen to get hurt, and Austen was crazy about Madison, so if she didn’t feel the same way, let Austen know. Madison insisted she did feel the same way. Austen said this was the last place he wanted this to happen, and Madison said she and Shep were good. They never needed to have this conversation again. Then Madison guilted Shep into buying a hat. In his interview, Shep said it was like the cold war between Russia and the United States. We have our rockets pointed at you, just so you know, but we don’t want a war. In Madison’s interview, she said she got off on the fact that she owned any conversation she had with Shep. She and Austen kissed. 

Next time, Austen and Craig get on each other’s nerves, Austen asks if Shep and Taylor are an actual couple, Leva has a ladies lunch in her Persian palace, and Kathryn tells Danni about Thomas getting someone else pregnant.

👀 On Watch What Happens Live, Craig and Shep were both guests. Andy is usually so stylish, but tonight he was wearing a sweater that was no, just no. It looked like a mohair turtleneck, but what it mostly looked like was bad. It was not his color (a pinkish shade of red) and it made him look fat. Maybe he got fat and he was trying to hide it with the sweater, but if so, it didn’t work. Whatever reason he had for choosing it, it didn’t work. Craig said he’d run into Naomie and Metul at the airport sky lounge, and they chatted for an hour, which made me miss Naomie and Metul.

🐶 A Peachy Pup…

I was worried that maybe Chauncy had passed away, but apparently, new pup Peaches is obsessed with him.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/patricia-altschul-new-puppy-peaches-obsessed-with-pug-video

⌨️ Puter Pita…

AOL is giving me grief tonight, so I’m off to fight with it. No matter how your technology is treating you, stay safe, stay buoyant, and stay knowing you deserve Budweiser.

Nov5

November 4, 2020 – Alex Wants Anna’s Life, Rain On Shannon’s Amazing Day, a Blessing, a Friend, Yet More Costumes, Gaga’s Message, Ice Story, What’s On & Icy

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase is in the shower when the phone rings. He answers and says, great. Leave a hard copy on his desk, and send Detective Spencer an email. He’ll be at the station in a couple of hours. He has an important meeting first.

Portia tells Jordan, she can’t believe she didn’t see it before. Jordan isn’t the best cop like Taggert said; she’s a dirty cop. Why else would she stop a legal protest? Jordan says she told Portia why, but Portia says she’s protecting Cyrus because she works for him.   

Cyrus admits he’s intrigued, considering Julian rebuffed his offer several times. Julian asks if he’s not interested anymore, and Cyrus says he’s skeptical of Julian’s change of heart, but thinks Julian finally realized he needs him.

Ava goes to Pentenville to see Ryan, but the guard tells her, not today. She says she’s been cleared to visit, and it’s vital she speak with him.

Ryan tells Sonny, the information he has will have an impact on Sonny’s family. Sonny says, let him give a word of advice. Actually, he’s going to state a fact. When it comes to games, he doesn’t play them.

Peter runs into the examining room where Maxie is. He asks if he missed the appointment, and she says, office hours were ending; she couldn’t stall any longer. He says he can’t believe he didn’t get there in time, but Maxie says she has souvenirs. He asks if she has the sonogram pictures, and she says, of course (🍷). She also knows he loves to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. She plays it for him on her phone.

At Charlie’s, Jackie tells Finn, Chase is on his way. Finn is surprised Chase wasn’t camped out in front, and Jackie says, he was looking forward to it. Finn wonders what’s keeping Anna.  

In her basement, Anna yells for help, and says she’s downstairs. Valentin ask if that’s her, and she says she’s in the basement. He says he’s coming, but Alex sneaks up on him, and plunges a syringe in his neck. He grimaces, and she says, it looks like it stings. It seems he was expecting her. Valentin falls, and Alex says, that would be the drop kick. Anna yells, what has Alex done? but Alex says, he’s not dead. Valentin says, Anna, and Alex says, poor Valentin. He never gets to play hero to the woman of his dreams. Soon, he’ll be too doped up to think clearly, so while he’s still lucid, where is her son?

Jordan says Portia has no idea what she’s talking about, and Portia say she knows what she sees and hears. Jordan has defended Cyrus at every turn. She claims she’s helping the people of Port Charles, but the only one she’s helping is Cyrus. Jordan says she’s protecting the city and the hospital, and Portia says, it was her press conference that brought Cyrus to the Board’s attention. She practically rolled out the red carpet for him to make the place unrecognizable. Jordan says the hospital saved her life, and employs her son, and Portia says, that’s what makes it more of a mystery. With the Commissioner’s stamp of approval, Cyrus can do what he wants to who wants, and not have to pay for it. Jordan says, if he doesn’t, people are going to get hurt.

Jackie says Finn was never good at waiting, and he says she was never good at keeping track of time. Jackie asks if he’s implying she kept him waiting, and he asks if she’s denying it, but she says, no. Chase arrives, and he and Jackie hug. Finn says he wants a full report about his girl; how was trick-or-treating? Chase says he got the cutest picture of Violet, and Jackie asks to see it. He shows her, and she says, wow; she’s adorable. Chase says when and if they meet, she’ll see Violet’s personality matches her face. Jackie says she’d love to meet Violet, whenever Finn is comfortable with it. Finn says he’s sure Violet would love it.

Julian says, the deal has to happen immediately, or there is no deal. Cyrus says Julian is in no position for setting terms. Julian asks if Cyrus wants his services or not. Cyrus says Julian is established in Port Charles, supposedly reformed, and related to a lot of people. Julian says he can go places Cyrus can’t, and Cyrus says, not Sonny’s compound, but Julian is welcome in other arenas. Julian says, so they’re good? and Cyrus says Julian hasn’t told him what’s requested on his end. Julian says, required, and Cyrus says, they’ll see. Julian says Ryan has information that he wants sent out of Pentenville, and needs to be stopped. Cyrus asks, what information? Julian can’t expect Cyrus to act on his behalf without proper details. Julian says, it’s about Sonny Corinthos, and Cyrus says, now things just got interesting.

Ava tells the guard, it’s a misunderstanding. She’d hate for this snafu to get him into trouble with the warden. Let her see Ryan, and they can forget this happened. The guard says, Ryan already has a visitor; last minute.

Ryan says Sonny seems underwhelmed. It’s a disappointment. He can assure Sonny, it’s not a game. He’s deadly serious. Sonny says Ryan is going to shut up now, but Ryan says the person could hurt Sonny’s family and get away with it. Sonny doesn’t want that, does he?

Sonny says, Ryan made a point to reach out to his family, which means they’re in his radar. That can’t happen. It was easier to just have a conversation with him, than going through the effort of getting rid of him. Don’t think it won’t happen if Ryan contacts him again. Ryan says, okay; threat taken. But what Sonny needs to understand is that what he has is extremely important, and he has physical proof. They hear Ava saying she’s allowed to be there. The guard asks her to keep her voice down, but she says she won’t. Ryan says, on cue. Ava is dying to get in here. Hear how desperate she sounds? Why does Sonny think that is? Ava says, let her in or she’ll report him to the warden. Sonny opens the door, and asks what she’s doing there.

Cyrus asks if Julian knew from the jump, but Julian says, not from the jump, but early on. Cyrus says, denying Sonny his grandson is a bold move. Julian says Cyrus could enjoy it a little less, but Cyrus doesn’t think so. What else? That can’t be the end of the tangled web. Julian says, Brad was losing his mind with guilt, and he thought Brad was going to blow it. So he rigged Brad’s car to crash. It went great, but Lucas was in the car, and his son got hurt. Cyrus says, Julian is responsible for his son almost dying? and Julian says, Nelle knew, and got him to marry her. She also for him to help her kidnap Wiley. In his defense, he changed his mind, and tried to stop her at the end. Cyrus says, truly heroic. So Nelle wrote it all out, and sent it to Ryan, and now Ryan is threatening to tell Sonny. Julian says he thinks Ryan is about to make good on his threat, and he needs Cyrus to keep that from happening.

Portia asks what Jordan means by people could get hurt? and Jordan says Portia has to trust her. Portia says she doesn’t think so. She thinks she’ll call the mayor, or better yet the Feds, and tell them the Commissioner is on a drug trafficker’s payroll. Jordan follows Portia into her office, and says she can’t do this. Portia says Jordan let the man go free who kidnapped her daughter. Cyrus is guilty as sin, and she knows it. Jordan says Portia is right, but tell her how far she’d go if her child’s life was on the line.

Maxie tells Peter, the baby is strong, and Peter has been there in all the ways that count. She says she knows he loves them, but Peter says he doesn’t want his child to feel like he did; small and unimportant. She says, that’s not going to happen, and he asks how she knows. She says, by the way he’s reacting. The baby feels more loved already than Peter did his whole childhood. He says he thinks the baby is going to change his life, and she says she hopes he doesn’t enjoy sleeping or eating, or going to the bathroom by himself. Those days are over. He says he’ll finally be the man he always wanted to be.

Valentin says, screw him for not snapping Alex’s neck when he had the chance. She says Peter is still her son, and she plans to protect him. She got him away from his father’s reach, but Valentin couldn’t let it be. He says she has nowhere to hide, so she’s taking over Anna’s life, like a parasite. It won’t work. People will see through it; people like him. She says, conveniently, he’ll be leaving this mortal coil with Anna. Anna’s phone rings, and I wonder why Anna isn’t up the stairs ten minutes ago. It’s Finn, who asks where she is. He asks if she forgot they were meeting Jackie and Chase. She says she was on the way out, when Valentin dropped by. Carry on without her. He says, okay, but he’s worried about her. Did she get the test results back? Does she know who Peter’s mother is? She says, not yet, and he suggests he come home, but she says she feels bad enough. She doesn’t want to ruin the reunion. He says, okay, and tells her that he loves her. She says she’ll see him later, and she loves him too.   

Finn goes back to the table, and Chase asks if everything is okay. Finn says, Anna won’t be joining them, and Chase says, bummer. He wants Jackie to get to know Anna better. He knows they’d like each other. Finn says, Anna got tied up.

Valentin says, as soon as Anna suggested it, he knew Alex was Peter’s mother. Only she would sleep with Faison, have his child, and walk away. Alex says she put him in a good place, but he says that doesn’t excuse what she did, shouldering her sister with guilt. She’s downright lethal. She says, he’s about find out, when finally, Anna comes up from the basement with her gun drawn.  

Alex holds a knife to Valentin’s throat, and Anna tells Alex to let him go. Valentin says he always knew it wouldn’t end well, and Alex tells him that he has no self-respect. Anna says, that’s enough, and Alex says, for once they agree. Drop the gun.

Portia tells Jordan, it was TJ. Cyrus was using her son against her. Jordan says Portia was on call when TJ was left for dead at the hospital. Cyrus had him abducted, and tortured him. She was sent pictures of her son, bloody and bettered, knowing there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. Portia says, that’s when she came out with the evidence that released Cyrus from prison. Now she knows why all these months Jordan has been doing Cyrus’s bidding. Jordan was afraid Cyrus would target TJ again. Jordan says she knows he will. Whenever she’s pushed back, Cyrus evoked TJ’s name as a reminder of what’s at stake. She’s hated every minute of this, but she’d do it again in a heartbeat. Portia says she would have done the exact same thing.

Cyrus asks Julian if he wants to drink to their new arrangement, and Julian says as soon as he’s sure Cyrus is handling his end. Cyrus says, that’s fair. He’ll be in touch, but when he calls, Julian needs to answer.

Ava tells Sonny, she knew she hadn’t convinced him, and he tells her, calm down. She says, not until she gets him out of there. He needs to stop talking to that monster; no good will come of it. He has to trust her. Ryan will mess with his mind to the point where Sonny thinks he’s in control, but he’s not. Ryan is always the one pulling the strings. It’s the most terrifying feeling in the world; to not trust yourself or the world around you. Not being able to trust anything. She doesn’t want Ryan to do that to Sonny, and asks him to please leave with her. Sonny says he gets that this is real. Ryan hurt Ava, and she’s doing backflips to get him not to go in. That makes him want to talk to Ryan even more. He goes back in, with Ava behind him, and asks what Ryan’s got to say. Ryan slumps over, a knife in his back. I go, oooh! The guard comes in, and asks, what happened? Sonny says he came in to talk to Ryan, and he has a knife in his back. Ava asks if he’s dead, but Sonny can’t tell.

Portia tells Jordan, she was completely off base. She’s sorry. Jordan says, Portia is right. She is under Cyrus’s thumb. Portia says, but not for the reason she thought. It was all about Taggert. He was on Cyrus’s radar because he framed Cyrus. Jordan says, he didn’t act alone. For Portia to truly understand what’s at stake, she needs to know everything. She only told Portia part of the truth. There was a conspiracy to frame Cyrus, but what she left out is that she was in it too. They all were. They were undercover for nearly two years, watching Cyrus commit crime after crime to build his empire. It was too much; Cyrus was too careful. So they made a decision that the pain had to stop, and fabricated evidence, planning to put Cyrus away for good. But his reach was too long, even in prison. When he found out their identities, he came after Bob and Mark, and killed them. Portia says, and he used Trina to lure Taggert to the warehouse. Jordan says, Cyrus doesn’t bluff. She had no doubt he’d kill her son to get what he wanted, and Portia says, so Jordan had him exonerated. Jordan says, she was the lucky one. Instead of killing her, Cyrus thought it would be more useful to have her in his pocket. Portia says, so Jordan threw Taggert under the bus. It was either that, or lose her son.

Peter tells Maxie that he’s taking the pictures to show Anna how much the baby is growing. She says, how a grown man can be reduced to a pile of mush is so sweet, and he says he doesn’t know how to explain it. He has a feeling of redemption, like the baby is his do-over. Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be when you bring life into the world? Not for him and Anna, but for Anna and Robin, and Valentin and Charlotte. This is his chance. Maxie says, she used to tell herself that; less with Georgie, but with James for sure. She thought having him would make her the perfect person she’d dreamed of being. The perfect friend, the perfect employee, the perfect wife and mother. She had it all. He says, he’s sensing a but, and she says she hates to break it to him, but that’s not how it works. It changes you in monumental ways, but Peter will still be him, and she’s happy about that. He says he loves her, and she says, now she feels a but coming. He says he loves her, but he respectfully disagrees. This baby is his new lease on life. Just watch. She asks if he plans on changing all the diapers, and heat baby bottles in his sleep. She’ll help every once in a while.

Valentin tells Anna, take the shot, and Alex says, such a gentleman; sacrificing all over the place. He says, take the damn shot, but Anna lowers the gun. Alex tells her, now drop the gun, and Anna puts it down. Alex says, now the cuffs, and Anna puts the handcuffs on herself. Alex says, good girl, and picks up the gun, holding it on Anna, who says, for now. Alex says she thinks it’s time for a second location, and hits Anna with the gun, knocking her out. She says, everybody okay?  

Portia tells Jordan, she understands Trina is hurt and angry, but she’s not missing like TJ was. She wishes she could take Trina’s pain, but Trina is here, alive and thriving. It’s all she can ask for. Jordan appreciates Portia’s understanding, and Portia says she’s a mother like Jordan, and like Jordan, she would move heaven and earth for her child. She’s sorry Jordan had to shoulder this alone. Jordan says she has Curtis, but Portia says, it’s an awful way to exist. Jordan says, it doesn’t mean she’s surrendered. She’s working against Cyrus, but has to find a way to bring him down without her son getting hurt. Everywhere she turns, he’s boxing her in tighter. Portia says, let her help, but Jordan says she’d be an accessory. Portia says she’s already made herself an accessory. Jordan needs back-up. Portia was married to law enforcement a long time, and Jordan doesn’t understand what she’s capable of. What they’re capable of if they work together.

On the phone, Julian tells Ava to call when she gets this. He has a plan in place.

Jackie doesn’t know what’s more delicious; the cookies or Violet. Chase says when he babysits, Violet always wants warm milk and cookies before bed. They reminisce about when Chase was little, and his father gave him piggyback rides upstairs. Chase says, they were epic, and Jackie says she never understood the benefit of him bouncing around before bed. Chase says he loves watching Violet and Finn horsing around; it reminds him of his dad. Finn says, see? He’s fun. Chase says, only with Violet. Finn’s phone dings, and he quickly looks at it. Chase asks if he’s worried about Anna. Finn asks if it’s that obvious, and Chase says he’s an easy read. Get out. Go see his fiancé. Finn says they’ll do this again sometime, and Jackie says, sounds good. He tells them, goodnight, and leaves. Chase says, that went well, doesn’t she think? and she says, better than expected. Her phone dings, and she says, son of a bitch. Chase asks if it’s breaking story, and she asks how he knew. He says, his eighth birthday, the state playoffs, the pre-party before the prom. Although he’s grateful she didn’t show up for that. She says she’s the worst mother, but he says she’s a great mother, and a great reporter. How soon does she leave? She says, tonight.

Anna comes to, and she’s tied back-to-back with Valentin. She asks where they are, and Alex says, the soon to be site of a terrible accident. Anna says, Alex thinks she wants to kill her, but she doesn’t. Their lives are intertwined; they’re too connected. Alex agrees, but adds that she’s not one who likes sharing. She wants a wonderful life. Anna say she’s not going to get it by pretending to be her, and Alex says, enough. She’s disabled the safety mechanism on a pressure cooker. In an hour, it will reach maximum pressure and explode. By that time, the whole place will be full of gas. If they haven’t been asphyxiated, they’ll be incinerated. If any remains are found, people will think it’s her. She takes Anna’s wedding ring, and Anna calls her a total bitch. Alex puts it on, and says, it’s not her style, but it will have to do. Anna says, it won’t take Finn long to realize. Then what? Alex says, poor Finn, headed for heartbreak. She should have killed him too, but then it would have been too obvious. Anna’s phone dings, and she says, it’s a text from Peter. Maxie’s latest sonogram. The baby looks like her. She says she’ll meet them at the hospital, and Anna says, don’t you dare. Alex says, why? It’s kind of ironic. Her new life is beginning, and Anna’s is just about to end. She’s really sorry it had to be like this. She leaves, and Anna tells Valentin, wake up.

On the phone, Jackie says, if they want her on the story, she wants the best. Meet her on arrival. She’s not flying halfway around the world to stand in a line. She’ll call when she’s on the plane. She hangs up, and Chase asks how many producers she’s driven to a nervous breakdown. She says, zero. She doesn’t mean to be impossible, but if they want her to do the story, they want the best. He suggests she finesse something in the Bay area so they can have an honest to God family reunion. She says, about that. There’s something she needs to tell him. She knows it’s been his dream to get the family together, including Finn, and he says, for as long as he can remember. She says she wishes it had happened sooner, and he says she’s scaring him. What’s wrong? She says she and his father are getting divorced.

Sonny and Ava arrive at the hospital. Ava says, Ryan is a liar. Whatever he said, Sonny can’t believe him. Sonny says Ryan told him that he had something important to say, and wound up with a knife in his back. Does she think it’s a coincidence? He walks away, and Ava digs in her bag for her phone. She calls Julian, and tells him that he’s not going to believe what just happened. She tried to circumvent Sonny, but he was already in with Ryan when she got there. Julian says, dammit, but she says, hold on. Before Ryan could say anything, he got a knife in his back. He keeled over right in front of them, like some kind of miracle. Julian asks if he’s dead, but she doesn’t know. He says, not quite a miracle… yet.

At the hospital, Cyrus asks Jordan, what’s going on? She looks tired. She says she’s fine, and he asks why he’s there. He’s not a fan of being summoned. She says he should rethink the way he’s managing the staff. The protest is picking up steam. He tells her to handle it, but she says, it’s still free a country. He doesn’t control everything. She suddenly drops to the floor, and Cyrus calls for help. Portia runs to Jordan, asking if Jordan can hear her, and checking Jordan’s pulse. Cyrus looks genuinely concerned.

Peter tells Maxie, Anna is on her way. Alex comes out of the elevator, and sees Maxie and Peter. She tells Peter to hand over the sono pictures, and Peter says, that’s her grandchild. She pretends to fawn over the pictures, and says she can’t wait to meet him or her, and spend the rest of her life spoiling them rotten. Peter suggests she have some boundaries, but she says she’s the baby’s grandma. No promises. Maxie says, it’s her prerogative, and Alex stares at Peter.

Finn gets home, and calls to Anna, but sees the house is empty.

The pressure cooker ticks away. Valentin wakes up, and he and Anna both start coughing. Valentin says he’ll give her sister this much, she’s thorough. Anna says, they’re not going die. Not today. Not like this.

Tomorrow, Epiphany toasts to new beginnings, Robert asks what Valentin has to do with it, and Anna tells Valentin not to quit on her.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Gina got in Braunwyn’s face at Shannon’s party, calling her a sloppy chihuahua – whatever that means – and accusing her of being wasted all the time. As usual, Gina was five beats behind, and Braunwyn said, I’ve been sober for thirty days, bitch, and walked out, tossing her glass of pretend drink in the pool. Sean stayed behind and stood up for her, which offended Gina, who continued to act like an a-hole. Everyone acted like Braunwyn throwing the glass in the pool was the worst thing anyone could possibly do. In Emily’s interview, she says she was glad she wasn’t the one crying and throwing things. It was someone else’s turn now, and she passed the torch. We flashed back to her altercation with Kelly at somebody’s party. I forget whose. Sean hunted Braunwyn down, and said she needed to pull Gina aside and talk. Braunwyn told Sean that none of them could handle the truth, and he suggested a one-on-one conversation. Gina complained that she didn’t like a man schooling her, which annoyed me. These women want to be equals, but God forbid a man argues with them. Then, all of a sudden, men shouldn’t get involved, even if they dragged him into it. In Gina’s interview, she said she was disgusted when a man’s response was to get in her face, which annoyed me further. Gina had certainly gotten in Braunwyn’s face, finger wagging, but Sean didn’t even raise his voice. And I thought it was kind of cool that he defended his wife. Sean thought Braunwyn needed support. Everyone ate some weird noodles from plastic cups, and Elizabeth told Gina that she was a better woman than this. Sean asked Gina to have a conversation outside with Braunwyn, and Gina finally deigned to grace Braunwyn with her presence. They apologized to each other, and discussed the text from Sean to Gina, which got dicey. Gina thought it was inappropriate, and Braunwyn asked why Gina hadn’t brought it up to her, rather than Emily. Gina said Emily was her best friend, so too bad. In her interview, Gina said she felt compassion for Braunwyn, but she was still pissed.

Braunwyn asked to talk to Kelly in private, and told Kelly that she’d hit bottom. She was 30 days sober, but wanted a drink so effing bad it hurt. Kelly joked around, saying in her interview that she thought laughter was the best medicine. They talked about Sean being an enabler, and Kelly told Braunwyn to shake it off. Taylor Swift played in my head. Sean told Elizabeth that he was there when Shannon called Gina’s place sad. In Shannon’s interview, she said all Braunwyn did was rain down on what was supposed to be an amazing day. Get TF out. On the way home, Braunwyn told Sean she thought she’d be stronger. She shared too much with 17 year old daughter Rowan when she got home, telling her all about the party. She said she’d been raging, and had never raged in her life. Rowan was like, oh really? and we flashed back to Braunwyn getting pretty angry about a hypothetical situation in front of the kids. Back at the party, Shannon toasted to good friends, and continued blessings for everyone.

Getting on the treadmill, Braunwyn told Sean that she was mortified by her behavior. She wondered when she’d stop feeling effing crazy, and Sean sagely said, time. Shannon gave everyone a tour of the house, and in Gina’s interview, she said Shannon’s house was neither sad nor small. She was glad to have friends with big bougie houses, so she could reap the benefits. I know the feeling. I keep hoping one of my neighbors will put in a pool. The gym room housed a ginormous painting of a photo of Shannon, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said she was no therapist, but guessed self-love was good. If someone gave that to her, she’d say thanks, and put it in the garage. Braunwyn and Sean headed for an open AA meeting, while at the party, Kelly got intrusive about Shannon’s dad’s sex life. In her interview, she said Rick was 60, and she wanted to make sure all the parts would be moving when he got to that age. John’s daughter fished the glass out of the pool with a net, and you would have thought she was the second coming.  

In her interview, Kelly explained that Rick was trying to get transferred to the L.A. division of FOX News. they were addicted to each other, and she was excited to move in together. Gina talked to mom Susan about mediation with Matt. She said Matt had been prickly about her seeing someone, but he had a girlfriend now, and had eased up. Matt didn’t seem like much of a catch to her, with domestic violence charges under his belt, but new girlfriend Britt was kind to the kids, and got Matt off her back. She also lived in Gina’s community, and could pick up the kids in a pinch. Kelly and Elizabeth went shopping, and Elizabeth said her divorce trial was coming up. Kelly asked if it was worth it, and Elizabeth said she wasn’t allowed to mention numbers, but it was worth it. In Kelly’s interview, she said she spent $150,000 on her divorce settlement. She would settle it, take the money, and run. In Emily’s interview, she announced that pigs were flying, and hell had officially frozen over. Shannon put her on a group text. She knew Emily’s name and phone number. Emily thought she should have gotten a badge or a trophy.

Gina told Elizabeth that her dad was an alcoholic; sober 9 years now. Elizabeth asked for explanation of what happened at party, and in her interview, said addiction and alcoholism run rampant in her family. If Braunwyn was willing to have an honest conversation, she’d be supportive. Later, while visiting Emily, Gina said she’d gotten a text from Braunwyn. She’d said she wasn’t proud of how she acted, and asked Gina to go to an AA meeting with her, and out for coffee afterward. In Gina’s interview, she said she knew something was off. Braunwyn was detoxing. She realized that Braunwyn doing everything sober must be challenging. Emily thought Shannon wasn’t making a dig about Gina’s place, but Braunwyn equated small with sad, and believed she was. Kelly thought it was rude of Braunwyn to throw Shannon under the bus, but believed Shannon did say Gina’s house was sad. Elizabeth said Braunwyn didn’t know about being poor, but she had survived, so she understood. In her interview, she said growing up, they lived in trailers and abandoned hotels, and they would get expired food from Walmart’s garbage. She understood the struggles.

In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she and Sean decided to renew their vows every 10 years. She was drunk at their 10 year renewal, and wanted to do it again sober, and make it a new start. She called Shannon, and there was a big silence after she said it was her. She told Shannon that she still really wanted Shannon, John, and the kids to be at the ceremony, but if Shannon didn’t want to come, she’d understand. Shannon cared more about Braunwyn putting words in her mouth than the vow renewal, and Braunwyn insisted she’d heard Shannon say it. If Dr. Phil had been there, he would have asked them if they wanted to be happy or wanted to be right. Braunwyn said if they were going to move forward, they had to find a middle ground. Shannon said she’d been trying to help Braunwyn, and Braunwyn said she had to own her truth. Shannon asked if Braunwyn was going to continue her crusade, which sounded stupid, and made me think of Braunwyn dressed as a knight on a horse. Braunwyn said there was no crusade; she was focused on potty training a baby and staying sober. Shannon said she called on of the servers lemonade boy, and it was John’s son. Braunwyn said she didn’t know that, but hadn’t said it in a disparaging way; his shirt had lemons on it. Shannon said she didn’t want to be the a-hole who’s not supportive. By the time the call was over, there was nothing resolved, and Braunwyn told Sean that she thought Shannon really believed she hadn’t said what she did. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said Shannon would go to her deathbed to protect her image. She was Stepford Shannon. Funny, Kelly called her that last week. Braunwyn told Sean, the fact that people believed it, said more about them than her.

Emily dropped by Kelly’s, and Kelly said it was a revolving door there. She was getting used to suburbia again. When she lived on the beach, no one came over. She took a sip of Emily’s drink by mistake, and swore she didn’t have corona virus. In Kelly’s interview, she said she didn’t understand people freaking out over it. The swine flu, the Spanish flu; things like that happen from time to time. Emily thought Braunwyn was using her alcohol problem as a weapon to make Gina feel guilty, and Braunwyn called while they were talking about her. Kelly told her that they were discussing how freaky deaky she is off the sauce. They invited Braunwyn to join them.

Sean biked Braunwyn over to Kelly’s, and they gave her a mezuzah. I have one of those that was in my old apartment. You hang it by the door to bless your home – see below for a full description. In Kelly’s interview she said she could make matzo ball soup and potato latkes. Braunwyn told Emily and Kelly that she had thrown a tantrum at the party, and Emily said Gina didn’t want to go to Palm Springs for the vow renewal. She didn’t think Braunwyn wanted her there. We saw a clip of Gina telling Emily that at the party, and Emily saying Gina and Braunwyn needed to get to the point where they were cordial. Braunwyn said all she could do was be honest.

Shannon told John that her integrity meant everything to her, and Braunwyn had a selective memory. In Shannon’s interview, she said that Braunwyn appeared to have an agenda (huh?), and she was trying to figure out what it was. She thought Braunwyn should focus on her sobriety rather than continually telling people Shannon did something she didn’t. She told John that she doesn’t move on from people saying she’s a liar.

Next time, Braunwyn shops for her vow renewal dress, Gina meets with Braunwyn, and Gina gets weepy about Matt coming to Sienna’s birthday party.

🏡 Get Your Mezuz-on…

All about the mezuzah.

Why Jews Hang a Mezuzah on the Doorpost

💎It’s Official…

Kathy Hilton will be a friend of on the next season of RHOBH.

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/1583241/rhobh-kyle-richards-sister-kathy-hilton-cast-season-11-bravo/

🎃 Because I Still Can’t Let Go…

Halloween was kind of a bust this year, but we can still look at pictures of the rich and costumed.

https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/celebrity-halloween-costumes-2020

This is actually kind of eerie. My personal favorite: Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka as the Olsen twins.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/25889/celebrities-who-dressed-up-as-other-celebrities-for-halloween

🥩 Meat Repeat…

I hope it’s fresh meat. A sentence I never thought I’d say.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1203772/lady-gaga-brings-back-her-infamous-meat-dress-for-must-see-voting-message

🧊 Resilient As Hell…

You have to admit, he writes a catchy chorus.

https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/10/6/21494291/vanilla-ice-to-the-extreme-ice-ice-baby-history-30th-anniversary

🍂 What November Brings…

What’s happening on screens this month.

Upcoming Movies in November 2020: Streaming, VOD, and Theaters

🚶🏽‍♀️ I’m Walkin’…

Once again, we’ve all made it past the hump, or that day that used to be in the middle of the week for those whose days have officially all blurred together. It’s back to Charlotte for some Charm tomorrow, or later today if you want to play semantics. Until that moment, stay safe, stay charitable, and stay aware of what’s behind you when rescuing someone from a basement situation.

Nov4

November 3, 2020 – Valentin To the Rescue, Will Lulu Go-Go, Halloween Spill-Over, Sad Day In Beverly Hills & Bad

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

I missed the beginning, but here are your takeaway points. Cyrus saw Portia at the hospital, and asked how Trina was. Portia told him not to talk about Trina, since she was none of his business, and he said Taggert was his business, and whined about being a victim. TJ ran into Jordan, and told her he needed her help with some police business. Peter met with Valentin at Charlie’s, and said he’d gotten a call from the mother from hell. Valentin assumed he meant Obrecht, but Peter said he was talking about Helena. Sonny called Ava to come over and get something Avery had made for her. When Ava got there, she asked if there wasn’t another reason Sonny called, and Sonny said he had questions about Ryan. Alex had Anna tied up in the basement, and claimed Peter as hers. You’re officially up to speed.

Portia tells Cyrus, don’t talk to her about Taggert. Franco gets off the elevator with Elizabeth, and says, it looks like Uncle Cyrus is on another PR run. He’s going to make himself scarce. Elizabeth says she thought Franco and Cyrus were buddies, but Franco says he doesn’t think so, since Cyrus saw him keel over at The Rib. Portia says, as far as she’s concerned, she’s not responsible for her ex-husband’s actions. Cyrus says he doesn’t hold her responsible for Taggert’s lies, harmful as they were. His goal is for her to be happy at GH. She says she’d be happy to have as little interaction with him as possible. He says he’s fairly new to being Chairman of the Board, and thinks it’s important to get to know his staff, as they get to know him. He was hoping they could at least be cordial. She says she’s all about cordial, but she doesn’t allow intimidation. If that’s what he wants to do, just fire her now for insubordination.

TJ tells Jordan, Cyrus fired Monica, and replaced her with Britt. He fired Bobbie, and put Epiphany on administrative duty, then cut the hours of the dedicated staff, like Elizabeth. Morale is at an all-time low, and he they don’t trust Cyrus. Jordan says, he’s still Chairman, and TJ says, exactly. The public needs to know what’s happening. He’s studying to be a doctor, and wants to put the patients first, but Cyrus isn’t doing that, so he’s fighting the right way. He went to the PCPD to get a permit, and was turned down for no good reason. He hates asking for special favors, but she’s the Commissioner, and it’s important. She says she’s the one who denied his application.

Alex calls Anna resourceful. Anna realized Peter had a genetic marker she didn’t have, or Faison. So he must have gotten it from moi. Anna says Alex might want to consult a specialist, and Alex says she’ll take it under advisement, after she gets reacquainted with her son. It was an inconvenience, Anna blundering around after her because she lied about the memories given to Anna. Anna says, what a shock; Alex lied to her. Alex says she realized Faison was obsessed with Anna, and thought she could get secrets if she became Anna. It was just her luck she got preggers. She did what she could to provide for her son. Now it’s time to take her place as his mother, and a doting grandmother. Anna says, not even Alex can pull it off. Alex never wanted to be a mother, and most certainly not a grandmother. Why is she really there?

Valentin tells Peter, he didn’t hear Helena; she’s dead. Peter says he knows her voice. She threatened to expose him for abducting Drew. Valentin says, someone is trying to get Peter to reveal something using the voice of a dead woman who conveniently knows his secrets. Peter asks, who? and Valentin says, Spinelli. He slipped up the other night, telling Valentin that he didn’t want Peter to marry Maxie. Peter says, Spinelli wouldn’t break Maxie’s heart, but Valentin thinks he would, if it would spare her greater heartbreak down the road. Spinelli is a computer expert, and could use a program to modulate his own voice into Helena’s. It’s a trap; don’t admit anything. Peter says, Spinelli is going to regret that.

Julian sends Ava a text, saying, tell him what’s happening. Why isn’t she answering any of his messages?

Ava asks Sonny what Ryan had to say, and he says, not much. She says Ryan is an inmate in maximum security. It wasn’t a random call. He wanted something. Sonny says Ryan wanted him to come and visit. He said it would be worth Sonny’s while. He wanted to let her know, and asks if she has any idea why Ryan would reach out to him. She says, Ryan is sick, twisted, and probably bored. The only thing that brings him any happiness is watching people squirm. Sonny asks, why talk to him? and Ava says, maybe because he’s Avery’s father, and trying to make him squirm will make her squirm even more. Ryan is still fixated on her. He called her, and she tried to ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen, but he got to her. She went to see him, and she regrets engaging with him. It’s just another game. Tell her that he’s not going to see that man.

Franco knocks on Doc’s office door, then walks in. Doc says he needs to leave. He barged in without an appointment. Franco says, he knocked, and Doc says, he knocked, then barged in. Franco says, it’s an emergency, and Doc says, then Franco had better tell him about it. Franco says the brain tumor that warped his personality and made him kill people is back.  

TJ asks why Jordan denied him the permit. He followed the rules. She says she’s aware that he doesn’t like Cyrus’s management style, and passionate about his beliefs. He’s going to come up against superiors who don’t see things the way he does, and a public protest won’t change anything.

Sonny says, Ryan is reaching out to him, and he needs to know why. She says, Ryan is literally a psychopath. He’s just baiting Sonny, and Sonny has no reason to get pulled into Ryan’s warped mind game. He says, Ryan messing with her is bad for Avery. He needs to see Ryan face-to-face to find out his end game. Ava tells him, don’t. Nothing good can come of it. She believes it’s a trap. He asks if she’s sure she doesn’t know why Ryan wants to see him.  

At Charlie’s, Julian paces.

Valentin says Peter always does this. Don’t lash out at Spinelli. Jason is like a brother to him, and if Peter acts on Spinelli, Jason will kill him and get away with it. Peter will never know his child because he’ll be dead. Next time Helena calls, don’t answer the phone. He’s building a good life with Maxie and the baby. Let Spinelli choke on it. Peter asks if Valentin thinks he can be a good man, and Valentin says he knows Peter can. Peter says people think he’s hardwired after his father, but Anna cancels that out. His mother is his saving grace. Valentin says, she’s great. Good luck to him. Valentin flies out the door like he can’t leave fast enough.

Anna says Alex is such a liar. She didn’t come reconnect. This isn’t about Peter. What trouble is she in? Alex says she is in a bit of hot water; quite a lot actually. People are coming at her from all sides, and she has no place to hide. Her only choice is to become Anna. It’s going to be a challenge, especially with her grumpy, but quite handsome fiancé, and doting on Peter and the baby. But it’s preferable to Steinmaur or worse. The only problem is, there can’t be two of them.

Anna says, Alex is such a bully. They look alike, but they’re nothing alike. People won’t believe it. Valentin will see right through her like he did before, as will Robert. Alex says, know who won’t suspect? Peter. Anna never even gave him an idea that she might be his mother. She called him, and hung up. Anna says, it’s not news you want to leave on a voicemail. The doorbell rings, and Alex asks if Anna is expecting anybody. Anna says, yes. The Army, Navy, and Marines are coming for afternoon tea. She yells for help, and Alex duct tapes her mouth, The doorbell gets insistent, and Alex says they sound eager to see her. Don’t go anywhere; she’ll be right back. She goes upstairs, and someone is alternating knocking and ringing the bell. She opens the door to Valentin, who says, hell’s bells. Where has she been? He’s been calling, and she hasn’t returned any of his texts. Alex pretending to be Anna says, sorry to worry him. Does he have news? He says his associate tracked Alex from Berlin to Paris, where she fell off the grid. They don’t know where she is. She could be in Port Charles any minute, and trying to contact Peter. She says she appreciates the warning; he’s a good friend. He says, apparently, Alex is in trouble. She’s being pursued from all sides, and she’s desperate. Desperate people do desperate things. She says she’ll consider this a full alert, and he asks if she’s all right. She says she’s fine, and he says he knows she hasn’t spoken to Peter. He still doesn’t know Alex is his mother. She says, it’s not voicemail news, and Valentin says, they’ve already talked about it. He suggests they tell Peter together – right now. I’m not sure how Alex thinks she could fool anybody, since even I can tell the difference, and the actress is literally the same person. Alex always gets saccharine sweet, and that might be the opposite of her personality, but it’s not Anna.

Peter looks out Charlie’s window, and Spinelli walks in. He says he got Peter’s text. He said they needed to talk about Maxie. Is something amiss? Is it about the baby? She seemed perfectly healthy last night. Peter says he knew if he mentioned Maxie, it would get Spinelli there. Spinelli says, Peter deceived him, but Peter says, not completely. In a way, it has to do with Maxie. He loves Maxie, and he loves the baby she’s carrying, and he’ll do everything he can so that nothing affects his future with them. Spinelli says he was reluctant at first, but sees now that Peter wants what’s best for Maxie. He asks if Peter enjoyed Maxie’s birthday celebration last night, and Peter says, it would have a perfect night had he not received a call from the presumably dead Helena. 

Cyrus tells Portia, he has no intention of letting her go. She’s a valuable asset to GH, and that’s how he intends to treat her. She says if he truly means what he’s saying, never ever mention her daughter or ex-husband ex again. She walks to the elevator. Cyrus laughs to himself, and Elizabeth watches as he gets in elevator with Portia.

Jordan says she respects TJ’s position, but compromise is the smart thing to do. He has to trust it’s for the greater good. He says, whose good? Cyrus’s? She says, whether he likes it or not, Monica and Bobbie were fired for a valid reason. If he pushes back, he can’t be naïve enough to think Cyrus and the Board will buckle under the pressure of a protest. He says she can’t be so cynical to believe a protest can’t create change. She’s told him to stand up, and let his voice be heard. What happened? Cyrus and Portia get out of the elevator nearby, and Jordan says, TJ believes he can subvert the so-called rules and change them, but he asks what harm a peaceful protest can be? Cyrus is subverting GH, and going to undermine everything the hospital stood for. He’s getting the chance to do what she preached to him growing up. Why is she preventing that? Portia says she’d like to know too, and Jordan says, it’s a private conversation. Cyrus says it sounds like a public indictment of him.

Ava tells Sonny, she has no idea why Ryan called, but she does know what he wanted. To get under Sonny’s skin, and play mind games. That’s what he did to her. He’ll find Sonny’s Achilles heel and squeeze it. Don’t play into his hands. The best way to handle it is, not to pay any attention to him. Sonny says he’ll think about it; no promises. Ava says she certainly hopes he makes the right decision. If he doesn’t, it’s his problem, not hers. She says she should be going, and Sonny reminds her to take the picture Avery drew.

Doc asks if Franco has discussed treatment options, but Franco says he stopped listening when he heard his tumor was back and it was inoperable. Doc asks if he’s sure Terry said inoperable, and Franco says, Terry is conscientious to a fault. She wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. Doc says, that doesn’t rule out non-surgical treatment. Franco just received a life threatening diagnosis. He needs time to assess it, and regain control. Take a look at what can be affective. Franco says he’s not freaking out because he could die. He can’t get his mind around not having the magical life he’s carved out, but that’s not why he’s freaking out. He’s worried the symptoms might return; one in particular – a shift in personality.

Cyrus says, TJ doesn’t agree with his policies, so he organized a protest against the Board, mainly him, even if his mother made sure it’s not approved. He’s fully aware of TJ’s feelings. As he told TJ before, he admires TJ’s passion; it reminds him of TJ’s mother’s passion. As TJ might remember, she was the one who freed him. She realized he’d been framed wrongly and imprisoned; that’s true injustice. This is a misunderstanding. TJ isn’t in management; that’s not his field of expertise. His primary purpose is to save lives. Cyrus’s is to be on the Board. Leave him to deal with the business. He’s happy that TJ’s mother agrees that there’s no need to protest. He thanks Jordan, and walks away. Portia says, Jordan is protecting Cyrus now?  

Ava arrives at Charlie’s, and Julian says, what the hell? Why hasn’t she answered his calls? She says she was with Sonny. Ryan reached out, and wants Sonny to visit. He said he’d make it worth Sonny’s while. She tried to convince Sonny that it was just more mind games, but she’s not sure it worked. He says, what she should have done is divorce Nikolas for real. Now Julian is a dead man. She says she thinks he’s out of options. He may need to take Nikolas up on his offer, and disappear.

Spinelli says, whoever called, it wasn’t Helena; she’s dead. Peter says, it was her voice. She threatened him, saying if he didn’t agree to meet with her, there would be consequences. Spinelli says no wonder he was distracted last night, and Peter says, a telephone call from a dead woman could definitely be distracting. Spinelli says, it makes no sense, and Peter says like Spinelli’s’ sudden about-face makes no sense. He put two and two together, and it was nothing more than a scheme cooked up by Spinelli.

Alex as Anna tells Valentin, it’s so kind of him to offer to help break the news, but it’s something she should do herself. He says, do it now. Alex could be in Port Charles any minute. With all of Anna’s good intentions, she did a helluva job setting Alex up. Alex will paint herself as the injured party, so she can control the narrative, and turn Peter against them both. She’s manipulated Anna her entire adult life, not just with the memory swap. Besides compounding Anna’s guilt at being a double-agent, she made Anna think she was Peter’s mother. If she doesn’t tell Peter, he will. She tells him, she’ll always try to do the best for her son. He says, what? and she says, do what’s best for Peter. He tells her, she said best for her son.

Anna struggles to get free from the tie on her hands.

Doc says, as he understands, a personality shift is a potential side effect in some patients with Franco’s condition, but there’s no certainly it will happen. Franco says, it was a barren, boring existence. No imagination, no joy in life, nothing could fill him or make him happy, except the adrenalin rush at getting away with something. When the tumor was removed, that went away. He’s not a perfect dude, but he can be a friend, and he can be a father; he is a husband. He feels love, and it’s a privilege to watch the evolution of the boys. All of that will go away again. No operation; no magic reset button. Doc asks if he has any reason to believe he’s experiencing side effects. Has he had a shift in sight or smell? Any periods of time lost? Franco says, it’s hard to say. He’s an artist. When he’s working, like when he painted Ava’s portrait, he’d work for 20 minutes, and find 3 hours had gone by. Doc says he has the same experience painting (and me, in the garden), but it’s not the same as finding yourself in Rice Plaza with no idea how you got there. Has he had any instances like that? Franco doesn’t know. He’s not a reliable narrator for his own life. Doc says he’ll support Franco, but thinks Franco should tell the ones who love him. Franco said, or tell the ones who hate him.

Jordan says it’s none of Portia’s business what she does as a mother or Police Commissioner, and TJ asks, why is she siding with Cyrus? Jordan says she’s siding with him. When he graduates medical school, who’ll want to hire a troublemaker who questions management? TJ says he’ll worry about his own future. It’s his Constitutional right to protest. Portia says, what about her? Is Jordan going to deny her rights too? Jordan say she doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and Portia say she didn’t think investigating Brando was a good idea either. She was there when Jordan told Chase to drop it. And there’s no new information on Taggert’s murder. Another case that led straight to Cyrus. Jordan had said she would make sure Taggert’s killer didn’t walk free. It doesn’t seem like she feels the same way now.

Alex says, of course (🍷) Valentin is right, but she’s been treating Peter like her son for over a year. It’s not an easy habit to break. She loves him like a son. She can’t drop her feelings. Valentin says he understands. It must be difficult. He tells he his throat is suddenly scratchy, and asks for some water. She says, where are her manners? She should have offered it to him straight away. (See? Anna would never talk like that to Valentin.) Alex goes into the kitchen, and he looks around. He looks up the stairs, and seems like he might go up them. Anna breaks free, and pulls the tape off her mouth. She yells for help, and Valentin hears. She yells that she’s downstairs.

Spinelli says Peter can’t believe he can replicate Helena’s distinctive tone, and Peter says Spinelli’s computer expertise is legendary. He could have done a deep fake. Spinelli says he was with Peter when he got the call. He’s not a magician. He can’t be in two places at once. Peter asks, who said Spinelli did it alone? Spinelli asks if Peter has speculated on his accomplice, and Peter says he doesn’t want to make this more complicated than it needs to be. He thinks Spinelli dreamed this up, now he needs to back the hell off. Spinelli says this is all speculation, and Peter says he chose to accept Spinelli’s olive branch for Maxie’s sake. He’s giving Spinelli a last chance. Stay out of his life. Spinelli asks if that’s a threat, and Peter says, it certainly is. He can crush Spinelli, and if Spinelli pushes him, he will.

Ava says, it’s not like Julian hasn’t disappeared before. He was in the witness protection program. He says, in a strange town with a fake name, away from everything that mattered to him. She asks if Julian wants her to fight his battles; run around circumventing Ryan, and trying to cover up Julian’s bad choices. He says all he wanted her to do was neutralize Ryan by divorcing Nikolas, and she says, even if it meant she lost everything. He says, everything except him. He’ll call Nikolas and take his offer of a new life, so she can live hers.

Sonny picks up the visitor phone at Pentenville. Ryan says, it’s common knowledge he doesn’t visit just any inmate. He’s speechless. It’s an honor and a privilege. Sonny asks what he wants.

Ava says, of course (🍷) she doesn’t want Julian to disappear. She loves him. There’s no one who knows her better, and aside from Avery, he’s her only family. She tells him, don’t call Nikolas just yet. She’ll try to get to Ryan before Sonny does, and stop him from giving Julian up. He asks, how? and she says she’ll figure it out on the way over.

Ryan says he thinks Sonny misinterpreted him. He doesn’t want anything from Sonny. On the contrary. He has something he thinks Sonny wants. Sonny says he’s listening, and Ryan says he recently came into some information that’s going to rock Sonny’s world.

Cyrus walks into Charlie’s, and Julian says, hello. Cyrus asks, to what does he owe the pleasure of the surprisingly warm welcome? Julian says Cyrus is exactly the person he wants to see. Cyrus asks, why? and Julian says he’s ready to make a deal with him.

Jordan says she doesn’t like it any more than Portia, and Portia says, then why stop her son from protesting? Jordan says she’s protecting him, and in a way, protecting Portia. Why antagonize their boss, and make life harder? Please. Let it go. Portia says, wow. She’d love to know what’s going on between Jordan and Cyrus.   

Peter says it’s no secret that he’s been no angel in the past; quite the opposite. But he has a new life with Maxie and the baby, and to protect that life, he can revert to his old self like that. If Spinelli ever tries anything like this again, he will. Do they understand each other? Spinelli nods, and Peter says, good.

Valentin hears Anna say she’s in the basement. He tells her that he’s coming, but before he can open the door, Alex comes up behind him with a syringe.

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Peter, that’s not how it works; Finn wonders what’s keeping Anna; Jackie says there’s something she needs to tell Chase; Sonny tells Ryan, he doesn’t play games; and Cyrus says, now that’s something interesting.

👍 I Vote Going…

She couldn’t get more vague, but I think if she was staying, she’d have said so.

Emme Rylan Speaks Out on Her GENERAL HOSPITAL Exit

🎃 The Party Is Never Over…

Halloween may have passed, but you can still look at pictures.

Preview GENERAL HOSPITAL’s 2020 Halloween Episode

💎 Whoa…

News of the day. Erika from RHOBH is getting a divorce. While truthfully, it’s none of my business, I’m disappointed.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/housewives-erika-girardi-divorce-tom-girardi

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-star-erika-girardi-files-for-divorce-tom-girardi/

But I’m not surprised Brandi inserted herself.

https://theblast.com/146940/rhobh-brandi-glanville-cashes-in-on-erika-jayne-divorce

💺 Leaving On Not-a-Jet Plane…

As the dust from Halloween settles, I still have to clean up the glitter from my floors. I hope you voted, and hope, whoever wins, everyone behaves themselves. It hasn’t been a good look lately. In the post-election haze, stay safe, stay fair, and stay away from your workplace when discussing plans to protest your boss.

Nov3

November 2, 2020 – Josslyn Visits Family, a New Crew On Deck, Cast List, Unexpected Goodbye, TV Shake Up, Snubbing Rock, Lots O’ Costumes & Right On

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn comes into the living room where Bobbie and Carly are sitting. Carly says, one, two, three… and yell, happy birthday! Josslyn takes her earbuds out, and asks if they said something. Bobbie tells her, they said, happy birthday, and Josslyn says, almost a clean getaway. Carly says she can’t believe her baby is 18, and hugs her. Bobbie says she can’t believe it either. Her granddaughter has grown into a beautiful young woman. Josslyn thanks her, and asks if she smells pancakes. Carly says they can be turned into birthday pancakes if Josslyn goes to the kitchen. Josslyn says she’d love to, but she’s meeting Trina at the gallery. They’re having an exhibit, and they get extra credit if they write a report about it. Carly asks if she’ll be home early, and Josslyn promises to be there for whatever birthday dinner she’s cooking up. Carly says Josslyn forgot. Today is her first election day.

The gallery is presenting a celebration of 100 years of women’s suffrage. Trina checks out the displays, and says, wow. She sees Portia and says, Ava told her the Historical Society was putting up and exhibit on women’s suffrage, but she didn’t expect all this. Jordan walks over, and says she saw Ava at the polls. Portia is glad she went earlier, and suggests Trina go now. Jordan says, that’s right; Trina is 18. She remembers how excited TJ was about his first election, and asks if Trina is excited. Trina says she’s especially excited to be voting down ballot. She thinks it’s important to elect the right people who will select their public officials. Like the Police Commissioner for example.

Carly says Josslyn is voting, right? and Josslyn says if she has time .Carly asks what she means, and Bobbie says she’s surprised at Josslyn’s cavalier attitude. She’s always been civic minded. Carly says Josslyn has helped with the food bank and coat drive, and she and Oscar organized a dance to support their transgender friends who were being bullied. Josslyn says, when she makes a difference. She’s one vote. Does it really matter? Carly says she understands Josslyn being overwhelmed with what’s going on in the world today, but she still has a responsibility to do her civic duty and vote. Every vote matters. She leaves to get the polling information, and Josslyn says she’s sorry she disappointed Bobbie. Bobbie says, she’s just shocked, and bets Josslyn’s great-great grandmother would be too. Beatrice Eckert. She was a suffragist and played a vital role in women getting and keeping their right to vote in New York state. Josslyn asks what she means by keeping. Wasn’t it the law? Bobbie says, yes, but 1920 was the first time women voted in a Presidential election, but not everyone was happy about it. There were anti-suffragist contingents led by people who thought a woman’s place was in the home and out of politics. A lot of them were women. Josslyn asks if they didn’t realize that the suffragists were fighting for them too, and Bobbie says, they wanted things to stay the same. During the 1920 election, she wouldn’t believe the pushback to keep women from voting. Who knows what would have happened in Port Charles if Beatrice hadn’t been there to rally the women to vote. Carly comes back in, and says, talk about someone who made a difference. She gives Josslyn the information, and wonders what Beatrice would think about Josslyn being too busy to vote. Josslyn says, message received. She’ll find the time. Josslyn leaves, and Bobbie says, sadly, she has the feeling a lot of young people feel the same way; disenchanted and ambivalent. Carly says she didn’t think Josslyn was one of them, and hopes she got through.   

At the gallery, Lucy unpacks a box, and Monica tells her the exhibit is fine the way it is. Lucy says, it’s supposed to be historically accurate. She takes out some candles, saying, she hates the electric candles. She’s going to put some of these around. They’re from the museum, and she’s sure it’s fine. Monica says she’s sure Ava will be comforted to hear her gallery burned down due to historically accurate candles.

Trina is looking at the exhibit, when Josslyn comes in. Trina says, hi there, birthday girl. Congratulations on the big 1-8. Josslyn says she had no idea it would be this cool. Trina picks up a group photo, and tells Josslyn, check this out. She looks just like Josslyn’s mom; Beatrice Eckert. Josslyn says, that’s her; her great-great grandma. Her grandma was telling her about Beatrice’s part in the women’s suffrage movement in Port Charles. Trina says she had a great-great aunt who was part of an African America sorority, who fought for women’s rights back in the day. Josslyn says she guesses it made a difference back then, and Trina says, don’t joke. People put their lives on the line for the right to vote. Those women, legendary civil rights leaders, and ordinary citizens fought long and hard for their right to vote. She’s not letting them down, especially now. Josslyn asks when Trina got so political, and Trina says it’s one of those moments when Josslyn needs to come out of her bubble. Josslyn says, it feels like nothing changes, but Trina says, not voting guarantees things won’t change. She walks up to a voting booth, and wonders how they felt stepping into it. They must have felt so empowered, knowing they’d won the right to vote. She and Josslyn go into the booth, and Lucy takes out a candle that says TIME on the bottom. Josslyn says, it’s kind of rinky-dink, and Trina says, but powerful. Josslyn calls her a nerd, and Trina says, takes one to know one. Josslyn says, just them and the machine, and Trina says, making their choices, and making their voices heard. They hit the lever that opens the curtain, and…

Josslyn and Trina are in old-timey clothes outside, and Josslyn says, what the…? Trina says, where are we?

Josslyn wonders if the booth was some kind of virtual exhibit, and Trina tells her look at what she’s wearing. Look at what I’m wearing. Josslyn says, this is way too creepy. People can’t just go back in time. She pinches Trina, who says, ow! What was that for? and Josslyn says, this is real. Carly/Beatrice comes by, and asks if they need help. Josslyn says, mom. Beatrice says, sorry? and Josslyn says Beatrice looks a lot like her mom, but she can’t be. Beatrice says they look confused. Do they need help? Trina says they have no idea what’s happening, and Josslyn says, or where they are. Beatrice says, Wellington Square in Port Charles, New York. They do know where that is, correct? Trina says, it’s not like the Port Charles they know. They see a poster that says Vote November 2, 1920.  Josslyn says, the poster… the date, and Beatrice says, it’s election day. Josslyn says, in 1920, and Beatrice asks if they’ve had an accident. Perhaps she should take them to a doctor. Trina says they’re fine, and pulls Josslyn aside, and says, no more questions. She’s looking at them funny. Josslyn says, it’s insane. It can’t be 1920. Trina says, whatever’s happening, they need to pull it together quick, or Beatrice will think they’re crazy, and send them to the hospital. Josslyn says, and mental hospitals in the 1920s were hideous. Beatrice calls to another woman, saying, Dr. Johnson, a moment? Portia/Dr. Johnson comes over, and Beatrice says, these young ladies seem disoriented. Perhaps she could examine them. Dr. Johnson says, of course (🍷) she can. She introduces herself as Dr. Priscilla Johnson, and Josslyn introduces herself and Trina. Priscilla says it’s lovely to meet them both. She’ll start by taking a pulse. Trina says, she’s still a doctor, and Priscilla says, rest assured, she is. Josslyn says Beatrice is Beatrice Eckert, the suffragette. Beatrice says she is and she isn’t. She’s Beatrice Eckert, the suffragist. Suffragette is a petty term meant to diminish the movement, coined by a petty man who didn’t like what they were doing. Sadly, his followers adapted it. Josslyn stands corrected, and Priscilla says, now her. She says Josslyn is a pretty name, and asks if it’s her mother’s name, but Josslyn says, her mother’s name is… Caroline. She looks at Beatrice, and Priscilla says, another beautiful name. Both of them have an elevated pulse, but it’s nothing serious. Have they eaten today? Josslyn says, just a granola bar, and Trina says she had a muffin and a latte. Beatrice says, give them a moment, and steps aside with Priscilla. Josslyn tells Trina, that woman is Beatrice Eckert, her great-great grandmother. That’s why she looks like her mom. Trina says, whatever is happening, they have to be careful. They don’t want to mess with the space/time continuum. Josslyn says she got that from a movie, but Trina says, it’s all she has to go on. They’re not supposed to be there, and if they’re not careful, they could screw up the future. Josslyn says Trina is scaring her, and Trina says, there’s a lot riding on this election, and they don’t want to effect it, or the Port Charles they know might be changed forever.

Josslyn says Beatrice really doesn’t need stay with her. She knows Beatrice is extremely busy; a suffragist on election day. Beatrice says, a very historic election day. It’s the first Presidential election where women will finally be able to give voice in how the country is run. What about Josslyn? Is she visiting family? Josslyn says she seems to be. Trina asks Beatrice if she’s excited to vote for the first time, but Beatrice says, it’s her third time voting. Is Trina not from New York? The state granted women voting rights in 1917. Trina says she just thought there might be problems for African Americans. Priscilla says she’s not familiar with that term, and Trina says, right; they’re negroes. Priscilla asks if she’s sure she’s well, and Trina promises she’s fine. She’s so impressed Priscilla is a doctor. It’s something she should be proud of. Priscilla thanks her, and says her mother always told her, when one path closes, go out and trailblaze another. She was one of the first few women to go to Howard Medical School. Her sister formed the first suffragist movement in Chicago at a sorority. She asks if Trina is planning on going to college, and Trina says she is. Priscilla says, that’s wonderful. They must all strive to get ahead. Trina says, it still must be difficult for her, and Priscilla says, they haven’t always been embraced by society, or by the suffrage movement. She asks if Trina is familiar with the march in Washington. It was more like a battle. They were attacked by spectators, and the few police that were there, stood by and let it happen. They were hospitalized and jailed, but still continued to march forward. Their struggle as women of color is tied to their struggle as people. Trina says, the struggle is real, and Priscilla says, all too true. Some people still can’t vote because they don’t have the money for the registration fee. Trina says, she heard about that. Extra poll taxes and literacy tests. It’s voter suppression, and it’s bogus. Priscilla says, yes; bogus. The 15th and 19th amendments are on the books, but sadly, that doesn’t mean it changes people’s hearts and minds. But it doesn’t mean stop fighting, does it? Trina says, no ma’am, and Priscilla says she needs to get off to the women’s polling station. Trina says, they have a separate place for women? and Priscilla says the town council thought it was more seemly if the women voted separately from the men. Trina says, bogus. Josslyn tells Beatrice, it’s a lot to take in, and Beatrice says, they’ve come a long way, and they’re still making progress. Maybe one day there will even be a woman elected President. Josslyn says, wouldn’t that be something? and Beatrice says here’s someone who helped show them the way. She calls to Alice, and Anna/Alice comes over to her, asking Beatrice if she’s excited for this day. Josslyn says she’s British. She can’t vote in their election, but Alice says she’s there to celebrate with her American sisters. Beatrice thanks her for her unwavering assistance, but Alice says, it’s states like New York that led the way. Josslyn says she thought women could vote in England in 1918, and Alice says, only those 30 years of age and older, a matter she’s going to attend to on her way home. Elizabeth/Eliza joins them, and says they have a problem. It seems no women will be voting today.

Jordan/Josephine says, the polling place is closed, and Alice says, that’s preposterous. They had everything ready to go yesterday. Josephine says, the building has been padlocked shut, and Beatrice says, this is outrageous. Josslyn pulls Trina aside, and says, something isn’t right. They know these women voted in 1920. Is this happening because of them? Alice says, it’s another ploy keeping them from their right to vote, and Priscilla says, it’s voter suppression. Isn’t that what Trina called it? Alice says she’s going there now, and Josephine says she’ll go with her; perhaps she can find a crowbar. Beatrice tells them to be careful. Josslyn asks if this is out of the norm. Who would do something like this? Britt/Bertha arrives, and says, she would, and Eliza says, Bertha Halifax, what did you do? Bertha says, her job. She told her boss the mortgage was in arrears. The bank foreclosed, which it has every right to do. She appreciates rights, doesn’t she? Eliza says Bertha’s boss owns the bank, and has tried to get the rights of women to vote repealed several times. To no avail. Beatrice says it’s just another attempt to stop them, but they won’t be stopped. They’ll never give up. Bertha says they won’t be voting in Port Charles today, and Josslyn asks why she won’t help them. They’re fighting for her rights too. Bertha asks who she is, then says, no matter, and leaves. Ava/Ada approaches them, and says, finally, some good news. Maybe people can finally put this women’s rights upheaval to rest. Trina says she can’t possibly believe that, and Josslyn says, Ava always says ignorant things. Even here. Ada asks, who are these rude women? and Beatrice says, they’re new in town. Ada says she’ll have them know she’s Ada Hook. Her family came over on the Mayflower. Beatrice says, no one cares. They’re all here now. They’re all American citizens with the right to vote. How can she think it’s beneath her? It’s women like her standing in the way of fairness and equality. Ada says, it’s women like Beatrice slumming in politics, who are demeaning decent women everywhere. She should be ashamed. Beatrice says, it’s Ada’s fault she’s stuck in a loveless marriage. Don’t blame the rest of them because she’s unhappy. Ada stomps toward Beatrice, who pushes her back, and Ada falls on her behind. She says Beatrice will pay for this, and Beatrice tells her, take her best shot.

Obrecht/Miss Oberlay locks Beatrice in a cell, and says, arrested again. How many times does this make? Beatrice says she’ll be out of there in a matter of hours. She’d like to skip the formalities; she has important business to attend to. Oberlay says, that’s for a judge to decide. The courts are backed up, and there’s no telling when she’ll get a hearing. Beatrice says, but it’s election day. Oberlay says, not for her.

Back outside, Josslyn says, this is a disaster, and Trina says, completely. Alexis/Lexi asks if they’re unwell. Have they been laid low by the evils of drink? Josslyn says, no; they haven’t been drinking, and Lexi says she’s pleased to hear that. She introduces herself as Lexi Brighton, head of the Port Charles chapter of the Women’s Temperance Union. She asks why they’re sitting slumped over, and Trina says Beatrice has been arrested and they need to get her out. Lexi says she was wondering why the polling place was locked, and Josslyn says, the bank foreclosed on the building overnight, and Beatrice got in a fight with Ada. Ada had Beatrice arrested, and now they can’t get her out. Trina says, and it’s election day. The clock is literally ticking. Lexi tells them, say no more. She’s worked with some elected officials. She might know someone who can help.

A small crowd gathers, and Lexi says, it’s Assemblywoman, Mary Butler. Trina says, impressive, and they join the crowd. Terry/Tilly says, the assemblywoman doesn’t have time to speak to any more constituents, but Lexi gets her attention, and says, she’s sure Mary can find the time. Tilly says Mary is supposed to be at the women’s polling center at noon, and Lexi says, there won’t be a polling center if these ladies don’t speak to Mary. Monica/Mary asks what this is about, and Lexi says, these lovely ladies will explain it to her. Mary tells Tilly that she’ll make the time, and asks them to sit.

Josslyn tells Mary, now Beatrice is locked up, and so is the polling center. Mary understands why they came to her. She’s well-known at the local jail. Her no account husband has had run-ins with the law many times. He finally ran off for good, thank the lucky stars. She has a fortuitous acquaintance with the Police Commissioner. She tells Tilly that she needs to talk to Commissioner Cromwell.

Josslyn and Trina go back to Beatrice’s cell, and Josslyn tells her that she’s being released. Beatrice asks how they managed it, and Oberlay says, corruption. All this talk of voting, as if anything will change. Powerful people will always have the last say. Ada comes in, and says she wants the satisfaction of seeing Beatrice in the hoosgow with her own eyes. Trina says, Mrs. Hooker? and Ada says, it’s Hook. Trina says she’s sorry for starting the altercation between Ada and Beatrice, but Ada’s fall was an accident. Ada says, people laughed. She has a reputation to consider. Trina says, a great woman can survive a few snickers. Today is more important than her squabble with Beatrice. Ada asks if Trina believes in all that voting nonsense, and Trina says, absolutely. They need to have their voices heard. Ada says, women should stay out of politics. Her husband will vote for them both. Trina asks if she trusts her husband completely. He’s never lied to her, or told her what she wanted to hear? Ada calls her insolent, and Trina says she just can’t believe a strong smart woman like Ada would sit back and let someone else run her life. Ada says no one runs her life, and Trina asks, then why is she throwing away her vote?

Beatrice, now out of her cell, tells Josslyn that they need to get to the polling place. Oberlay says they’d better hurry, and quit cluttering up the halls. Ada comes out, and Oberlay asks if Ada is there to make sure Beatrice doesn’t escape justice. Ada says, no. Trina helped her realize that there are some things more important than petty personal squabbles. She tells Trina that she expects great things from her. Beatrice thanks Ada, and Oberlay tells them to go. Schnell.

At the polling place, Bertha hammers a foreclosure sign to the door. She tells the crowd, no voting today. Go home to their husbands and children. Their kitchens await. Alice tells them not to listen. Stay to vote. The door will be opened if they have to storm it themselves. Bertha asks if they want to end up in jail like Beatrice. Think of their families. Beatrice gets on a literal soapbox, and says, yes. Think of their families. Think of their daughters, who need their example. Think of their mothers and grandmothers. She’s Beatrice Eckert, the suffragist, their friend and neighbor. Three years ago, they were able to secure voting rights in their state. It’s a proud moment, made even prouder by the 19th amendment. Now women all over the state get to cast their vote for the next President of the United States. There will be detractors, people who want to silence them because of their fear, or complacency with the status quo, but they needn’t be afraid or daunted. They don’t want to take anything from them. They want to include everyone in the promise America has to offer. Ada has joined the crowd, and everyone is enthusiastic. Bertha says, women don’t belong in politics, but Beatrice says, women belong everywhere. In kitchens, hospitals, and classrooms, and in voting booths. They’re going to vote today, and in every election to come. The future in America is brighter because of them. Who’s with her? Everyone chants, yes! but Bertha says they can’t get in. Josephine picks up a hammer, and says they won’t be denied  their rights as citizens, and breaks the lock. They all go inside.

Trina sees Ada, and says, she’s here. Ada says she wanted to see if Beatrice could pull it off. Since she’s there, she might as well vote. She doesn’t need a man to speak for her. It was a pleasure meeting her, Trina…. Trina says, Robinson, and Ada says, a name destined for greatness. Josslyn says Beatrice did it, but Beatrice says, they all did it. They all made sacrifices and suffered persecution, but look around. Generations to come will reap the benefits of their suffering. Josslyn says she understands now. Voting isn’t just a right; it’s a privilege. It’s the least and most they can do as citizens. Beatrice calls Josslyn her fellow suffragist.

Oberlay comes in, and asks Josslyn and Trina what they’re gawking at. She’s exercising her right to vote, and they better hope they never end up in her jail. She has her eye on them. She closes the curtain, and Trina tells Josslyn, she doesn’t understand why they’re still there. They fixed everything. Beatrice made her speech, and women are voting. Josslyn says, that’s it. They were in a voting booth before they got here. Trina says she’s right. Maybe if they pull the lever again… Beatrice comes out of a booth, and says she did it; she casted her vote. She asks what Josslyn and Trina are still doing there. Clearly they’re not 21, and not registered there. Josslyn says they were just taking a look inside. That warden lady was just here. Beatrice says, Miss Oberlay? Excellent. Trina says, but she might vote the wrong way, but Beatrice says, there is no wrong way. She wants every woman, every citizen to vote, even people she doesn’t agree with. Josslyn says it’s been a great honor to meet her. She’ll try to follow her example and encourage those around her to stay involved, so they can have the government they want. Beatrice says, the honor is hers. She sees great things in Josslyn’s future. Alice calls to her, and Beatrice says she has to go.

A booth is open, and there’s no one around, and Trina says now’s their chance. They go inside, closing the curtain, and Trina says, let’s do this. Josslyn says, please let this work. They pull the lever, and the curtain opens to the gallery.

Trina says they did it, and Josslyn says, thank God. Lucy asks if they blew out her candle, and picks it up. She says, time? Oh boy, wrong candle. Very wrong. No, no, no. Oh dear. She asks how they’re feeling. Do they feel okay? Josslyn says she doesn’t know. Something strange happened. Trina says, beyond strange. Lucy says she lit the wrong candle. It’s a special candle that doesn’t have normal properties. It has special properties, and has to be handled carefully, which she didn’t. Sometimes it allows you to open your inner eye, and see things that… aren’t usual. Josslyn asks if she means things that aren’t there, and Lucy says, it’s possible. She takes the box, and says she’s just going to go carry on. Josslyn asks Trina if they had a weird psychedelic trip because Lucy lit a weird candle. Trina says, it makes more sense than time travel. Time travel isn’t real… right? Josslyn says, totally, and Trina says she thinks the election just got in their heads, and they went back to the first election where women could vote. Josslyn says, whatever it was, it was awesome, and Trina says they’re going to slay their history project. Josslyn says, first, they have something more important to do. Vote.

Terry and Elizabeth see Britt outside the polling place, and Elizabeth says, don’t worry. They took an early lunch, and got in and out. She hopes Britt doesn’t experience any delays herself, and Terry says, it’s picking up again. Bobbie and Carly get there in time to see Josslyn and Trina come out. Everyone applauds, and they bow. Trina sees Ava, and asks if she voted. Ava says, of course (🍷). Did Trina really think she wouldn’t? Trina says, no. She knows what kind of woman Ava is. Carly asks Josslyn how it felt voting for the first time, and Josslyn says, very gratifying, empowering, and humbling. Carly says, nice, and Josslyn says she thought about Beatrice, and her, and grandma, and how all the women had done so much for their generation. She wasn’t about to let them down. Carly says Josslyn is so grown up. But she still has a curfew. Bobbie tells her, congratulations. She’s just done something women in their family have been doing for 100 years. Josslyn says, 103 years. Women in New York state have been voting since 1917. Carly says she got a lot out of the research paper, and Josslyn smiles at Trina. She says, you have no idea.

We see the gallery displays, and hear the women from the past talking. Lucy comes in and stops at a group photo of the suffragists, and does a doubletake. She keeps moving, and we see Josslyn and Trina in the photo. We hear Josslyn say she understands now. It’s not just a right. It’s a privilege, and the least, and most, we can do as citizens.

I gotta say, I loved this. When it started, I thought it might be boring, but I was surprised at how good it was. And it spurred me to vote early. I also wondered, was that a left over candle from the Superstition arc in Port Charles? A friend noticed it also said Barrington on the box.

Tomorrow, Sonny wants to know why Ryan is reaching out to Ava, TJ says he needs Jordan’s help with police business, and Portia asks why Cyrus doesn’t just fire her for insubordination.

Below Deck

This was tough because it was a new crew, and two of the guys looked the same. One also wasn’t on any online cast list. You’ll see why later.

Eddie is back as bosun, but he’s the only familiar face. Besides Captain Lee. And the boat. My Seanna is back. Chef Rachel said she was laser focused on her work, but out of the galley, she’s not quiet. New chief stew Francesca said she thrives on attention to detail, but sometimes thinks they don’t pay her enough for this crap. Deckhand James is an admitted player; deckhand Avery a Jack of all trades, who’d done just about every job on a boat, including interior and driving it; and deckhand Shane is from SoCal and a surfer. He said when people meet him, they expect a stoner, but they’re wrong. He’s an environmentalist, who believes the body is a temple, and the earth is our temple as people. As for the interior, stew Elizabeth likes to get in touch with her mystical side using meditation, yoga, and crystals; stew Izzy (Isabel) said she was the walking definition of too much information, and no topic was taboo for her.

Antigua. February 11, 2020. Eddie tells us that he’s been in Baltimore, where he runs a harbor tug, and docks massive ships. He’s getting away for the winter, and going back to yachting. He gets to the My Seanna, and hunts for Captain Lee, but the boat seems empty. He thinks something must be wrong, and calls the captain. Captain Lee says he’s at the hospital. He’s embarrassed to say it, but he fell in the shower and busted some ribs. He might need surgery, and the season might be over before it starts for him. He tells Eddie to get familiar with the boat. The first charter starts tomorrow at noon. In Eddie’s interview, he says Captain Lee has been his mentor since the day they met, and it’s terrifying for him. If the captain doesn’t show up, the charter won’t be happening, so it’s very concerning

Francesca arrives next, and checks the boat out. She meets Eddie, and in her interview, says she takes her job too seriously sometimes. She wants to think like a guest. Attention to detail is everything, and she likes everything meticulously placed. Eddie explains that Captain Lee is at the hospital. Avery is next, then Elizabeth, and James. As Eddie goes about his duties, he says, come back and work on the yacht, Eddie. It will be fun, they said. He thinks he feels an aneurysm coming on. In James’s interview, he says he wouldn’t kick Francesca out of bed. Alrighty then, but is he detail oriented? Shane thinks the boat is gnarly, and in Avery’s interview, he says he was on a rocky road in a dark place, and found yachting by accident.

Francesca and Eddie meet with their respective teams. Eddie tells the deckhands, they have to unf*** stuff today. In his interview, he says he’s trying to stay composed and professional, but deep down, he’s panicking. The first charter is less than 24 hours away, and there’s a lot on the line.

In her interview, Izzy says she’s been around boats her whole life. She was too cheap to pay for a holiday, so she started working on boats. As long as she’s working, and living life to the fullest, she’s up for a challenge. Shane intrudes on the interior meeting, and Francesca wonders why he’s there before he wanders off again. In Shane’s interview, he says he’s new to yachting, and has less than a year under his belt. He’s been on boats his whole life, but never vessels over 150 feet. Eddie hunts for Shane, and tells him that they’re bunking together. Shane says he’s from a white glove world, and Eddie says if he doesn’t know what to do, ask. His only problem is if someone says they know how to do something, and they don’t. In his interview, Eddie says he thinks he’s going to be screwed with this one. He tells Shane, just absorb.

Francesca tells the stews to get the cabins guest ready, and familiarize themselves with where things are. In Francesca’s interview, she says she tries to find balance between being patient, and being a hard-on. That’s how she rolls. Elizabeth says she’s used to working with militant chief stews, and thinks Francesca has pure intentions, In Eddie’s interview, he says Avery seems knowledgeable and organized. With a new crew and the captain injured, he’s got a lot to do to get ready, and needs someone he can depend on. Elizabeth struggles with making beds, and Izzy gets hit in the face with bidet water. James asks about the girls on the boat. In his interview, he says he doesn’t think yachting is much of a career, He just wants to get some sun, party, and flirt.

Chef Rachel arrives, and says she had her purse stolen. She was in a store, and left her purse in the cart (you all know not to do that, right?), and it was stolen. It was upsetting and overwhelming, and she’s not in the state she should be in mentally, and it sucks. The deckhands wash down and clean up. Francesca asks Elizabeth to do laundry detail. In Rachel’s interview, she says, normally, she’d reorganize the galley, but she needs to hit the ground running, suck it up, and get it done with a smile. Provisions come in, and Eddie tries calling Captain Lee again.

Captain Lee finally makes it to the boat, and everyone is like, yay! He tells Eddie, no hugs. In his interview, the captain says his ribs are killing him, but only when he moves and breathes. Other than that, it’s fine. He’s glad he didn’t damage any vital organs, but feels like he’s been wrapped up in a bedsheet and beaten with a bat. Suck it up, creampuff. He radios for everyone to come to the Sky Lounge. He apologizes for leaving them high and dry, but it couldn’t be helped; it’s under control now. He introduces Mario and Zack, the engineers, and first officer John. He gives the crew his rules – don’t embarrass the boat or themselves. In his interview, he says he doesn’t want a repeat of last season. No physical intimidation. We flash back to drunk Ashton. He says, they got away with it last year. If they don’t respect each other this season, they’re gone. We flash back to the captain slamming the door after he tells Kate and Ashton not to be slamming doors. He tells the crew, if anyone thinks he won’t fire someone mid-charter, they don’t know him. In Izzy’s interview, he says he’s like a sweet grandpa who will spank you if you do something wrong. Captain Lee says a quick way to get a one-way ticket is to be without a radio.

The captain meets with Francesca, and tells her that he doesn’t like to micromanage. He asks her to go to whoever is having the issue first, and try to resolve it. If she can’t, bring him a straight, unbiased version. He tells her, laundry is his pet peeve. There’s the bar, and his bar, which is way the f*** up there. In his interview, he says he’s had the same chief stew for the last six years, and we flash back to Kate. He says, it  takes a long time to develop the level of trust he and Kate shared. Francesca has huge shoes to fill. Francesca tells him that she wants the guests to have one-of-a-kind, unique experiences. In the captain’s interview, he says Francesca seems competent, and seems to know her stuff, but she has a lot on her plate. He explains how he wants the crease in the front of his pants, not on the side, and in his interview, he says Francesca doesn’t know what a d*ck he can be. Francesca gives Elizabeth the skinny on the captain’s pants.

It’s time for the first preference sheet meeting, and the captain radios Eddie, Francesca, and Rachel. He tells them he’s had Charley on board before. He’s a fun guy, with a propensity for living on the edge. We flash back to Charley being kind of an a-hole. Charley is bringing his boyfriend Carlos, and a couple of friends. The captain says the menu will include vegan and keto, and they want an international themed dinner the first night. In Rachel’s interview, she says when she’s not doing yachting, she’s a private Ayurvedic chef. She studied in India for three years. She’s got this. Captain Lee says they want a neon carnival themed party on the second day, which is also guest Lexy’s birthday. He says, Charley knows what to expect. Never let him see you sweat. In his interview, Captain Lee says, Charley is a handful. He demands a lot, and doesn’t mind paying for it, but to get to the pot at the end of the rainbow, you’ve got to create the rainbow. The crew calls it a night.

Shane says he likes to meditate when he wakes up. It sets the precedent for the entire day. Izzy is tasked with the captain’s breakfast, but Francesca thinks a snail could make breakfast faster, and it doesn’t even have hands. She doesn’t think it does anyway. Eddie tells the captain, Avery is solid, but Shane has green growing pains. The captain says he was doing good until he rolled over. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, last season, he had no bosun he could count on and depend on . We flash back to several inferior bosuns, and the captain says, when you have a new crew, you’ve got to have a stabilizing factor. Eddie brings that to the table. Elizabeth radios James to come and get a bag of garbage. He comes down wearing shorter than short shorts. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she hopes this is the first yacht she doesn’t fall in love on. It’s a half hour to charter, and Avery says, it’s a never ending battle to clean things that will never be clean. Eddie tells them, it’s showtime.

Charley and friends arrive, and the captain welcomes them. He tells them Francesca will give them the grand tour, and they’ll get started. Charley says, it’s good to be home. He points out a bathroom where one of his friends may have passed out, and tells his party, don’t do that. The luggage is brought on board, and the railings come in. A guest flirts with James. Apparently, she and Elizabeth are seeing something I don’t. In his interview, Eddie says, docking and undocking are a spectator sport. People love to watch. All  the lines are clear, and they head out. The guests want espresso martinis, and Izzy begs the espresso machine to work. Francesca wonders how long it takes to make espressos, and says, Izzy is so slow. They have two machines; use them both. She brings up some vegan delights appetizers to the guests, and in her interview, says, being chief stew is all about problem solving. She helps make espresso shots for the martinis. Carlos loves it, so all is well.

Francesca asks Elizabeth to unpack the master, and shows Izzy how to make the martini. She just needs it to happen. Looking at all the stuff Charley brought, Elizabeth says it’s a lot of sh*t for three days. Anchor is dropped at Morris Bay. Charley tells his guests, until the crew figures out what’s going on, what do they need? He takes orders for an espresso martini, an Aperol spritz, and sunscreen. He gets behind bar, and tells Izzy that he’s helping out. Izzy is like, no, and he tells her to get the sunscreen, and he’ll make the drinks. Izzy tells Francesca, the primary senses everyone is overwhelmed, and is making drinks. Francesca says they need to step up their game. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s questioning her decision to work there. Why did she do this to herself? Francesca tells Charley that she’ll take care of it; it’s her domain. Carlos says, the crew needs to step it up. In Francesca’s interview, she says they’re supposed to be 7 star service. Charley tells her, call today a learning curve, and call tomorrow, get it right. He understands for 24 hours.

Eddie wants to sit and cry. Francesca asks Elizabeth to take over bartending. In her interview, Francesca says Elizabeth is adapting, and doing what she’s told. Thank God, since Izzy isn’t happening. Francesca says she comes from a large yacht, and had stews with experience. With the guests full-on, she needs stews who know what they’re doing. She confers with Rachel about dinner. The captain asks Izzy how it’s going, and she says she’s a little overwhelmed. In his interview, he says that’s not what he wants to hear. James checks out guest Lexy, and says he likes older chicks, and the birthday girl is hot. In Rachel’s interview, she says, food is multi-dimensional. There’s the visual, the scent, the texture, and the taste. She loves it. It’s like a fun puzzle she puts together. She apologizes for being a nerd.

Shane replaces the plastic bar straws with paper ones that have a nautical theme. He says he always brings his own straws. We have one planet, and if we destroy the earth where will humans go? The moon? Charley loves the table setting, and Francesca starts to bring out the food. The guests think it looks incredible. Rachel brings up a dish, and the deckhands put the jet skis in the water. There’s silence while the guests eat, and Charley says them being quiet is a good sign. He loves the avocado reduction, and declares it could double as a facial mask. Eddie says he and Avery are two peas in a pod, and killing it. The guests go out on the jet skis, and circle around the boat. Captain Lee asks Francesca if things are smoothing out. She says, as much as they can. Izzy is doing what she can, but she needs training. The captain says, this isn’t where one should be learning, and Francesca says, it just makes things worse. Avery gets a text from his mother that his grandmother is getting worse, and they’re not sure how much time she has. Avery asks what he should do, and his mother says, it’s up to him. He cries.

Some of the guests start pushing each other into the water from the boat, while Charley is still out on the jet ski. The captain says it’s making him nervous; it’s too dangerous. Eddie tells them, too close; there are people in the water. Charley and whoever he’s riding with fall off. Avery asks Captain Lee if he has a second, and tells the captain that he has bad news about his grandma. He has to leave as soon as possible. The captain says he’s sorry to hear it, and Avery says, they thought it was the flu, but he guesses it wasn’t. And you know what we’re all thinking. He says he’s sorry. It’s the last thing he wants to do. Captain Lee says he understands; family first, always. Not a problem. Avery leaves, and the captain is like, ugh, sitting with his head in his hands.   

Eddie says, the guests are an absolute sh*t show. Charley says they failed the jet ski experiment. The captain asks to talk to Eddie, and Francesca brings the guests snacks. Captain Lee tells Eddie, they just lost a guy. Avery’s grandma is dying, and might not make it through the night. Get him packed and out. Eddie says, it’s an f-ing mess. He asks Avery, what’s happening? and Avery says this is the last thing he wants to do, but Eddie says, don’t worry about them. Go and be with his family. In Avery’s interview, he says, he feels bad leaving, but he feels he has to. He thanks Captain Lee, who says he’s so sorry. The captain hugs Avery, and tells him to take care of himself. Stay strong. Eddie says his best deckhand has to leave for a family emergency. They’re a man down, they have thirsty, high maintenance charter guests, and a new crew. The future doesn’t look bright. They’re screwed. In Avery’s interview, he says the last thing he wants to do is leave, but it’s a decision he had to make. He can’t imagine doing anything different. No matter what’s going on, he’s going to make sure his career is successful. He wants to be just like Captain Lee.  

Eddie says, day one.

This season, Captain Lee says, Antigua has a beach for every day of the year – how incredible is that? Hot tub hijinks; sushi on a nakey woman; Captain Lee says, there’s no crying in yachting; caviar isn’t delivered when the guests specifically requested it; Francesca says, Rachel is a time bomb; James wants to get to know Elizabeth; Shane doesn’t answer his radio, and consistently doesn’t wear a shirt, annoying the captain; Francesca calls out Elizabeth; the Corona virus begins; Captain Lee says, the effing world is going to hell in an effing handbasket; Rachel says she’s out; Eddie says he needs help; and the captain says, let the firings begin.

🛥 Meet the New Cast…

Avery not included.

https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck/about

😔 Idol Gone Too Soon…

The best I can say is, at least it wasn’t suicide or covid.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/01/us/nikki-mckibbin-american-idol-death-trnd/index.html

🌪 Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On…

And it doesn’t just kill people.

https://nypost.com/2020/10/30/how-covid-shook-up-tv-casts-from-9-1-1-lone-star-to-witcher/

🎸 If You’ve Ever Wondered Why…

An explanation of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snubs.

https://pagesix.com/article/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-snubs/

🎃 2020 Costume Parade…

Celebrity Halloween costumes.

https://www.essence.com/beauty/our-favorite-celebrity-halloween-costume-2020/

More celebrity Halloween costumes.

https://pagesix.com/slideshow/best-celebrity-halloween-costumes/

If you can’t get enough of celebrity Halloween costumes.

https://people.com/celebrity/star-tracks-sunday-november-1-2020/

Kelly and Mark in Halloween costumes.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1204067/why-kelly-ripa-censored-her-and-mark-consuelos-halloween-photos

And Heidi’s Halloween effort for this miserable year.

https://www.today.com/popculture/heidi-klum-debuts-sinister-short-film-about-halloween-2020-t196830

📇 Another Monday Shredded…

It’s officially election day for the Big Kahuna, so if you haven’t done it yet, get out there and vote. Just don’t touch anything while you’re there. And don’t forget to stay safe, stay peaceful, and stay knowing it’s not a right, it’s a privilege.

Nov2

November 1, 2020 – Ginny Makes an Example, Felix Throws In, the Spy We Loved & Forever

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What I Watched Today

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

Fear the Walking Dead

John writes to June, I’ve been thinking about my dad a lot lately. Maybe it’s being away from you – my heart, my everything – that my thoughts drift to my family. We weren’t together nearly as long as I would have liked, and I suppose I could say the same thing now. He packs a bag, and puts the letter in. He goes out into a little town. The neighbors are friendly. They smile and wave. He goes into an establishment that flies a flag with a key on it, and gets his guns. They’re still important to me, things I care about to this day. He goes to a guardhouse next to the Lawton sign, and relieves the man on duty. The letter continues, one thing I was told that I’ve carried particularly close, is that people deserve to live in a world where they know which way is up, or have someone else who knows if they can’t. I suppose that’s the reason I became a cop, and the same reason I became a cop again when Ginny asked me to. I eased into the role because I had reservations. Understandable, given the way things played out the last time I wore a badge. This feels different. Life here isn’t as I imagined. In the guardhouse, he reads the letter over. People give up some freedoms, but I’m starting to believe it’s worth the cost. They haven’t lost a soul in the 246 days I’ve been here. It’s a comfort, knowing I played a part in that. It’s not the world my dad dreamed of, but the people know which way is up. I hope you can find out for yourself. Maybe one day we can be together here. He knocks at a door, calling to someone named Cameron, saying Cameron missed his shift. There’s no answer, so he goes around to the back. He sees a man stuck on a barbed wire fence, being eaten by two zombies. John kills them, and the newly zombiefied guy, presumably, Cameron. The letter concludes, until then, sending you all my love, always.

Morgan goes to a storage space, and picks up a hoodie. He ponders it for a while. He gets in his truck, and shows it to a bloodhound, saying Daniel left it for them. The dog smells it, and Morgan asks if the dog will bark now, when they get closer. He asks if he should take the dog to the last place he saw him. He looks in the windshield mirror, and wonders if he’ll be recognized, and drives out.

At Cameron’s place, a small crowd has gathered. Ginny, says, don’t move him. She tells John, he knows how it can take its toll, especially if it’s one of theirs. The best thing is to go home. He says he’s trying to secure the scene, and she says, understood, but they should round the people up. Cameron warned her about his drinking. He must have gotten too close. John says, one way to find out is to look into it, but she says he can’t exactly investigate. He says he can collect the body. The last thing they want is anyone else getting hurt. She appreciates that he takes his duties seriously. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. He thanks her, and she and her Rangers leave. John looks around near the fence, where the guy , and picks up an earring.  

A car comes by, and Victor gets out. He and John hug. John sees a key on Victor’s lapel, and asks how he ended up with the hardware. Victor says, the same way John did. They do what they can to get by. He’s going to a meeting of the settlement council. John tells him about finding Cameron dead in the barbed wire, and says Ginny thinks it’s an accident. Victor says, and John? John says he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have doubts. Victor asks if he can do anything, and John says, no, but if that changes, he’ll let Victor know.

John goes over to Janice, who’s scrubbing some clothes on a washboard. She says she doesn’t have a letter, but John says that’s not what he’s there for. He wants to talk about Cameron. They were close, right? She says she did his laundry. She asks if he knows what happened, and he says Cameron was tangled in the fence, but he doesn’t know how or why. He shows her the earring, and asks if it looks familiar. He found it near the body. She says, it’s not hers, and he says he knows, but since she does laundry… She says she’s never seen it, and asks, what’s going on? He says he doesn’t know, but until he does, be careful. She’s the closest thing he’s got to family.

John goes to see Ginny, and tells her that he went back to Cameron’s. He says he doesn’t think Cameron stumbled. He doesn’t think Cameron was drunk. There was a bottle of moonshine in his house, and he hadn’t touched a drop. What if he was pushed? She says, by who? and he shows her the earring, saying he found it in the dirt. He bets whoever has the matching one is the person they’re looking for. She looks at it, and says, a man in the first place she lived murdered a friend over a can of tuna. The town elders made a show of it to keep everyone in line. They tied him to a stake outside the walls, and blasted music to draw the dead. He was picked clean to the bone, like a turkey on Thanksgiving. He says he doesn’t want that. She’s talking punishment. She says he doesn’t even know if a crime was committed, and he says, and he won’t, unless he looks further. She says she’d appreciate it if he kept it quiet. A place is only as safe as the people feel it is. He says, making people feel safe is good, but actually making them safe is better. She says he’s right. She’ll put on more patrols until they figure out what’s what.

Rabbi Jacob speaks at Cameron’s grave. He says, in Hebrew tzedakah means charity. We need to do what is right. Cameron answered the call, making their lives safer until his last breath. His life is a reminder that they should dedicated their lives to tzedakah, to be worthy of the world they inhabit, and goodness will prevail. They all put handfuls of dirt on the grave. John hands Dakota a piece of candy, saying he’s off of them until he gets his tooth sorted out. He asks if she knew Cameron, and she says, only that he was on Ranger detail outside of the gate, and Ginny had been having a hard time with him. Ginny comes by, and tells Dakota to go home.

John sees Janis being handcuffed, and trots over. The officer says she was trying to sneak to the fence. Ginny asks if Janis was trying to run off again, and tells John to check her bag. He dumps it out, and we see a few supplies. Ginny looks through them, and picks up an earring that matches the one John found. She says, how about that?

John visits Janis in her cell, and she says she lied to him when she said it wasn’t her earring. He shows her a sketch pad, and says he found this in Cameron’s house under the mattress. He was pretty talented. He flips to a sketch of the back of a woman, sleeping in bed, and asks if it’s her. She doesn’t say anything, and he says he can’t help if she doesn’t talk to him. She says he can’t help her even if she does. Ginny has had it out for her since she and Tom refused to kiss her ass. She had Tom killed. If Ginny decides it’s so, than it is. He says, no. She wants people to feel safe; that won’t happen. Janis says she wasn’t lying when she told him the earring wasn’t hers. She thinks Ginny planted them. John tells her, be straight. What’s going on? She says she and Cameron were together, but they hid it. They were afraid Ginny would use it against them, and try to split them up. They piled up supplies, and figured in a few more days, they could leave this place for good. She didn’t want be there without him. Cameron wasn’t perfect, but he listened and cared. She was lonely, and so was he, and they found each other. They thought they may as well be lonely together. It sure sounds crazy it, doesn’t it? The guy at the desk calls to John, saying, Ginny needs to see him. He tells Janis, if he can, he’ll set this straight. She says she knows he will.

Ginny tells John, the strawberry yield was good. It makes her think they’re on the right track – in more ways than one. He bites into some toast and jam, and she tells him that he should have someone look at his tooth. She thanks him, saying, if they hadn’t had that talk, she never would have doubled up Ranger rounds, and Cameron’s killer would be half way to Mississippi. John tells her, Janis says it’s not her earring, and Ginny says Janis was trying to run away during the funeral. He says he knows how it looks, but he didn’t even properly inspect the body. She asks if he’s going to dust for prints. She knows what he wants to believe, and asks if it’s intuition or that he doesn’t want to lose his carrier pigeon. He asks if she read his letters, and she says, every single one. Cameron made sure of it. She tells him not to worry. The things he said show he believes in this place. He’s invested in what happens. Janis is an example that needs be made. She tells him, go home, get some rest, and be proud of the work he’s done there. She is. She thinks his daddy would be too. I get angry, since she’s using his dad as a manipulation tactic, and someone did that to me once.

When John goes outside, Dakota asks if he was a cop. He says he was, and she asks if he ever killed anyone. He says he did, but he didn’t mean to. She tells him, don’t listen to her. He’s doing the right thing. She’s protecting someone. He asks, who? but Dakota doesn’t know. He needs to keep on it. Ginny pops out, and tells Dakota to get back in the house.

John lies awake in bed. He finally gets up, and goes to Cameron’s grave, digging down to the body. He looks it over, covering his nose and mouth. He sees Cameron’s throat has been slit. A zombie tumbles in, and John puts Cameron’s body between him and it. Another falls in, and John struggles to keep their mouths away from him. He pushes them off long enough for him to grab the shovel, and he kills them with it. He looks in Cameron’s hand, and takes something out of it. He looks at it, and it’s a piece of a knife. He hoists himself out of the grave.  

John tells Victor, Cameron’s throat was cut. It was plain as day. He stands near the grave, where a couple of guys deal with what’s left of Cameron and the two zombies. Victor says, Cameron got chewed up in there, and John nearly got chewed up with him. John says, not by choice, and Victor says, even if Ginny wanted to get to the bottom of it, the evidence has been chewed up and spit out. Showing Victor the knife piece, John says he found this in Cameron’s hand; it must have broken off. Victor says, Janis couldn’t have gotten a knife out of lockdown without anyone knowing, and John wonders who would have access to the sign-out list.  

Victor waits while John looks through drawers. He tells John, the next shift starts at five, and who would be dumb enough to bring the murder weapon back? John says he’ll see who checked it out, and flips through a ledger. Victor says it’s his ass if Ginny find out. John says, hand-carved bone, and Victor asks when it was checked out. John says, the page is missing. Someone doesn’t want him to find it. He’s going to find the rest of the knife. It’s got to be there, or just outside the gate. Victor says, what then? and John says, people only safe feel if they know what’s going on. Victor asks if he thinks Ginny is going to sit by, and John says, she won’t have a choice. Even her sister thinks she’s protecting someone. Victor tells him, think long and hard before he commits to this course of action. If he goes down this path, there’s no going back.

John goes to Janice’s cell, and she says he shouldn’t be there. He says he thought it would give them a chance to talk. Ginny is protecting someone. He doesn’t know who or why, maybe a ranger, but there’s no way Janice could have gotten her hands on the weapon he found. She tells him, stop. He says he can get her out. Ginny comes in with Victor and some others, and she says she wasn’t expecting him. Victor says he sees John got his message, and thanks him for coming. He tells Ginny, they’ll need a witness, and John says, for what? Ginny says, her confession. Janice says she knows she said she was innocent, but she did it; she killed Cameron. She lied to him. She was there the night Cameron died. They were planning on running away, but he said he couldn’t go; what they had wasn’t worth it. She was hurt and angry, and the fight spilled outside. She got out of control, and pushed him into the fence, then watched the dead tear him apart. Ginny thanks her for unburdening herself, and hopes she makes peace with it. John says, she confessed; it has to count for something. Ginny says she knows he’s invested, but people need to feel safe, and she has to make sure they do. She’ll give them time alone to say their goodbyes. Victor locks eyes with John before he leaves.

John asks Janis why she’s making it easy. Ginny isn’t going to take mercy on her. Janis says, it’s okay. She has no one in her life. Tom, Cameron, there’s nothing more for her, but there is for him. She tells him, look under the floorboard in Cameron’s place, there’s a can of gas for the generator and a spare key; Tom has a dirt bike. She gives him the directions to where it is, and tells him, take it. Get out of here. The place is rotten. It spoils everything it touches. Sooner or later, there’s going to be something he doesn’t want to do. He tells her not to give up, but she says she’s not. She’s setting them free. He says, it’s not just her life, but the truth. She says, it’s okay. Let her go.

John looks at a map, and drinks. There’s a knock at the door, and Jacob comes in. He says he thought John might need company. John guesses Jacob heard about Janice, and Jacob says, she’s set to be executed at daybreak. He spoke to her as her officially sanctioned spiritual advisor. She’s a brave women facing a cowardly act. John says he always followed the rules; the rules made sense to him. Jacob asks if he’s thinking of running away, and John says Janice wants him to. She told him, find June, and get the hell out of there, but he’s not going to do it. Jacob asks what he is going to do, and John says, get Janice out. Jacob says, there are only a few Rangers on duty during shift change, and John says his dad had a case when he was knee-high. The term didn’t exist then, but it was a serial killer. They found him living in a compound with a bunch of people he’d brainwashed, who thought he was the second coming. He was nothing but a two-bit mortician, spouting about death and new beginnings; nonsense that he made sound profound. The entire force, his dad included, combed the place. The guy was guilty, but they couldn’t pin it on him. His dad found a purse from a missing woman squirreled away in a back closet. It was enough evidence to put the SOB away for the rest of his life. Jacob says it sounds like his father was a her, and John says he planted the purse. He knew the man was guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt, and broke the rules to set things right. He felt like the people living in the world knew which way was up. The people who knew were happy to get a dangerous guy off the street, and saved the women he would have hurt, but they never looked at him the same way. They weren’t certain they could trust anything he did now. His parents’ marriage fell apart. His dad moved north, and he started drinking. He did the right thing, and it cost him something hard. Jacob says, it’s going to cost John, but he seems to know that. John says he’s not worried about himself, and he trusts Ginny won’t hurt June. She needs people who know medicine, but he know he’ll never see June again. When his dad disappeared, it was hard on him. His dad had to do what he did, and he knows there are people alive who wouldn’t have been, whose lives his dad saved, even if it cost him the one he was living. It’s the choice he’s making. Jacob says they could find another way. He could talk to Ginny; buy them more time. John says, there’s none to buy, and asks Jacob to make sure June gets the letter he’s written, so she knows why he had to do this. They hug, and John thanks Jacob. Jacob says, who knows? John may yet see her again. John says, let’s hope so. Jacob leaves, and John puts his head in his hands and cries.

John packs a bag, puts the map inside, and blows out the candles. He goes to Janis’s cell, and sees it’s empty. He says, no, no, no, no, and goes out the gate. He hears music coming from a boombox, and sees zombies feeding. He shoots them, and finds a body that been totally mutilated. He looks up at the radio and sees zombie Janis on the ground, a noose half in her mouth, and her hands tied. He comes closer to her, and his face shows a thousand emotions. He shoots her, and then shoots the radio.   

John pounds a cross into the ground in the cemetery, and hangs the plaque with Janis’s name on it.

John strides into town, gun in hand. Jacob comes out, and John says, they moved up the execution. Jacob says he knows, and John asks if Jacob told her. Jacob says, someone told him, and Victor comes out. John asks Jacob if he told Victor, but Victor says, he didn’t have to. He knows John. John asks if Victor arranged for Janis’s confession, and Victor says it was Janis’s idea. John asks if Victor told Ginny what he was going to do, and Victor says he told Ginny that Janis was a flight risk. John hits Victor a good one in the head. Victor falls down, and John walks away, but Victor gets up, and they fight. They’re both on the ground, and John says Victor killed her. He keeps punching Victor in the head, and reaches for the gun nearby, but Jacob grabs it up. Victor says Janis was going take the fall, and he kept John from going with her. John says, they could have gotten away, but Victor says, Ginny would have hunted him down killed them both. Jacob suggests Victor get cleaned up, and John says, Janis was right. This place destroys everything.

Ginny stands on a porch in front of a crowd of townspeople. She says they’re all after same thing. Not just Lawton, but all the settlements in the franchise. They want to feel safe from the danger lurking beyond the place they call home. Cameron’s murder tested their stability, and they won because of one man’s pursuit of the truth. John stands next to her, looking a little sad and unkempt. She says, with men like him on watch, their enterprise is rife with promise. He was there for them in their hour of need, and she asks him to accept this small token of gratitude. She pins a key to his lapel, and says, the key to the future; their future. She quietly tells him, congratulations, Ranger boy. He’ll find the honor will afford him many privileges. He looks at Dakota, then looks down sadly.

John can’t sleep, which is understandable. There’s a knock at the door. It’s June, and he asks what she’s doing there. She says, Ginny didn’t tell him? Ginny transferred her. She’s based out of Lawton now. He wonders why, and she kisses him. She asks, what is it? and he says, nothing, Junebug. He tells her to unpack, and he’ll clean up. He’s glad to see her. She goes inside, and he turns, and closes the door.

In the bathroom, John pokes at his tooth, and pulls it out himself with a pair of plyers. You may now flinch as I did. He lets it slide down the drain. He looks long and hard at himself in the mirror. A song plays, and we hear, I won’t cry as long as I have you…

Morgan drives, and tells the dog, they’re almost there. He puts up the window, and the dog lies down on the floor. Morgan says he’s not going to lie. This is the last place in the world he wants to go, but if that’s what it takes, right? He laughs, and a car comes out of the blue, T-boning him. He asks if the dog is okay, and he is (thank God – I can’t believe I have another dog to worry about now). He sees the other car has stopped, steam coming from the engine. He rubs his shoulder, and tells the dog to stay there. He gets, bringing his battle ax with him.

A guy tumbles out of the car, and Morgan asks if it was an accident. Now would be a good time to say he’s sorry. The guy asks, where’s Emile? and Morgan says, Virginia knows where he is. The guys asks, who’s Virginia? and Morgan sees that another guy is on his other side. The new guy says he just wants the key, but Morgan says he doesn’t know what they’re talking about. He tells them, stay back; he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. The second guy has come closer, and they move in for an attack, but Morgan slices into the second guy, disemboweling him, as I say, ooh, then OH. His intestines literally fall out. The first guy gets Morgan in a headlock, and we see a key on a chain around Morgan’s neck. Morgan slices that guy open too.

Morgan looks at the key, and says, what the hell do you unlock?

Next time, masked people, Al tells Dwight that it’s not his call, Dwight tells Shari that it will all be behind them, and Dwight is trapped and surrounded.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Huck told everyone, what was on the other side was rougher than what they’d seen before. Felix got Elton on the side to confer, but Elton said he hadn’t told Felix he was in. Felix said Elton hadn’t said he wasn’t in either. He told Elton, the Mississippi would be the last chance to get everyone home safe, and he’d need Elton’s help to do it. Elton asked why Felix thought anyone would listen to him, and Felix said Elton cared about them, like he did. Felix told Huck that Elton was with them, but she thought maybe they should head to Plan B. The best way was for one of them to go with the girls, and the other with the boys. They stopped at a dock, where there was a lone boat, and Elton said it had probably been used as an escape route, and this boat was the last one. Iris suggested they get creative, and build their own. She saw a hull, and thought they could do a remodel. Silas thought it could work, and Felix was like, damn!

They looked through a supply warehouse, where we got Elton’s backstory. Elton flashed back to being with his dad and pregnant mom in his dad’s office at the Natural History Museum, where his dad was apparently a paleontologist. He told Elton about the end of the dinosaurs, and said it was never too early for science. Elton also felt his little sister move, and named her Esmerelda. His mother said they’d talk about it. She had to leave for a meeting, and said she’d heard there was a lot of police activity near the hospital. Elton’s father told her to stay safe, and after she left, he showed Elton how to dust a fossil. They began to hear a lot of sirens outside.   

Felix told the kids, they had no engine to fight the current. Elton tried being discouraging, but Iris thought they could get parts from an air conditioner, and make a steamboater. Silas compared it to the dorm furnaces he had to fix.

Hope said the river was the last big thing in their way, and Felix told Huck, the closer they were to finishing the boat, the harder it would be to convince them. Huck said she thought maybe they should let the plan go. Hope eavesdropped, and asked Elton if he was involved. She told Iris and Silas that Elton was working with Felix, and asked Felix what Plan B was, to sabotage the boat? Felix said he was going to have them take the boat downriver, then go back to the university. They didn’t know where they were going, or what they were doing when, or if, they got there. They didn’t even know for sure if their dad was in trouble. He could have sent more messages while they were gone. Hope said he didn’t even believe his own words, and he said he’d made a promise to their father to keep them safe. Iris said they didn’t have time for an argument, and Felix needed to leave his sh*t at the door. Without everyone giving 100%, they wouldn’t make it across the river.

Huck and Hope looked for a fuel source, and Huck said she’d tried to do what was best for everybody. Hope asked who’s side Huck was on. She’d heard Huck tells Felix they should call it off. Huck said she was all for stopping them for a long while, but now she didn’t know. Going cross country was big, and doing sh*t like that was what made them stronger and better. She explained she’d been found floating down the Missouri in a raft with a broken arm. She’d messed up, and wasn’t sure if she was coming or going. The next thing she knew, they were calling her Huck, which she thought was kind of cool. She said she left a lot out, but she hadn’t known if she was going to live or die, and came close to giving up; just letting the water take her away. She had to push every single moment, and the pushes she’d overcome caused her to be stronger and better. Maybe that’s what this would be for them. Maybe even Felix. Hope thought Huck should tell him, but Huck said it wasn’t her place. Maybe Felix had to figure it out for himself in his own way.

Felix tried talking to Hope, who said she was pissed at herself for thinking she could turn him. She and Iris never got a brother, since he never acted like one. They weren’t his sisters; they were his problems. She’d trusted him more than anyone, and he should have told their dad not to. She guessed it was time for her to grow up.

Silas said the nail polish box at the warehouse could help them with the fuel situation. It started to storm, and Iris asked if Felix thought her dad was really safe. He said he did. He had to be, and so did Will. He should have gone, but their dad asked him to stay behind, and Will took his place, but Felix wasn’t there to protect him. Silas and Elton dumped all the polish into containers. Elton said people knew death was inevitable, but was so horrible a concept, they tried to put it off for a while. Fear was the body’s reaction to risk, and if they understood risk on a conscious level, there was no need to fear. He flashed back to being with his dad, who told young Elton he was going to find them a safe home. He was locking door, and gave Elton a giant tooth fossil that he said was special, and would keep anyone safe who was holding it. It sounded like chaos outside, with a lot of screaming and shooting. He put Elton in a crate, and closed the lid.

Iris told Felix, something was weird, and asked if his skin was tingling. Felix pushed her down, and lightning struck. A bunch of zombies toddled out of a nearby bar.

Iris and Felix ran back to the makeshift boat. Iris told Huck the empties were coming, and they couldn’t risk the rising water washing the boat away. Hope suggested they get in when the sh*t hit the fan. Elton and Silas ran back, but Elton tripped and fell, spilling the nail polish. He swore it wasn’t on purpose. Silas helped him up, and when they got to the boat, iris poured the polish into the engine, and got it going. Flames shot up, and then it died. The zombies from the bar were headed their way, and Felix put fishing line across the trees a bunch of times to slow them up. Iris said a belt had come off, and that’s why the engine failed. They needed someone small to go underneath, and Elton was small enough. Elton said he was claustrophobic, and Iris said, please, which sent him back to being in the crate. She told him that he could do it. Felix kept an eye on the zombies, holding a sword as they pushed against the line. Elton recited the planets to himself, along with young Elton in his head. He got the engine started again, but got stuck trying to wriggle back out. Hope and Iris had gone to help Felix, and Elton remembered his dad giving him the fossil. He put the same faith in a paintbrush, using it for magical protection, but Hope and Iris got back in time to pull him out. Good thing, since I don’t think the paintbrush was going to do much for him, and the zombies had broken free. The group pushed the boat, but it was slow going, and the zombies were getting closer. Hope thought they’d better run for it, but Felix joined in, using a piece of lumber as leverage, and the boat moved. The zombies were just a few feet away when the boat was all the way in the water, and they jumped on. Everyone was all proud of themselves.

Felix admitted that he’d was going to turn them around, but said he realized he’d do zero good, and told Hope that she was stubborn as sh*t. Huck thought it might be good for them, and turn them into the people they were supposed to be. Hope said the clues she’d left weren’t just because she hoped he’d turn them around, but that he’d help, and he was there now. Huck told Hope that Felix would keep them safe, and keep Will safe when they found him. She said the best thing was to divide and conquer. Their intel was weak, and she told them she’d be back in 48 hours max, but she was leaving them in good hands until then.

Elton looked at the sky and remembered his last time with both of his parents, and cried. He wrote in the margins of a book that nature had accounted for everything in the human race except self-awareness. Humans can act in ways nature isn’t expecting or ready for. It lets them see a path in the wind, even if for a moment. Sometimes a moment is all you need. Young Elton came out of his hiding place, and went out in the hallway. He saw his dad dead, shot in head, and everything was a mess. He picked up a messenger bag, put the fossil in it, and walked out into the world. As he exited the museum, he picked up a flyer that said Public Evacuation. Hope asked if he was okay, and he told her, the night the sky fell, his father told him not to be scared, and he wasn’t. He said his father was scared, probably more than he’d ever been, but that didn’t stop him from doing what needed to be done. He was brave because he was scared, not in spite of it. Hope wished she could have met his parents, and thought they must have been pretty cool to make a kid like him. He said he sometimes thought his mother was still out there somewhere, and his sister Esmerelda. Hope said that wasn’t so crazy, but looked at his mother’s picture, and remembered shooting her.

As they sat around a campfire, the group heard something. It was a zombie, and Iris said she had this.

Next time, an uninvited guest, a group of robbers, and zombies in garbage.

🍸 A 00Goodbye…

Somewhere at a heavenly bar, a suave sharply-dressed man sits down, and orders a martini, shaken, not stirred.

https://people.com/movies/sean-connery-hollywoods-quintessential-james-bond-dies/

🦅 Gotta Fly Now…

Tomorrow, lots of costumes and a new Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay serene, and stay aware while you’re driving, even in an apocalypse. And don’t forget to vote.

Oct31

October 30, 2020 – A Stormy Halloween In Port Charles, a RHONY First, Northern Steal, Turning Points, For Your Halloween Viewing, Entertaining Costumes, Watching Them Watch, a Pumpkin Full Of Quotes & Nightmare

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jason meets Sonny at the gym, and Sonny says Sasha’s been meeting with Cyrus, and Carly seems to think she’s using drugs. If she is, he broke the damn truce.

Julian tussles with Darth Vader at an otherwise empty Charlie’s. Darth’s mask comes off, and it’s Taggert. Julian says, You. I know you.

Ryan comes into the visiting room. They pick up the phones. He says he’s surprised to see her on this stormy Halloween night. Is this a trick, or a treat? She says, a treat, and he asks if she did what he said. She says she did. She divorced Nikolas.

Elizabeth tells Nikolas, when he and Ava were playing Franco and her, they were playing him and Ava. She was the one blackmailing him.

Franco asks Terry if Elizabeth asked her to check on him, but she says Elizabeth doesn’t know she’s there. He asks what’s going on, and if she’s seeing a bunch of kids today. She says as much as she’d love to hang out, she’s there in a professional capacity.

Peter asks who it is on the phone, and a female voice asks if he doesn’t recognize her. It’s his old friend, Helena Cassadine. He’s stunned, and tells Maxie and Spinelli, work emergency. He jets to the hallway, and says she’s dead. She says, is she? Then she’s certain chosen the perfect night to deal with some unfinished business. And they have much unsettled between them.

Valentin asks if Anna has an answer, and she says, Faison doesn’t have the genetic marker for rheumatoid arthritis. Which means she’s not Peter’s mother. Alex is.

Valentin tells Anna to sit; it’s a lot to process. She asks how he felt when he found out his whole life was lie. When he found out Mikkos wasn’t his father, and Helena was his mother. He says, like the bottom dropped out of the world, and she says she kind of feels like that. He tells her, take a minute. There’s no more shame; no more guilt. She didn’t sleep with Faison. She didn’t have pregnancy, or give Peter up for adoption. She says, it still feels real, and he says, it isn’t. She says she blamed herself for sleep with Faison and giving away his child. She put herself through hell, and for what? It’s nothing but lies.

Peter asks who is she really, and why is she doing this? Helena says, they both know she’s eluded death before. Why should now be any different? He says because she contacted him. What about Nikolas? Or Spencer? Or her son Valentin? She says she needs him, not them. He asks, why? and she says she needs someone to help her stay dead until she’s ready to reveal herself. Nikolas and Valentin can’t be trusted, but she has leverage over Peter. She can expose his role in abducting Drew in Afghanistan. He says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and she says she has documentation to spark his memory. He asks what she wants, and she says, a meeting. Call when he’s ready to talk. If she doesn’t hear from him, there will be consequences. Maxie and Spinelli join him, and Maxie asks if he’s okay. Spinelli says he looks like he’s seen a ghost.

Jason tells Sonny, a lot more patients have been admitted to the hospital for ODs. Sonny says it’s not uncommon in the country overall, but Jason says it’s uncommon in Port Charles. He wonders if the opiates Neil OD’d on came from Cyrus. If Cyrus is bringing drugs into Port Charles, he found the ultimate way and the ultimate route. Sonny says, the hospital.

Julian says he knows Taggert from the pier. He was there when Julian was trying to stop Nelle from taking Wiley. Taggert says he doesn’t know what Julian is talking about. He’s not that guy. Julian apologizes, and says let him make it up. What’s his poison? On the house. Taggert takes off, and Julian runs after him.

Ryan says Nikolas was never her Prince Charming, and she says he thinks he is? He says he knows he is. She can’t expect him to take her word; he needs proof. She takes out the fake papers, and holds them up against the glass, saying, signed, seal, and delivered. She flashes back to telling Nikolas that they’ll have to do something about the divorce papers, and he says, it doesn’t matter. She didn’t think he’d risk everything, did she? Ava tells Ryan, it’s what he asked for; her divorce papers. Signed by both her and Nikolas, sealed by the state of New York, and delivered to him. She’s officially single, without a title, and the Cassadine fortune, all for him. He says it wasn’t for him. She did it to save her brother’s life. She says, if he thinks so. Now it’s his turn. Give her Nelle’s letter.

Nikolas asks Elizabeth if she’s covering for Franco. Was Franco having him followed? She says she led him on with Franco’s knowledge and support, and he asks, why? She says, the night of the Nurses Ball, she overheard Ava telling Nina that she was trying to push them together, because if Nikolas cheated, the post-nup would kick in. Everything started to make sense. She’d felt like she and Franco were drifting apart, but they were being pulled apart him by him. He admits he pushed Ava toward Franco, and she says he played a game with her marriage and her happiness, when he swore he wanted their friendship back. He says he’s sorry, but she says he can’t apologize for using her. He says he didn’t use her; the feelings were genuine. She says she loves Franco, but for some reason, he can’t accept that. When Scotty suggested they blackmail him and Ava, she was all in. She thought they would be taught a lesson, and she could take back her life and marriage. 

Franco says, propensity doesn’t sound great, and asks Terry where Portia is. Terry says Portia asked her to review his CT scan, and he says, start with the good news. She says she confirmed Portia’s finding that there’s a malignant growth in his frontal lobe, and he says his brain tumor is back.

Jason asks if Sonny wants him to get Brando out of Cyrus’s organization before it blows up, but Sonny says, nothing has blown up yet, especially not the hospital. Jason says he knows the drugs are run through legitimate pharmacy companies, but Sonny says if they get on that, the Feds will come in, and they don’t need the attention. Jason says the hospital makes Cyrus look legitimate, and he knows they won’t put innocent people in harm’s way. Sonny says, they need to take their time getting Cyrus’s drug operation out of Port Charles. The lights go out.

Valentin tells Anna not to pick up the glass with her hands, and asks if she has a dustpan. She says, in the kitchen, when the lights go out. She says, oh no, but he says, it’s all right; they can pick up it up later when the lights come back on. He asks if she needs to check on Violet, but she says Violet is out trick-or-treating with Chase, and then has a sleepover. He asks if she has a flashlight, and she says she’s not going break, but he says she’s not unbreakable. She’s been through a shock, and needs to feel it. She says, it’s not just that Peter isn’t her son. Alex is probably laughing at her. He says she’s laughing at him too. She knows he gave Peter to Faison, thinking he was Anna’s son, and knew the shame he felt. He wanted to be connected to the boy, and she knew the resentment he felt toward the only woman he cared about. She knew there was nothing he could do, and she was laughing at both of them. Anna says, maybe they didn’t deserve that kind of pain, but they’re better equipped to deal with it than Peter. She’s terrified what it’s going to do to Peter, and that he’ll lose faith in himself and his life. Valentin says, Peter is a big boy. They need to find Alex, and eliminate the threat. Anna says, Alex knows Maxie is carrying her grandchild, and they need to be prepared.

Peter tells Maxie that he wanted to go live with a story, and time was of the essence. Now the server is down. Maxie asks if Spinelli can fix it, but Peter says, IT is on it. She says she thought he might leave her stranded on her birthday. The storm probably canceled Georgie’s plans for trick-or-treating, and she was hoping for pictures. Spinelli says, Georgie does make a beautiful Elsa. Maxie says she’s going to check on Georgie, even though Georgie is with her mom. Spinelli says he hopes she only gets the happiness she deserves, and Maxie says she will.   

Franco says, so his tumor is back, and Terry tells him, it seems to have reoccurred in the same area. She’s sorry. He says he doesn’t have any symptoms, and he’s nothing like the person he was last time. She asks if he’s had any vivid dreams or nightmares. Besides fainting, has anything unusual or unexpected happened? He flashes back to his nightmare about Ava, and thinks about when Ava’s painting was defaced. He says, none; just fainting. She says, the symptoms are likely to increase as the tumor progresses, and the preliminary findings show that the tumor is inoperable.    

Nikolas tells Elizabeth, he paid Scotty by check, but it was never cashed. Did she change her mind about blackmailing him? She says she realized she went too far, and Nikolas says, she can try as hard as she can, but she can’t beat him. And he’s very grateful for that.

Ryan asks, what letter? and she says he promised to give her Nelle’s letter when she divorced Nikolas. He says Nelle wrote him so many letters. One describing her beautiful new house, and a very sad one where she said how much she loved her son, and was going to be devastated if she didn’t get custody. And one telling him that Julian knew about Brad replacing Willow’s poor deceased newborn with Sonny’s grandson. She says he knows that’s the one she means. He tells the guard, be a pal and get Mrs. Cass… Sorry. Get Miss Jerome the letter he gave him earlier. Ava says he has the guards doing him favors, and he says, considering he doesn’t know when he’ll see the outside world again, it helps to pay certain people to do certain things. The guard gives Ava an envelope that’s been opened, and Ryan asks if it’s what she wanted. She says he knows it is, and I wonder why she isn’t checking to make sure it is. She tells him, take a good long look. it’s the last one he’s ever going to get. She hangs up the phone, and takes out the letter. It says, do you think I’m stupid? Ryan says, oops. What did I just say? I can’t believe Ava is that stupid.

Franco wonders why the tumor can’t be removed, and Terry says her preliminary assessment is that they can’t remove it, but it’s just the first step in a complex process. They need to take more tests; a biopsy, and a PET scan. They have to get all the viable information before discussing options. Franco says, if they do all that, and still can’t operate, what happens to him?

Nikolas tells Elizabeth, he was hell bent on winning back the Cassadine fortune. He didn’t care what he did or who he did it to. That’s how he got in this mess in the first place. She said both of them were blackmailed. Does that mean there are compromising pictures of Franco and Ava?

Ryan asks if Ava really thought she could fool him with fake divorce papers and no wedding ring. His cellmate was a forger, and taught him all the tricks of the trade. Ava insists it’s not a forgery, but he says she can’t convince him it’s real, or that she’s divorced that cloying puppy dog. He starts yelling that the women he’s loved are all alike. She thinks she can use him because he loves her. The guard grabs him, and he yells that she’s a liar and traitor. She’ll pay. He screams her name as the guard drags him out.

Julian sees Taggert’s mask on the floor, and picks it up, saying, who the hell are you, buddy? He sees the phone, and looks at the picture of Taggert and Trina.

Sonny tells Jason to get a flashlight, and Jason says he’ll check on the generator. Jason leaves, and someone comes up behind Sonny. Without turning around, Sonny asks, who are you? He turns around, drawing his gun, and sees it’s Taggert.

Valentin tells Anna, he left a message with an associate who’s an excellent tracker. No more delays or second thoughts. They need to find Alex. Anna asks if they’re going back to their original plan to lure Alex to Port Charles, but Valentin says, that’s not enough. They need to neutralize her. She asks if it’s strategy or revenge because Alex hurt him, and he says he doesn’t think that’s relevant. Alex was prepared to kill her, and still wants her dead. She thinks he should go now, but he says, when he’s gone, nothing changes. It’s a question of who lives; her or Alex. He’s playing the game too, and chooses her.   

Maxie tells Peter, the storm is moving. Georgie and James will still get in some trick-or-treating. Can they get in some more birthday celebration, or does he need to check the server? He says his phone is off. He has it on silent. He’s all hers. She says, sooner or later, the storm will clear up, and he says, it certainly will. We see an incoming call to Peter from Anna.

Spinelli sneaks down an office corridor, and goes into a room. Sam is sitting at a computer, and startles him. He apologizes for keeping her in suspense; he wanted to check on his daughter’s Halloween plans. She says, did it work? and he says, like a charm. She smiles.

Anna gets Peter’s voicemail, and says, damn you, Alex.

Peter asks what Maxie is thinking, and she says, not only does Peter make a handsome groom, he’s going to make an equally handsome groomsman at Anna’s wedding. He says she’ll be an equally beautiful bridesmaid, and a stunning bride. She says, that has a nice ring. She meant what she said about the wedding and the baby. They have a lot to forward to next year.

Sam thanks Spinelli, saying, it’s brilliant. Once they got real usable audio, they were able to generate a duplicate voice, and all the rest fell into place. Peter thinks Helena is alive and well. Spinelli says, it’s reasonable to assume Helena was aware of Drew’s abduction in Afghanistan, and most likely recruited Peter to facilitate the order in the first place. Sam says, anyone who’s found out about it, ends up dead. Peter’s tied off a lot of loose ends. Spinelli says, if he thinks Helena is a threat, he’ll want to tie her off permanently. Then they can show Maxie who her fiancé really is.

Sonny tells Taggert, nice of him to dress up, and Taggert says, happy Halloween. Sonny asks if he isn’t too old for trick-or-treating. Jason comes back, and Sonny tells him, check the building security; make sure no one is lurking around. He asks Taggert why he came back, and Taggert says he heard what’s been going on. How many have to die before they do something about Cyrus? Sonny says he can’t abracadabra and make Cyrus disappear. Even if he could, they don’t know Cyrus is responsible for Neil’s OD. Taggert says, the body count keeps rising, and he’s not watching while his daughter gets caught in the crossfire again next time.

Julian looks at the phone and asks himself, what’s the connection? Is there a connection? Ava comes in, and he says, that doesn’t look like a happy face. She says she doesn’t have happy news. She needs a double vodka straight. He asks, what happened with Ryan? and she says, Ryan saw right through the phony papers. He’s not happy. She chugs the vodka.

Nikolas says he and Elizabeth have been friends for so long, he can read every expression. What happened with Franco and Ava? She says, they kissed, and he says, spontaneous combustion? She says he manipulated them like she did him. The plan worked. Both he and Ava broke the contract, so neither one of them can use it against the other. He’ll have to find another way to end his marriage… if that’s what he’s going to do. He has to go, and she says, don’t tell her that he’s sorry; show her.    

Terry tells Franco, the side effects will increase as the tumor grows. His sense of taste and smell; he might lose time, or have a personality shift. He asks if there’s a time limit, but she says, not until they run all the tests. She knows it’s a lot to take in. She’ll give him some time to talk to Elizabeth. He asks her not to tell Elizabeth about it; not yet. She says Elizabeth is his wife, and it’s going to impact her life. She has the right to know. He says Terry thinks he doesn’t know that? He needs her to promise him that she won’t say anything to Elizabeth about this.

Terry asks how he can’t tell Elizabeth? They’re potentially talking life and death. He says, please. He just needs a little time. She says the doctors and nurses will do everything in their power to help him, but he has to meet them halfway. Let his family go through it with him. He says he doesn’t want it at all. Cameron is looking at college; Aiden is his little sous chef; and he helped Jake with his costume. Jake wants to be Jack Sparrow; that’s where his head is at. They have beautiful, loving hearts, and he doesn’t want them to worry or be sad. He’s asking her to not tell Elizabeth for a little while. There are things he needs to work out first. Elizabeth comes in, and says, sorry it took her so long. She asks what Terry is doing there.

Ava slides her glass down the bar for a refill. Julian asks how Ryan saw through her deception, and she says, he claimed his cell mate was a forger. She thinks he was expecting a double-cross, and he’s furious. He was making threats that he’s going to tell Sonny. Nikolas walks in, and she says, as usual, Julian is complaining about unreliable liquor distributors. Nikolas says, as usual, she’s lying to him. She says she went to Pentenville, and brought the phony papers to convince Ryan that they were divorced. He asks if it worked, and she says, what does he think? It doesn’t matter. Ryan can’t hurt her; not physically anyway. But he can do damage to her family. Nikolas says, Julian, and she says she doesn’t suppose Nikolas will take pity on her and divorce her for real.

Sonny says the point of Taggert playing dead was to protect Trina; Cyrus would have no leverage. If someone sees him, Trina will be in more danger than ever. He needs to stay gone. Sonny promised he’d protect her. Taggert says, he doesn’t doubt that, but if there’s a full-scale war, Sonny might not be able to keep his promise. Sonny asks if that means Taggert is staying, and Taggert says he’s just giving Sonny a heads up that he’s going to protect his daughter. Sonny says, it has to be on his terms. He’s going to stash Taggert where he and his people can keep an eye on him.

Valentin calls Anna, and says, Alex used Berlin as a starting point. She was there, and must have left a trail. Anna says, that was weeks ago; she could be anywhere now. He says he’s afraid so, and she thanks him for the update. She says she’ll be in touch. The lights come back on, and when Anna turns around, Alex is there in the black witch costume. She says, happy Halloween, sister, and knocks Anna out.

Franco tells Elizabeth that Terry stopped by to make sure he’s all right. Elizabeth thanks Terry, and Franco says, the technical diagnosis was that he’s dehydrated and exhausted. She hopes Terry read him the riot act, and Terry says, Elizabeth knows her; always looking out for Biz. Elizabeth says they have to get going. Violet is spending the night, and they’re going to have a full house. Franco says if a bunch of kids are going to be there, that means he can eat all the candy.

Nikolas tells Ava, sorry. He sees she’s taken off her ring, and she says, it was just for Ryan. She’s not ready to divorce him. He says, sorry it didn’t work, but he’ll find another way to get Ryan off her brother’s back; he promises. Julian approaches their table, and says, isn’t this the cutest? Maybe they could take their eyes off each other, and make an actual plan. Nikolas says, as soon as Julian tells him what Nelle said. He gets silence, and says he didn’t think so. He says he has calls to return, and steps away from the table. Julian tells Ava, there’s nothing to stop Ryan from showing the letter to Sonny, and Ava says, as soon as he does, he’ll have no power over her. Julian says, Ava betrayed Ryan, and he’s going to want to punish her. Sonny is the perfect revenge.

Sonny excuses himself to take a call privately. He answers, and it’s a collect call from Ryan in Pentenville.   

Taggert wonders if Sonny is going to put him in a safe house, but Jason says, safe houses can be compromised, especially if someone is staying there a while. Taggert asks where he’s going, and Jason says, Sonny bought Kate Howard’s old place. It’s adjacent to Sonny’s house, so Sonny can keep him there without alerting the rest of the family. Taggert says he’ll be Sonny’s neighbor. 2020 has been a helluva ride. He ain’t kiddin’ there.

Maxie tells Peter, she can’t wait to see pictures. She knows she’s biased, but Georgie and James are the most adorable kids on the planet. Peter says, and soon to be joined by another most adorable kid on the planet. Maxie says she’ll be right back. She gets up, and says she knows Peter is worried about work, but whatever problems he’s having, he’ll find a way around them. She leaves.

Sam tells Spinelli that Peter never confirmed his involvement when he spoke to Helena. Spinelli says, Peter is too cagey for a direct admission. That will come when he reacts to Helena’s call. Sam says, speak of the devil, and hooks the computer into a phone. Peter is calling.

Sam and Spinelli listen in as Peter tells faux Helena, if she is who she says she is, they need to meet. Tomorrow night. Sam and Spinelli fist bump.

Alex answers the door to the trick-or-treaters, and says, don’t you look to die for? She passes out candy, while Anna lies unconscious in the basement.

On Monday, Carly tells Josslyn, today is her first election; a mock election involving woman’s suffrage is held; and Trina tells Josslyn, they’re making choices and making their voices heard.

🗽 Rookie Season…

What it’s like to be new girl on the RHONY block.

https://pagesix.com/2020/10/27/eboni-k-williams-on-being-the-first-black-rhony-cast-member/

❄️Corbett Exposure…

I loved this show.

https://pagesix.com/2020/10/27/john-corbett-stole-a-20k-moose-head-from-the-set-of-northern-exposure/

⚰️ Definitive Dead…

The episodes that shook us.

https://tv.avclub.com/10-episodes-that-show-how-the-walking-dead-turned-into-1845335889

📽 More Brains Movies…

I listed a few of my favorites yesterday, but also adding Cabin In the Woods today. It’s a relentless masterpiece. I’d read the book before I saw the film, and remember thinking, there’s no way they could get the grand finale on film, much less make it look believable. Yet, they did.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/best-halloween-movies

👑 Let the Dressing Up Begin…

Celebrities, they’re just like us. With several million more dollars.

https://guestofaguest.com/new-york/halloween/the-best-celebrity-halloween-costumes-for-some-last-minute-inspiration

https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/best-celebrity-halloween-costumes-2020-photos-of-their-outfits/

And the Consistently Outstanding Award goes to…

https://www.purewow.com/news/heidi-klum-halloween-costume

It’s a tie.

https://www.purewow.com/news/neil-patrick-harris-halloween-costume

👠 Watching Them Watch…

They might be in drag, but Trixie and Katya are never a drag. And they have a lot to say about some horror film classics.

🦇 Halloween Quotes of the Week

It’s as much fun to scare as to be scared. – Vincent Price

Darkness falls across the land, The Midnight Hour is close at hand. – Rodney Lynn Temperton

Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see. – Edgar Allan Poe (And I’d always thought it was an old Navy saying.)

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for out wits to grow sharper. – Eden Phillpots

Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue. – Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison), Sleepy Hollow

I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly. – Elizabeth (Nancy McLoughlin), Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones. – Stephen King

A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality. – Lucy Van Pelt, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves. – Elvis Duran

If human beings had genuine courage, they’d wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. – Douglas Coupland

Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night. – Steve Almond

I’ll stop wearing black when they make a darker color. – Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci), The Addams Family

Where there is no imagination there is no horror. – Arthur Conan Doyle

The moon has awoken with the sleep of the sun, the light has been broken; the spell has begun. – Midgard Morningstar

When the witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers ’tis near Halloween. – Unknown

Werewolves howl. Phantoms prowl. Halloween’s upon us now. – Richelle E. Goodrich

Every day is Halloween, isn’t it? For some of us. – Tim Burton

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. – L. M. Montgomery

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween. – Unknown

Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story. – Mason Cooley

On Halloween you get to become anything that you want to be. – Ava Dellaria

There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch. – Robert Brault

The farther we’ve gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we’ve come to need Halloween. – Paula Guran

🎃 It’s Here, Charlie Brown…

It might not be the same this year, but don’t let the pandemic bring down your Halloween spirit. Play by the rules, but by all means, do some playing this weekend. Zoom your Halloween, TikTok a Halloween dance, enjoy the wide array of horror films available, carve a pumpkin or make a pie with it, eat all the candy if you have no trick-or-treaters, but be smart about passing out candy if you do.  Stay safe, stay responsible, and stay conjuring up the kid in you, and being creative on this most creative of holidays. Most of all, have a Happy Halloween!

Oct30

October 29, 2020 – Darth Vader Is Unmasked, a Return From the Dead, Back To Charm, a Tease, Craig Speaks, Bad Guest, New Atlanta, Runway Baby, Sanderson Sequel, Flicks For the ‘Ween & Moon

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava visits Franco in the hospital. She asks what he’s got in his hand, and he shows her a can of spray paint. She says, the other hand, and he shows her a bloody knife. Franco wakes up, and he really is in the hospital.   

On the phone, Carly leaves a message for Sasha. She says the Do Not Disturb sign is still on Sasha’s door, and housekeeping can’t get in to clean her room. If Sasha doesn’t call back, she’s coming up and using her passkey. Cyrus comes in, and says he needs a table for two.

At one of the lounge tables, Sonny says it’s good Spinelli came to see him. What’s troubling him? Spinelli says he knows Sonny has more important matters to attend to than his personal issues, but he’s in desperate need of Sonny’s astute advice. Sonny says he’ll do the best he can, and Spinelli asks, how do you stand back and do nothing when someone you love is about to ruin their life?

At Anna’s, Anna, Peter, Finn, and Maxie toast. Maxie says she shouldn’t gloat, but she has so much to celebrate. An incredible career, James is healthy, Georgie is back in Port Charles, she has a baby on the way, and a loving, handsome fiancé on her arm. What more can she ask for?

Portia tells someone on the phone that she has correspondence needing immediate delivery. Ava comes into the hospital, and Portia asks if everything is okay. Ava says she doesn’t know. She’s looking for Franco. She heard he was admitted.  

Elizabeth stops by Franco’s room with Cameron. She asks if Franco is okay, and he says he thinks he had too much Jell-O; it gave him nightmares. He asks if Cameron shouldn’t be somewhere else, but Cameron says, it’s just a lame party. Franco says, dude, I’m fine, and Cameron says, dude, you fainted. Franco insists he’s fine; it’s a total overreaction. Elizabeth says now that Cameron has seen Franco for himself, he can go to the party. Franco tells Cameron to save some TP. Windymere is long overdue for a good trick.

Nikolas walks into Charlie’s, and Julian says, if it isn’t the Prince of Darkness himself. Nikolas says Julian has no time for wisecracks. Whatever scheme he’s dragging Ava into, drop it. Julian says he doesn’t know what Nikolas is talking about, and Nikolas says Julian is obviously in trouble. Lucky for Julian, he’s going to save his sorry ass.

Portia tells Ava that Elizabeth and Cameron are in with Franco right now. Anything else she can help with? Ava says, actually, she wanted to thank Portia for allowing Trina to continue working at the gallery. She trusts Trina is keeping up her grades. She’s been stressing the importance, and she’s all about the GPA. Portia says she did want to talk to Ava about something that’s come to her attention. Trina is trying to rehabilitate her father’s reputation, and she heard the whole thing was Ava’s idea. Ava says, she was just trying to… and Portia says she’s wanted Trina to have a goal; something to focus her concentration on, instead of feeding her sorrow and anger. She wishes she’d thought of it herself, but she’s glad Ava did, and thanks her.

Trina, dressed as Princess Leia, meets Josslyn, dressed as a cheerleader, outside of Charlie’s. She says it’s no surprise Cameron is late, and Josslyn says she’ll text him to hurry up. They go inside, and Trina says they have important business to discuss about her dad. They sit, and someone in a Darth Vader mask watches them through the window.   

Elizabeth makes an excuse to leave, and Franco asks Cameron, what’s going on? Cameron says, it’s just a stupid party. Franco tells him, don’t blame the party because he’s interested in two girls, and can’t settle on one. Cameron says he and Trina figured it out, and they’re staying in the friendzone. He’s good with it. Franco says, and Josslyn? and Cameron says, the same. It’s senior year, and he doesn’t want any obligations. Franco says he should never say that about someone he cares about. Cameron says Josslyn isn’t interested, and Franco asks if she said so. Cameron says not in so many words, and Franco asks how he knows then. Cameron says, trust him; he knows. Franco says if Cameron wants to talk, they can do it any time. Now go have fun. Good talk. Cameron says, good talk, and leaves. Elizabeth comes back, and wonders how Franco got Cameron to go to the party, and Franco says they have an understanding.  

Julian tells Nikolas, he’s fine, thanks, and Nikolas says, Ryan called Ava out of the blue, and she drops everything to visit him. Why? Julian says he doesn’t know what Ava is thinking, and Nikolas says, when she came back, she was jumpy and anxious. She seemed desperate, and said lives depend on it. He was wondering whose lives matter to her, and boiled it down to Julian. What did he do this time, and who wants to kill him because of it?

Spinelli asks Sonny to pardon his presumption, but Sonny doesn’t seem like he’d stand idly by while someone he loves risks their future because of an unenlightened decision. Should he step in? Sonny says, don’t get involved in somebody’s personal life. It could backfire in his face, and in Sonny’s experience, it usually does. Spinelli says Sonny isn’t the first to caution him. The superspy from down under went so far as to tell him to play the role of supportive friend. He doesn’t think he can convincingly pull it off. Sonny says, stop trying so hard. Don’t pretend. Give honest support. Spinelli says he has no choice, and Sonny says, just because Spinelli can’t do something, doesn’t mean someone can’t do something in his place.

Carly says she’ll have a waitress seat Cyrus, but he says he doesn’t mind seating himself. He asks how her mother is, when Sasha comes out of the elevator. He says, there’s his dining companion now. They can seat themselves, but he’d appreciate her sending over a server; he’d like a drink. Sasha says hi to Carly, who’s obviously displeased, and they sit.

Spinelli is on the phone, but sees Cyrus and Sasha. He says he’ll text when he gets there, and literally runs into Valentin. Valentin says he’d like to talk about a collaboration. Word is on the street that Spinelli is spectacular at hacking. Spinelli says he wouldn’t consider working for Valentin any more than he’d support Maxie getting married… in polka dots. Valentin thinks they should get to know one another. Peter is Anna’s son, and he guesses that makes that makes Spinelli family if he marries Maxie. Spinelli says he has somewhere to be, and jets.

Maxie opens a gift from Anna, and squeals over a new bag, while Finn talks to Peter on the side. Finn says if Peter has a request, name it. Anna tells Maxie that she’s proud of her, as a creative trailblazer, a mother, and wife-to-be. She thinks it’s Maxie’s time right now. Maxie says Anna is going to make her cry, and Anna knows she’s hormonal. She hopes she can balance work and parenthood as good as Anna does, and Anna says she thinks Maxie will do better. Finn tells Peter, it may require a cummerbund. He’ll keep the party nonsense to a minimum. It means the world to Anna, but he doesn’t want Peter to feel pressured. Peter says he’s honored to be part of the family. Maxie tells Peter, they have to go if they want to make their reservation. They thank Anna, and leave.  

Julian tells Nikolas to keep his nose out of Ava’s business, but Nikolas says, Ava’s business is his business. Julian seems on the defensive. One reason could be his late wife Nelle. Nelle and Ryan had some dealings with each other in prison. Julian says, Ryan stabbed her, and Nikolas says he was wondering how Nelle survived. Julian says, maybe she got lucky, and Nikolas says, what if it was planned? He’s willing to bet Ryan and Nelle got to know each other pretty well. Well enough that she left some leverage against Julian, and the possibility of it being shared with someone makes Julian nervous. How’s he doing?  

Ava goes to Franco’s room, and asks how he’s doing. He asks how she knew he was there, and she says she stopped at the art therapy room. She ran into Epiphany, who told her that he’d been admitted. She’s worried… He says he’s stopping her now. Whatever she wants, he won’t say yes until she comes clean. What has she done? She asks if he’s delirious, but he says he’s in a hospital bad, it’s given him time to have a clear focus. Ava says she tried to push Nikolas and Elizabeth together, so she could divorce Nikolas and keep the money. He says, and…? and she says, it was a lousy thing to do, and she’s sorry. She hopes he can forgive her. Now it’s his turn. He says he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Whatever he did was in response to what they did. She says she knew it. Not only did he and Elizabeth get Scotty to blackmail her, but they blackmailed Nikolas as well.

Josslyn starts to text Cameron again, when Darth Vader walks in. Trina looks outside, and says, the guys are here. She asks if it’s going to be weird, and Josslyn asks why it would be. Trina says she only has one thing on her mind, and Dev and Cameron join them; Dev dressed as a vampire, and Cameron, a sailor (he looks like the one on the Cracker Jack box). Dev says he didn’t know they were having a planning session before the party, and Josslyn suggests they skip the party, and use the time to help Trina with her dad. Unless someone has other plans. Cameron asks why she’s looking at him, and she says she knows he might be too busy for a big commitment.  

Portia asks Elizabeth how Franco is, and she says, hungry and grumbling about the food. She thinks he’s back to normal. Portia says, maybe a visit from a friend will lift his mood. Ava came by.  

Ava tells Franco, admit it, but he insists he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She says she saw them after Scotty handed over the money. He had a check from Nikolas as well. What did Nikolas and Elizabeth do? If Nikolas cheated, and Franco has proof, she needs to see it. Franco says, so she can get her greedy paws on the Cassadine millions, and she says, also to save a life. He asks her to leave, and she says, this is real. If he ever gave a damn about her, give her proof that Nikolas cheated.

Nikolas tells Julian, this doesn’t have to end badly. Julian can disappear. Nikolas has the money for him to go somewhere else and start a new life. Julian asks why Nikolas thinks he would run, and Nikolas says because his life is in Ryan’s hands, and Ryan isn’t known for his kindness and mercy. Julian says he’ll do things his way. When his sister comes to Nikolas for a divorce, give it to her.

Anna looks at two different witch costumes, one white and one black. Finn says he has bad news. There’s an emergency at the hospital, and he has to go in. She says, he’s not trick-or-treating with Violet? but he says Violet understands, and still wants to go to the sleepover at Elizabeth’s. She says, he’s leaving her on solo candy duty? and he says, she has the special skill set for it, and can handle it. She asks which costume he likes, and he asks if this is a test. She says she wants his opinion, and he says he likes what she likes. She says, normally, she’d let that slide, but she can’t decide. He says she’ll look just as beautiful in either, and she says, good job covering. She’s got a lot on her mind, waiting for the test results. He says, you wouldn’t know it, and she says, her training. He says, the WSB? and she says, no; the British. Stiff upper lip. Keep smiling and they won’t know you’re dying inside. He tells her, no matter what the tests say, Peter is still family. She says she knows. She’s not getting ahead of herself, just waiting for the results. She’ll try not to climb the walls or eat too much candy. He says he has to go, but for what it’s worth (🍷), he thinks he likes the light one.  

At the MetroCourt, Peter says he loves how Maxie is so open about enjoying her birthday. She says, of course (🍷) she loves her birthday. She loves the presents and attention, but also how much she has to be thankful for. They’re about to kiss, and suddenly, Spinelli is between them.  

Carly watches Cyrus and Sasha from the bar. Cyrus asks if Sasha is ready for another drink, but she says, to be honest, she’s not sure what she’s doing there. He says she’s having dinner with a new friend, and she asks if that’s what they are; friends. He says he’d like them to be, but supposes if he never makes it beyond concerned bystander, he’ll be fine. She says she doesn’t mean to be rude. She appreciated his kindness last night. She was in a bad place. He asks if he can be blunt. She doesn’t seem to be much improved. Would it help if she confided in someone? She says, someone like him? He says he is right there.

Sonny comes in, and tells Carly, sorry he’s late. He was talking to Spinelli. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, that. He looks at Cyrus and Sasha, and Carly shakes her head

Ava tells Franco, give her proof that Elizabeth was with Nikolas, and she can get a divorce. He says, and save someone’s life. Whose life? She says she wants to tell him, but she can’t; it’s too dangerous. He says, just stop. He’s over being her pawn. She sits next to the bed, and says, he’s angry; she gets it. He has every reason to be. Franco says he does. She tried to drive a wedge between him and the woman he loves more than air. She says she won’t leave Nikolas without getting the money, and he says, she and Nikolas are both addicted to the game they’re playing. They deserve one another.

The doorbell rings, and Anna comes out as a witch in white. It’s Valentin, who says, trick-or-treat. She asks, what’s up? and he comes in. He says he thinks Peter has a Damien Spinelli problem, and Anna says, Spinelli is never going to accept that Maxie is getting married to Peter. He needs to get over it, like Robert. Valentin says, where Spinelli goes, Jason tends to follow. 

Maxie tells Spinelli, she and Peter are one a date; it’s her birthday dinner. Spinelli says he couldn’t help overhearing, and wanted to wish her many happy returns. He asks if she got his gift, and she says, The Beginner’s Guide to Dungeons & Dragons; so thoughtful. Spinelli says, the nature of the game lends itself to her imagination, and he begins to babble about it, saying how it can be a family effort. She says she has no idea what he’s talking about. Georgie is too young to play. Spinelli says, she won’t always be, and he thinks it could be great family fun.

Nikolas goes to the hospital, and tells Elizabeth, they need to talk. She asks, what’s wrong? and he says, everything with him and Ava. She says she can’t do this, but he says if he doesn’t get some honest advice from someone he respects, he’s going to lose his wife.   

Sonny wonders what Cyrus is doing with Sasha, and Carly says, his guess is as good as hers. She’s been trying to get in touch with Sasha. Sonny asks if she thinks Cyrus has something on her, and Carly says she doesn’t know, but she’s worried. Sasha was at Nina’s apartment last night, and didn’t look good. She hates to say it, but she thinks Sasha is using drugs.

Sasha says Cyrus doesn’t seem like the listening type, and he says, that’s fair. If he makes a mess of it, there’s nothing stopping her from walking away. He promises not to hold it against her, but admits he’d be disappointed. She seems like a friend worth having. She says, he had to help her to her room last night, and just now, he basically said she was a mess. Why would he want to be her friend? He says he enjoys spending time with her. She has a generous heart, given all the things she told him last night before they parted ways. Besides, he has a knack for reading people, and he’s confident their friendship could be mutually beneficial.

Carly tells Sonny, she spent 15 minutes trying to clean Sasha up; fix her hair and makeup. She tried to get Sasha to talk… Sonny says, and…? She says, the way Sasha was acting… and Sonny says, and now she’s having drinks with a drug trafficker.  

Cameron and Josslyn go back to the table, and Trina asks, what’s going on? Cameron tells her, he said he’d be there for her and he will. Trina asks, who wants hot chocolate? and Josslyn says she’ll get it; her treat. Cameron says she’ll probably need help, and follows her. Dev wonders what that’s about, while Darth Vader continues to watch them.  

Cameron asks what Josslyn means, he’s too busy for commitments? She asks if that isn’t what he said, but he says he’s not too busy to help a friend. If that’s what she thinks he implied, she’s misinterpreting it. Dev asks Trina if she thinks they’re okay. Cameron seems tense. She says, everyone is tense. They should just go to the party. They have time to figure it out. Halloween is just one night, and a party awaits.

Portia gets Franco’s chart from a nurse, and looks at a scan.

Nikolas tells Elizabeth, he thinks he screwed things up with Ava. It’s a convoluted and dysfunctional mess. Elizabeth is the only person he trusts to help him figure it out. She says, sorry, but he can’t trust her either.

Ava runs into Julian outside of Charlie’s, and says she came to get a drink. Where is he going? He says, to get some air, and clear his head. Nikolas was there. She asks what Nikolas wanted, and he says Nikolas suspects what Ava is up to with Ryan. He doesn’t know exactly, but he’s close. He wants to send Julian packing on his dime, and give him a shiny new life. She wonders why Nikolas would do that, and Julian says, because of her. If he’s alive, she’s happy, and if she’s happy, Nikolas is happy. Julian thought Ava had hooked Nikolas just to take advantage of him. She says she doesn’t know what to think or believe about Nikolas anymore, but she still has the fake divorce papers; she can use them on Ryan. He asks if she thinks Ryan will go for the papers being real, and she says, they were done by an expert forger. She wouldn’t have known they were fake if Nikolas hadn’t told her. She can convince Ryan for long enough to get the letter back. She’ll be back later, when she really needs a drink. 

Maxie tells Spinelli that she’s happy he suggested a family game. Olive branch accepted. She’ll make time to teach Georgie, but they need to start with something simple, like charades. She says she needs to powder her nose, and leaves. Peter says Spinelli’s about face isn’t lost on him either. He appreciates Spinelli making an effort, but hopes it’s on the level.

Valentin tells Anna, he offered Spinelli work, and Anna says, and Spinelli turned him down. He says, it was the way Spinelli turned him down. He said he’d no sooner work with him than approve of Maxie marrying Peter. Anna says, of course (🍷) Spinelli feels that way, but that doesn’t mean Jason is involved. He says she knows Jason better than he does. Tell him. If Jason thought Peter was a threat… Anna says, Peter’s not a threat. He was exonerated. Obrecht framed him and Jason knows that. They have an arrangement. She told Jason to back off, and he has. She doesn’t think they need to worry about Jason. The doorbell rings, and it’s a registered envelope. Anna signs for it, and comes back in,. Valentin says he hopes she doesn’t mind. He took the liberty of opening a bottle… He looks at her, and says, good Lord. Is she all right? She says, it’s the test results. If Faison had the marker, then it’s over. She’ll never know for certain if Peter is Alex’s son or hers.

Trina wants to take a picture with Darth Vader, her Star Wars long lost family connection. If he doesn’t mind. Darth poses with her, and Cameron takes the photo. Dev is worried they’re going to be late, and Trina tells him, chill. They start to leave, and she turns around to tell Darth, may the force be with you. She’s forgotten her phone on the bar, and it rings. Darth picks it up. He sees a call coming in from Portia, and looks at a picture of Taggert and Trina.   

Franco toddles out to the reception desk, and asks Portia if she’s seen his wife. She says she’ll track Elizabeth down; go back to his room, please. She goes back to the phone, and says, sorry, Terry. The schedule says she’s on call. Is she in the building? She asks if Terry can meet her. She’s in need of an oncology consult.

Nikolas asks why he can’t trust Elizabeth. She’s the only person he can talk to. She says she has no idea what they did with this whole stupid post-nup thing, but when Nikolas and Ava were playing her and Franco, they were playing him and Ava.

At Pentenville, the guard tells Ava that Ryan will be there shortly. Have a seat. She sits on her side of the glass.

Julian grabs Darth Vader, who says he just found the phone. Julian wonders if he’s interested in the phone or the girl it belongs to. He’ll make sure she gets it. He tells Darth to beat it before he calls the cops. Darth says he hasn’t done anything, and Julian says, let’s keep it that way. Get out. They struggle, and the mask comes off. Its Taggert.

Sonny asks Carly if Michael knows about Sasha’s possible habit. She doesn’t think so, and feels she should tell him. She knows Sasha has made mistakes, but she’s a good person. Sonny asks, why get involved? They know what Cyrus really is, and what he wants is to get information.

Sasha tells Cyrus, she’s sorry, but she has to take off. She has an early day tomorrow. He says, it’s okay. Clearly, she has trepidation about him. He imagines she’s heard gossip about him from Michael’s parents. He’ll settle up. She has his number. If she need  someone to talk to, or anything, call him day or night. He always has her well-being in mind. She says, he’s very generous, and goes to the elevator. A man comes out, and hands her a purple envelope, saying, she dropped this. She says she didn’t, but he says, sure she did, and puts it in her hands. He jets, and she looks inside. There’s a baggie of coke in it. The elevator doors close.

Anna tells Valentin, Doc asked about her history with Faison, and she told him how reckless she’d been. He says, maybe she wasn’t, and Faison was with Alex the whole time. She says Valentin is desperate to exonerate her, and he says, she was a double agent. She has blood on her hands, as they all do. He thinks she’s wasted years feeling guilty about something she didn’t do. He doesn’t need proof, but he thinks she does.

Spinelli says that Peter is skeptical of his good intentions is understandable. He assures Peter, he’s doing his best to support Maxie with the utmost sincerity. His perfect wish for her is to have a happy, stable life. Peter says he’s going to do everything in his power to fulfill that wish. Forgive him for doubting. Since he has a new life, a life he never dreamed possible, it’s hard to shake the notion that something, or someone, is waiting to take it away. Maxie comes back, and says, maybe Jenga. Giant Jenga. Peter’s phone rings, and a female voice says, hello, Peter.

Anna takes the results out of the envelope, and says, she has an answer.  

Peter asks, who is this? She says, he doesn’t recognize the voice of his old friend Helena Cassadine? 

Tomorrow, Anna says, it’s nothing but lies; Franco wonders what’s happening to him; Ava tells Ryan what he wanted is delivered; and Jason suggests Cyrus has found an alternate route.

🧟‍♀️ She’s Alive…

I told you she’s not dead. Helena will never die. Neither will Faison. He’ll figure out some way to come back without a brain. Or it was his eviler twin who died.

If General Hospital’s Helena Cassadine Is Really Alive, These Five Characters Should Be Shaking In Their Boots

Southern Charm

It’s a new season, and Cameron (as well as Naomie and Chelsea) has left the show, so no more narration. We started off with different scenes showing various things that happened when the pandemic started. Then…

Six months earlier. Shep’s pup Craig is a little dog now, and the cutest thing. Michael gave Patricia some dog apparel to go through, and she chose a tutu for her new Pomeranian pup Peaches. Human Craig told us he’d been living in a professionally decorated house, and felt like an adult, but a pipe blew, and asbestos went everywhere. Now he’s living with Austen until the house is cleaned up. His pillow company is doing well, and he’s making over 1000 pillows a month. Not him personally, but a manufacturer. I actually love his pillows, although I doubt he would have gotten very far with them without the advantage of being on the show. Austen marveled that a plant Madison had given him was still alive. I identified since I’m terrible with houseplants.

Austen explained that he and Madison had decided to take a break, which IMO means broken up, but they came back together after six months or so. They checked out Instagram, and heard Thomas in the background of one of Kathryn’s posts. Kensie and Saint are getting big, and Kathryn told us, custody has been settled at 50/50 after three years. She said she and Thomas were getting along, and she’s hoping it sticks. Thomas, who made a briefer than brief appearance, looked fat. No judgement, just an observation. In her interview, Kathryn admitted she was staying at his house (see yesterday’s post links – she’s having her townhouse renovated), but they’re not back together. I didn’t think she was that much of an idiot. We flashed back to Kathryn wondering how she was going to explain it to the kids if Thomas went to jail. In her interview, she said her grandmother passed away after a battle, a reprieve, and a final battle with breast cancer, and she thought her grandmother had a lot of guilt in not preparing her for the world – i.e. Thomas. Kathryn wished she could have given her closure.

Madison said she was glad to have a son, since a mini version of her would be a nightmare. Hudson is quite the little man, and she also co-parents with her ex. She said having a child had pushed her to be successful. I wondered, why is she dating Austen then? and apparently, I wasn’t alone in that thought. In her interview, Madison said everyone asked if she’s out of her effing mind, but they just can’t stop. I guess she can’t quit him.

Patricia told Michael that Shep was coming over, and she wondered if they had enough liquor in the house. She tolf Shep that she had a new watchdog, Peaches, and Michael brought out a tiny white cloud of a pup. He told Patricia that he was having a life-is-good party, and wanted it to be nice, but funky; no fox trots. He was considering a Dumb and Dumber theme, and Patricia thought that would be appropriate. He said he was inviting everyone, and Patricia would get to meet new girlfriend Taylor. Patricia asked if he was inviting Madison, and he said, of course. Shep said it didn’t give him joy to have strife in his life, and Patricia said it was a modest start. In Shep’s interview, he said you could fight the elephant in the room, or dance with it. He was going to dance with it. We flashed back to Shep being combative last season, and he admitted he can take things too far. He wanted to slow the process of becoming an angry old man, since he was showing the signs, and started seeing a therapist.

Shep settled on a Dumb and Dumber Formal, and Craig suggested he invite Cameron. In Shep’s interview, he said Cameron hadn’t been hanging around with any of them, since last year left a bad taste in her mouth. He didn’t blame her. Craig and Kathryn met for lunch, and Kathryn ordered a bourbon and Coca Cola. In Kathryn’s interview, she said she went to rehab for weed, and that’s it. She’s at the point now, if she wants a drink, she’ll order one, and it’s nobody’s business. They talked about Shep’s upcoming party, and Kathryn asked about Taylor since they hadn’t met. Craig said he’d cut Shep off for months; Shep was being an a-hole. Kathryn said he’d be a d*ck to her, then act like nothing happened. Craig said, between Taylor and a therapist, Shep was a better person. But not wonderful, since he’s still Shep. In his interview, Craig said Shep is happy when he’s with Taylor, and not a lonely, miserable POS. He said he’d been trying to get Cameron to come out, but she gets mom guilt. Kathryn said she heard Jason was having an affair, but Craig said that was absurd and not true. He said he loved gossiping, but this was out of line.

Taylor and Shep gave dog Craig a bath. Shep explained that he and Taylor had met in a bar. She lied, saying she was a marine biologist and her specialty was shark sex. He grilled her since he knew about shark sex. He didn’t elaborate, and I don’t think I really want to know anyway. They saw each other a little bit here and there, then it became more, and now she’s at his house five nights a week. He says he’d been so single-minded, and single, for so long, it was hard to change. but she was making it easy. She’s blond and cute, and looks like most of the other girls he’s dated. Shep definitely has a type.

While they got ready for the party, Austen asked if Madison was nervous, but she said Shep should be the one who’s nervous. In Madison’s interview, she said if she could forgive a threesome video, she could forgive someone calling her white trash.

Craig met with new cast member Leva, who’s one of Cameron’s best friends. He told Leva about what Kathryn said, but Leva said, no way would Jason have an affair; it was a miserable Kathryn move. WTF? She told Craig, back in the day, Cameron wasn’t so nice to Kathryn – we flashed back to that – and it was Kathryn’s way of getting back at Cameron. She thought there also might be some jealousy, or maybe Kathryn felt alive in the middle of drama. I’d thought it was all good at the end of the last reunion, but who knows what happened between then and now.

I wasn’t sure how Dumb and Dumber was supposed to factor in, but I guess it was the attire. Austen wore a powder blue top hat, and Shep had a matching ruffled tuxedo shirt. Madison wore black and white striped pants with orange suspenders, which I thought was closer to Beetlejuice, but I don’t really know Dumb and Dumber that well. I saw it, but it was like, a million years ago. Shep also invited a guy named Peter, who apparently slept with Madison at some point. Somehow this ended up in the conversation, and Peter’s girlfriend Liz wasn’t too pleased.  In Shep’s interview, the producer asked if he’d invited them to screw with Madison, but he said he didn’t even know they’d slept together until it came out at the party. Shep admitted to having planned things like that in the past, and we flashed back to when he invited Austen’s threesome girls to a party Austen and Madison were at. He told the producer, it hadn’t crossed his mind that it would be a problem. In Madison’s interview, she said when she saw Peter and Liz, she knew Shep hadn’t changed, and that bitch was trying to set her up. Entertaining a one-night stand she’d had when she was single, was on him. Whitney escorted Patricia, who she said she’d thought Shep had been kidding about Dumb and Dumber. We met new cast member John, who has two sons in San Diego, and just moved back to Charleston. He’s a nice looking dude; a little shaggy, but I like it.

Patricia wondered where the food was, and in her interview, said you can’t have a party and serve liquor without serving something to eat. It was a typical Shep party; not her kind of party. I wondered where the seats were too, since I saw zero pieces of furniture other than the bar and a couple of tables. In Patricia’s interview, she said Madison acted like a grown-up, and Austen was a child. She thought Madison needed someone successful and ambitious. Not a frat boy. John made the rounds, and we saw a clip of him playing guitar and singing. His attractiveness rating went up a few points since he’s pretty good.

Kathryn told Craig that Cameron had texted her regarding what she’d said about Jason. Craig admitted he’d told Cameron that Kathryn said rumor had it, Jason was having an affair, even though he’d promised not to say anything. Kathryn said she was glad he was being honest, although I can’t imagine she didn’t want to thump him in the head. In her interview, Kathryn told us that Cameron said, give her a break, and be a good human. Kathryn said she was, but she doesn’t give a flying what Cameron thinks. Cameron had hurt her to the core, and Cameron’s an a-hole.

This season, Madison breaks up with Austen; Leva wants to see change in this town; Thomas gets a girl pregnant, and ♫ she’s havin’ his baby ♫; Leva confronts Kathryn about her white privilege; Madison and Kathryn argue; covid hits; and the monkey emoji is addressed.

😉 What a Tease…

Craig talks about what’s ahead this season.

https://tvdeets.com/craig-conover-teases-southern-charm-season-7

📡 Breaking Craig…

Saying, I don’t know what happened, but something happened, is hardly opening up.

‘Southern Charm’: Craig Conover Finally Breaks His Silence After Naomie Olindo, Chelsea Meissner Quit

👰🏻 Don’t Be Their Guest…

I’m sure there are worse guests than Shep.

Jax Taylor & Brittany Cartwright Explain Why Shep Rose Was “The Worst Wedding Guest Ever”

🍑 The Peach Is Back…

RHOA is back for another round.

https://tvdeets.com/real-housewives-of-atlanta-season-13-trailer-drew-sidora-latoya-ali

👶 Project Baby…

My first thought was, but how will this affect the next Project Runway? Will it be a special pregnancy edition?

https://people.com/parents/karlie-kloss-pregnant-expecting-first-child-josh-kushner/

🧹 They’re Ba-a-ack…

The Sanderson sisters return.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2091416031119/bette-midler-confirms-original-hocus-pocus-cast-will-return-for-sequel

🎃 Classically Halloween…

I wouldn’t call all of them classic, but here’s Purewow’s list of very decent horror films. Since I love the genre, some of my personal favorites are Reeker (an unfortunate title for a good movie), Ravenous, Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse: Death Proof/Planet Terror (each is good on their own as well), The (original) Howling, American Werewolf in London, and 13 Ghosts (the remake with Tony Shalhoub). My all-time favorite film to watch on Halloween is The Midnight Hour, but it’s a little difficult to get your hands on. It was a TV movie from the 70s, starring LeVar Burton and Shari Belafonte, and I had to buy a bootleg DVD since I had zero luck finding it. It’s not exactly scary, although it has a couple of moments, but it epitomizes Halloween for me.

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/classic-scary-movies

👻 Counting the Hours…

The trick-or-treating seems to be an iffy proposition at this moment, but regardless, the dogs and I will be dressing up, and eating our traditional Halloween meal of Taco Bell’s Nachos BellGrande. Whether you’re counting down or not, stay safe, stay inventive, and stay not getting involved in someone’s personal life. Have someone else do it for you.

Oct29

October 28, 2020 – Dante Gives Michael a Brotherly Lecture, Shannon Has a Party, Elizabeth Rechristened, Charm’s Here, News Of the South, Not All In, a Picture Show To Remember & Big Bad

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the vending machine, Franco apologizes to Epiphany, saying, he didn’t realize she was waiting. He had a hard time making a decision. She looks at the machine, and says, did he just take the last chocolate bar? He says, did he? and she says she’s just spent the last solid eight hours in pencil pushing hell. The only thing that made it bearable was knowing there was a chocolate bar waiting, and he seized the last one. He asks if she wants half, and she says she wants satisfaction. She wants justice. She wants her old job back. Cyrus appears, and says that’s not all she’ll get with that attitude.

Chase finds Brook at The Floating Rib, and he says he’s been looking for her. She congratulates him, adding, he found her. She’s alone; no Valentin. She’ll be out of his hair soon, and he can go back to his awesome life. He says, clearly, she’s never looked in his underwear drawer. She asks why she would do that, and he says she’d see there aren’t any G-strings.  

Michael punches the heavy bag, and thinks about Willow. Dante asks what he’s angry about, but Michael says he’s just letting off steam. Dante says he thought Michael was going to town on the bag because he couldn’t stand the thought of losing Willow.

Elizabeth runs into Willow at the hospital, and says, it’s been a while. Willow says she was given time off for the custody hearing, and Elizabeth tells her, congratulations. She asks if Willow is back at work, but Willow says, actually, she was notified that they don’t need a full-time teacher, so she’s looking at her next step. She shows Elizabeth a booklet, and Elizabeth says she’s applying for the nurse’s training program. Willow says she’s fortunate to have the option. It’s one way her life has never been better. Mostly. Things are going so well, she and Michael are getting an annulment.

Carly is hugging Jax, when Nina and Sasha walk in. Carly tells Nina, just the person she needed to see. Nina says she’s surprised to see Carly, and tells Jax that she’s sorry she had to abandon him, but glad to see he has company. He asks how it went with Curtis, and she says Curtis has a new lead, and she’s a step closer to finding her child. Jax says, congratulations, and Carly says she didn’t know the search was back on. Nina says she didn’t broadcast it. Sasha says Nina has company, and it’s been a helluva day. She’s going to take off. Nina says she’s not, since she’s not feeling well.   

Ava sees a romantic table set, and smells a rose. There’s a storm going on, and Nikolas is on the terrace. She joins him, and he says he sees she got his message. She says, it’s lovely, and stormy. Tell her why he lured her out there. We see Ava has a knife behind her back, and Nikolas says he didn’t lure her out. He invited her. She says he’s not the first person to invite her out there. She’s sure he remembers what happened; he witnessed it firsthand. He says, he did. Then he saved her life. She says, then hours later, they were married. It was a whirlwind. He says, that’s one word, and she says, any regrets? He says, hundreds. Her? She says, the same, and he asks what she’s holding behind her back. She says, insurance, and he asks if she thinks he’d go through all this trouble to toss her back in the harbor. She says she thinks it would be a permanent solution to their situation, but he says, believe it or not, he doesn’t want her dead. She says he just wants the family fortune all to himself, and he says, it is his family’s fortune. She says, not to mention Elizabeth.

Brook says Chase wouldn’t know what to do with a G-string if he had a fistful of singles. He says he’s trying to charm her after being a jerk, but she says she gets enough of that from her father. Just because she’s staying with Chase, doesn’t give him the right to weigh in on her life. He says he knows that, and if she’d stop talking, she could hear him. He’s saying he’s sorry.

Nina tells Sasha where the shower is, and says there’s a fluffy robe with her name on it. Take all the time she needs. Sasha says, it sounds great, but… Nina insists, and Sasha goes to the bathroom. Jax asks, what’s wrong with Sasha? and Carly says, she doesn’t look good. Nina says it’s not her place to say, but trust her. She wouldn’t have brought Sasha back if she didn’t think it was absolutely necessary.

Willow tells Elizabeth, she and Michael got married to protect Wiley from Nelle. Nelle isn’t a threat now, so staying married isn’t necessary. Elizabeth asks if Willow will still be a part of Wiley’s life, and Willow says, absolutely. Elizabeth says, if that’s what Willow feels is best, she’s happy for her. It’s no one’s business but theirs. Although sometimes people who have to craziest reasons for getting married, and the marriages you think will crash and burn, are the ones that last.

Michael tells Dante, he’s not losing Willow. They’re going to stay together until the annulment is finalized, and afterwards, they’re going to be co-parents. Dante says it sounds like they have it sorted out, and Michael says they made the decision together. Dante has one question. Did Michael say what he said to Willow because it’s what he wanted, or was it what he thought she wanted to hear?

Cyrus says he’s sorry it took so long to make Franco’s acquaintance, and introduces himself. Franco says he knows who Cyrus is; he saw his picture in the company newsletter. Epiphany adds, and on the news. Franco says Cyrus is a busy fella, and Epiphany says, he is. Firing half the staff and alienating the rest. Cyrus is sorry to hear about the low morale, and promises to bring it up to Britt. Franco says, everyone just wants to be heard, and Cyrus says he has a few minutes if Franco wants to meet with him, but Franco says tonight, some of them go to The Floating Rib. It’s karaoke night. Cyrus says, it sounds fun; he won’t keep Franco from it, but the door is open. He starts to walk away, but Franco says, hold on. How’s his singing voice? Want to be Simon to his Garfunkel?

Nikolas asks where Ava is getting the idea about him and Elizabeth, and she asks if she’s wrong. There must be at least a little something to it. He flashes back to kissing Elizabeth, and he says, in this case something is nothing. She says she knew it, and he says, fine. What he and Elizabeth have goes beyond friendship. In his darkest moments, he’s reached out to her, but it’s because they share a history; not because he wants to be with her. Ava says, that’s the most eloquent rationalization she’s ever heard. He says, look him in the eye, and tell him that she’s never sought out something she’s not getting from their marriage. She thinks back to kissing Franco, and he says he thought so. She tells him, she didn’t say anything, and he says she’s not as good a poker player as she thinks. She says he begged her, trapping her into what she thought was a fairytale romance. He says she asked him to talk about things, and he told her about his feelings. She says, so? What are words? Hot air without the action to back them up. To prove he wants her… He says he has to divorce her. Done.

Cyrus thanks Franco for the kind invitation, but he doesn’t want to infringe on the staff’s private event. Franco says it’s not like they close the place; everyone is welcome. Cyrus says, in that case, he has work to finish up. Perhaps he’ll see them later. He leaves, and Epiphany looks at Franco. He says, what? and she says he’d better run. Run.

Chase tells Brook, sorry for coming on too strong, but she says she’s actually impressed. He almost turned her around. He says, it’s working for him then, and she ask what’s the rest. As long as he’s not going to tell her that he’s kicking her out on the street.

Jax asks if Sasha needs a doctor, but Nina tells him not to push it. It was all she could do to get Sasha there. Carly says she’ll talk to Sasha, and Nina tries to stop her, but she keeps going. Nina tells Jax, even when Carly means well, she’s impossible. He says, she did bring wine, and Nina says, red wine. He says, Carly wanted to apologize for the scene she caused in the cemetery, and Nina says, when she accidentally pushed over Nelle’s gravestone? The only thing Carly is sorry about is Nina caught her

Sasha goes into the bathroom, and takes out her baggie of coke. Carly knocks on the door, and Sasha says she just needs a minute. Carly says, let her in, but Sasha keeps trying to get a hit of coke together using her Amex card. Her hands shake.

Dante says Michael doesn’t want an annulment? and Michael says, if it was up to him, they’d find a way to stay together, and make the marriage real. Make a life together, for Wiley’s sake, but also for themselves. Dante asks if Michael said this to her, and Michael says, of course (🍷) not. Dante says Michael wants to set Willow free from her obligation. He’s an idiot.

Willow tells Elizabeth, after Chase, she can’t think of starting something new. Michael has so much to give that’s going to waste in their so-called marriage. Elizabeth says she’s known Michael a long time. He’s a decent guy. Willow says, for the past few months, she’s been lucky to see that every day; how he is with Wiley and his family. Michael is honorable and kind, and sees the best in people. He should be able to share that with someone. Elizabeth says, it sounds like he already is.

Brook asks Chase to just give her more time, and he says he will. Eventually, she’ll have to find another place though. Brook says, don’t tell her to go back to her father, and Chase tells her not to worry. He was recently reminded that bringing families together by force of will isn’t in his skill set. She thanks him, and says she’ll definitely find a new situation. Not tonight though. She has other plans. He asks what they are, so he can disapprove of them, and I laugh. She shows him a flyer that says, Karaoke Night.   

Dante tells Michael, don’t make life altering decisions based on what you think another person wants. It’s stupid, or at least a disappointment and a regret. It’s not fair to Willow either. Michael asks what he should do, and Dante says, be honest. Tell her how he feels, and let her decide. Don’t think the only decent thing is to separate. Michael says Willow deserves someone to be in love with, and they’re not in love. Dante asks how he knows, and Willow walks in. She asks if she’s interrupting.   

Carly tells Sasha, open up; she’s worried. Sasha pops out, and says, all hers, but Carly says, nice try, and turns Sasha around. She tells Sasha to look in the mirror. Does she really want to go out looking like that? What’s a nice girl like her doing with a face like that? Sasha says she’s not that nice, and Carly says, really? Is she coming down with a cold? Sasha says she’s fine, but Carly says she doesn’t look fine.

Jax tells Nina, he knows how it looks, but he and Carly talked. She had no intention of knocking over Nelle’s headstone. She says he doesn’t have to lobby for Carly anymore. It’s nice that Carly came over with wine – red wine – and she apologized. They never have to speak about Nelle again. Jax is sorry it came to this. It will be a while before Carly stops looking over her shoulder. Nina doesn’t doubt it, and says it’s great Carly has him in her corner. Carly is Josslyn’s mother, and other people might not understand their relationship, but she does. He asks, what other people?

Back at the table, Ava asks what Nikolas is doing. He says, divorcing her. It’s what she said she needs for him to prove he’s not playing her. He lifts a dish cover, and underneath is a rolled up document. He says, voila! takes it off the plate, and tells her, the pages are flagged where she needs to sign. He’s following the conditions of the post-nup to the letter, and relinquishing 90% of the estate to her. Ava asks, what’s the catch? and he says, no catch. She says, of course (🍷) there is. She wonders if it’s some kind of trap, and he says, there is a price. She says, here it comes, and he says she can have everything she asked for – money, property, material things – but she can’t have him.

At The Floating Rib, Franco tells Epiphany that he did a good thing. She says, inviting the devil himself to their safe space? He says, even the devil gets lonely, and Elizabeth suggests he buy them round. She steers Epiphany to a table, and asks, what’s going on with her? Epiphany says, nothing; certainly nothing she wants to bring up at karaoke. Elizabeth asks how much they’ve been through, and how many times they’ve had each other’s backs, and Epiphany says, more times than she can count. Elizabeth says, then tell her, and Epiphany starts cry. She says she and Milo are breaking up, and I make a sad face.

Jax asks Nina what she means by other people. Did someone say something? She says, it’s not important. She wishes they were the only people in the relationship, but Carly will always be a part of his life. When co-parents get along… people talk. He says, all it is, is talk. They’re just two people trying to do the best for their daughter.   

Sasha thanks Carly for her concern, but it doesn’t matter if she’s fine. Carly says she’s wrong, and doesn’t think Michael would agree. Sasha says she went out of her way to make sure her life is none of Michael’s business. Carly says she did it to protect Wiley from Nelle. If Michael knew what she did, the sacrifices she made, and that she was still hurting, he’d have something say. Sasha says, he won’t. Michael finally has Wiley, and Wiley has Michael, and they both have Willow. They’re a family now, and she can’t take that away from them. Even if she could, she wouldn’t, and neither should Carly. She walks out, leaving Carly with her mouth hanging open.

Michael tells Willow that he was in the middle of a brotherly lecture. Dante says he hopes Michael sees the benefit in his wisdom, and takes his advice. Willow says, if it came from Dante, it must be worthwhile, and Dante tells Michael, his wife is a wise woman. Willow says her class is about to start. She took a Ride Share there, and was hoping to go home with him. He says he’s still got to work out, so he can wait. She says she’ll see him later, and leaves. Dante says he rests his case.

Chase says, Brook is going to sing? He thought the doctors said she couldn’t. She says, they told her it was unlikely, not impossible. He says, so she’s going to get up there and see what happens? She says, it can’t hurt to try.

Franco stands at the bar, and Cyrus comes in. He tells Franco, this round is on him.

Elizabeth tells Epiphany that she’s sorry. What happened with Milo? Epiphany says, Milo has been away, traveling and opening gyms for the franchise across the country. They haven’t seen each other in months. Meanwhile, she’s become a paper pusher. Elizabeth says, Milo adores her. She can’t imagine they can’t make it work. Epiphany tells her, he said he’d come back, and Elizabeth says, great, but Epiphany says she told him no. It’s not the same anymore. As much as she hates to admit it, they’ve grown apart. Elizabeth asks how she can help, and Epiphany says, first, she doesn’t want a fuss made. Elizabeth says Epiphany can’t keep it inside; she has to let it out. Brook takes the stage, and Epiphany says, not another word about it. I note that Brook doesn’t have much of a scar. She tries to sing, but struggles. She says, wrong key, puts the mic down, and runs out. Chase goes after her. This is driving me nuts, since I’ve sung most of my life, and Brook is supposed to be a professional. I doubt she would have just gotten up there without even attempting to practice first, or even warm up, and she sure gave up easy. Instead of saying, wrong key, she should have said, too soon. It’s not like everyone doesn’t know what happened. This is frustrating the hell out of me.

Ava asks what Nikolas is trying to pull, and he asks if she thinks he wants to sign the papers. Of course (🍷) he doesn’t. He had them drawn up to force her hand; get her to move forward with the marriage or end it. She says, it’s an elaborate ultimatum, and he says, it’s a gamble that their night in the cabin wasn’t a one-off. Tell him she feels the same way. He thought instead of signing the papers, they’d burn them together. Ava says, there are certain considerations. There are people who will be affected if they end the marriage. He says he took a leap and owned up to his feelings. Do the same, or he’ll have to admit he’s a jackass. She says, of course (🍷) she has feelings, but it complicates things. He says it’s simple, they’ll stay married, but she says certain people may be made to pay if they remain married. Let her think things through; she needs a minute. She walks away, her back to him, and he says, once and for all, decide now. She doesn’t realize how close he is to her, and when she turns around, she stabs him accidentally, her knife going into his abdomen. I gasp out loud. I was not expecting that.

Sasha comes back out, and Nina asks if she found everything okay. The guest room is down the hall. Sasha says she’s not staying, but Nina says she should. They can have breakfast tomorrow. Sasha says it’s kind of Nina to bring her there, despite everything. She just needed a moment to catch her breath. Don’t give her another thought. She jets, and Carly comes out. In the hallway, Sasha makes a call. She says she needs a refill. She’ll be there in 15.   

Michael does crunches in the ring, and Willow walks back in. He asks if her class was canceled, but she says she blew it off. Curiosity got the best of her. She wanted to hear Dante’s advice in person. Michael says, Dante left, but she says he can tell her. He says, Dante thinks they should stay together. Those weren’t his exact words, but it was the overall idea. She says the closer they get to the annulment, the more fans they have. He says he was thinking the same thing. He says he’ll get cleaned up, and she says, her too – even though she didn’t have a class. She says she’ll meet him back there, and gives a lingering look to his back before she walks out.

Chase finds Brook outside and asks her to come back. They can sing a duet. She’ll sound like an angel in comparison. Highly doubtful, since I still remember him singing Feel It Still for the Nurses Ball, and he rocked. He says maybe she jumped in too soon. Now that she has that out of the way, he knows she has another performance in her. She says, that wasn’t a performance; it was her swan song. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

Franco brings Cyrus over to the table, and says, look who made it. Epiphany tells Elizabeth, she’s back in hell again, and Cyrus asks if anyone has seen the songbook. Elizabeth hands it to him, and Franco jokes that he’s probably a fan of Miley Cyrus. What does he want? Gilbert and Sullivan? Sammy Hagar? Cyrus says, the 70s, and Franco tells him, pull up a chair. Epiphany says, not today, Satan, and gets up to sing. Franco says, she’s having a bad day. Epiphany sings. I give up trying to find out the titles, but it’s something about waiting, and debating if her love will come back to her.

As Epiphany sings, we see Michael in the shower, pondering. He turns around, and Willow is there in a towel. She lets the towel fall, and I’m not sure I’m on board with this. He drops his towel, and they move closer. Okay, now I’m guessing this isn’t real because they keep switching to them being alone.

Ava takes out the knife, and tells Nikolas, he’s bleeding. He says, yeah; he’s been stabbed. She drops the knife, and takes off his shirt. Is this some kind of weird foreplay? They kiss…

Afterwards (we assume), Nikolas says, well…? and Ava says they’re going to have to do something about these, and picks up the divorce papers. He says, it doesn’t matter; they’re not real. He wasn’t going to risk anything. She’s too proud to admit she’s crazy about him. Now he’s sure. She calls him an arrogant SOB, and he asks, is it arrogant if he’s right? She takes the papers, and opens the door. He asks where she’s going, and she says, to find the cyanide. She leaves, and he smiles. He says, she likes me. She really likes me.

Chase tells Brook, it’s going to be okay. She says, it will be something, but it will never be okay. If she can’t do the one thing that gives her purpose, what purpose does she have?

Everyone applauds for Epiphany. Cyrus says he can’t imagine how anyone can follow her, and Franco says, if anyone could, it’s the Chairman with Sinatra. Cyrus says he could be persuaded. His phone dings, and he says, however, he’ll have to take a raincheck. Epiphany says, convenient, and he promises to revisit. I’m very disappointed.

Carly says she tried talking to Sasha, but Sasha wouldn’t hear her. Nina says, maybe Sasha heard, but didn’t agree. Carly says, Sasha needs help, but Nina says she can’t keep Sasha against her will. She did the best she could, at least for tonight. Carly says she can do better, like it’s a competition, and leaves.    

Willow meets Michael, and they leave the gym together.

In an alleyway on the phone, Sasha asks, where the hell are you? Don’t leave me hanging. The dealer hangs up, and she throws her phone, saying, dammit. Cyrus comes along, and says, there are cheaper ways to channel her frustration. What’s the trouble, and how can he help? 

Elizabeth says she’ll be right back, and Franco tells Epiphany that she sounded great. Epiphany thanks him, and says she’s decided he can have the chocolate bar. He says, good, because he already ate it. He’ll get her next time. She says he can get another round, and she’ll call it even. He gets up, and she says she hopes he knows how good he has it with Elizabeth. He says, doorknob. She tells him, say that again? and he keels over.

Tomorrow, it’s Halloween in Port Charles, Valentin thinks Peter has a Spinelli problem, Ava hopes Nikolas can forgive her, Nikolas says he’ll save Julian’s sorry ass, Cyrus tells Sasha that they can have a mutually beneficial friendship, and Carly tells Sonny that she thinks Sasha is a drugs.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Shannon talked to John about her concern that Emily was dismissive with her. John told her she didn’t have to be best friends with Emily; just be okay. Elizabeth and Kelly met Gina at Farmhouse for dinner. Elizabeth said there was a gag order over her divorce details, but she was going to have a great party afterward, where she’d spill everything. Gina didn’t understand how Elizabeth was not having sex with Jimmy, and in her interview, Kelly thought that he had to be getting something done. Elizabeth said she liked Shannon, and Gina said Shannon had kicked her under the bus, saying her house was sad and depressing. In her interview, Gina said don’t bring her 9 lemons in an f-ing bowl, then say sh*t about her. She felt Shannon wasn’t authentic. Kelly said Emily had tried with Shannon too, but it wasn’t easy. They talked about how much better 2020 was going to be than 2019, and I laaaaughed.

Braunwyn said she was a basket case, either being so happy or so miserable that she wanted to jump out of her skin. In her interview, she said the only thing that might be bigger than her problem with alcohol was her love for her kids. She told Sean that she hadn’t been as present as she should have been, and realized she wasn’t a good mom. She didn’t know how she let it get so bad so fast. It was the one thing she wanted to be good at, and she wasn’t. He told her it was going to be okay. Lots of okay stuff today, both on GH and this.

Kelly took possession of her new house, which looked huge, especially with nothing in it. She told us it was 4500 square feet, with a pool and spa, but it’s suburbia. She met with her interior designer, and in her interview, she said the moms there were buttoned up, prim and proper, and cooking with aprons on. It was a Beaver Cleaver neighborhood. She said Shannon was a Stepford Wife, and she was scared she was going to turn into that. Rick had lived in NYC forever, and was ready to settle down, but she was mostly doing it for Jolie, who wanted to be in a family community. She wanted Jolie to have the best childhood possible, and see what a good relationship was like. She said it goes by fast. Truth!

Braunwyn picked up Shannon to go see Dr. Moon, and told Shannon about going to her first AA meeting. Braunwyn admitted that she’d told Emily about Shannon saying Gina’s house was sad. In Shannon’s interview, she insisted she hadn’t said that, and told Braunwyn that she had to set the record straight. Shannon said her fear was that Dr. Moon was getting older. She wondered what she was going to do when he retired. Braunwyn told Dr. Moon that her life had become unmanageable (part of the first step in the twelve), and she’d been drinking and hiding it. His solution was to stick a needle in the middle of her ear, which he said was for addiction. In her interview, Braunwyn said she was more grateful for Shannon’s support. Shannon made the usual loud noises when Dr. Moon needled her in the back of the neck for a sacroiliac problem. (I’ll have you know, I spelled that right on the first try.) In her interview, Shannon said she was trying to help Braunwyn, who was making her look bad and putting words in her mouth. It was the ultimate betrayal. I dunno about that. I could probably think of worse things.

Emily said she’d never had relationship or friendship with Shannon, and was going to her housewarming party. On a side note, we found out Shannon’s kids aren’t allowed to swear until they’re 18. Shannon gave her house a once-over, which I totally understood. I should have done that when I discovered a pair of underwear thrown on a chair after a party, and I don’t mean by a guest who had too good of a time. They were my underwear. I was mortified. In her interview, Braunwyn said she hadn’t figured out how to navigate her bedroom yet, but she was going to a party. She wanted a drink badly, but couldn’t say anything, or she’d be that weird alcoholic girl. I dunno about that either, but her friends would definitely not want to drink in front of her. At least if they’re decent people. Oh yeah. I forgot, we’re talking Housewives here. Someone would probably yell at her, and then put her under a microscope, while they guzzled pinot in front of her the whole time.  

When Gina saw Shannon’s house, she said she could see why Shannon would say hers was sad. Her home could fit inside Shannon’s home. It was like a Polly Pocket home. Gina jumped on Shannon the second she got there, but Shannon insisted Braunwyn was the only one talking smack about Gina’s house. Moving whichever way the wind is blowing, Gina said she didn’t trust Braunwyn. In Shannon’s interview, she said she was grateful Gina believed her, but she was angry that Braunwyn put words in her mouth. Yeah, yeah, the ultimate betrayal. Shannon told Gina that she was a renter, but Gina was an owner, and there was nothing sad about Gina’s life right now.

In her interview, Emily said part of her would like to imagine Shannon wanted her at the party, but she knows Shannon doesn’t. Shannon’s dad Gene arrived with his young girlfriend, and when Kelly was introduced, she called him big d*ck daddy from Cincinnati. In Shannon’s interview, she said she’d never call someone’s father that, but I say, it depends on the father. FYI, not this guy. Shannon didn’t waste time taking Braunwyn aside, and told Braunwyn that she was hearing wrong. She hadn’t called Gina’s place sad. That wasn’t even in her vocabulary. Braunwyn stuck by her memory, saying she’d been totally sober, while Shannon had a couple of drinks, but Shannon insisted she was wrong. Braunwyn said either Shannon was lying or she didn’t remember, and Shannon said Braunwyn crossed the line. Shannon ended the conversation by saying how dare Braunwyn do this at her party, and I had to laugh when Braunwyn said she wasn’t the one who brought it up. Another truth! Shannon made a beeline for Emily, telling her that she never said Gina’s house was sad. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said every time she’s tried to be nice to Gina, it’s gotten thrown back in her face. We flashed back to all the times Gina has shut Braunwyn down, and it looks to me that Gina just plain doesn’t like Braunwyn. And I don’t think anything is going to change her mind. Braunwyn told Sean she didn’t know where to go from here.

Shannon made it sound like Braunwyn had accused her of being drunk, and in her interview, said Braunwyn was now using her sobriety as a weapon. Like always, they played telephone, and by the time Gina repeated what Shannon had said, Braunwyn claimed Shannon was so wasted. Gina brought up the text from Sean, and Emily thought it wasn’t unreasonable that she found it creepy, in context of his and Braunwyn’s lifestyle. A love shack! A sex apartment! Threesomes! In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she’d never seen women act like this, and Braunwyn was just as big of a nut. Shannon, who’d told Braunwyn earlier that she’d never do two against one, attacked Sean and Braunwyn with Emily, Gina, and Kelly in attendance. Emily thought Braunwyn was pretentious, and Shannon told Sean, maybe they should start being authentic. Gina said Braunwyn looks down on her because she doesn’t have as much money as they do. We flashed back to some instances where Braunwyn said something Gina didn’t like, and I see it as Gina being the one who feels defensive about not having money. Gina got in Braunwyn’s face, screeching that Braunwyn was a sloppy chihuahua, and wasted all the time. She told Braunwyn to go get wasted again, which is really nice, and Braunwyn said she was 30 days sober today, bitch. Braunwyn ran off, telling Gina, f*** you!

Next time, the party continues, Braunwyn never wants see them again, Kelly thinks Braunwyn is better when she drinks, Braunwyn insists Shannon isn’t telling the truth, and Shannon says she doesn’t move on when people call her a liar. Great. We’ll be on this for the rest of the season.

👀 Elizabeth and Gina were guests tonight on Watch What Happens Live. I really like Elizabeth. She kind of reminds me of Garcelle on RHOBH. She stays above the fray, and laughs a lot. She said she was surprised she’d been chosen to become a Real Housewife, especially with the pandemic going on. Her divorce had been finalized, and we found out she and Jimmy finally had sex. Or as she put it, she’d been officially rechristened. I tried to ignore Gina, since she’s on a par with Teddi for me. She’s a follower, and an a-hole. Both the guests and audience were remote, and it was actually kind of fun. The Countess made a guest appearance, and sang Viva la Diva, while the audience danced in their Zoom boxes. Under normal circumstances, you rarely see the audience, so it had a different vibe. The sound people also made LuAnn sound a lot better than she really does, unless she’s been taking lessons. I want those people for karaoke. If I ever see karaoke again. I miss singing… and bourbon… sniff…

🍹 Don’t forget – The new season of Southern Charm begins tomorrow – i.e. Thursday.

👩🏽‍🏫 Brush Up On Your Charm…

New cast member and first woman of color on the show. She looks a lot like Lily Ghalichi from Shahs of Sunset.

‘Southern Charm’ Newbie Leva Gets Real About Talking to Kathryn About Race

Might Shep finally be settling down? Omg, he’s 40. He should probably pick a lane now.

Shep Rose: There’s No Reason to ‘Weasel’ Out of Taylor Ann Green Relationship

Kathryn co-parents up close and personal.

Kathryn Dennis Lived In Thomas Ravenel’s Guest House Earlier This Year; Thomas Allegedly Appears In Southern Charm Season 7 Premiere

One of the few really decent people in reality TV.

https://extratv.com/2020/10/15/reality-stars-eliza-limehouse-and-mark-struthers-mcbride-jr-expecting-first-child-weeks-after-their-wedding/

🍋 The Stirrer Gets Stirred…

I wouldn’t last two seconds in this program. I’d be All Out.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2020/09/10030895/all-in-by-teddi-mellencamp-diet-business-scam-twitter

👠 Because It’s That Time Of Year…

And because I was the first one to throw something. True story.

https://nypost.com/2020/09/25/how-rocky-horror-went-from-tiny-musical-to-filthy-phenom/

⏰ The Clock Is Ticking…

It’s almost Halloween, and also almost time to change the clocks. Don’t forget to fall behind an hour this weekend. Yay! I’ll finally get some sleep. No I won’t. And also don’t forget to stay safe, stay truthful, and stay not being the one who takes the last chocolate bar from the vending machine. Especially if Epiphany is behind you.