Tag Archives: Adam Huss

January 31, 2025 – Lulu Confesses Her Love For Dante, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Performing, Animal Tales, An Even Number Of Short Quotes & Mountain

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Tara from Turning Woods had info for Elizabeth, but when she and Lucky showed up, Tara was out sick. Natalia told Lucy that she could land an account in LA, but the contact only wanted to meet with her and the silent partner – i.e. Sonny. Kristina went to see Sonny and asked him if everything was okay since he didn’t show up at Charlie’s. She said they had to keep Avery away from Ava and she’d decided to testify at the custody hearing. Anna told Jason about Sidwell being in Port Charles. She asked if he or Sasha were willing to go on record about Sasha’s kidnapping.

Curtis told Nina that Drew was going to undermine the company in congress if he didn’t get his stock back. Chase visited Willow, who whined about Drew being ostracized by his family. Drew met with Martin and told him that Monica wasn’t speaking with him. He was her first truly lost cause, and he wondered if he’d ever really been a part of the family. Anna told Jason not to go after Sidwell on his own. Lucky told the Turning Woods rep that Cyrus wanted a list of his patients who had died so he could send condolences to the family. Curtis told Nina that things had a way of getting out and encouraged her to tell Willow that she’d been sleeping with Drew. Drew told Martin, if they thought banning him from the Quartermaine grounds would keep him from Willow, they had another thing coming.

Jason told Anna that he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Mr. Furner came in while Lucky and Elizabeth were there. Lucky distracted him by threatening a lawsuit while Elizabeth waited for the printout. Chase told Willow that he and Brook were trying to have a baby.  Nina told Curtis that she’d made the devil’s bargain with Drew. She couldn’t tell Willow about Drew, nor he about her. She hoped with time, Willow would trust her more than Drew. Curtis said he had a plan and needed Nina’s help. Anna said the best way of getting Sidwell was to get criminal charges that would stick, but Jason said he had to do it for Michael.

Natalia conferred with Sonny about the LA trip. Anna asked if Jason could guarantee he would be the only target for retaliation. He could break the cycle of violence by not retaliating. Curtis told Nina that he wanted to sabotage Drew’s connections in DC. Chase showed Willow his lab results and she told him to see his doctor. According to the results, he couldn’t father a child.

Tuesday:

Ned told Tracy to show some respect to Willow or she’d be out on her high-class derriere. Tracy said two fingers of bourbon for everyone, and no one was leaving until they figured out what to do.

Felicia took Anna for a manicure and told Anna that she’d seen Emma clubbing. Emma joined them and Anna questioned her. Emma said, it wasn’t a spa day; it was an interrogation. Carly couldn’t figure out Jack’s angle. He said when he first came to Port Charles, he was on a mission. He had no intention of pursuing her until she visited him in prison. He considered her a friend, not an asset. Kai told Trina that his vertebrae was cracked, and he couldn’t play football because he’d risk a spinal injury. She suggested he talk to her mom. Portia told Alexis that Sam had been murdered and how they came to that conclusion. It had been a pattern. Alexis said she wasn’t leaving it to the police and was going to find answers.

Ned said the mess was all on Drew and they should give Willow a chance to create distance. Tracy said they had to make rules and asked what Chase thought. Brook told Lois that she was able to have a baby. Lois asked if she regretted giving her baby up, and Brook said it was the hardest choice she ever made, but she never regretted it. Chase said Willow was a good person and they should respect her. Tracy said Drew would use Willow to his own ends, but Ned said, if they pushed things, Willow would run back to him. Sasha said Tracy was being dramatic, then Tracy screamed because she saw a mouse. She said Sasha was out if she didn’t climb up and get it (like the mouse wasn’t in Chicago after Tracy screamed), but Sasha said she wasn’t climbing anywhere because she was pregnant, quickly adding, it’s not Cody’s.

Sasha said if anyone had complaints or judgements, oh well, and Gio said he didn’t grow up with a father and turned out fine. Alexis talked to Isaiah about Sam. Trina asked Portia to talk to Kai. Anna said Emma was allowed a social life, but not allowed to lie to her and sneak around. Emma said she’d been to a fundraiser and wondered, since when was Anna so uptight? Jack offered to have Michael’s cultures forwarded to Germany from the WSB to expedite things for Carly.

Tracy wondered why they offered daycare to everyone, and Ned said she’d just kidnapped two more. Portia said Kai wasn’t necessarily sidelined. Anna said there was a difference between uptight and responsible, and she was the latter. Emma said she never saw Anna because she worked so much. Carly called Felicia about the cultures, and Felicia told her to proceed with caution when it came to Jack.

Emma made a deal that if she got straight A’s, Anna would go clubbing with her. Jason asked Sasha if Michael knew about the baby. Chase told Brook that his tests came back, and he couldn’t get her pregnant. Portia suggested Kai get a second opinion from a specialist in sports medicine. Kai said Trina’s mom was amazing and he knew where she got it from. Alexis said she wasn’t going to stop until she found the killer. Jack went to the hotel spa and Felicia warned Carly that Jack had an agenda, but Carly said Jack was intriguing and she wanted to know more. Valentin showed up at the spa to kill Jack.

Wednesday:

Chase told Brook that he was sterile and couldn’t be a father. Olivia and Lois took Tracy for a manicure to destress. Sasha told Jason that Michael knew she was pregnant, and he was the father, but they had a deal that he’d stay out of it. At the hospital, Anna told Lulu that she was glad no one was hurt in Prague. Lulu said she was glad her daughter didn’t get shot a second time. Valentin pretended to be a masseuse and tried to strangle Jack while he was on the table.

At the Quartermaine mansion, Emma told Gio that she wanted to do a fundraiser to stop animal testing. She wanted him to play at it because something classic and boring would get the old people and boomers to contribute. Olivia said asking invasive and intrusive questions was Tracy’s love language, but she should let up on Sasha. Martin came into the beauty salon and said, good luck with that. Sasha said it was none of Jason’s business, but he said Michael had a right to know. Anna said she didn’t have the words to tell Lulu how sorry she was, but Lulu said she could see how it was an accident because of the circumstance. She thought Valentin was dangerous and bad things happened when he was around. Carly went looking for Jack at the spa.

Anna said she had an eye open for Valentin, and Lulu thanked her. Gio agreed to play at Emma’s fundraiser, but wondered if it was a scam to get extra cash. Jason told Sasha that Michael had asked for her and thought it was because he knew she was carrying his child. Sasha said if he wanted to help Michael, make sure no one else found out. Chase didn’t want Brook to miss out on the experience of being pregnant, but she said she loved him more than anything and they’d get through it together. Tracy said Martin would defend anyone and she’d been trying to protect the kids. He said she had a bad habit of rolling over people’s lives and just wanted to hurt Drew. Lulu told Dante that she was the best judge of what she could do, but he said, obviously not. Carly heard a noise in Jack’s room, but an employee said it was nothing.

Jack was lying on the floor when Carly came in and cracked something over Valentin’s head. Chase said he didn’t deserve Brook, but she said he was stuck with her. Emma said she was sick of people treating her cause like it was a joke, and Gio said he was only kidding. She said she’d volunteered for a shelter when she was younger. Some puppies were bought by a lab, and it stayed with her. Cody showed up looking for Tracy. He wanted to apologize for missing their ride, but Gio said she was pretty upset, so Cody should wait on that. Martin said just because Tracy disliked someone didn’t make them disreputable, and Brook called Lois, asking her to come home. Portia told Anna about the pattern of suspicious patient deaths and that someone had injected the patients with a large, unprescribed dose of digitalis that resulted in a heart attack. Carly told Jack to wake up or she’d tell the world he died wearing his bathrobe, and told the employee to call an ambulance.

Brook told Lois about Chase and said she felt like her soul was broken. Gio told Cody about Sasha being pregnant and Jason promised not to tell anybody that Michael was the father. Sasha had no doubt Willow would use her pregnancy against Michael, and she’d do what it took to keep her baby away from the Q’s. She also wanted Sonny to be kept in the dark. Anna told Portia about the Angel of Death syndrome, but Portia said two of the cases involved healthy patients, Sam and Dex. Lulu said she was no longer helpless, but Dante said she was human and had limits. She said he focused on someone else to ignore his own pain and didn’t want to think about losing Sam. Jack said he was fine and the WSB would handle Valentin. Carly asked what he was going to do now, but he said, that’s classified.

Jack made a call to have Valentin killed on sight. Tracy asked what Martin’s problem was with her, and he said she had an obnoxious misguided sense of entitlement. She felt entitled to judge him and Willow and had prevented him from having a relationship with Lucy. Tracy said he should thank her instead of ruining her zen. Lois said Brook and Chase could be as sad as they wanted for as long as they wanted. Brook said Chase suggested IVF, but he was just sacrificing his feelings for her. She thought she should tell him that she’d been pregnant before. Dante said he didn’t blame Lulu for Sam’s death and she asked what he was doing for himself. She knew her presence was a complication in his life. He said he’d never be sorry she was here. Anna asked to talk to Dante. Jason said Sasha didn’t have to do it on her own and he was on her side.

Anna told Dante that Sam was murdered. Sasha let Jason feel the baby move. Carly and Jack kissed.

Thursday:

Hitting the heavy bag, Chase flashed back to his and Brook’s baby journey. Brook told Lois that Chase was mourning the life he’d imagined for them. She wanted him to know the pain and anguish she’d felt giving her baby up so he didn’t feel so alone. Alexis told Diane that Sam had been murdered, while Lulu told Maxie. Cody listened in on Sasha talking to Jason about the baby, but slipped away before he heard Michael was the father. In Baden Baden, Jack went to Carly’s suite and kissed her. She said she needed a minute, and he apologized if he’d read things incorrectly, but she said he didn’t. She just didn’t want to do something she regretted. He said he wasn’t there to sleep with her and had something much different in mind.

Molly visited Cody at the stables to drop off his paperwork from the station. He was less than hospitable. He said his feet were held to the fire while career criminals got away with everything. Jason wanted Michael’s side of the story, but Sasha said she didn’t owe Jason anything. He said she owed Michael. Lulu said she owed Sam everything, but Maxie said, feeling guilty over something she had no control over would go nowhere. Lulu admitted still being in love with Dante. Brook said she’d have to tell Chase the whole truth, that Dante was the father of her child. Dante told Chase about the murders at GH and that Sam was one of the victims. Alexis didn’t know what to do with her feelings about Sam being murdered, and she threw stuff around the office.

Jack brought Carly to the rooftop, where he had a fire going and they had champagne. Carly said, it was cozy, beautiful and private. He toasted to her changing her mind about coming to the spa. Jason told Sasha that he’d back off the second he talked to Michael. Sasha said they were done, but if he talked to Michael, tell him that she was thinking of him and praying for his recovery. Cody said, clearly Molly had an agenda, but she said she was there as a favor to Mac. He said he appreciated it and she left. Diane wanted to say the right thing, but Alexis told her that there was no right thing to say. Diane said, whatever Alexis wanted, she was all in – whatever she needed, whenever she needed it. Alexis said she had to tell Molly and Kristina, who were on their way there. Diane got a text from Jason and promised she wouldn’t tell him anything. Kristina came in and wondered what had happened.

Brook said if she told Chase, she’d have to tell Dante, and she felt sick. Dante told Chase about the digitalis murders, that Dex was one of the victims, and Michael had been saved by Isaiah’s quick thinking. Maxie said she was surprised Lulu admitted she still loved Dante, but it would be weird if she didn’t. Jason met with Diane and told her about Sasha’s pregnancy. Alexis told Kristina and Molly that Sam was murdered. Carly wanted to know what was going on between Jack and Valentin. She thought it was crazy that Valentin tried to kill him. Jack said, Valentin had been a friend, but after tonight, he wasn’t protecting Valentin any longer. He figured Valentin assumed he was the one who fired the shot in Prague. He hadn’t, but he was at that point now. It was a winding, complicated story. Carly told him to order another bottle of champagne.

Dante unloaded on Chase about Lulu and said she had to stop taking risks and be careful for her sake and Rocco’s. He was happy she was there, but Sam was gone because of it. Every time he looked at Lulu, he’d think of Sam and what they’d all lost. At the MetroCourt, Cody saw Diane with Jason. He apologized to Maxie about the other night and told her that Sasha was pregnant. Then he realized she knew already. Jason said Carly couldn’t know anything about this. He was going to the clinic to see Michael, but wanted Diane to keep an eye on Sasha. Jack told Carly that he wanted to rise in the ranks at the WSB and an alliance with Valentin was a smart move, so he sought out Valentin’s friendship. Valentin was the iron fist, and he was the velvet glove. Valentin needed him as much as he needed Valentin, and they became true friends.

Diane promised to keep an eye on Sasha and let her know when Jason got clarity. The fact Michael never told her spoke to Sasha’s credibility. Jason said if he was wrong, he’d gladly admit it, and she said she wanted a ringside seat for that. Maxie asked how Cody found out, but he said it didn’t matter. Maxie said Sasha was clear that she had no plans to tell the father, and Cody said the father was Jason. Sasha told the baby that they could do this on their own and promised she’d always be there. Lois said she didn’t want to influence Brook’s decision, but Brook said she needed Lois’s advice. Lois said Brook was a grown-up now and it was only her choice to make. Brook said she and Chase had to be open and honest and she had to tell him. Dante asked Chase what was up, and Chase said he’d talk when he was ready. Alexis promised they’d find out who did this to Sam. They were going to shield the truth from Scout and wanted to wait for more information to tell Danny. She’d ask Anna to keep it away from the public for as long as possible. They’d have to stay strong and present a united front for Sam.

Carly said there was more to Jack than met the eye. She admired his loyalty. He said there was a big difference between them. She was a good person. She said he wasn’t the bad guy he wanted people to think he was. To her, he was the guy who’d done awesome things for her and expected nothing in return. They kissed by the fire.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In his hospital room, Kai struggles to put on a brace belt and Trina walks in.

Jordan is surprised to find Drew at Volonino’s, and asks if he’s allowed through the doors of Aurora these days. He asks if she means his company, and she wonders if he’s trying to drive away anyone who ever thought they knew him.

Curtis meets Portia at Beradino’s and says, Aurora’s new CEO is looking fine. He says he aims to please, and she asks, what’s with the good mood? He says he’s at breakfast with his beautiful wife. Why wouldn’t he be? She says she saw on the news that there’s a holdup with the McConkey esplanade. It was a big project for him and Aurora. Curtis says, it still is. Don’t worry. He’s steps ahead of it. Since no one eats at home, at another table, Ric says, even though it was gruesome, the fire strengthened Ava’s case. She asks if it’s strong enough to rescue her daughter, and he says he thinks it should. Given her present financial situation, he has a proposal to present to Diane. With any luck, it will convince Diane to wrap things up with her and Sonny. Ava says, that would be ideal, and thanks him. His generosity had been so helpful. He says, what generosity? and she says, him representing her pro bono. He says he’s not doing her case pro bono, and she says, he’s not? Since he stopped hounding her to pay, she assumed… He says, that his service was gratis? Why? Because they kissed?

Lulu meets Laura at the bistro and apologizes for being late. Everything she does seems like something she has no chance with. She was here with Rocco and her baby boy is now a coffee drinker. Laura says, he’s a coffee snob, and Lulu says, he gets that because of Sonny. Dante is so good with Rocco. He’s a great dad, but… Laura says, she’s still in love with him, isn’t she?

Dante bursts into Anna’s office and asks, what the hell is going on? Mac said she ordered him locked out of Sam’s murder investigation. She says, he’s correct, and he asks, why?

Brook goes to the stables and asks Cody if they’re alone. He says, yeah, and she says, good. She needs to talk to him. He says, about what? and she says, the summer romance she had with Dante, and he asks if she means the summer she got pregnant.

In Diane’s office with Kristina, Sonny says he’s going to LA on business for Deception, and she says, that’s a long way to go for a silent investor. He says, Natalia wanted him to go and he wants to go over some things before he leaves. Diane says, that’s why Kristina came, and he says, there are things they all need to discuss.

At Volonino’s, Brad does push-ups, and his trainer suggests a break, but he says, no breaks. The trainer hands him some water and says, he needs to hydrate. Brad takes a drink and says, if he’s going to hit his goal before Miami, he can’t afford breaks.

Ava asks if Ric thinks she kissed him in exchange for legal fees, and he says he hopes not. It was a good kiss, but hardly covers his retainer. He’s attracted to her, but business is business. He’s extending her grace in deferring his payment. She says, he’s a beacon of charity. At this juncture, it’s like the kiss never happened and it’s not likely there will be another. He says, ever? and she says, not until she gets her daughter back. After that, they’ll see what’s on the table. He says he guesses he should be going then, and leaves.

Curtis tells Portia that Drew is stalling the project, and she says, that’s so sad. He says he can think of two other strong words, and she says, Drew is using his office to exact petty revenge. She’ll stick with sad. Tell her about his next steps. He says he’s going to need an ally on Capitol Hill who has more connections than Drew. Nina is setting up something, but if it doesn’t work, he has a back-up. Meanwhile, his focus is on the next step with Aurora, and it involves her, him, a beach, and daquiris on a tropical island.  

Drew says he understands that Jordan is upset about the esplanade, and she says, he brought the project to her, and they worked on it together. Now he’s stalled it. He’s damn right she’s upset. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s sorry, and she says, explain why he’s doing this. He says he’s just trying to hold onto what’s his.

Brook says, of course (🍷) she’s referring to that summer, and Cody says he thought the subject was verboten. She says, it was, and it is. Did he ever tell Dante? He says, she swore him to secrecy, and he drove her to the bus station. She left and he didn’t see her again until he started working here. She asks if he ever told Dante, but he says, no. He hasn’t even thought about it since then. She says, thank God, and thanks him, and he says, no problem. She says she’s sorry to make a big deal out of it, but she had to be sure. He says he gets it, but it was like, a million years ago. Why bring it up now?

Anna says she wants to reiterate how sorry she is, but Dante says he doesn’t want her sympathy. He wants Sam’s file. She says, he barged into her office and asked for access to a case… He says, because Sam  was his fiancé and he loved her, and Anna says, that’s precisely why she can’t let him get anywhere near the case.

Trina offers to help Kai, but he says he’ll do it himself. He struggles some more, and she says, it will be easier when his arm isn’t in a sling. He finally asks her to help him, and she puts the belt on him. As she wraps it around him, they gaze at each other for a moment.

Lulu tells Laura that she loves Dante, but not… He’s still grieving Sam… They were already divorced, but she ended things with Dustin. She was planning on telling Dante that she never stopped loving him, but unfortunately, she never got the chance. Now she’s finally awake, but Dante is grieving Sam… He totally should. Laura says, good to know, and Lulu says, it’s probably better. Things between them are worse. Laura asks, how so? and Lulu says, they fight all the time. When she went to Prague, Dante brought it on himself to follow. It’s a habit and they know how she doesn’t like being handled. Laura says, they do indeed, and Lulu says she wants to try and get along, but he makes it impossible. Laura says, maybe she’s pushing him away, but Lulu says, it’s not that. If anything, she thinks she’s holding herself back.

Sonny tells Diane that he’s concerned Charlie’s is going to be scrutinized. The business is clean, but he did sell it to Kristina. Diane says, she’ll stay ahead of it and tells Kristina to call if there’s a problem. Kristina says, if the Feds tap her phone, she’ll ask for a copy of the recording to help her keep track of things. Sonny says he doesn’t want what he’s done to interfere, and Diane says she’ll make sure of it. She’s about to leave when there’s a knock at the door. She opens it to Ric and Ava, and Ric says, good. They’re already here. That makes it easier.

Brad kisses his bicep (he’s pretty jacked) and says, woo!

Kai thanks Trina for her help and says he’s sorry for snapping. She says she gets it, and he says he appreciates her coming, but he’s not in the mood. He’s still trying to rap his head around what he’s going to do with his life. She says, that’s why she’s here. Since he was injured in a game, PCU can’t revoke his scholarship. She brought him some catalogs for inspiration. He says he can’t think about classes. He’s barely managed to schedule his rehab. She asks if that means he got a second opinion that was positive, and he says, they told him, no promises.  

Drew tells Jordan that he’s the ultimate team player. He’s dealt with Tracy, navigated Ned’s fragile ego, and sat through his fair share of family squabbles disguised as ELQ board meetings. He does one thing the family doesn’t approve of… Jordan says, he had an affair with his nephew’s wife, and Drew says, and the rest of the Quartermaines are saints compared to most people. Monica banned him from the grounds, and he was pushed out of his own company. Jordan says she gets it. His life as a rich congressman is in shambles. Welcome to politics. They’re not here to talk about Quartermaine infighting. He’s stalling the progress for the good of the city he’s been chosen to represent. He says, it could still happen. That depends on what Curtis chooses to do with Aurora.  

Portia says, Curtis’s plans for Aurora involve them on a beach? and he says, not just any beach. St. George Island, potentially the first site of Aurora’s new resorts. Portia says she loves it, and he says, of course (🍷) he wants to experience the island before moving forward and he can’t without her. What does she say? She says she can feel the sand between her toes, when Curtis’s phone rings. Jordan says she’s calling in a favor, and Curtis says, which one? She tells him to meet her at Volonino’s as soon as he can.  

Anna says, when she told Dante that Sam was murdered, she was speaking to him as a private citizen. That’s why he can’t be involved. He says he can help find out who killed her, and she says she’d let him if the victim was anyone else. He says, because it’s Sam, and she says, imagine if he finds the killer and it goes to trial. What does he think the defense is going to do? He says, object because of his conflict of interest, and she says, they won’t need to. We won’t have a case. It will be thrown out because he was involved in the investigation. He asks if that’s what she wants, but she says, no, but she has to look at it. What if he finds the killer and decides to take the law into his own hands? He asks if she thinks he’d do that, and she says, in this instance, she doesn’t know. He asks what she means by in this instance. Does she have a suspect?

Brook says she’s sure everybody knows she and Chase are trying to start a family, and Cody says, word got around. She says, it’s bringing up a memory for her, living in the same house with Dante. She needs to be sure. He says he never told Dante. He hasn’t even thought about it in years. If she had told Dante back then, he’s sure Dante would have stepped up, unlike other guys. She asks what he means, and he says, it’s an obligation and the guy has to step up. He can’t leave the woman hanging. Brook asks what he’s talking about, and he says, Sasha is pregnant and she shouldn’t be in it alone.  

Drew works out with the weights, when Curtis comes in. He asks if this is why Jordan needed him, and she says, Drew told her that the future of the esplanade depends on Curtis. Care to elaborate? Curtis says, Drew wanted to push Michael out of Aurora, and Jordan says, while he’s in Germany, recovering from third degree burns? Curtis says, yeah. And if Drew doesn’t get what the wants, he’s more than willing to sabotage Aurora. Hence the delay on the esplanade. Jordan says, is that right? and Drew says, Curtis couldn’t be more wrong.

Kai tells Trina that the doctors told him to manage his expectations and set reasonable goals. Don’t get ahead of himself. She says, that’s good advice, and he says his teammates’ doctors said the same thing. She asks if they played again, and he says, one did. The rest never set foot on a field again. She says she’s sorry, and he says him too. He knew it was a possibility, but he told himself that it would never be him. How could he be so stupid?

Lulu tells Laura that Dante would jump in to save any chance he got, whether she needed him to or not. Laura says, Dante just lost someone he loved and maybe he doesn’t want to lose someone else. Lulu says, maybe… probably. She hates seeing him and Rocco in pain and not be able to help. Dante sees her as the woman his fiancé died trying to save. What is it going to be like for the rest of their lives? Laura says she knows what Lulu thinks, but unless she’s spoken to Dante directly, she doesn’t know how he feels.

Anna says she has no suspect yet, but there’s a person of interest, and Dante asks, who? She says, it’s not his case and she’s not disclosing more information. He says, she hasn’t told him anything. Dammit! She needs to tell him… She says she thinks he should go home. She’s placing him on one week’s paid leave and would like him to see the department psychiatrist. He asks if he can say no, but she says she thinks he knows the answer to that. He says, fine, and leaves.

Diane tells Ric to come back when he’s made an appointment, but he says he has an offer regarding the custody hearing. Sonny says, let’s hear it, and Ric says, the recent incident at his domicile caused the destruction of property and injury to his son. Ava says, it was obviously an attempt… and Ric says, it’s obvious Sonny can’t provide a safe home for Avery. At best, Sonny is going to lose. He’s made an effort to save them time and expense. He gives Diane the paperwork and she laughs. She says, visitation every other weekend and Ava has sole custody and all major holidays? Ava says she’s willing to give up Arbor Day, but Diane says she won’t even entertain it. Ric says, then they’ll go to court, and Sonny says, let’s do it. Ric says he’s going to call Kristina to the stand, and Kristina says, no problem. He asks if she’s sure. He’s going to ask about her father’s brutal assault on Dex Heller and his long list of mental and emotional instabilities. He’ll also bring in her impulsiveness and hot-headed temper that led to the attack on Ava and also the death of Kristina’s child. Sonny says, that’s enough, and Kristina says she looks forward to making sure Avery ends up with the right parent. Ric says, it’s impressive, but her keeping it together in her attorney’s office for five seconds doesn’t hold a candle to keeping it together on the witness stand… which she knows. Ava tells Sonny to spare the agony for both him and his daughter and take the deal. Sonny leans on his desk and asks, when’s the date? Diane says, February 25th, and Sonny tells Ric, see you there. Ric says, it’s their final offer, and Sonny shrugs. Ric says, it’s over, and he and Ava leave. Diane says she knows one thing, and Sonny says, they’re desperate. Diane says, right, and he says, Ava’s funds have dried up. Kristina says, Lucy mentioned to her the other day that Ava took a place far below her standards, and Sonny says, Ava wouldn’t trade down if she didn’t have to. Kristina says, that’s good news. If Ava can’t afford it, all they have to do is wait, but Diane says, they can’t rely on that. Ric and Ava’s argument is stronger than theirs.

Dante sees Brook at the stables and asks if Cody is around. She says, he was, then he wasn’t. She doesn’t know if he’s coming back. Is Dante okay? He says, obviously not, and she asks if there’s anything she can do. He says he doesn’t know. Sam was murdered and Anna won’t let him find the bastard who did it.

Lulu says she knows Dante loved Sam, and Laura says, and Sam loved Dante. She’s grateful they gave a good home to Rocco. Lulu says her too, but she’s a little jealous. And by little, she means really jealous. Laura says, Sam is gone now, and Dante has to find a way to live with the loss, and Lulu says, it’s a big loss and here she is, swooping in. Laura says, Lulu is entitled to be here, and Lulu says, Sam is too, but she can’t be. Laura says, but Lulu can, and Dante is afraid he’s going to lose her too. He practically camped out by her bedside and fought like hell for her. She says she knows, and Laura says, from her own life, she knows it’s possible to love two people at the same time. Dante absolutely loves Lulu. Maybe not in the same way she loves him right now, but there’s definitely a place in his heart for her. Lulu says she knows it’s not rational, but she feels like it’s her fault Sam died. If she feels that way… Laura says, maybe Dante does too?

Trina says, Kai isn’t stupid. He doesn’t know how rehab is going to turn out. His first orthopedist told him that he’s never play again. He says he doesn’t feel like a lecture. He needs to figure out rehab now. As for class, he doesn’t know if he wants to go back. She says, why? Even if he never plays again, he’s been given an amazing opportunity. A scholarship most kids would kill for and PCU is an amazing school. He says he knows Trina thinks she’s helping, but she’s not.

Drew says, when he pitched the esplanade, he did it on behalf of his company. Now he’s pitching for his constituents. Jordan asks, then why hold up the project that will give his constituents jobs? and he says, the environmental report was of concern, so it’s been put on pause for review. She says, it’s going to die because he has an ax to grind, and he says, it’s Aurora’s project. Curtis is the CEO and it’s up to him to clear up the issues. Curtis says, Aurora will be fine without the esplanade, and Drew says, there you have it. Curtis says, Drew is screwing them over, and Jordan says, it was a project for the constituents that was supposed to carry on the name of the man who gave Drew a seat in congress. (Good point!) Drew says, Curtis seems tense. What does he say to them working it out in the ring?

Diane says she hates to admit it, but Ric had good points. It’s of public record that the penthouse fire was deliberately set. Sonny says, Avery was at Carly’s, and Diane says, that’s the only reason Sonny still has custody. As for Kristina, she was magnificent back there. Kristina thanks her and says, hate is a powerful motivator. Diane says she has to advise Kristina, no matter how cool and calm she is on the witness stand, Dex’s assault is going to count in Ava’s favor. Sonny says, Ric is all about money. The only reason Ric is representing Ava is to hurt him. He’s going to use Kristina to do that. Kristina says, let him try. She can’t allow Ava to have Avery. Diane says she knew Kristina would say that. She’s going to let them talk. Take all the time they need. She leaves and Sonny says, Diane is right. Ric is going to hammer her on the stand like last time. Kristina says, let him. Ava’s not going to win this case. She doesn’t get to have her daughter back after she took Kristina’s from her.  

At the MetroCourt bar, Ava says, Sonny is itching to take them to court, but Ric says he’s not so sure. Ava says, he has enough money to drag this on forever, and Kristina, with her hair trigger temper, didn’t take the bait. Ric says, no matter. It comes down to Sonny. If he doesn’t want to move forward, it’s all over. She says, too bad he and Diane are determined to do that, and Ric says, maybe he’s wrong, but he thinks something is going on with Sonny.  

On the phone, Anna says, come back to my office and we’ll go over your allegations about Cyrus. There’s a knock at the door, and she says, it’s open. Cody comes in and asks if she’s seen Mac, but she says, he’s out on a call. Is everything okay? He says he needs to get a message to Mac’s brother and doesn’t have a way to reach him, and she says she can reach him. He says, it can wait, and she says, is he sure? It seems urgent. He says, it is… It isn’t important. It’s not like they need to contact international law enforcement. Anna tells him, just say it, and he says, Sasha is in trouble and it’s Jason Morgan’s fault.  

Brook tells Dante that she’s sorry, and he says, the minute he found out Sam was murdered, he wanted to hunt down the piece of garbage who did this. He’s a cop. She says, the best, and he says, Anna told him under no uncertain terms that he’s too close to the case. She says, maybe he is, and he says, obviously. He went to Anna’s office to show her how he’d handle it, and instead, he proved her right. He lost it on her. He yelled at his boss, and she sent him home. Brook says, Anna made the right call, and he says he knows that. For Sam to die like that, in a hospital bed, confined, unable to fight… If she could have gotten up, she would have fought tooth and nail. Brook says, damn straight, and he says, Sam was there because of him, and she’s gone because of him. He doesn’t know how to live with that.

Lulu asks Laura, how does she not feel responsible? The only reason Sam was in a hospital bed was because of her. Laura says, it’s human to feel like it’s her fault, but it’s completely untrue. She’s not responsible for Sam’s death. Only one person is – the murderer. Lulu says she knows that. It’s just so hard to silence the voice telling her that it’s her fault and to think about how Dante sees her. Laura says, he’s grieving, so she can’t assume to know how he feels, but she could ask, and Lulu says, just like that. Laura says, with the connection they have, yeah. It may not be the best time to tell him the full breadth of her feelings, but she can love him as friend.

At the hospital on his phone, Brad orders the deluxe spa package, while Portia tries to quietly go past him. He trots after her and asks if she has any idea where Dr. Jones is. She says, he switched his shift. She can imagine why. He says, speaking of schedules, is there any chance he can get an extra vacation day in Miami?

Curtis says, Drew wants to see him in the ring? and Jordan says, she brought them together hoping they could compromise like the adults she assumed they were, and Curtis says, it was a noble thought. But they both know Drew makes decisions based on what Drew wants. Drew says, and Curtis never misses the opportunity to get on his high horse. Curtis says, it must be real difficult for Drew to see that high up, being so damn lowdown, and Drew asks what Curtis says when the common denominator of the people keeping secrets from him is himself.

Anna asks how Jason is involved with Sasha, but Cody says, forget it. She says, he doesn’t barge into her office saying Robert’s daughter is in trouble and then drop it. He says he wants to talk to Robert directly, but she says, they’re close. What happened? Is Sasha in danger? He says, no. It’s not a crime or a legal thing. She tells him, just say it, and he says, Sasha is pregnant, and Jason is the father.  

Ric tells Ava, the thing about having a brother as an enemy is, they can read each other. He has a strong feeling something was off with Sonny just now. She asks how he can tell, and he says, Sonny may talk tough, but he has the sense Sonny doesn’t want to see this through. She says, when he dreams, he dreams big. Sonny doesn’t give up. He says, Sonny knows cutting her out will hurt Avery. Maybe he’s starting to care a little. She says she hopes he’s right. She needs to have Avery with her. The sooner he can make that happen, and the sooner she’s back on her feet, the sooner she can pay him. Once he gets paid, maybe after that they can see where things stand between them.

Kai tells Trina that he figured out how to put the brace on and it’s an accomplishment. He appreciates Trina coming, but he needs time to himself. She says, okay. She’ll leave him to it. She goes to the door and says, just so he knows, he doesn’t need to do this alone. She leaves, and he gets on the bed with his phone. He puts on an old game, and the announcer says, PCU is down three and going for a Hail Mary pass… They win, thanks to the golden arm of quarterback Kai Taylor! He puts the phone down, and Trina sees him through the window. She takes out her phone and makes a call. She says, when you get out, come and meet me at GH. Nothing is wrong. I just need help.  

Portia says she’s made accommodations for Brad, and he knows why. Brad says, just because he forced her doesn’t mean it’s not appreciated, and she says she does have limits and if she sticks to them, they shouldn’t have a problem. He says, understood… That said… She says, if he starts asking too much too often, people will start to notice. Don’t push his luck any further than he has. He says, so… is that a yes? and she says, enjoy your vacation day. She jets, and he says, thank you.  

Curtis says, his friendship comes with loyalty and wonders if it’s too much to expect in return, and Drew says, so his friendship is transactional. He’s not applying undue influence to sink Aurora. They’re not in court. Curtis says, let him remind Drew that he’s brand new to congress. He’s alienated his backers by seducing his nephew’s wife. He overextended himself and left himself wide open. Curtis and Jordan walk out.

Sonny asks what Kristina wanted to see him about. Is everything okay? She says, actually, no. The hospital investigated Sam’s death, and it turns out it’s not an accident. Sam was murdered. He asks if they know who, and she says, no, but they know how. She was given a drug she wasn’t supposed to have. Digitalis killed her. He says he’s going to ask a question she might not be able to answer. Does Dante know? She says, probably. The police are looking into it. Should she worry? He says he doesn’t want her to worry. Let him worry. Everybody has a breaking point and she’s carrying too much.

Brook says, it’s not Dante’s fault. She knows he can’t see it, so she’ll let him get there on his own, and he will. He says, she’s right, and she says she knows he’s saying that to get her off his back. She’s here if he needs anything. He says, she’s a pretty good friend when she tries, and she says, don’t tell anyone. He says, they wouldn’t believe him anyway, and they hug. Lulu walks in.  

On Monday, Laura tells Lucky that she has some news; Gio tells Emma that he has a bad feeling about something; Maxie tells Sasha that the more she stonewalls, the more it looks like she has something to hide; and Lulu tells Dante, nothing can be further from the truth.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Looks like a good time. Especially for that random dog who’s probably been stealing food all night.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/gh-star-tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-birthday-see-the-party-pics

Sage advice for any condition you might be suffering from: If you are suffering, you have to be your own advocate to keep going… If your doctor doesn’t get it, find a new doctor that listens to you and believes in you, and doesn’t just want to stick you on an antidepressant.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/gh-star-tabyana-ali-celebrates-her-birthday-see-the-party-pics

Side gig. I still say Adam Huss was the best Nikolas and they should bring him back.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-wraps-a-movie-with-tuc-watkins

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

In making a sushi dinner for multiple people who don’t eat fish, Cloyce said he had nothing to do but laugh, bang his head against the wall, and innovate. It must be tough for any woman who dates Cloyce to get past him giggling like Anderson Cooper. Captain Glenn joined the guests for dinner and was impressed. Glenn said he still believed in Gary, which is beyond my scope of understanding. In his interview, the captain said, if Gary wanted to step up the ladder, he’d have to grow and mature. Good luck with that. Mixing his metaphors, Captain Glenn said, the crew knocked it out of the park and suggested they put this baby to bed. He’d seen growth and thought they finished the season on a high. The tip was $21K or 2000 euros each, and they’d made a total of $188K for the season. Gary told Daisy that he wanted them to live a fairytale life. She was like, hard no, and wondered why they couldn’t get to a level they could agree on. After the crew night out, Gary waited alone at the jacuzzi while everyone else went to bed. He had a lightbulb moment in his interview, where he said if he was going to be in Glenn’s position, he’d have to start taking more responsibility for his actions. I still can’t figure out what the problem was with the stews and Daisy, except that she wanted them to work. Gary thought there was still hope for him and Daisy, and we flashed back to them over the years. He was intrigued to see what the future held. Glenn said, it was a crazy season and it was done. Margarita time.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

In Kyle’s interview, she said she was alone in the house more often because the kids wanted more time away from her. Um… yeah, that’s how it works when kids get older. Boz and Dorit have gotten tight, which surprises me, since Boz doesn’t seem like she’d suffer fools or rambling talkers gladly. Garcelle pointed out that Kyle saying she’s never shared anything PK has said to her sounded like it was more than memes, but Kyle insisted that they’d never discussed PK and Dorit’s marriage. Kyle apologized to the group for yelling and leaving, but in Sutton’s interview, she wanted Kyle to apologize for acting better than everyone else and not being accountable. Kyle used the old it’s not who I am backpedal. I hate when people say that because, if not you, who? It was who you were in that moment and to say that is distancing yourself from accountability.

Dorit and Kyle went for a walk on the beach, and Dorit asked where Kyle’s loyalty lay, with her or PK. Dorit wanted the same respect from Kyle that Kyle would expect from her. In her interview, Kyle said she understood and if it was what Dorit needed, she’d do it, but IMO, she should have understood it without Dorit having to tell her. Dorit was also wrestling with Jagger having asked if she and PK were divorced, since he’d gleaned it from social media. In Erika’s interview, she said it was impossible to shield children in this day of the internet, but I wonder if you even should in the first place. By all means you should explain things at their level and make sure they know you’re there for them (and your partner too, if that’s a factor), but I’m not so sure kids should be shielded from negative situations entirely. God forbid they hear it from someone else like this poor kid. The show ended on an up note for once.

Real Housewives of New York City

It was the Reunion Part 1, so… There’s never a lot to say about these, since it’s just a rehash of the season’s arguments and them getting mad all over again. There was Jenna coming out in robe and turban, which was… original. Brynn spoke more about her assault, and sad to say, it’s someone she’s required to inhabit the same space with on a regular basis. It seemed hard for Erin to understand how difficult it is to out someone like that when it’s a he said/she said situation. There was a big deal with Brynn having said Pavit wasn’t the love of Jessel’s life, when they’d been talking about crazy hook-ups. Jessel was pretty upset about her family seeing the show. It looks to be a lively Part 2.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Ugh. The Reunion Part 2. In a word, tedious. Meredith almost walked off because… Okay, I lost track of the whole thing, but it had to do with something she said or didn’t say and who said she said or didn’t say it. You see how I could get lost, right? Angie said that for a new Housewife, Bronwyn put herself out there and that’s why everyone loved her. Agreed. Seth was a jerk, trying to explain away why he called Whitney a bee-yotch during a dinner. No excuse for that, dude. As NeNe so succinctly put it, stay out of women’s business. Period. End of story. With the exception of RHONJ, where the men should have their own show, the husbands need to stay quiet. It’s not called Real Househusbands. Still this season’s MVP, Mary was the exception. Lots of tears over Robert Jr.’s story, even from Andy. And it shut the other women up for once. That’s quite a feat. Whitney said it helped her kids understand why they didn’t have a grandpa as she hasn’t spoken to her (addicted) father since Season 1.

Southern Charm

Poor JT. I almost have to feel sorry for him. Almost. He’s so clueless as to how he’s going wrong. Although Venita doesn’t see it. She admitted to having a crush on him and I thought, oh, just do it already. Craig called Austen and wanted to hang out, which surprised me, but it didn’t seem to surprise Austen. Shep hadn’t heard from Sienna, who texted that she needed a moment. It made Shep nervous, which made me laugh. He said he wanted beautiful babies and a Bahamian house, making me laugh harder. Patricia and Madison had a pajama party, complete with caviar in bed, making me rethink my friend group, and Patricia said Sienna had approached Whitney on Raya before meeting Shep. Venita invited JT for dinner, and he told her that he was seeing someone. It wasn’t the answer either one of us was hoping for. I don’t like him, but she does, so I felt bad for her. He professed faithfulness, but IMO, he’d been leading Venita on. Not a gentleman.

I don’t remember this guy from Summer House, but I’m not always paying attention.

Southern Hospitality

I tried to watch this. I really did. But it’s just a bunch of relationships that are more complicated than they need to be. I’ve seen enough to know Emmy is a drama queen, so I can just imagine when she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Red flags have been thrown her way before, which she’s put her fingers in her ears and gone la-la-la about, but this seems to be irrefutable evidence. Rut-roh.

There was this priceless quote though: Even though I’m 33, that’s like 50 in gay years, so I’m basically dead. – TJ

I feel the opposite. While the diversity is commendable, the personalities aren’t so diverse. We even have Maddi being James Kennedy 2.0. Sans the alcoholic rants. Wait for VPR’s reboot if you want to relive the glory days. Or actually watch the original glory days on several streaming services.

Random Reality

The latest in Atlanta. Twirl on, Kenya. Twirl on.

Why not? And I actually don’t mind Slade. They seem to be a good match. Maybe he’ll marry her on his deathbed.

Get your lemons ready.

I’m sporadic in watching this, and like with Survivor, I get lost with the challenges, but when I see it, I enjoy it. Alan Cumming is the best host, all theatric and Scottish.

Take the tour.

https://ew.com/the-traitors-host-alan-cumming-season-3-castle-tour-exclusive-8766966

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Sleep. Hulu et al. I was a fan of Korean cinema long before it was popular, and Netflix had a Korean for beginners category. While this wasn’t one of my favorites, that didn’t make it less intriguing. A story of possession masked as a sleep disorder, it has creepiness a plenty. I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, which left me kind of hanging, but the style and atmosphere were worth the time spent. I hadn’t thought of it as a metaphor for a deteriorating relationship, but there’s that too. Those of you who feel, if I want to read, I’ll get a book, be forewarned; this one has subtitles.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sleep-korean-film-review

https://nofspodcast.com/sleep-review-new-korean-horror-is-a-methodical-slow-build-of-simmering-scares

Saturday Night. Netflix. This is the telling of the story of the first episode of SNL, and how no one thought it would get on the air, much less stand the test of time it has. A dramatization for sure, but the real-life drama may have seemed heightened since there were so many roadblocks. From John Belushi refusing to sign his contract while ice skating in a bee costume to Milton Berle flashing his legendary junk, it’s a fun watch.

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/saturday-night/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/saturday-night-netflix-review

The truths and the nots.

https://people.com/how-much-of-saturday-night-is-true-8725801

Some of this is a stretch to connect to SNL, but six degrees and all that.

🎸 Who’s Playing For Who…

The Super Bowl performers.

https://ew.com/super-bowl-2025-performers-kendrick-lamar-halftime-sza-jon-batiste-8779483

The Grammys performers.

https://ew.com/everyone-performing-at-2025-grammys-charli-xcx-sabrina-carpenter-more-8779877

🐾 Send In the Furbabies…

🐶 It’s always nice to see a celebrity using their powers for good. This must have been incredibly rewarding. I’ve loved Paris since Tinkerbell wrote her book.

https://people.com/paris-hilton-reunites-her-foster-dog-from-l-a-fires-with-the-dog-s-family-8781373

🐎 What would the Super Bowl be without the Budweiser Clydesdales?

https://people.com/super-bowl-2025-budweiser-clydesdale-horse-commercial-8780322

🐕 And don’t forget the best Bowl of all.

https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/see/2025/pb-xxi-gallery

https://www.discovery.com/shows/on-tv/puppy-bowl/see/2025

🐐 Quotes of the Week

Anyone who wants to achieve a dream must stay strong, focused and steady.Estée Lauder

A dead end street is a good place to turn around. – Naomi Judd

Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. – Groucho Marx

If your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small. – Richard Branson

Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. – Pablo Picasso

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. – George Burns

Words are the clothing of our thoughts.Jonathan Swift

A ship in a harbour is safe, but it’s not fulfilling its potential. – Susan Jeffers

If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment. – Carlos Santana

I don’t know why they say alcohol is a depressant. It fixes everything. – Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz), Mike & Molly

🍫 Like a Box Of Chocolates…

Until next week, stay safe; stay being adaptable in social and professional settings; and stay managing your expectations, setting reasonable goals, and not getting ahead of yourself.

November 22, 2024 – Michael Meets With Curtis About Aurora, What It Is, Not Dead, Salt Sprinkle, Finally, From Extra, A Valentine, Early Stages, MorePool, 7A, Thanksgiving For Pets (!), X Quotes & Never

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada on Fridays; the other days, who knows?)

General Hospital

At Bobbie’s, Sasha thanks Felicia and Mac for the invite, and Felicia says, it’s long overdue. Sasha says, so this is… Felicia says, their first family gathering, and Mac says, they just wanted to know how she’s doing with… Felicia says, the Cody situation, but Sasha says she really doesn’t want to… Felicia says, and the Robert situation, and Mac asks, how are things going in general?  And he wanted to give her this. He hands Sasha an envelope, and she asks what it is. He says, it’s from her dad.

In the nook, Dante asks the kids to go easy on him. Sasha’s got the day off and he’s no gourmet chef. Rocco says, he couldn’t even get a job at Bobbie’s, and Danny says, it’s breakfast. How bad can it be? Dante says he doesn’t know. You tell me. Rocco has a taste and says, actually, it’s not bad, and Scout says she likes it. The syrup is warm, and he even cut the French toast in little triangles. Dante and Scout high-five, and Danny says, mom told them it tastes the best that way. Jason walks in and sighs.

Trina has headphones on and is dancing around the apartment, when there’s a knock at the door. She doesn’t hear it, so Gio walks in. She turns and sees him and makes a startled squeal.

Michael is lifting the free weights at the gym, when Curtis comes in. Michael thanks Curtis for meeting him, and Curtis says, no problem. Although he was curious why Michael wanted to meet him here at the gym and not at the office. Michael says he wanted to have some privacy, and Curtis says, more private than their offices? Michael says he wants to get straight to the point. Whatever Drew told Curtis, whatever Drew promised him, he won’t be Aurora’s CEO for much longer.

Stella sees TJ at the hospital and says she didn’t expect him to be here today. He says, it’s his day off, but he had some paperwork he needed to catch up on. She says she can see that, but it’s not what she meant. She thought he’d be at the trial. He says he thinks Ava’s trial is the last place he should be.

Ric sees Ava in Bobbie’s courtyard and says, when Ava said she wanted to meet at Bobbie’s, he assumed she meant inside. She says she’s enjoying the fresh air while she can, and he says he told her, she’s going to win. She says, victory is all but certain, as long as she gives her testimony exactly right, and he says, which she will. She says, what if she doesn’t? and he says he doesn’t deal in hypotheticals. She says, all right. Here’s a fact. A baby is dead, and everybody blames her. So he has to be straight with her here. Does he really think she’ll be found not guilty?

Kristina walks into the courtroom and sees Molly. Molly asks if she’s ready, and Kristina says, damn right she’s ready. Molly says, if she’s nervous, they can… but Kristina says she’s not nervous. She knows exactly what to do. Molly says, great. And what exactly is that? Kristina says she’s going to get justice for their daughter, by putting Ava away for good.

Dante suggests they give Danny and Jason a minute and asks if Scout wants to show him that game she was talking about. Scout says, Stratego, and he says, let’s go set it up. She says, Danny is supposed to teach her how to play, and Jason says, he’s the expert? Danny says he’s got it on his phone. He’s obsessed. Jason tells him to go teach his sister how to play and he’ll talk to Danny afterwards. He could actually use some coffee. Danny says, he’ll be here, right? and Jason says he can count on it. The kids leave, and Dante says, they could be a while. Stratego gets a little complicated. Jason says, that’s fine. He wanted to talk to Dante anyway. Dante says, about what? and Jason says he wants to talk to Dante about Danny.

Mac says, Robert gave them the letter to give to Sasha. He didn’t want it to get lost in the Quartermaine mail. Sasha says, makes sense, and Felicia says, Robert was very sorry he had to leave just as they were getting acquainted. Sasha says, had to leave? and Felicia says, he thought he should do everything he can to help Holly. Sasha says, God knows her mother can use all the help she can get, and Felicia says, Sasha has every right to be upset with him leaving. Sasha says, it’s fine. Robert gave her his number and said she could call anytime. Him going away is actually a good thing. It gives her time to get used to the idea of having a father. Felicia says, her father thinks she’s owed an explanation and so do they.

TJ tells Stella that he’s in the process of accepting his loss. He wants to get to the point where he can think of Irene at peace without it causing him pain. Stella says, then he made the right choice, and if paperwork helps him keep his mind off the trial, so be it. He thanks her, but she says she has to ask, where’s Molly today? He says, she’s at the courthouse, and Stella says, Molly is at the courthouse on her own?

Trina says she didn’t even hear Gio knock. She had her music turned to alone-in-apartment level. He says, no kidding. He could hear her out in the hall. She says, he’s starting to sound like her dad. And no, he couldn’t. Gio tells her, saying he’s starting to sound like her dad doesn’t bother him at all. He doesn’t know Curtis very well, but he knows being like him is a huge compliment. As for her performance just now, she was killing it. She thanks him and says, it gets the blood pumping. And it helps her get in the right headspace to take on the day. It’s better without an audience, so please don’t take this the wrong way, but why is he here? He says he hasn’t seen her in a minute, so he just wanted to check in. So except for people showing up at her apartment and scaring her, is she doing okay? She says, other than that, yes and no, and he asks what she wants to start with. Yes, she’s doing okay, or no, not so much.

Molly says, while she’s all for bringing Ava to justice, it’s not going to be that simple, and Kristina says she’s got this. She prepared her testimony, she practiced, she’s going to remain calm on the stand. Molly says, that’s great, because the last thing she wants to come across as is… Kristina says, what? and Molly says, she can’t focus on her anger at Ava. They have to focus on the baby. Kristina says she knows that. The prosecutor has prepped her, and mom has coached her. Alexis told her all of Molly’s dad’s tricks. Molly says, not even their mom knows all of her dad’s tricks. He’s an expert strategist. He’s thought of everything. Including adding her to his witness list. Kristina says, she’s testifying? and Molly says, for the defense.

Ric says, she wants the truth? and Ava says, it’s better she knows in advance. He says, yes, it is. So he’s going to tell her here and now. They’re going to win. He guarantees it. She says, why? Is there new evidence? He says he doesn’t need new evidence, and she says, he paid off the judge. He says, she would have been billed for that, so no, and she says she appreciates his confidence, but they both know dead babies and grieving mothers play better on the stand than the town pariah. He says he’s telling her that he will win this case, because he needs to. He’s not going to let his daughter down.

Felicia asks if Sasha would like some privacy, but Sasha says, no. Please stay. She takes out the letter and reads: Dear Sasha, I’m writing because my brief message wasn’t nearly enough to explain why I had to leave. I’m sure you’ve heard; your mother is in some trouble – again. I’ve gone off with her to settle it – again. I’ll be back in Port Charles as soon as I can. I’m looking forward to getting to know you as my daughter. I hope you can forgive me for leaving on such short notice, and that you can forgive your mother for getting into yet another tricky situation. If you can rely on her to do anything, it’s that. However imperfect we may be, we’re your family. I look forward to seeing you. Take care, darling. Your father, Robert.

Jason tells Dante, in her will, Sam said she wanted Drew to have custody of both of her kids. At the time the will was written, he was presumed dead. Dante guesses that makes a little more sense, and Jason says he just wants to do what’s right by Danny. Dante asks what that looks like, and Jason tells him that Sonny said, fight to keep him. Dante says, of course (🍷), and Jason says he thinks he’s got a good chance of getting custody. Dante says, as he should. He’s Danny’s father. Jason says, but he doesn’t want to take Danny away from his sister or Rocco. At the funeral, he heard what Danny said. The three of them are family. Dante says, those kids love each other, but Jason is Danny’s father. He has to do what he feels is right. Jason says, he just lost his mother. He doesn’t want to take Danny away from his sister, but there’s no way that he’s going to hand Danny over to Drew. Dante asks what he’s going to do, and Jason says he knows what he wants to do, but he feels the right thing is to let Danny choose.

Curtis says he doesn’t know what Michael’s heard, but Drew has been very impressed with his performance at Aurora and has never said anything to him about asking him to step down. Michael says he knows Curtis and Drew are friends, but does Curtis really know who his friend even is? Drew will do anything to get what he wants. Curtis asks what Drew wants according to Michael, and Michael says his wife for one. Curtis says he doesn’t see what this has to do with Aurora or him, and Michael says, Drew tried to buy his silence by offering him Curtis’s job.

TJ tells Stella that he and Molly talked about her going to the trial. He tried to get her to stay home and expressed his concerns that it wouldn’t be healthy. Stella asks what she said, and he says, that she wants to see justice done if she’s going to accept the loss of their child. He gets it. She’s a lawyer. She says, and him being a doctor and knowing the medical facts of that awful day, he wants to stay away. He says he offered to go with her, but she turned him down. Stella doesn’t approve? She says, who is she to pass judgement on his relationship? and he says, it hasn’t stopped her before. She says she is concerned that Molly told him not to come because Molly is going to need him in that courtroom today.

Trina tells Gio, school’s going really great. She loves her classes. He says, all of them? and she says yeah. She has *iconography and she only understands every third word the professor says, but she still really enjoys it. He says he admires her positive attitude, and she says, thanks. She wasn’t always like this. She had to take some time off after Spencer died. He says, she did what she had to do to take care of herself, and she says, it’s what she had to do at the time, but after a while, she started feeling aimless and like she was outside of life, which made her feel even worse. He says, it’s like the difference between being on stage and being in the audience. If he’s on stage playing his violin, he might make a few mistakes while he’s at it, or he could be in the audience and not make any. He’d rather try. She seems like the kind of person who doesn’t just want to watch things happen either. She says, turns out, she’s really not. She’s got a full class load and feels focused and back in it. He says, and even on the days it kind of sucks, she’s still part of the action, and she says, that’s true. But when he says it like that, she kind of sounds like a superhero. He says, the Iron Songbird. She’s indestructible. She sings songs of beauty and justice to the masses. She says, that needs some work, and he says, so, Songbird… She says she’s not doing the Songbird thing, and he says, and? She says, Ava. Today’s Ava’s trial and she has to testify. He says, so does he, but they have nothing to worry about. All they have to do is tell the truth.

(*Iconography: the visual images and symbols used in a work of art or the study or interpretation of these.)

Kristina says, Molly wasn’t even there when she fell. What could she possibly say? Molly says, her dad might not even call her, but if he does, he’s probably going to ask her about Kristina’s character, the type of person she is. Kristina asks, what type of person is she? and Molly says, intense… passionate, loyal… Kristina says, and? and Molly says, and sometimes she can be impulsive. Kristina says, so she’s hot-headed. That means she deserves to be pushed out a window? Molly says, of course (🍷) not, and Kristina says, okay, what else? Molly says, he might ask her if she blames Kristina for what happened or maybe instances in her past where she’s acted erratically. But whatever he asks, she has to give a true and honest account of the facts. Kristina says, no, she doesn’t, and Molly wonders if Kristina is asking her to lie on the stand. Kristina says, no. She’s saying Molly has to do whatever it takes to get Ava convicted.

Jason says he doesn’t want Danny to feel torn between him and his siblings, and Dante says, Jason’s son is a good dude. He’s got the best of Sam and Jason. Having said that, Danny’s taken some chances Dante wishes he wouldn’t have, but his heart is always in the right place. Jason says he hopes Danny knows he can be honest with him and doesn’t feel he has to say what Jason wants to hear, and Dante says, at the end of the day, it’s Jason’s decision, but he thinks Jason is doing the right thing by involving Danny in the conversation. For the record, Danny respects Jason too much to lie to him. Jason thanks him and says he just doesn’t want to make this any harder on Danny. Dante says he hears that. He’s trying to figure out where he and Rocco are going to live and he has no idea… They hear a crash from the foyer.

Scout looks at a mess of stuff all over the floor, when Danny and Rocco come in. She says, it was an accident, she swears, and Danny says, it’s okay. Rocco says he thought she was just going to set up a board while they finish their video game, and she says she’s sorry. She wanted to play Stratego, but she wanted to make Thanksgiving decorations. Danny says, at the same time? and she says she thought she could carry it all, but it slipped. Rocco asks why she didn’t wait for them. They said they’d be right back. She says she wanted to do it herself. Tracy’s going to be so mad. Rocco says, don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine. Danny says he doesn’t know. How are they going to clean up that paint?

Curtis says he’s having a hard time believing Drew would double-cross him, and Michael says he never thought Drew would come for his family. Curtis didn’t seem surprised about Willow and Drew. Curtis says, they seem fond of each other, but he didn’t think there was more to it than that. Michael says, there is. So Curtis has to ask himself, if Drew has no problem interfering in another man’s marriage, what else is he capable of? Curtis says, Drew asked him to run Aurora. Drew made no promises to him about keeping him on as CEO. Michael says, Curtis thought there was a possibility though, right? and Curtis says, Drew gave him that impression. Michael says, so he has Curtis work his ass off to build up Drew’s company, then turns around and gives it to him, and Curtis asks why Michael is telling him all this. Michael says, because he needs Curtis’s help. If they work together, they can get Drew out of Aurora for good.

Trina says she’s worried that if she tells the truth, the prosecutor will spin it to make Ava look guilty, and Gio says he’s sure she will. It’s her job, just like it’s the defense attorney’s job to spin whatever they say to make Ava look innocent. Trina says, but she is innocent. She knows Gio doesn’t believe that. He says he promises to keep an open mind and let the jury decide. And even if the jury says Ava didn’t push Sonny’s daughter and granddaughter out the window, that’s not the point. She asks how that can be beside the point, and he says, because his point is, she and Ava are friends. She has every right to support her friend. She says she’ll probably be the only one on Ava’s side of the courtroom, and he says, so she’ll have extra room to spread out. And this way, the courtroom artist will get a good look at her. So just make sure she looks serious and compassionate. Trina says she doesn’t know how that’s supposed to look, but she’ll try, and he says, it’s going to be good for the jury to see her standing by Ava, staying loyal to a friend who isn’t super popular right now. Trina says, she really isn’t, and he says, Trina is going to be doing the right thing, not the popular thing, and that’s a sign of good character. She says, he really is starting to sound like her dad.

Ava says, Ric took her case because he believes it’s an accident, but he’s defending the woman his daughter thinks is responsible for her child’s death. He says, but he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt, she’s not at fault. Whether she believes that or not, that’s exactly how he’s going to save his daughter. She says, so he thinks by convincing the jury that it was an accident, he’ll convince her as well, and he says, once Molly hears the testimony and sees the evidence, she’s going to come to the only possible conclusion. And that is, no one was at fault. Ava says, and if she doesn’t? but Ric says, she has to. Otherwise, she’s going to carry all that anger and pain for the rest of her life, and it will eat her from the inside out. She says, it sounds like he’s speaking from personal experience, and he says he knows his daughter, that’s all. Molly may believe that Ava being convicted will give her some kind of closure, but the only real closure in this case is acceptance. Kristina’s fall was an accident. The baby’s death was an accident. There is no one to punish. There is no justice to be exacted. It’s his job to make that clear to the jury, but mostly to his daughter. She says she hopes for both their sakes that his confidence is warranted, but whatever the outcome, does he think Molly will ever really understand why he defended her? He says, Molly may not understand it, but by making sure Ava goes free, he’s giving his daughter her life back.

TJ tells Stella that he and Molly have accepted they have different ways of grieving, so shouldn’t he trust that Molly will tell him what she needs? She says, but what if Molly thinks what she needs is going to hurt him? Then… He says, she’ll let him off the hook and she’ll go to the trial by herself to spare him. She says she just can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for Molly to be in that courtroom without him, and he asks if she thinks he should go. She says she knows it’s going to be painful for him, but with him and Molly together, they’re going to make it through.

Molly tells Kristina that she can’t perjure herself. She’d lose her job and her license. Kristina asks if she said anything about perjury. She didn’t. What she’s saying is, Molly can finesse the truth. She can give context, but be careful with her words. Molly says, if she’s too vague with her answers or dodges the questions, her dad is just going to treat her as a hostile witness. He’s an expert. He’s going to try and lead her exactly where he wants her to go. He’s going to try and get her to say exactly what he wants her to say. Kristina says, and she won’t do that, because she’s just as smart as he is. And because, like her and mom, Molly is one of the last Davis women, and this isn’t about them. It’s about getting justice for their baby girl. So they have to face Molly’s father head-on together and they have to win.

Rocco says, they came here to play Stratego, and Stratego’s about what? Danny says, strategy, and Scout asks how that helps them. Rocco says, they have to come up with one to clean this up, and Scout says, and no one will ever know. Danny says, right. So this is the strategy. He’ll handle the paint explosion, and Scout will gather the game pieces. Rocco says, awesome. He’ll handle the art supplies. Danny says, break on three, and they put their hands together. He says, one, two, three, break! and they throw their hands in the air. Dante and Jason peek into the foyer.

Sasha thanks Mac and Felicia, and Mac says, Robert also wanted her to know he’s doing everything he can to get back as soon as possible. Sasha says, good luck with that. Her mother has a way of spoiling even the best laid plans. Mac tells her, if he says he’s coming back soon, he means it, and Felicia says, in the meantime, they’d like to get to know her better as their niece. Sasha says, after years of being on her own, having a family seems wonderful, and Felicia says she’s glad to hear Sasha say that. Sasha says, growing up, it was mostly her and her grandmother, with occasional drop-ins from her mother. When she was little, they were kind of fabulous. She would drop out of the sky with gifts and incredible stories, but as Sasha grew older, she realized she wanted more from Holly. She wanted a family. Mac says, now she has one, and Felicia says, and not just the occasional breakfast at Bobbie’s. They have an open-door policy. Weekends, holidays… especially holidays. The more, the merrier. Sasha says she’s a little worried the Scorpio holidays might not be so simple. Cody is Mac’s son. Mac says, he is. He’s taken what happened between the two of them very hard. Felicia says, what about Sasha? They know this can’t be easy for her. Sasha says, it’s been impossible. Maybe it’s better for everyone if she just keeps her distance.

Curtis says, Michael wants to run Drew out of his own company, and Michael says, is it really his company though? Curtis says, he founded it, and Michael says, and he vanished shortly afterward. He ran Aurora when Drew was gone, and when Drew was out there running for congress, Curtis was the acting CEO. Curtis says, his point? and Michael says, his point is, they know a hell of a lot more about this company than Drew does. So they should use that knowledge to force him out. Curtis says he gets how this is revenge for Michael, and maybe from his perspective, it’s warranted, but where’s the advantage for him? Michael says, instead of acting CEO, Curtis will get the official title and the power that comes with that, and Curtis says, that’s assuming all of this is true. Michael says, it is true. Drew told him that he’s the most qualified to run Aurora, which means that Drew knows that he knows Drew’s gotten too close to Willow. So Drew offered him the company as a way to make amends. It’s basically a payoff. Drew thinks Michael’s not going to care that he’s going after his wife if he’s distracted with the company and the right letters on his door. It shows how little Drew knows about him. Curtis says, he’s jumping to a lot of conclusions, and Michael says, it’s Curtis’s call. It’s not like Drew is going to fire him. He’s going to keep Curtis on, but he’s never going to be CEO. Not unless they work together.

Ava says she doesn’t care how or why Ric wins, as long as he does, and Ric asks if she’s had enough fresh air. She says, for now, and he says, good. Get used to it. She has a lot of sunny days in her future. They walk out of the courtyard together.

Kristina says, tell her she’s wrong, and Molly says, she’s wrong… usually. But this time, she’s right. She’ll go up there and give as good as she gets, and if she says something damaging about Kristina while under oath, the prosecution can rebut. Kristina takes Molly’s hands and  says, yes. This is about their daughter. They’re going to get through this together for her, for their baby girl. Molly says, for their baby girl, and Kristina says, mom’s going to be here soon. When’s TJ getting here? Molly says, he’s not coming. She can’t ask him to relive what happened to their daughter. She has to be here; he doesn’t. TJ walks in, and Kristina asks if she’s sure about that. Molly turns and sees him.

Dante closes the living room door, and says, he told Jason they make a good team. Jason says, they really do have each other’s backs, and Dante says, now more than ever. Jason says, Sam was right. Those kids need each other. They need to stay together. Dante says, they do. So what does that mean for Jason? Is he going to give Drew custody? Jason sighs.

The kids continue to clean up, when Dante and Jason come out. Dante asks, what happened here? and Danny says, it’s their fault. Scout says she’s sorry, but Jason says, it’s okay, and Dante says, no one’s in trouble. They’re going to help them clean it up. Scout says, what if Tracy walks in before they finish? and Dante says he doesn’t want that to happen either. They’re definitely going to get this done before that, but first, they wanted to talk to the kids about where they’re going to live.

Felicia says, they understand how complicated the situation is with Cody, but the more Sasha lives with it, the more she’ll grow to accept it. Sasha says she tried to tell Cody the same thing. They had a real connection and it’s really hard to put all those feelings aside. To make an overnight switch from almost involved to cousins… The more they live with it, the less awkward it will seem. That’s her theory anyway. Felicia says, that’s a good way to look at it, but Sasha is right. It won’t be easy, but she’ll get there. In the meantime, she and Mac would never ask her to do anything she didn’t want to do. Mac says, if she needs time to get to know them, they’ll respect that, and Felicia says, and always know she has an aunt and uncle. If she needs anything, call them. If her car battery dies, call Mac for a jump. Mac says, you do that. And when Felicia makes Sunday dinner, they’ll have a place set for her, but she gets to decide if and when she shows up. Felicia says, zero pressure, but Mac says he has to warn her, when she does decide to start coming, Felicia might suggest she bring dessert. But don’t worry. Store bought is just fine. Felicia says, they mean it. Take all the time she needs. Sasha thanks them. She’s overwhelmed. Felicia asks if she has some concerns, and Sasha says she does. And they’re not just about Cody. She’s worried she won’t be the niece they expect. Felicia says, they consider Holly family. Does she really think they can’t roll with the surprises? Sasha says, it’s just that she’s never had family like this before, and Felicia says, now she does. And they’re not going anywhere.

Curtis says, this is a big step, and not just professionally. Drew’s his friend. Ordinarily, he’d say he knows Drew better than he knows Michael. Michael says, he’d be wrong. Drew is only out for Drew. To be fair, he thinks that sending Curtis back to head the division he built in the first place isn’t a double-cross. He sees it as a lateral move. What does Curtis think about that? Curtis says he thinks Michael cares a hell of a lot less about his position at Aurora than Michael cares about what is or isn’t happening with Drew and Willow. Michael says, they’re lying to him. He knows what they did. And he also knows Drew is stringing Curtis along. Curtis says, the fact that Michael is out for revenge is not inspiring a lot of confidence, and Michael says, Curtis cannot remain CEO without his help. Curtis says, okay. Michael says that Drew offered him the job. What happens if he turns it down? Michael says, Drew wants someone with C-suite experience. No matter what he does, Drew isn’t going to keep Curtis on. He’s sure Drew will keep him on as CEO until he’s sworn into congress on January 3rd. He needs to put all of his assets into a blind trust. Then he’s going to look Curtis in the eyes and smile at him and say, thank you for a job well done. Then when he’s safely squared away in DC, he’ll send Curtis back to Wellness. Curtis says, maybe, but Michael says, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when. Let’s face it, you and I are in the same position. Are we really going to let Drew get away with this?

Gio puts Trina’s headphones back on her head and turns on the music. She dances around, but says, they’re not doing the Songbird thing. He laughs and dances with her.

Molly hugs TJ and asks if he’s sure he wants to be here. He says, whatever happens here today, they’re facing this together. He loves her. She says she loves him too, when Ava and Ric walk in. Kristina and Molly look at Ava.

Jason says, the main thing is that the kids stick together because they’re a family, and Dante says, and they know Sam wanted them to be together. Rocco says, how’s that going to work? They’re… Dante says he knows they’re not related, but Jason and he talked and came to the conclusion that no matter where they are, they want them to be in each other’s lives. Danny asks how they’re going to make that happen. Is it even possible? Rocco says, isn’t Drew going to go to Washington? Isn’t Scout going to have to live with him? Scout says she doesn’t want to live in Washington. She already told her dad, and he said it was okay, that she could stay here, and he could commute. Jason says, that’s one problem solved, and Dante says he’ll talk to Monica about him and Rocco staying on here with these punks. Danny says, what about Jason? and Jason says he’s going to move back here too, so he can live with Danny. Danny hugs him.

Curtis says he’s not going to turn his back on a friend. At least not on Michael’s word alone. Michael says, all right. If Drew decides to keep Curtis on and changes his mind, Curtis has his full support. Curtis says, but Michael doesn’t think he will, and Michael says, no, he doesn’t. He’s sorry. Curtis says, it’s a lot to think about. If Drew does give the CEO position away to someone else, then he and Michael will talk.  Michael says, that’s all he asks, and Curtis says, but let’s be clear. Michael is upset. He has every right to be furious at Drew, but he’s operating out of revenge, and that’s not the way Curtis does business. Michael says, all the more reason why Curtis should remain CEO. He’ll be expecting Curtis’s call, but he should be careful. Because when he finally sees Drew for who he really is, it might be too late. Curtis says he has his eyes open, and Michael leaves.

Kristina sits down and glares at Ava. Ava looks at her and then turns around.

In the hallway, Ric says he called Molly last night, and she says she saw, but she was too busy looking at that subpoena he had thrown in her face. He says he was hoping she’d give him a minute to explain, and she says she would have, if he’d reached out before sending a process server. He says he had no other choice, but she says, there were other ways to mount his defense. He didn’t need to list her as a witness. TJ flies over to her side and says, Ric called Molly to testify on Ava’s behalf? Ric says, it’s his responsibility to defend his client, but TJ says, no. It’s a lawyer’s responsibility. Molly says, and it didn’t have to be his, and she and TJ walk into the courtroom.

Sasha says, thanks so much for the breakfast and the letter and everything, and Felicia says, it was their pleasure. Mac says, absolutely, and Sasha says, there is one thing they should know about her… She will never bring a store-bought dessert. They laugh, and Felicia says, told ya.

Sasha leaves, and outside Bobbie’s, she takes a pregnancy test out of her purse.

On Monday, Drew tells someone that they’re the future, not Curtis; Curtis tells Jordan that this has to stay between them; Ric says, by the time this trial is over, they’ll know that beyond a shadow of a doubt; and Cyrus tells Lulu, don’t worry. He’ll take care of her.

🩺 A Report On the Report…

I’m leaning toward the Cyrus theory, but you never know with this show. He could just be a red herring.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/what-is-digitalis-and-how-did-it-kill-sam-on-general-hospital

🧴 Glad To Hear It…

God forbid he should be away from social media for a minute.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-adam-huss-promises-hes-not-dead

🧂 Beyond the Salted Rim…

I’ll pass on the lavender ice cream.

https://pagesix.com/2024/11/20/entertainment/rhoslc-star-mary-cosby-reveals-truth-behind-fallout-with-meredith-marks/

💸 Surprised Not Surprised…

Not surprised they’re divorcing. Surprised it took so long.

🐦‍⬛ Look Out For That Tree…

This guy’s reviews are the best, but he hadn’t posted until midweek, so it got left out. Be sure to check out his vlog on YouTube.

🐝 What’s the Buzz…

Aww. A Valentine’s gift.

Geez. Why don’t we go back to Lord of the Flies while we’re at it.

https://ew.com/yellowjackets-accused-of-ripping-off-2015-film-eden-lawsuit-8746649

🐉 Standing Corrected…

I honestly thought they were just blowing smoke about this.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-movie-in-development-early-stages-hbo-warner-bros-8738039

🦸‍♂️ Everybody’s Favorite Merc…

He coulda been a contender. I actually think this is a brilliant idea.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/deadpool-and-wolverine-mcu-canon

I wonder how many years before we see this one… if we see this one.

https://comicbookmovie.com/deadpool/deadpool-wolverine/rumor-we-may-know-when-the-deadpool-wolverine-sequel-will-be-released-by-marvel-studios-a214594

Yes! It’s just what we need this holiday season.

https://comicbookmovie.com/deadpool/deadpool-wolverine/deadpool-and-wolverine-star-ryan-reynolds-appears-to-confirm-plans-for-a-new-holiday-special-a214683

🍼 Forgotten Watch…

I forgot I watched this last weekend. Apartment 7A equals Rosemary’s Baby plus The Omen plus A Chorus Line plus Diane Weist doing her best Ruth Gordon impersonation. It wasn’t awful, but you might be better served at watching the original films it sampled from. And when are these people going to learn that you don’t get an NYC floor-through apartment for $5 a month?

🦃 Thanksgiving, Not Just For Pilgrims Anymore…

For those who are cooking turkey. My advice, better safe than sorry. Get your pets something special, but don’t give them any of the Thanksgiving dishes for people.

https://people.com/thanksgiving-foods-safe-for-pets-dogs-8750505

For those who want to save a turkey. I’m not a vegetarian, but personally, I bypass the turkey, which I can eat anytime, for the more once-a-year type stuff.

https://people.com/rescue-turkey-loves-listening-to-taylor-swift-8749817

For those who want to dress their dog like a turkey.

https://www.coohom.com/article/diy-thanksgiving-dress-up-dogs

For those who want to see dogs and cats dressed like turkeys.

https://people.com/pets/gobble-gobble-thankful-cats-and-dogs/

🦉 Quotes of the Week

If a zombie bear isn’t the problem, what is? – Doc (Russell Hodgkinson), Z Nation

Your dream is a reality that is waiting for you to materialize. Today is a new day. Don’t let your history interfere with your destiny. Learn from your past so that it can empower your present and propel you to greatness. – Steve Maraboli

Don’t call me a bitch when I’m upset. – Shekinah Garner, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. – Lou Holtz

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the eons, it’s that you can’t give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it. – Rick Riordan

My songs will pass and be forgotten. What counts, however, is that I sang them. – Father Andrew Greeley

The one that stirs the pot should lick the spoon. – Chris Combs, 1000-lb sisters (I’m not quite sure what he means by this, but it sounds about right.)

I could iron now for days. I love to iron. – a grandmother after smoking weed for the first time. She inhaled. – from The Daily Skimm

Of course I’m taking this seriously. I’m coming to Poland, aren’t I?Joe Coan, 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days

If your goal is to enjoy some genuine joie de vivre this holiday season, keep in mind that the simplest acts of generosity, connection, and self-care can offer the biggest rewards. – 11 Ways to Experience Holiday Joy

🌽 Bountiful Harvest…

Experience something new this weekend and stop by on Monday for soap and Sailing. Until then, stay safe, stay shopping early if you’re hosting Thanksgiving (not the day before), and stay knowing that sometimes the only real closure is acceptance.

September 25, 2024 – Sidwell Makes It More Interesting, On Call, Salty Talk, Returning Sisters, She Had Input, Squid Nouveau, Films To Scare You, Double Launch & Blame

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Carly tells Lulu to hang in there. Jason is going to bring Lucky home and get her what she needs. She sees Sam in the hallway, and says, Dante just left. Sam says, Dante told her that Carly was here, and Carly asks, what’s up? Sam says she needs Carly’s help. Help her save her mother.  

Martin says he doesn’t think Alexis is taking this seriously, and she says, if she gave him that impression, she apologizes. He needs to keep Kristina out of this. He tells her, if that’s what she wants, let him do the next best thing, and she says, point them in the direction of another suspect. He says, the perfect suspect – Sonny Corinthos.

Sonny goes to Kristina’s apartment and tells her that Diane said she needed help. She said Chase was here. Did he force her to answer any questions? Kristina says, no, but she may have screwed up anyway, and he asks if she said she had the gun. She says she knows better than that, but he asked her how she got around that night and she thinks she might have said too much. He says, that’s why you can’t talk to the police without an attorney, and Kristina says, all that matters is that he knows the truth. All of it.

Jordan brings Isaiah a donut for breakfast, and says she expects a five-star review. He says she and the staff are taking good care of him, and she says, when he’s allowed to leave, there’s a lot more of Port Charles for him to explore. Has he been given a discharge date? He says, not yet. He’s getting stronger every day, but her son might have a different assessment. Her phone rings, and she steps away to take the call. She asks if they’ve double checked that it’s the correct spelling… She’ll make pickup arrangements. She thanks them, and Isaiah says, important package? She says, it is, and he asks if she wants to talk, but she says, talking won’t help.

Holly says she hopes Anna and Jason are comfortable, and Anna says, when Sidwell and Holly invited them back to their camp… Sidwell asks if she thought they’d sit by the fire in the dirt drinking boiled water out of animal skins, and she says she guesses this is a step up. Holly asks if she should order drinks or something to eat while they prepare for their game, but Sidwell says, it’s not necessary. First, they have to find out why Anna and Jason are really here.

While Lucky is picking the lock, he hears someone and hides the penknife he’s using.

Alexis says, going with the-other-guy-did-it defense sounds like Martin wants to take it to trial, and he says, he wants the prosecution looking at Sonny. He’ll use every arrow in his quiver to exonerate her. She says, he can’t take it to trial. Kristina is going to be in the courtroom. He asks what’s wrong with her? Her license was just reinstated. The jury wants to see family in the courtroom. She says, it’s another chance for Kristina to incriminate herself and she will. If she sees it’s going badly, she’ll stand up and do what it takes to protect her mother at her own peril. He says, unless Alexis is willing to take a deal, which won’t be generous, their only option is going to trial and pointing the suspicion in Sonny’s direction.

Carly asks what she can do, and Sam says, tell the truth. She said she was Sonny’s alibi when Cates was killed. Carly says she gave her statement, but Sam says, there’s no way in hell she and Sonny slept together in Tracy’s bed. Carly says, we all have moments were not proud of, and Sam says, if it wasn’t so ludicrous, it would be funny. There’s no way she and Sonny are getting back together. She’s begging Carly to come clean and clear her mom.

Kristina says she didn’t tell Sonny everything. She went to the Quartermaines that night. He asks, why? and she says, to kill John Cates.  

Isaiah says, Jordan helped him, and he’d like to return the favor. She says she wishes talking would help, and he asks if she can think of a time it didn’t help a situation. He understands if she can’t discuss work. She says, it’s not work, and he says he doesn’t want to overstep, but he’s not used to not doing anything. She says, he’s healing, and he says, doctors make the worst patients, but they’re great listeners. She says, her son and his partner were having a baby by a surrogate. There was an altercation, and the surrogate fell out a hotel window. The baby didn’t survive. He asks, how far along was she? and Jordan says, a week away. It was a girl. He says, her granddaughter was stillborn. He’s so sorry. She says, the call was about the headstone. It’s ready. He says, is she ready? and she says, TJ and Molly are suffering. She’s just helping them pick up the pieces. She’s only the grandmother. This is their loss. He says, that’s not true. It’s hers too.

A guard brings Lucky some food, and Lucky wonders if it’s steak, lobster, or surf and turf. He asks if the guard wants to join him. The food and beatings are pretty good here. The guard says, Lucky deserved it, and Lucky says he usually does. Should he psych himself up for another all-night card game? If the answer is yes, he wants to start praying now. The guard says, his prayers were answered tonight. Sidwell came back with some fancy guests. Lucky says, fancier than you and me? He asks if the guard can smuggle him a scotch and a few canapés, but the guard walks away. Lucky says he knows they’re friends, but he can’t read the guard’s silences yet. Fancy guests means there’s one vehicle on the site at least, and he only needs one to get out. He gets the knife that came with his food, and picks at the lock. (Kind of strange that they gave him a knife, but okay.)

Sidwell asks if Anna and Jason are in the habit of accepting invitations from strangers, and Anna says, the company is nice, and although it wasn’t her preferred mode of transport, any good business transaction requires a certain degree of sacrifice. He asks what business she’s in, and she says, platinum, gold, diamonds. They have that in common. He says, possibly, and she says, good. She wants in.

Alexis tells Martin, it’s not as simple as pointing a finger at Sonny. If he targets Sonny, Kristina will defend him too. He says, Kristina only has one parent in prison. He’s trying to do his job, but she’s tying his hands. She says she’s sorry. She knows she’s making it a challenge, but Kristina will defend both of her parents, and she’ll do it in a way that will ruin her life. He says, Kristina is an adult, and she can’t control herself or be controlled in a courtroom? and Alexis says, yeah. He asks if she has any plans for a defense, and she says, trust the system. She’s innocent. The truth will prevail. He says, the whole truth or half of it? If she doesn’t come forward and say what Kristina was doing the night of the murder, it’s not an arrow in their quiver. She says, how about the fact that John Cates was hated by everyone? His list of enemies is impressive. Find one and point his finger. It’s not that hard.  

Sonny says he knows where Kristina’s head was at. John Cates was harassing her and tormenting her for weeks. Her feelings were all over the place. She probably felt like the only way to stop the pain was to end Jagger’s life. She was going through a mental health crisis. Not a lot of people understand, but he does.

Sam and Carly go to Lulu’s room, and Carly says she’s sorry for Sam and Alexis. She knows Sam’s family is going through hell, but Alexis tossed the gun. Alexis made a choice and got herself in this situation. She and Sonny didn’t. She gets that it’s easy to blame Sonny, but this time it’s not Sonny’s fault. Sam says she doesn’t believe that, and Carly says she believes Alexis is a good lawyer and can get herself out of this. Sam says, Alexis loves and wants to protect her children at all costs. Carly would do the same for her kids. Carly says, absolutely, and Sam says, then show some empathy. It won’t clear Alexis, but the truth will. Sonny is a professional with resources. His people will get him out. She knows he and Carly share history. So much, that protecting him is like breathing to her. She gets it, but the alibi isn’t only keeping Sonny out of prison. It’s keeping her mother in.

Jordan tells Isaiah that she was most excited about seeing her son with her granddaughter. He’d be an amazing father, and she wanted to see that. Isaiah asks if she’s talked to anyone, and she says she’s talking to him. He says he’s flattered, but she’s dealing with something so big, it can be hard to find her way through it. She says, and find closure? and he says, if it exists. She says, maybe she should try, and thanks him.

Holly asks if the evening is going to descend into business chatter. It was supposed to be fun. Sidwell gave her his word. Sidwell says, they’ll return to the fun, and Holly says, while he hammers out whatever, she’s going to freshen up. She leaves, and Sidwell says, assuming they have business interests in common, what does Anna know about that? She says she knows he sells his materials in Dubai, but the market there for precious metals and jewels is inundated. He tells her to make her pitch, and she says she’s in a position to help him move his materials through Switzerland, where he’ll get a substantially higher return on his investment. He asks what Jason moves, and Jason says, her. Anna says, he’s her security, and Sidwell asks about the cuddling at the club. Anna says, there’s always perks. He can secure a profit in a Swiss bank, which has more flexible and transactional speed than a bank in the Caymans. He says, this might be his lucky day… or maybe something else entirely. Give him a reference.

Anna gives Sidwell a number to call and give her information, and says, then maybe they can get back to the evening as planned. A guard makes the call, and Sidwell says, Jason is quieter than he was at the poker table. Would Jason like to have a drink to accidently soak him with? Jason says he’ll have what Anna is having, when the guard comes back and whispers something to Sidwell. Sidwell says, Anna’s references checked out. He thinks doing business with her would be both profitable and interesting. She asks if he would have preferred the alternative, and he says, no. He would have preferred something less convenient.  

Lucky hears the lock click, and says, baby, we are out of here. He runs into Holly outside the cell, and she says, perfect timing. She’s come to rescue him.

Kristina says she spoke to Felicia who referred her to a counselor and a support group, and Sonny says he’s extremely proud of her. A lot of people are afraid and ashamed of what people think, but you gotta do what you need to do to take care of business. She says she knows. Someone she respects, admires, and loves very much gave her an example to follow. He puts his arm around her, and she puts her head on his shoulder.

Carly says she can’t give Sam what she wants, and Sam asks if Carly is going to let her mother go to prison, maybe for the rest of her life, for a crime she didn’t commit. She’s that loyal to Sonny. She can warn Sonny and let him and Diane get their ducks in a row, as long as she comes clean. Carly says her cousin is fighting for her life. That’s the only thing she cares about, saving Lulu’s life. Sam says she’s not sure what Carly is doing to save Lulu, and Carly says, Sam needs to leave. Sam says, Carly is doing what she always does. Nothing. Jason is the one saving Lulu, risking his life going to Africa to find Lucky, but Carly already knew that, right? Because she asked him to.

Jordan goes to see Alexis, and Alexis asks if she’s visiting as Deputy Mayor. Jordan says she’s here as a grandmother, and Alexis says, anything new? Jordan says, Irene’s headstone is finished, and they’ll be placing it soon, and Alexis says, maybe it will be some closure for TJ and Molly. Jordan says, and them, and Alexis says, they were going to spoil their grandchild together until everything happened. Jordan says, that covers a lot. They both haven’t had much time to deal with the loss. Alexis says, Kristina has been in crisis since she went out that window, and Molly isn’t far behind. Her feelings are inconsequential. Jordan might be the only one who knows how she feels. Jordan says, TJ told her that Kristina was going to sue for custody and was planning to take Irene away from him. Was Alexis going to help?

Martin meets Molly in an unidentified restaurant, and she says she saw him listed as her mother’s attorney and thought they should meet. He says he doesn’t think they can ignore the obvious potential for a conflict of interest, but she says she’s not here as an ADA. She’s here as a concerned daughter. He says he’s not sure the court will see the difference, but she says, only he needs to see it. She was wondering who hired him. He says he can’t give her that information, and she says she’s guessing it was Uncle Sonny. She already knew before they he sat down. He says, then why ask to meet with him? and she says, his misgivings about Sonny’s involvement in this case, and Sonny hiring him proves she was right to worry.

Sonny says, no matter what you’re dealing with, killing someone is never the answer, and Kristina says, never? He says, when you make the decision to kill someone, even if it’s a piece of garbage like John Cates, it marks you and you carry that burden for the rest of your life. He doesn’t want that for her. She says, what about for him? Is he carrying that burden?

Carly says, Lucky is their best chance at saving Lulu, so yes, she asked Jason to find him and bring him home. She’s not apologizing. Sam says she doesn’t expect Carly to apologize for anything. She’s just asking Carly to think about somebody else’s family besides her own. Danny couldn’t be prouder that his father went to find lucky. Carly asks if Sam is proud, and Sam says she’s terrified for Jason. She prays he comes home safe, and she doesn’t have to tell her son for the second time that his father is dead. She prays Jason is as invincible as Danny thinks. Carly says, what happened to Lulu is killing Dante and Rocco, but Sam says, that’s not the point. Carly asked her son’s father to risk his life again, so she’s asking for something in return. Please recant her statement. She’s not asking Carly to lie or frame anyone. She’s just asking her to tell the truth. Carly says she knows the right thing to do, and leaves.

Holly tells Lucky that the guests can’t stall Sidwell for long, and he asks if those are the fancy guests. She says, come on, and he asks if it’s the WSB. Do they have a vehicle? He won’t even need keys. She says, they have to grab the guests. They can’t let them twist, but Lucky says he doesn’t care who twists. Holly says, trust her, and grabs his hand, but Sidwell and a guard arrive. (I literally gasp out loud.) He says, oh my darling English, how you’ve disappointed me.

Alexis says, when Kristina drew up the petition, she told Kristina to keep her out of it. She didn’t want to be in a position to choose. Jordan says, there are no winners there, and Alexis says, Kristina still came to her for advice. Jordan asks if Alexis gave it to her, but Alexis says, no. She took the petition and hung onto it. That’s how Molly found it. Jordan asks, why hold on to it? and Alexis says she believed when the hormones and emotions calmed down and Kristina saw how happy TJ and Molly were… Jordan says, she was hoping Kristina would change her mind, and Alexis says she never thought Kristina would go through with it. Jordan says, what if she had? but Alexis says she can’t answer that now. All she knows is they had a granddaughter who is now gone. Jordan says she was looking forward to meeting her, and Alexis says, her too. She was looking forward to being a grandmother with Jordan.

Molly says, the best way to free her mom is to turn the indictment on Sonny, and Martin says, hypothetically, one could see the merits of it, but hypothetically, it could be a conflict of interest that Sonny paid to retain him. He’s going to give her mother the best possible legal defense. Molly says, the best chance he has at defending her mother is to point the finger at Sonny and prove he killed Cates.

Sonny says, Jagger would have continued to punish Kristina to get to him. That’s no longer a problem. Kristina says, because of him, and he says, she knows how much she means to him. She says, yes, and he says, that’s all that matters. She says, what about mom? and he says, let him worry about that. She’s going to be okay. Kristina has got to trust him.

Carly asks if Isaiah is up for some good news, and he asks if Lucky was freed. She says, if everything goes as planned, it could happen any minute, but he says, Sidwell has a way of making things go wrong. She says she believes Lucky is coming home, and if anyone can do that, Jason can. Isaiah says, when she told him Lucky was being rescued, he thought she meant by a SEAL team or the WSB. One guy can’t bring Lucky home.  

Holly is brought into the game room where Anna and Jason are handcuffed. She says, the handcuffs are chafing her and he promised her a diamond bracelet. Sidwell asks how she knows them and what’s her connection to Lucky? She says she was bringing him to the game. She knows Sidwell loves a challenge. Sidwell says, it was going so well. All she had to do was amuse him. She says, it’s a simple misunderstanding, but he says, don’t insult him. They were all made at the club in Nairobi. How is she connected to Anna? Holly says, Anna is a horrible woman. She’s the ex-wife of Holly’s ex-husband. She was happily married to a handsome man – she clearly has a type – and Anna did what she could to ruin her marriage and her life. Anna says she’s horrible, yet Holly is the ex, and Holly says she saw Sidwell catch Anna’s eye and thought Anna was doing it again, that it was history repeating itself. Sidwell asks why she didn’t say something, and she says she presumed he knew who she was and he was trying to make her jealous. He vets anyone and everyone around him. She didn’t think she knew something he didn’t. He asks what her connection to Lucky is, and she says she already told him. He says, tell him again or they’ll beat it out of her. Lucky says, she was just being nice. All he wanted was to work for Sidwell, and Sidwell threw him in a cell. He didn’t do anything and neither did Holly. Sidwell says, that remains to be seen. Does Lucky know what’s going on with Jason and Anna? Lucky says, they’re trying to take hm for everything he’s got.  

Jordan says, some days, she’s almost okay. She has a lot of sadness, but doesn’t want to show it, especially in front of TJ and Molly. They’re grief isn’t bringing them closer. If they break up, it’s another tragedy. Alexis says, they’ve grown up loving each other, and Jordan says, they could lose that. Alexis says, or get to the other side together and be better for it, and Jordan says, no matter what, TJ and Molly will always have them. Alexis says, always. She’s loved TJ forever. Jordan says, when they got together, she knew TJ was happy, and he has been, and Alexis says, so has Molly. If something does happen, and she prays it doesn’t, know that she’ll always love TJ. He’ll always be a son to her. Jordan says, and Molly will always be a daughter to her.

Sonny says, Kristina’s mom will be fine. Concentrate on her treatment and don’t worry. She asks if he can make her a promise, and he says, anything. She says, promise mom won’t go to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. He says he gives her his word as her father. Her mom is going to get out of this. They all will.

Molly says, there’s got to be a weak link around Sonny. Martin has to find it and exploit it. Martin asks if she has any idea where to start… hypothetically. She says, he can cross Jason and Michael off the list, and Kristina obviously. But Carly could be something. If Sonny is guilty and she’s been lying about his alibi… Martin says, target the alibi, and Molly says, target Carly.

Carly tells Isaiah that Anna is with Jason. She’s a former WSB agent and Police Commissioner. He says, it’s crazy. Two people against an army of security. She says, the WSB can’t assist in an official capacity, but they have eyes on the ground and are helping unofficially. As it turns out, Anna and Jason didn’t have to infiltrate Sidwell’s compound. They were invited in. He says he’s not sure that matters. Her friends had better be as capable as Carly is saying. If they’re not, they’re going end up dead, right beside Lucky.

Sidwell says, it would be so easy to kill all of them, but it would be more interesting to give them a chance to keep breathing. Jason asks, what’s the game? and Sidwell says, three plays. If Jason wins, he and Anna get to live another day. If Lucky’s name proves to be accurate, he and Holly live. If he wins, they all die. Lucky looks at Holly.

Tomorrow, Tracy says, if Stella doesn’t agree, they might have to rethink their arrangement; from behind bars, Anna says she needs to ask a favor of someone; Willow says she needs creeper Drew to leave her alone; and Jason says lucky has to get home as soon as possible.

⚾️ Put Him In, Coach…

As much as I like him, I once dated somebody who wanted to be NYC’s baseball commissioner (whatever the hell that is), and I’ve had enough of baseball to last me a lifetime. We went to every single home game of the Mets and Yankees that year, including an endless Mets game where every inning was the same and I swear we were the last people in the stands.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-adam-huss-shares-a-sneak-peek-at-his-new-series

🧂 Passing the Salt…

A lot of the episode was focused on newbie Bronwyn making a remark about Whitney, and Heather waiting until a group dinner to call her out. I was more interested in Bronwyn, Heather, and Lisa going to Wendy’s. Apparently, Lisa has a partnership with them, and they were also featured in this season’s first episode. I love Wendy’s burgers, but their buns are the worst. They’re cheap and fall apart easily. Can I call Lisa about this? And why was weird Omen music playing in the background when Lisa went to meet Angie? What I was more interested in was Whitney hosting a drag night at Trixie Mattel’s bar in Milwaukee. She invited (I think) everyone, and they’re going by private jet. I’d give my bouffant and heels for an invite like that. But I suppose the closest I’ll get is next week’s episode.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoslc-episode-2-recap-everyones-fighting-with-lisa-barlow

👯‍♂️ More To Lose…

Kudos and more kudos to Tammy for her 500 pound weight loss. I’m struggling with 15. While I don’t clear my schedule to watch it, I’m kind of fascinated with this show. More with the family dynamic than anything else, but I’m always down for a massive weight loss tale. I’m also a fan of My 600-lb Life. I love Dr. Nowzaradan. He’s so cranky, yet quirky funny. The new season of Sisters premieres October 8th.

https://people.com/tammy-slaton-skin-removal-surgery-new-season-1000-lb-sisters-exclusive-8707174

It’s amazing how many times she’s been knocked down, and has gotten back up again.

https://parade.com/news/1000-lb-sisters-tammy-slaton-inspiring-message-mental-battle-instagram

⚰️ Let’s Hear It For the Girl…

There was never any question in my mind that both co-stars had a lot of say. After all, it is their show.

https://ew.com/melissa-mcbride-input-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-book-of-carol-8716833

🐙 Ready For the Game…

The basics.

https://blackstarnews.com/squid-game-season-2-release-date/

The poster.

https://gizmodo.com/squid-game-season-2-new-poster-netflix-release-date-2000500294

A tease.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/squid-game-season-2-trailer-lee-jung-jae-1236007425/

The director speaks.

https://ew.com/squid-game-season-2-details-director-hwang-dong-hyuk-star-lee-jung-jae-exclusive-8714251

🎃 Movies To Get You In the Mood…

Not a bad list of scary movies to stream. My take on their list: Nightmare on Elm Street – a classic; The Amityville Horror – good, but a lot of lost opportunities to be better; American Werewolf in London – I love, love, love this movie; Arsenic and Old Lace – old films aren’t usually my jam, but this one is funny; The Babadook – I am the only person on earth who was disappointed, but you do you; Beetlejuice – the detail is amazing and how can you not love him; Bell, Book and Candle – love the 50s NYC vibe; Bodies Bodies Bodies – very funny with an unexpected ending; The Cabin in the Woods – one of the best horror films ever made and I was astonished at the special effects; The Conjuring – maybe I’m jaded, but meh; The Craft – great female ensemble film, like Jawbreaker, but with magic; Death Becomes Her – two great actresses and broad comedy; Evil Dead 2 – love Bruce Campbell, but all of the Evil Dead films have run together in my mind at this point; Frankenweenie – kind of precious; Halloween – another classic; Halloweentown – surprisingly, I never saw it; Hocus Pocus – more fun than a barrel of newts, and nothing is better than Bette Midler singing I Put a Spell on You; Kiki’s Delivery Service – never saw it, but not so surprising since I’m not that into animated films; Late Night With the Devil – I loved the premise, but wasn’t thrilled with the ending; The Night of the Living Dead – hail to the beginning of zombie greatness; The Nightmare Before Christmas – absolutely magnificent and I love Zero so much; The Return of the Living Dead – a helluva lot better than you’d think from the title; Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – I haven’t seen it, but it looks intriguing; Scream – so much fun; Tigers Are Not Afraid – I haven’t seen it, but if it’s going to make me cry, I’m not sure I want to; Us – Jordan Peele is a genius master of horror; The Wailing – haven’t seen it, but putting it on my short list; and The Witch – I loved it as a period piece, but wanted something more. I’m not sure what, but something.

https://ew.com/best-halloween-movies-streaming-now-8718114

🐕 Clydeo To the Rescue…

She’s a woman of many talents. I love her motivation for writing her book series too.

https://people.com/jennifer-aniston-launches-fund-to-help-animals-exclusive-8717723

🍂 Falling Into a New Season…

Join me tomorrow for soap and some OC shade. Until then, stay safe, stay savoring seasonal flavors (like those Trader Joe’s roasted vegetables they dole out like methadone during the autumn months); and stay doing what you need to do to take care of business, and don’t be afraid or ashamed of what people think.

September 6, 2024 – There For a Payday Not Romance, Last Dream, New Series, Fancy Move, For Lease, Heavy Edit, Mob Slam, WWDD Et Al, Be Quiet, Chinchilla Rock, Just Past 10 Quotes & Song

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Brook listens at the living room door and says, nothing. Olivia says, no rains in Spains falling down the plains or whatever? and Ned says, falling mainly on the plain. Olivia says she doesn’t care. This whole thing is ridiculous. Brook says she can’t believe granny would hire some elitist drill instructor to fix ma’s speech, and Olivia says she’s going to kick that fancy pants nutjob out on her butt. Ned says, Lois ultimately agreed to a lesson, and Olivia says, she was coerced. Tracy comes by and asks if they’ve been lurking here this whole time. She’s getting a speech lesson, not being debriefed after an alien abduction. Robin opens the door and says, they can hear them. Come in. They’re finished for today. Brook asks Lois, how’d it go?

Jordan asks a CSI guy what he thinks, and he says, she’s right. Something to do with that tattoo might identify their John Doe. She says, that’s great news. Can he forward the photos to her too? With Commissioner Devane’s permission of course (🍷). He says, will do, and leaves. She goes into Isaiah’s room, and Sidwell’s thug peeks out from around the corner.

Dante joins Jordan, and she tells him, the photographer was just here taking photos of the tattoo. Dante says he saw. Maybe that will get them something. Did she reach the WSB? She says she’s waiting to hear from Brennan. What’s he doing back here? Shouldn’t he be upstairs with Lulu? He says, if he sits around, he’s going to lose his mind. He knows she’d want him to keep her in the loop. She asks if that means he found something. Is he closer to identifying this man?

A guard brings Holly to where Lucky is, and Lucky says, Sidwell’s not here. Holly tells the guard that she’ll be fine with this one, and the guard leaves, closing the door. She asks if Lucky is all right. She heard he was stabbed. He says he’s fine. What is she doing here? She says, don’t worry. Jenz is out inspecting the mine. He won’t find them here together. He asks why she’s at this compound. Does she need help escaping? She says she’s perfectly safe, and he says, so she’s here with Sidwell? What the hell is she doing? She says she couldn’t resist. The heart wants what it wants.

Josslyn slams into her apartment, and two seconds later, Carly says, let her in. She bangs on the door and tells Josslyn to open it. Josslyn knows she’s not going to leave. Open this door now. She’s not going anywhere. Josslyn opens the door and asks if Carly spent the night with Sonny last night. Carly says, yes, and Josslyn tells her, then there’s nothing more to say. She starts to close the door, but Carly stops her. She says, don’t shut her out. She’s not going to let her.

Elizabeth takes Ric to her office and says, they’ll have some privacy in here. He tells her, there’s not much to say. When John Cates was shot and killed last night, they saw Alexis drop a gun off the bridge into the water off of Blackstone Canyon. She was obviously trying to destroy evidence. It’s pretty simple. They need to tell the police what they saw. She says, they don’t know what they saw because it was dark, and they were kind of far away. She’s not even sure it was a gun. Alexis said it was her phone. He says, she didn’t believe that then, and she doesn’t believe it now. She even said it was a gun. She says, because that was her first impression, but right now, she’s not so sure. He says he doesn’t believe it. He never thought he’d see the day when Elizabeth Webber refused to do the right thing.

Chase asks Dex how it feels to be part of Port Charles’s finest, and Dex says, pumped, proud, nervous. Chase says, he’s got this, and Dex says, during graduation, he thought about how good it felt to be a part of something bigger, something important. Just like it felt when he joined the service. Anna comes in and asks if it’s Dex’s first shift, and he says, yes, ma’am. He’ll leave them both to it. Anna says, why doesn’t he stick around? She might need him. Chase asks, what’s up? and she says, a development in the homicide of Agent Cates.

At the penthouse, Jason says, so Sonny is missing a gun, and Sonny asks if Jason took one of his 9 millimeters. Jason says, no. Who has the combination to the lockbox? Sonny says, no one that he knows of, and Jason asks, when was the last time it was opened? Sonny says, a couple of weeks ago. He was off his medication, and he was making sure the guns were safely locked. Jason asks why he opened it now, and Sonny says, because the door where he keeps the lockbox was ajar. That’s not a priority. This is. Sonny unwraps a gun in a bandana, and Jason says, he heard about Jagger. Sonny says, that bastard isn’t going to mess with his family again. This is the only thing tying him to the murder. Get rid of it.

Tracy says, would you repeat that please? and using standard American speech, Lois says, the lesson went very well. It was really quite enlightening. Robin says she’s never had such a diligent student, and tells Lois, it was a pleasure. Lois says, the pleasure was all mine, and Tracy says, amazing. Olivia says, put her back, and Robin says, I beg your pardon? Olivia tells her to wave her wand and do her little magic voodoo witchcraft and do whatever she does. This is not the Lois Cerullo that she loves. Change her back. Lois says she’s fine. Doesn’t she sound like everyone who’s on the news? She really didn’t think she could do it, but she must have a knack or something. Olivia tells Tracy, this time you‘ve gone too far.

Carly says she knows Josslyn is upset, and Josslyn says, upset doesn’t even begin to cover it. How can Carly be so stupid and clueless? What happened to her self-respect? Is she really that desperate? Carly says, knock it off. Josslyn gets to be angry and disappointed, but doesn’t get to disrespect her. Josslyn (who can’t buy a clue) says she has to respect Carly when Carly clearly doesn’t respect herself?  Maybe just go. Carly says she’s not going anywhere. She might remind Josslyn that she’s a grown woman and makes her own choices, like she’s allowed Josslyn to do. Josslyn says, right. Like Carly would have allowed her to go back and forth with an abusive, toxic man, and she’d just sit back and watch that happen. Carly says, she’s right, but they’d talk about it. Not yell, scream, and slam doors. Josslyn says she can see Carly yelling and slamming the door or ten. Carly says, maybe, but then she would hear Josslyn out. Is Josslyn going to let her do the same?

Elizabeth says, first of all, it’s Elizabeth Baldwin, not Webber, and Ric says, slip of the tongue. She says, no. Just a sign of how long it’s been since he actually lived in Port Charles. He thinks he knows her, but he doesn’t. He asks if she’s turned to a life of crime now, and she says she’s been through a lot. She made some questionable choices that she’s had to own. She’s also learned that everything is not black and white. She’s pretty sure Ric knows that too. He says he went into some areas of grey, and she says, maybe it’s just been too long for him to know her or Alexis. Maybe he’s making assumptions off of past grievances. Alexis would never kill anyone. That much she knows. So she can’t swear that Alexis was destroying evidence. He says, maybe she doesn’t know Alexis as well as she thinks she does or maybe he knows sides of Alexis that others don’t. She says, that’s exactly her point. He hasn’t seen sides of her or Alexis in over a decade. He says, they’ll agree to disagree, and she says, what about Molly? How’s Molly going to feel when her mother gets arrested based on something her father said? He says, Molly would want to know the truth, no matter what it was, and she says, agree to disagree. He says, bottom line, a federal agent is dead and he’s an officer of the court. And he’s obligated to report any pertinent information whatsoever in regard to any kind of murder… She laughs and says, give her a break.

Dante tells Jordan that he found a cellphone on the side of the road near the site of the hit and run. It was smashed up, but the fingerprints pulled match the John Doe. It leads him to believe it’s his phone. She asks if he thinks IT can access any of the phone’s data, but he says he doesn’t know. It was pretty smashed up, so he’s not holding out much hope. She says, it would be easier if this guy would just wake up and tell us who he is.

Lucky says, Holly expects him to believe she’s actually attracted to Sidwell, and she says, why not? She’s always had a thing for bad boys. As he well knows. He says his father never strip mined the resources of a war-torn country, and she says, true. Luke was never in the same league as the darling Mr. Sidwell. But his father was a scoundrel. One of a kind. Lucky was missed at the memorial Tracy held in Amsterdam. He says he was on his way, but help was needed in the Sudan… She says, he’s so like his father, and he says, and like him, he can smell a con a mile away. Dad always said she was the best con artist he ever knew. She says, such a flatterer, and he asks her to be straight with him. This is about a payday, not a romance. It must be a pretty big score, huh? She says, yes. So it would be a pity if he blew her cover before the goods were in her pocket.

Anna says she checked the firearms registry and there are 178 nine millimeters registered to Port Charles residents, and Chase says, that’s quite a list. and Dex says, that doesn’t include the unregistered ones, and Anna says, very good point, but one of those registered ones just so happens to belong to Sonny Corinthos. Chase asks if it’s enough for a search warrant, and Anna says she’s going to try and convince Judge Windsor that it is. Dex says, if she doesn’t mind him saying, the sooner she does that, the better. If Sonny hasn’t gotten rid of the gun already, it’s only a matter of time until he does.

Jason asks if it’s unregistered, and Sonny says, there’s no way to trace it back to him, but he wants it destroyed just in case. Jason puts the gun in the back of his waistband, and Sonny says, and these too, handing him the bullet casings. Jason says, consider it done, and puts them in his pocket. Any other problems he should be aware of? Is Sonny sure nobody saw him going to the boathouse? Sonny says, no one saw him going, but there was a witness. Michael. Right after he killed Jagger, Michael was there. He’s not going to say anything. Michael let Sonny get to the main house, then he found the body. Jason says, Michael covered for him. Okay, so what’s his alibi? Sonny says, Carly. She swore she was with him. Jason says, Carly, and Sonny says, yeah. Jason asks why they didn’t call him last night, and Sonny says, it was at the Quartermaines. They needed an alibi. She didn’t know why she needed it at the time. Jason says, he didn’t tell her about Cates? and Sonny says, there was a lot going on, but she gets it. Jason says, okay. So their immediate problem is the missing gun. Sonny says, fully registered, completely legit, waiting to implicate him if it’s in the wrong hands. They’ve go to find it and they’ve got to find it fast.

Elizabeth says, Ric’s feeble excuse and shocked expression doesn’t play with her, and he says, she hasn’t lost her directness. She says, the main reason for him doing his civic duty is to stick it to Alexis. And the only reason he needs her to back him is because his take on things is a little suspect, considering how toxic his relationship is with her. He says, she’s right. He doesn’t like Alexis. Maybe they even hate each other, but you know who else Alexis hated? John Cates. Elizabeth as a mother would do nearly anything to protect her child. She says, nearly. He’s accusing Alexis of murder. He says he’s merely suggesting they go to the police and tell them what they saw, and she says, they don’t know what they saw. He says, fine. Let’s say you’re right. Alexis didn’t kill Cates. What’s the harm in coming forward and putting it on the record? She says, maybe implicating an innocent woman in a crime she had nothing to do with? and he says, if she’s so positive Alexis is innocent, why doesn’t she put her money where her mouth is. Tell the truth and let that be that.

Carly asks what Josslyn was doing at Sonny’s this morning, and Josslyn says she’d just heard Carly and Sonny had sex in Tracy’s bed. And of course (🍷) she never believed that Carly… Anyway, Carly wasn’t answering her phone and Pilar said she didn’t come home last night. Carly says, so she’s done some checking around, and Josslyn says she went to Sonny’s to prove to herself that Carly wouldn’t be there. It was like a punch in the stomach when she saw Carly coming out of that apartment. After everything Sonny did to her and their family, and the horrible ways he treated Carly, how does she go back to him?

Jason says, let’s go over it again. It had to be somebody who has access to the penthouse. Who’s been in the penthouse lately? Sonny says, Dante, Lois, Brook Lynn… There was Natalia, Pilar with Avery, but they don’t know where the lockbox is, much less the combination. Jason says, what about Ava? and Sonny says, she might have seen him use the combination once when she was living with him. As a matter of fact, Diane told him that Ava recanted her statement that Kristina tried to kill her. Does Jason know anything about that? Jason says he’ll give Sonny the short version. He saved Ava’s life last night.

Lucky says, Isaiah’s returning with back-up, and he’d advise Holly not to be here when that happens. She thanks him and says, but she’s going to finish what she started. It’s just taking her a bit longer than she’d hoped to get the combination to Jenz’s safe. Lucky asks, what’s in it? and she says, nothing he needs to concern himself with. He says, doesn’t sound sketchy at all, and she says, her plans for tonight should give Jenz the incentive that he needs. He says, but the clock’s ticking. Isaiah has probably contacted the WSB by now.

Dante looks at his phone and says, nothing on the tattoo, and Jordan says, these are his clothes, right? She takes the bag of Isaiah’s things and says, what about the labels? Can they pin down where he got them? He says, look at this. Working together again, huh? Is she getting tired of sitting on the sidelines? She says, at first. Then she gets caught up in the projects. Right now, it just feels good to be able to help somebody. He says, with everything happening with Molly, TJ, Kristina, and now Lulu, he doesn’t feel like he’s doing a whole lot to help anybody. He feels especially helpless when he’s sitting with Lulu. She says, still no change? and he says, nope. It’s not looking good either. Laura is looking for Lucky. He’s the best chance they have at a donor match. She says, knowing Laura, she will move heaven and earth, and he says, but what she has to move is in Africa and she’s got to find Lucky fast or they’re not going to be able to save Lulu.

Olivia says, Robin broke her best friend, and Lois says she’s fine, but please continue. Olivia says, Lois lives in a house with this sanctimonious snob. She’s going to tell Monica to kick Tracy out on her bloomin’ arse. Tracy says she’ll triple Robin’s fee if she can fix that one too.

Holly asks, when was the last time Lucky was back in Port Charles and saw Laura and Aiden? and he says, it’s been a while. There’s no shortage of places that need the help. She says, and only he can solve their problems, and he asks if his mother sent her here to guilt trip him. She laughs, and says, no. She just figured it must be hard for him, being away from his family for so long. He says he’s sure they’re getting along just fine without him, when they hear footsteps. Holly says, someone’s coming.

Carly says, first of all, she’s not back with Sonny. Last night was a one-time thing and she’s annoyed with herself because she let it get as far as she did. But she and Sonny understand what it was and they’re able to move on because ultimately, they mutually respect and understand each other. Josslyn says, all Sonny has done is hurt Carly over and over again, and Carly says she knows that. She and Sonny have been through a lot. They’ve survived things she prays Josslyn never has to experience. They have children together. They’re a family. It’s an unbreakable bond. Josslyn says, so she’s getting back with him, but Carly says she’s not. She just told Josslyn. She’s not getting back together with Sonny. It was a one-time thing. And she’s trying to make Josslyn understand because she wants Josslyn to know that she knows what she’s doing. She’s not trying to justify her actions, and she certainly doesn’t need Josslyn’s approval here. (No, she doesn’t, and Josslyn needs to keep her opinion to herself.) Josslyn says, Carly knows who he is and what he does, and she was finally free of all of that. She doesn’t understand. Carly says she knows, and Josslyn says, he’s a dangerous man. Carly says she knows, and Josslyn says, with a dangerous lifestyle. He attacked Dex. He would have killed Dex if Jason hadn’t stopped it. And Jagger Cates was killed here last night at the boathouse. Carly says she’s aware, and Josslyn asks if she was there when it happened. Carly says, yes. She was with Sonny. Josslyn says, oh my God, and Carly says, whatever she’s thinking, stop. Josslyn asks, did she sleep with Sonny last night or did she give him an alibi for murder?

Jason says, so once they got Ava to the police station, she admitted that Cates forced her to sign a false statement against Kristina. Sonny says he warned her not to go with him, and Jason says, Boyle came clean too. She said that Cates blackmailed her and made a deal with her to kill Ava. Sonny says, slimy piece of work. Thank God Kristina is free of him. He tried to break her. He tried to end Sonny’s family. And he failed. I won. He thanks Jason for everything, and Jason nod and says he’ll get rid of the gun and casings. Then they’re done with Jagger. There’s a knock at the door, and Jason opens it. Anna is there with Dex and another officer, and Sonny asks what brings her by. She says, warrant to search the premises, and Sonny says, for what? She says, among other things, she needs to see Sonny’s weapons.

On the phone, Sidwell’s thug says, not yet… He’ll take care of Gannon. No problem… He just needs to wait until no one is in his room. (Well, yeah. You’d think that would be a given.)

Dante says, all right. They made the serial number of John Doe’s phone. That means if they can figure out where it was purchased, they can figure out where he comes from. Jordan says, or at least where he’s been.

Josslyn says, no. She doesn’t want to know. And she doesn’t know what’s worse. Carly falling for Sonny again, or her helping him get away with murder. Carly says, she has to know… but Josslyn says she doesn’t want to hear it. Because a week ago, Carly was telling her how horrible she felt facing prison because she made a terrible choice, and how that risky last-minute decision almost cost her kids, her job, her freedom. And if that evidence against her hadn’t miraculously disappeared… Carly says she knows, but Josslyn says, she doesn’t know. Because here she is again, a few weeks later, doing it again. So whatever this is, however she’s let Sonny back in her life, she’s back to risking everything for him.

Anna says, they’ll start with the main bedroom, then go to the office. She asks if Kristina or Avery are here, and Sonny asks if they can make sure not to mess up Avery’s room because she’s just a kid. Anna tells them, go easy on the kid’s room. She doubts Sonny would stash a smoking gun in her room. Sonny asks what smoking gun she’s talking about, and she says, the one used to kill Agent Cates. Sonny says, she’s wasting her time, and Anna asks why he doesn’t make it easier for everyone and produce his registered 9-millimeter gun. Just for laughs. He says, because he doesn’t want to make it easier, and Dex says he knows where Sonny keeps his lockbox. Sonny laughs, and Anna thanks Dex. Dex walks over to the credenza, and Sonny suggests Jason go. He doesn’t want to see this play out. They’ll keep in touch. Anna says, just a minute.

At the station, Ric introduces himself to Chase, and says, we were told you’re in charge of the John Cates murder investigation. Chase says, we? when Elizabeth joins Ric and says, hi. Chase asks what this is about, and Ric says, good. They know one another. He forgot what a small community Port Charles is. Chase asks if he has information regarding the Cates investigation, and Ric says, yes, but Elizabeth says, maybe. She’s not sure… Ric says he and Elizabeth were walking in Blackstone Canyon last night and they saw something suspicious. Elizabeth says, more like odd, and Ric says, semantics. Chase asks what they saw, and Ric says, when they got to the bridge, they noticed a woman at the railing, and she had a gun, and she dropped it into the water. Chase asks if they can describe the woman, and Ric looks at Elizabeth. She says, it was Alexis Davis.

Brook asks if Lois is really into this. Does she like the way she sounds? Lois says she’s still getting used to it. It’s fun. It’s like she’s pretending to be somebody else. Now she understands why Meryl Streep always picks the roles where she has to learn accents. Robin says, yes. Meryl Streep is a wonderful role model. Emulate her by all means. Brook says, they’re talking here, and tells Lois that she doesn’t want her to feel like this is something she has to do just because of some hateful comments on Home & Heart. Lois says, that’s not the only reason, and Brook says, there are a lot of idiots who hide behind the anonymity of social media and their presumed superiority. (Truth!) She loves Lois just the way she is, and so does everybody else. Lois thanks her and they hug. Tracy tells Robin that she’s stunned by Lois’s transformation after just one lesson. Does she have a magic wand or is she just that good? Robin says, the latter. Lois is an exceptional student. She has a virtuosic ear and an aptitude for linguistic convergence. She thanks Tracy for bringing Lois to her. Tracy says, what about the other one? Bensonhurst to the bone. Robin says, anyone can overcome their beginnings. Take Tracy for example. Tracy says, come again? and Robin says, she lived abroad for many years, did she not? In Amsterdam? Tracy says, amazing. She really knows her stuff. Robin says, Tracy’s upstate New York accent has almost been completely replaced by a mid-Atlantic or transatlantic one. She can still hear traces of… New Jersey. Hoboken perhaps. Tracy says, get out, and Robin says her work here is done. She tells Lois that they’ll be in touch, and flounces out.

Sidwell comes in and Holly says she was bored without him. He says, so she came here to amuse herself while he was away, and she says, he piqued her curiosity about this one’s poker skills, so she thought she’d test them out for herself. He says, and? and she says, lost every hand, which is worse than being bored, but now he’s back. She gets up and says she’s going to get ready for their special night. Is he coming? She might need some help with her zipper. He says he’ll be there soon. He and Lucky have yet to play a hand today. He has to win his rights to keep breathing.

As Chase records the statements, he says, so when they encountered Alexis Davis, she was out for a walk? Ric says, yes, at night, and Elizabeth says, so were they. Chase says, and she told them that she just dropped her phone, and Elizabeth tells him, she said her phone had been acting up. It wasn’t taking or receiving calls, and she got frustrated, so she just dropped it in the river. Ric says, as anyone would with a phone if they can’t make phone calls, and Chase says, but they believe it was a gun? Ric says, yes, most definitely, and Chase looks at Elizabeth. He asks if she’d like to speak somewhere privately, but she says, no. Last night, she got the impression that Alexis was holding a gun. But she’d like to go on record and say that she doesn’t believe for a second that Alexis had anything to do with the death of John Cates.

Carly sits next to Josslyn on the sofa and says she’s sorry to worry her. About what happened between her and Sonny, at the time, she wasn’t thinking about long term ramifications. She just truly thought she was doing what was best for her and Sonny. Josslyn says, no, she didn’t. She put Sonny ahead of herself, again, and ahead of everybody else. Carly says, what happened was consensual. Two consenting adults. Josslyn says, right, adults. Not two teens in the back of a movie theater. She knows Carly and knows what she’s doing. Carly says, and Josslyn knows there are people in her life that she won’t give up on. People she loves, and Sonny’s one of them. With that love comes loyalty. Josslyn says, nobody who truly loves Carly would ever ask her to sacrifice herself for them. Carly says she’s not sacrificing herself for Sonny, but Josslyn says, yes, she is. If she is his alibi and he did kill Jagger Cates, then she’s an accessory to murder. Murder. She can’t lose Carly. She’s scared. She just faced this. She can’t keep doing this with Carly. She can’t keep picturing living her life without her again. Carly says, she doesn’t have to do that. She’s going to be okay. She promises. She reaches to hug Josslyn, but Josslyn pulls away. She says, Carly can’t promise her that.

Anna says she assumes Jason’s presence here means he’s back working for Sonny, and he says he and Sonny are partners in Corinthos Coffee. That’s never changed. She says she enjoyed working with him. She can see that’s over now. He says he’s the same person he always was, and she says, he needs to stay out of her way from now on. She has a job to do. He says he was actually on his way out, and she says she would think as Sonny’s righthand man, he’d want to stay. Dex brings out the lockbox and puts it on the table. Anna thanks him and asks if Sonny wants to open this or give her the combination. He says he’ll open it, and she thanks him for his cooperation. He opens the box, and she says, he appears to be missing a gun.

Tracy says, that’s done. Good riddance. Lois says, good riddance, changing Tracy’s pronunciation. Riddance. Shall they decamp to the dining room? Brook says, excellent idea, and Olivia says, indubitably. They leave, and Ned and Tracy are left alone. Ned says, hoisted by her own petard springs to mind, and follows. (I love that phrase.)

Ric and Elizabeth sign their statements, and Chase says he appreciates them both for coming down. Elizabeth says she’s sure there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for Alexis’s actions, and Ric says, they’ve done their civic duty. Now whatever happens is up to the PCPD. They leave, and in the squad room, Ric says, that wasn’t too painful. She says, then why does she feel nauseous? and he says, sorry. He thinks he left his pen in the room. It’s expensive. She says she has to get back to the hospital, and he says he’ll catch up with her later. She leaves, and Chase comes out holding Ric’s pen. He says, looking for this? and Ric says, yes. Thank you. He takes the pen and says he just… never mind. Chase asks if there’s something he wants to add, and Ric says, it’s been bothering him. Alexis was so angry about Agent Cates trying to railroad Kristina. Chase says, and? and Ric says he knows Alexis would do anything to protect her daughters. Chase says, that’s right. He’s Molly’s father. Ric says he and Alexis go way back. That’s why this is so upsetting, considering that she’s killed before… He’s sorry. He thought Chase knew. It’s in her record. Chase asks if there’s anything else he’d like to add, and Ric says, no. It’s just such a shame, especially since she just put her life back together. She got her law license back. Chase says nothing, and Ric leaves. (Oh ho, so Ric is afraid of competition too. I’m wondering if Chase is already onto Ric really wanting to stick it to Alexis.)

Carly says her actions aren’t going to affect Josslyn. She’ll make sure of that. She promises. She needs Josslyn to trust her. Josslyn says, she’s making that very hard, and Carly says she knows. There’s one more thing. She would appreciate if Josslyn didn’t share this with Dex. The last thing they need is him getting the wrong idea and bringing Josslyn in for questioning. That would not be good for either one of them. Josslyn says she’s not going to tell Dex anything. She doesn’t want him involved. He just got on the force. Carly says, good. The bottom line is, it’s her personal choice. It’s not his business or anybody else’s. Josslyn says, the sleeping with Sonny part, and Carly says, yes. She loves Josslyn and she’s going to be okay. Josslyn says she loves Carly too. It’s Carly’s loyalty to Sonny that she doesn’t love. Carly says she knows, and Josslyn says she’s scared that one day Sonny is going to ask Carly for a favor and it’s going to cost her life. Carly says, that’s not going to happen, and Josslyn says, what if it already has happened? What if this is that favor?

Anna says, they understand Sonny has a registered 9-millimeter, and Sonny says, it should be right there. She says, he hasn’t reported it missing? and he says he didn’t know it was gone until right now. She says, that’s very interesting. Agent Cates was killed with a 9-millimeter last night. Sonny says, and now it’s missing. Should he call his lawyer? She says, it’s up to him really. Everyone knows he had reason to want Cates dead. He says, it’s a good thing he has an alibi, and she says she heard. Some kind of tryst with Carly. It’s really a coincidence that he’d reconnect with her just around the time of the murder even though she insisted the two of them were over. He says, she’s going to have to talk to Carly about that, and she asks if anyone other than his ex-wife saw him around the time Cates was killed, but he says he doesn’t think there was an audience. She says, that’s a shame, because unless he can produce this registered 9-millimeter of his and they can run tests on it, there’s no way to prove that it wasn’t involved in the homicide of Agent Cates.

Back at the station, Dante comes out with a folder, and Jordan says, anything? He says, IT traced the serial number of the damaged phone. It was purchased at the airport in Nairobi. She says, that’s where Laura and Doc went to look for Lucky, and he says, that’s correct. She says, this can’t be a coincidence, and he says he agrees. That’s why they have to figure out how their John Doe is connected to Lucky.  

Sidwell shuffles the cards and says, Holly is quite the woman, isn’t she? Lucky says, she is. A poker player, she ain’t. Sidwell says he’ll try and give Lucky a bit more of a challenge, and Lucky says, bring it. Sidwell says he knows Lucky has been biding his time, waiting for his friend to arrive with help. He hates to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s not going to happen.

Sidwell’s thug quietly goes into Isaiah’s room. He walks to the bed and takes a syringe out of his pocket.

On Monday, TJ tells Ric that if he lets his anger out at Kristina right now, he’s afraid of what he’s going to do; Curtis asks if Portia is sure she wants to put her life on hold for that woman; Jordan asks what someone is doing (probably Sidwell’s thug); and Anna tells Jason that he has to come with her.

💼 Gone But Hardly Forgotten…

Sounds like he had a tough last few days. I remember Ilene Kristen talking about what a pain out of sync filming is when I went to a soap workshop.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-j-harrington-opens-up-about-his-last-days-at-gh

🎬 Living His Dream…

The best Nikolas of all the Nikolases has a new gig.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-adam-huss-to-begin-work-on-a-new-dream-series

🍊 Please Don’t Go…

I wouldn’t put it past Fancy Pants to have a house in both places just so she could do both shows. And I hate to admit it, but I’d be interested in seeing that.

💎 It’s Avi’s Fault…

If it’s by appointment, that means you can’t afford it.

🧂 Tuning Up…

She looks like she could be related to Beyoncé. Sign me up.

👠 Fuggedaboud Those Housewives…

No receipts, proof, timelines, or screenshots for Renee. Another confession, I loved Mob Wives.

⚰️ Dead and Company…

The latest on the Daryl Dixon front.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3-changes-location-and-adds-new-cast-members-01j6yeyfw9yf

This time, the focus is not on GH’s ex-Spencer.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/walking-dead-s-dallas-roberts-jason-butler-harner-in-monsters-the-lyle-and-erik-menendez-story-01j6dn2xsgqt

The busiest man in Dead business.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/colman-domingo-shares-first-look-photos-of-his-new-series-the-madness-01j6kbadbrrf

🛸 Yeah, There Will Be Spoilers…

I watched this last weekend, and it wasn’t what I expected, but that wasn’t a bad thing. I love films that take place in NYC because it’s familiar territory, and you also get to see a lot of the creatures this time around. Definitely one to watch.

https://screenrant.com/a-quiet-place-day-one-leave-new-york-time/

🐹 Bringing Joy To the People…

Who doesn’t love a chinchilla wearing a crown?

https://people.com/hilarious-chinchillas-rock-tiktok-exclusive-8700508

🏹 Quotes of the Week

Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. David Ogden Stiers

Aggressive is protecting your rights, but hurting others. Assertive is protecting your rights and not hurting others.Dr. Phil McGraw

That’s the trouble with your whole MTV, microwave dinner generation. You want it all now. You think you deserve it just because you want it? It doesn’t work like that. You have to earn it, you have to take it, you have to make it yours. but before you do that, Guy, you need to decide what it is you really want. – Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), Swimming with Sharks

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. – Joshua J. Marine

Hand me my bird. – Mina (Hannah Dargan), The Watchers

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. – Albert Einstein (The first guy to figure out Survivor.)

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest steppingstones to success. – Dale Carnegie

Don’t worry about being worried. You’re heading out on an adventure, and you can always change your mind along the way and try something else. – Tracy Kidder

Live your vision and demand your success. – Steve Maraboli

Our thoughts and actions should express our mind of compassion, even if the other person says and does things that are not easy to accept. We must practice this way until we see clearly that our love is not contingent upon the other person being lovable. – Thich Nhat Hanh

When life gives you lemons, just say, f*** the lemons, and bail. – Chuck (Paul Rudd), Forgetting Sarah Marshall

🍁 Waiting For Fall To Fall…

Have a glorious, or at least above average weekend. Then circle back on Monday for soap and what’s stewing on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay using the strength of your feelings to change your situation, and stay not reading your mom the riot act if you don’t like her choice of a one-night stand.

September 3, 2024 – The PCPD’s Busy Night, Thoughts, Suds Galore, He’s a Monster, Goodbye Dubai, Her Fabulous Snaps, What Went Wrong, Marvelous Extras, Arrested, Feasting Felines & Ends

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Sonny says he told Jagger over and over and over. Jagger can come after him, but when Jagger goes after his daughter, it’s unacceptable. He shoots John and John falls. Sonny walks over to him and shoots him again for good measure. Michael shows up and sees John. Sonny says, he doesn’t understand. John was coming after his sister. Michael says, enough. He doesn’t want to hear it.

Drew and Willow kiss as the thunder crashes.

Alexis thanks Sam for coming over, and Sam says, of course (🍷). Alexis says, it’s her sister, and Sam says she figured. Alexis says, she left Kristina for two seconds, and Kristina grabbed her keys and ran off with her car. Sam tells her not to freak out. Kristina is a grown woman. She’s sure Kristina is fine. Alexis says, she’s not fine. She has no business being out there. Sam asks where Alexis thinks she went, but Alexis says, if she had any idea, she’d be there and not here.

Kristina stands at Adela’s grave and says, it’s me. Your mom. She wanted to tell Adela how sorry she is for what happened at the funeral. She didn’t deserve that. She deserved to be celebrated for the gift she was, still are, and always will be.

Isaiah lies in the road. Jason comes along and walks over to him.  

Boyle and Ava walk through the rain, and Ava says, they have to go back and help that man. Boyle tells her, stop walking. They’ve gone far enough. Ava asks if Boyle ever killed anyone. It changes you forever. Whatever life she believes she’s going back to, won’t be the same if she pulls the trigger.

Kristina says, Adela has to believe her and listen to her. Molly was wrong. It’s not true what she said. Kristina never would have gone to that hotel if she thought she was putting Adela in danger. She loved her so much. She only wanted to protect her and keep her safe. She cries and says she wishes so badly that she could go back, but it doesn’t matter what she wishes. Adela is there, and she’s still here.

Kristina sobs and says she doesn’t want to live without Adela. She doesn’t want to be without her. Please, just come back.

Sonny asks what Michael is going to do, and Michael says, mom is still at the main house. He picks up the bullet casings and gives them to Sonny. He says, Carly will give Sonny an alibi. Sonny says, someone is going to find Jagger, but Michael says he’ll take care of it. Sonny leaves.

Jason checks Isaiah’s pulse and turns him over. He calls 911, and says, there’s a probable hit and run on Route 41 past mile marker 28… No. He was going by and saw him at the side of the road. It’s a male in his 30s and has no ID, but he’s still alive. Hurry.  

Ric carries a bouquet of flowers to the reception desk and tells Elizabeth that he has a delivery. She says, room number? and turns around. He says he thinks they’d look fantastic right here. She asks what he’s doing, and he says, craving a friendly face. He thought it might belong to her. Can she help? She says, nice touch, and he says, but she’s not accepting them. She says, not a chance… Actually, she’ll break them up and give them to her patients. He says, how very Elizabeth, and she asks how he knows that. He’s been gone a long time. He says, true. How about having dinner with him to jog her memory? Sound good? She says, no, and he says, still, he’ll circle back and maybe there’s a chance she’ll be less busy. Elizabeth says she’s the head nurse now, and it’s never less busy. He congratulates her and says, he’ll circle back anyway. Hope springs eternal and all that.

Her shirt covered in baby food, Tracy walks into the living room and sees Nina talking to Brook and Chase. Brook asks, what happened? and Tracy says, the devil baby. Chase says, Ace? and Tracy says, the nannies couldn’t handle him any longer, so she and Lois were trading off trying to get him to quiet down. Brook says, maybe he’s hungry, and Tracy says, that was her first thought before he flung the food at her. Nina says she’s surprised Tracy didn’t change, and Tracy says she’s surprised Nina is still here. Nina says, Michael invited her to dinner, and she was catching up on business with Brook. Tracy says, she’ll take over here, and Brook can take over upstairs. And if Ace doesn’t quiet down, Chase can arrest him for disturbing her peace. Chase says he’s here if Brook needs backup, and Brook leaves. Tracy says, there’s not enough backup in the world for Ace, and Nina says, she’s really not changing?

Sonny goes upstairs at the main house and grabs Carly, pulling her into a room. Seeing he’s soaked, she asks what he was doing outside, and he says he needs her help. If anybody asks, they’ve been here together for the last half hour. She says, why?

Alexis says, Kristina’s still not picking up, and Sam says, after all she’s been through, maybe she needs some space. Alexis says, she can still call her mother, and asks Sam to call Molly and ask if she’s seen or heard from Kristina.  

As the thunder rumbles, Kristina says she loves Adela so much. It’s a love only a mother could know. It’s not Molly’s fault that she doesn’t understand the connection. How could she? Adela grew inside her. She lies down on the grave and says, they breathed together, they hiccupped together and hated kale together. She’s sorry about that. That stuff is the worst. She promises to never ever forget everything Adela hated and loved, like that Pink song. She loved kicking her foot to the beat. It was amazing. She knows Adela would have been a dancer.

Willow says she can’t believe this happened again, and Drew says he’s sorry, but she says, it’s not his fault. He insists it is and says, emotions got mixed up in her talking to him. She says she’s glad he felt he could talk to her. He was in pain, and she wanted help, but it morphed into something else. She got caught up in it and she shouldn’t have. He says, neither of them should have, and she tells him that she was going to say she’s not a wife who cheats, but is she? He says, she’s not. She’s a wife who got caught up in a weak moment with someone else having a weak moment. She says, he also knows that she loves her husband, and he says he does. He loves Michael too, but if he’s being honest, there have been times where he wishes he’d met her first.

Kristina says she hopes Adela felt loved and hopes she knows Kristina would do it all over again to have those moments back. She will never ever forget her. She won’t be forgotten. She loves Adela and will take Adela with her forever.  

Willow says, but Drew didn’t meet her first. Michael did and she thanks God for it. He’s an amazing father and husband and stood by her in her darkest time. The life they’ve built means everything to her. That’s why what happened will have to stay locked in her heart. He says, no one will ever know from him. He only wants the best for her. She says she should go. She’ll call a Ride Share. He says, let him drive her. The roads are going to be messy, and he wants to make sure she gets there safe. She thanks him and they leave.

Brook walks Ace into the living room, and Tracy asks if she drugged him. Brook says she just walked him around and asked if he wanted to do a meet and greet. Tracy says, it’s clearly not the same baby. Chase says, Brook is going to make a good mom, and Brook asks if Tracy wouldn’t be excited to have a great grandchild. Tracy says, it’s not the worst thing… Okay. She’d adore it.

Sonny asks if Carly is ready, and Carly says, they’ve done it before. Let’s do it. They walk into the living room, and Tracy wonders how much more she has to endure.  

Jordan tells Portia that she’s checking in to see if there are any problems because of the storm, but Portia says, it’s been quiet. What about the rest of Port Charles? Jordan says, she’s coordinating emergency responses, and Portia says, they could use a break. Now that Jordan is here, what can Jordan tell her about Ric? He’s TJ’s father-in-law, so she thought Jordan might know about him. Jordan says, they’ve had a few conversations, but nothing deep. Why? Is there something in particular Portia wants to know? Portia says, after Scotty dropped Heather’s case, she thought she could stop worrying. It wasn’t five seconds until Ric showed up and said he’s Heather’s attorney. Jordan says, Port Charles is no longer Ric’s home, so it gives him a leg up in terms of not caring about the hate storm he’ll receive. Portia says, what she wants to know is, is he that great of a lawyer? Can he actually make a winning case for Heather? Jordan says, from what she understands, he’s a very good lawyer.

Ric gives Elizabeth some coffee, and she says she’s impressed he remembers how she takes it. He says he’s impressed she’s head nurse, but not surprised. She asks if he’s still practicing law, and he says, and he’s managing to stay out of trouble. Like she said, it’s been a long time. People change. Look at Franco. She says, that was different, and asks how Molly is. He says, hanging in there. She’s incredibly strong and he’s proud of her. Elizabeth says she never doubted his love for his daughter, and he asks what she thinks about Heather. She says, that’s quite a subject change. Heather has a soft spot for her because of Franco, so Heather is on her best behavior around her. Ric says he can use that, and she asks if he’s representing her. He says he read her file. It’s quite the body count. She says, however, there were extenuating circumstances, and he says, cobalt poisoning. Elizabeth says, if he takes her as a client, he’ll never make a friend here, but he asks when that was an option. There’s only one other person in Port Charles besides Molly whose opinion matters to him.  

Kristina says she named her Adela after her great-grandmother Adela, her father’s mother. Her dad is… not perfect, but he’s always been a constant presence in her life, someone she could count on. She wanted to be that person for Adela. She never imagined a world where she wouldn’t be and couldn’t love her. She hopes Adela still feels that love because it doesn’t know time or space. It’s not true what they say, you can’t take it with you. She hopes Adela proves that wrong. She hopes Adela takes all of her love with her. She kisses the Mickey Mouse plushie and puts it on the grave. She says, I love you, and cries. She gets up and walks out.  

Ava tells Boyle that she has a daughter, Avery. She loves her very much. Let her go and they can both disappear. She’s been where Boyle is now. She held a woman’s life in her hands and ended it. She regrets her decision every single day. Boyle says, it sounds like karma, and cocks the gun. Behind Boyle, Jason is holding his gun on her.

Jason says, drop the gun, and Boyle grabs Ava, holding Ava as a shield, the gun in Ava’s side. Boyle tells him not to come any closer, but he says, drop the gun and let Ava go. Ava says, shoot her already, and he cocks his gun. Boyle drops the gun, and Ava picks it up. She says, how is this for karma?

In Isaiah’s hospital room, Dr. Park tells Portia, 911 found him lying by the side of the road. Portia says, a hit and run? and he says, probably. He tells her a bunch of medical stuff they’re waiting on, and she asks if they have an ID or is he a John Doe? Park says, they looked, but there was no ID, and Portia says she’ll take it from here.

A nurse tells Elizabeth that Dr. Park is waiting on an MRI and CAT scan, but she’s getting no response from imaging. Elizabeth says, duty calls, and Ric asks if they can catch up later. It was a nice conversation, and he’d like to continue it. She says she gets off in 20 minutes. Meet her downstairs. He says he’ll be there.

Sam tells Alexis that Molly hasn’t seen Kristina, and Alexis wonders who they call now. Sam suggests they wait a little bit, and Alexis hopes Kristina didn’t do something stupid. Sam asks what she’s afraid of, when Kristina comes in. Sam says, she’s soaked, and Kristina says, it’s raining. (Those familiar with Rocky Horror will recognize that line.) Alexis asks if she’s all right, and Kristina says she didn’t mean to make Alexis worry. Sam says, mom was totally freaked out, and Kristina says she went to the cemetery. She needed to talk to Adela.

Michael looks at John’s body and makes a call. He says, Chase needs to get to the boathouse right away. Agent Cates was shot… No, just the coroner. He’s dead… He doesn’t know. He showed up and found the body. Should he call the police or can Chase radio it in? Willow and Drew come by, and Willow says, oh my God, and Michael tells Chase to alert the FBI. Cates was an agent. Willow hugs him and Drew asks, what the hell happened?

Nina says she doesn’t mean to be indelicate, and Carly says, then don’t be. Nina asks if Sonny and Carly are back together, but Sonny says, they were having a conversation, and things got heated. That’s it. Nina asks if he’s sure that’s all it is. Chase says, there’s been a shooting, and Tracy says, on the property? He says, outside the boathouse, and tells Brook that he needs to go. She says, of course (🍷) and Tracy says, dinner is canceled, but Chase says he needs them all to stay for questioning.

Michael says he’s not hurt. He was just surprised. Drew asks how long John’s been there, but Michael says he doesn’t know. He was making sure everything was okay at the boathouse because of the storm and found him. Drew asks if there wasn’t anyone else around, but Michael says, no, and asks if they saw anyone leaving. Willow says, Drew drove her home, and they were walking to the gatehouse, and Drew says, he assumes John is… Michael says, yeah, and Willow asks if he heard a gunshot, but Michael says, not with all the thunder going on. Drew asks if he saw any bullet casings, but Michael says, no, and Drew says, whoever did this knew how to clean up after themselves. He’ll wait with Michael. Michael says he’ll be fine. He’s sure they’ll have some questions for him. Drew says, let him be the wingman, but Michael asks him to take Willow back to the house. He’d feel better if he knows she’s safe. He’ll handle things here. Willow hugs him and leaves with Drew.  

Portia says she was hoping Jordan was still here and asks if Jordan can do her a favor. An unidentified man was brought in. Apparently, the victim of a hit and run. Jordan says, no ID? and Portia says, not on him. She was hoping Jordan could use her credential to help figure out who he is. Jordan says, absolutely, and Portia says, if something like this happened to Trina, she hopes someone would do what they could to find her family.

Alexis thinks it could have waited until morning given the weather, but Kristina says, no. She wanted to talk to Adela tonight. Alexis says she was worried and wishes Kristina had called or told her. She would have driven here there. Kristina says she left her phone in the car. She wanted to be alone. She went to apologize for what happened at the burial. Alexis says, what happened was, everyone’s emotions were running high. Everyone cherished the baby. Kristina says she doesn’t want to go on without her, and Alexis hugs her as she cries.

Boyle asks if this is the part where she tells Ava that she’s got a daughter too, and she’s made mistakes. Ava says, that’s obvious, since she’s under John’s thumb. She doesn’t care. She tells Jason to take it from here, but Jason says he’s not getting involved. Ava says, he’s already involved. If he had been one second later, she’d be bleeding out. Jason asks what she wants him to do, and she says she’s at her limit. She’s sick of being pushed around and letting people play a game with her life. No more.

Drew and Willow come into the living room, and Tracy says, they’re just in time for police questioning. There’s been a shooting. Drew says, they saw the body. Agent Cates is dead. Nina says, oh my God, and Sonny asks, where? Drew says, Michael found the body. The coroner is on the way and Michael is waiting for Chase.

Michael tells Chase that Cates was already dead, and Chase asks if he saw or heard anything. Michael says he was in shock and could have missed something, but as far as he knows, he was the only one here. Chase says, that’s all he needs. He’ll let Michael know if he has more questions. Michael asks if he can go back to the main house and be with his family, and Chase says, of course (🍷). He’s glad nobody else was hurt. Michael says, him and Chase both.

CSI takes photos at the boathouse, and Anna says, well? Chase says, Michael came to check the boathouse and found Cates. There are no witnesses, weapons, or casings. Anna says, and no suspect, and Chase says, just the victim. Did she know Cates a long time? She says, no. Her daughter Robin knew him, and despite everything, she’s grateful for the way he treated Robin. He was capable of love, his family and Karen. It’s tragic how he went so wrong. (IKR? And he was sooo good looking too.)

On the phone, Jordan says she appreciates it, and Portia says, any luck? Jordan says she listened to the 911 call and recognized the voice. Portia asks, who was it? and Jordan says, Jason Morgan. He didn’t know what happened. Just the location. She’s wondering if the man’s wallet was launched when he was struck by the car. Portia wonders why Jason would leave before help arrived, and Jordan says she doesn’t know, but she’s going to ask him when she finds him.

Ava says, there was a time she would have pulled the trigger without hesitation, but she doesn’t want this on her conscience. She’ll leave it to the professionals. She starts to hand Jason the gun, and Boyle lunges for it, but Jason grabs her. Ava says, Boyle hit someone with her car, and Jason says he already called 911. Ava asks how he found her, and Jason says, Sonny told him to find her, and he called Brick who tracked her down. She says she’ll wait in the car, but he says, no. They’re in this together now.

Sam says, it never gets easier, but the pain will get smaller and won’t be the only thing Kristina sees and the only thing she feels. And she’ll be able to make room for other parts of her life. Alexis says, beautiful parts, and Kristina says, it means lot that Sam understands. Sam says she really does, and Kristina asks if she ever dreams about Lila. She dreams about Adala all the time. Sometimes she’s a baby, but sometimes she’s grown up and off to school. It doesn’t matter how old she is or what age, she’s always happy and smiling. Then she wakes up and remembers that none of those dreams will ever come true because of Ava. She has to make sure Ava pays for what she’s done.

Elizabeth hands the nurse the test results, and Ric asks if she wants to get coffee. She says she just had one, and he says, how about ice cream? She says he knows she can’t say no to ice cream, and he says he’s glad some things haven’t changed.

Ava says, Jason saved her life and she’s grateful. She’ll back up whatever story he wants, but the last thing she needs is to be involved. Jason says, there’s a good chance no one will miss Boyle. They have to make sure to leave nothing behind. He takes out his phone, and Ava asks who he’s calling. He says, the police.

Michael tells Sonny, the police are here, and Sonny asks if he’s all right. Michael says he’s fine, and Carly asks, what happened? Michael says, he went to the boathouse and found Agent Cates. She asks if anyone else saw, and Sonny says he’s sorry Michael had to see that, but Michael says he’ll live. Willow goes up to Michael and hugs him.

Nina asks how Drew is holding up. She knows he was fond of McConkey. He says, McConkey’s death hit him harder than he thought it would, considering he knew it was coming. Nina says she wasn’t ready either. She guesses there are some things in life you can never prepare yourself for. He says, death is apparently one of them.

Willow asks if they can go home, but Michael says, they have to wait to talk to the police. Tracy says she can tell them what everybody knows. Sonny despised Cates and vice versa. It was not lost on her that Cates was murdered on the very night Sonny came to check on his offspring. Brook says, Cates had more than his share of enemies. Anyone could have killed him. (True dat.)

Anna says she’s going to the main house to get statements, and Chase says, he’ll make sure the autopsy is done as soon as possible. Anna says, Cates was a persona non grata here, but he was still FBI, and they have a dead agent on their turf. What are Chase’s thoughts? Who could have pulled this off? Chase says, the pool is large.

Kristina says she’s going to take something and go to bed, and Alexis says, she loves Kristina. Her sister is right. It’s going to get better. Kristina goes upstairs, and Alexis thanks Sam. She gave Kristina an ally in her grief. She knows it’s painful. San says, it always will be, but she’s had time to process and move forward. Krissy will get there. Alexis says she’s worried. The way Kristina is talking about revenge isn’t healthy. Sam says, her emotions are raw right now. After she lost Lila, her emotions were all over the place. She can’t remember exactly what she did or said, but she’s sure it was extreme. Alexis thanks her for her help and tells her to go home to her kids. They exchange I love yous, and Sam leaves. Alexis picks up Kristina’s bag and sees the gun in it.

Tomorrow, Curtis tells Drew that he has to put a stop to it before it goes too far; Lucky asks Sidwell if there’s any chance they can change the stakes; and Ric tells Elizabeth that they clearly saw something they shouldn’t have.

💭 Thoughts. Oddly, I expected Sam to open the door and find Cates standing there since it’s happened so often. And yeah, okay, Kristina might be a suspect, but John wasn’t shot by the same gun. Wouldn’t they know that right away? I also think she might have taken it because she was originally going to kill herself.

🛁 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

A lot to unpack. First, the new guy.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/sawandi-wilson-opens-up-about-joining-the-cast-of-gh

Goodbye to John Jagger Cates, known by all three names singularly. As Anna said, it’s tragic how he went so wrong.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-j-harrington-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital

A return. I’m looking forward to this one.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-spoilers-week-september-3-holly-returns

GH sounds like a really amazing place to work. They’re very accommodating to their actors.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-emma-samms-opens-up-about-living-with-long-covid

Lulu was never a favorite of mine. I didn’t dislike her; she was just in the background. But Emme Rylan was a fine actress, and obviously open to coming back, so I don’t get why they’re not rolling with that.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/who-could-play-lulu-on-gh

They should bring him back for more than a day. Come on. He’s the best Nikolas of all the Nikolases.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-thanks-his-general-hospital-fans

In case you were wondering, what do they even do anyway?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/what-is-the-wsb-on-general-hospital

Ending on a literal high note.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/watch-ghs-maurice-benard-and-son-joshua-duet

⚖️ His Monster Of a Gig…

They don’t show much, but it’s a good cast and I have no doubt it will be excellent. I started watching the one about Jeffrey Dahmer, but I stopped after the second or third episode. It was too depressing. Probably not for the reason you’d think. I like true crime, but it was starting to make me feel strangely melancholy about NYC.

https://ew.com/monsters-menendez-brothers-first-look-nicholas-alexander-chavez-cooper-koch-8698044

🐪 Last Camel Ride Of the Season…

In her interview, Lesa told us that, in the summer, Dubai was 120 degrees on a good day. No. Literally hell no. Stanbury and Chanel threw a Goodbye, Dubai party as they were leaving for two months. This is another reason you have to be super rich to live there. You can’t live there for a quarter of the year. As if Sara – the one with the nanny who tried to pimp out her kid – wasn’t dealing with enough, she asked boyfriend Akin for a break to focus on said child. He didn’t take it well, and it was over, but I think she dodged a bullet. It seemed like he wasn’t even concerned about the whole nanny incident.

Chanel had the best quote of possibly the entire season when she dropped the Somalian saying, a monkey doesn’t see its own a-hole.

Next time, the Reunion.

📸 Fabulously Photogenic…

God bless her for jumping into the dating pool. A matchmaker is definitely the way to go, and I hope she finds what she’s looking for. BTW, the photos were gorgeous.

https://popculture.com/reality-tv/news/my-big-fat-fabulous-life-whitney-way-thore-strips-down-for-sexy-photoshoot-in-exclusive-sneak-peek/

🏡 Welcome to Marriage Rehash 101…

You mean you can’t get pregnant by sitting too close to a guy? I think the writer meant, Olivia’s approach to sex and romance was skewed, not stewed. It did make me laugh though.

More whining from Ethan and not admitting he was part of the problem. Of course he’d go back to Cairo. Georgia, not Egypt. That’s where he was sheltered from the world.

🦸 Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop…

I dunno. I remember seeing this.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-gambit-secret-post-credits-scene-revealed-ryan-reynolds-8701767

And in related news.

https://www.avclub.com/james-spader-return-ultron-casting-news-august-23-24

🚓 Then There Was This…

I saw this on Page Six this morning and was like, WTF? And the cops are called for a camel bite? Did they arrest the camel? Where are we, Dubai?

🐈 Dinner For Mew…

I never had a dinner party for my cats, but Eric the Cat once had a dinner party of his own when he stole a turkey leg off the stove and ate the entire thing.

https://people.com/jenna-lyons-dines-with-her-elegant-cats-at-dinnertime-exclusive-8700479

📒 Time For Pencils, Time For Books…

Join me tomorrow for soap and what’s Listing(s) in LA. Until then, stay safe, stay not putting your summer clothes away too soon, and stay understanding that pain never gets easier, but it will get smaller, and you’ll be able to make room for other parts of your life.

July 23, 2024 – Ava Snares John In Her Web, Soap Bubbles, Best Doc Ever, Meanwhile In Dubai, Almost Here, Latest Dragons, Old Throne, The Cutest & Shining

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

At the stable, Tracy hears someone behind her. She says, stop right there. She’s sleep deprived, hasn’t had her second cup of coffee, and Hades bit her and she’s in a bad mood, so consider themselves fully warned. Ned says, those are pretty good odds.

Kristina meets Michael at Bobbie’s, and he says, pregnancy looks good on her. She says she should be savoring every moment. There are some great aspects of pregnancy. It’s a life enriching experience, but if this baby is one day late, she’s inducing. She senses he didn’t want to meet to discuss her birthing plan, and he says he wanted to see how she was doing, how she’s feeling. She says she’s known him long enough to know that she wants to ask her something and he’s hesitating, and he says, the last thing he wants to do is increase her blood pressure, but she says, it’s just going to make her more stressed. Just tell her. He says he thinks they have a problem, and she says, with dad?  

Carly goes to the penthouse and tells Sonny that they need to talk. He says he guesses she’s already talked to Michael, and she asks, what happened? He says, stay out of it, and she says she’d love to stay out of his problems, but all of his troubles land in her lap. She’s here to let him know that Cates wants to take him down.

Ava opens the door to John, and says, what a lovely surprise. He asks if she has a moment. It’s about Sonny. She says, of course (🍷), and invites him in.

Jason goes to Anna’s office, and she says, Carly was here. He asks what Carly told her, and she says, Carly told her that John paid him a visit and she believes it had something to do with Sonny. Jason says, she was half right.

Tracy says, if Ned has wife drama, ex-wife drama, or ex-lover in-law drama, she doesn’t want to hear it. She took a ride to clear her head and wants to hold on to the feeling for as long as she can, so spare her the agita. He says, everyone at the house is getting along fine, and asks where Hades bit her. She says, it was just a nip. He has a mean streak. He asks if she bit him back, and she says, it’s really her fault. Ned gets the first aid kit, and she says she didn’t read him right. Hades wanted to run, and she was going too slow for him. Ned takes out an ice pack and puts it on her, and she tells him to be careful of her wrist. He says she should have it looked at. Or he could call the local glue factory. She says, he’d better not touch Hades, or she’ll make glue out of him. The kids know better than to go near him without Cody. What is it this time? He says he came check on her. She can ride as far as she wants, but she can’t escape it. He knows what today means just as much as she does.

Michael says he’s assuming Kristina knows it’s tense between dad and Ava, and she says, of course (🍷). Ava got her mother disbarred, then maliciously leaked Natalia’s recording to The Invader. He says, dad told him and he’s sorry. She says, Ava baited Natalia into expressing her homophobia, then like the coward she is, extracted her own audio and turned it over to The Invader. Now their dad is out for her blood and filed for sole custody of Avery. He says, if the blow-up he just had with Sonny is any indication, he’s not going to win. He’ll be lucky if he walks away without a restraining order keeping him away from Avery.

Carly tells Sonny that Cates is on the warpath. She thinks Sonny has been his main objective all along. He has something on Jason. Sonny says, Jason is an informant, but she says she was there when Cates showed up and dragged Jason away from Danny to have a private conversation. She thinks it was about Sonny. He says, if Cates doesn’t know to keep his nose out of other people’s business. It’s about time somebody beat that lesson into him.

Jason says, the FBI lost Valentin, and Anna says, in one day. He says, Valentin is still gone, and asks if that isn’t what she wanted. She says she wanted to give him a head start, so he had a chance to disappear and make a new life with Charlotte. The FBI will mount a search that could last years. They won’t give up and declare him untraceable after one day. Jason says, it’s been long enough for Cates. According to Cates, he failed to meet the terms of their agreement, and he’s been given a new assignment out of town.

John says he thought he’d stop in and see how Ava is, and she says, that’s thoughtful of him. The last couple days has been difficult. She’s used to Avery being with her and it’s not easy being alone. She’s glad he stopped by. She and Scotty have been strategizing on how to fight Sonny’s petition for sole custody. He says, that’s no mean feat. Sonny is powerful, corrupt, and violent, and he’s convinced a legion of otherwise intelligent people that he’s just misunderstood. He’s automatically right, and anyone who opposes him is automatically wrong. Ava says, and they’re willing to take up arms on his behalf. It’s terrifying going up against Sonny, and she feels alone. He says, she’s not alone now.

Ned says, Tracy has been extra spicy and standoffish all day, and she says, hence her desire for solitude. He says, it’s Luke’s birthday. It was on Monica’s calendar. She says, he always had a soft spot for Monica. He’d be pleased she remembered. He says, Olivia and Lois’s too, and she says she guesses he had a soft spot for most women. He says, it’s on his calendar too, and Luke had no soft spot for him, nor he for Luke, but he does have a soft spot for his mother, so he knows to keep his eye on her on this particular day. He and Luke had their differences, and he definitely had reservations about their quasi-legal marriage. She says, legal or not, her marriage – or more accurately, marriages – to Luke marked a significant turning point in her life. They knew each other for years and after they each went through their separate misadventures, suddenly, they were together. And from that moment on, she realized… Ned says, he was the love of her life.

Jason says he has an assignment to infiltrate a gang in a federal prison at Lompoc. He was supposed deliver Pikeman and failed to deliver. Anna says, she gave him a phone with records of illegal arms deals and proof Valentin was in charge, but he says, as far as Cates is concerned, he delayed handing over the evidence, and he aided and abetted Valentin’s escape. Anna says, Jason was coerced by the FBI into helping and now they’re breaking their word. Go public and let the world know. It will shame them into backing down. He says, then what happens to Carly? They’ll use the recording to convict her. If he goes public, Carly will be seeing her family from behind bars for the rest of her life.

Michael says, Sonny asked to see him in the hope he’d testify on Sonny’s behalf in family court, and Kristina asks if he declined. He says, they didn’t get that far. He had to point out the problems they’ve had and the public blow-ups that could be used to Ava’s advantage, and that he could cause more harm than good. Kristina asks, what’s the problem? and he says, Sonny took it the wrong way, and said it was proof of his disloyalty. Sonny is as angry at him now as he ever was. He wants to help, but if he gets on the stand and uses the wrong word and it sets Sonny off, imagine what it will do if he loses it in front of a judge. She says she keeps hoping Sonny and Michael will mend fences, but he says he’s getting used to this kind of treatment. Obviously, it hurts sometimes. Kristina says, no matter how old you get, you never stop craving the love of your parents. And they both know, it’s good to stay on Sonny’s good side. He says, Avery is the one they have to protect. All of Sonny’s failings pale in comparison to Ava’s. She says, no question, and he says, Sonny needs someone who can testify, and if he can’t do it, who can?

Ava tells John that she appreciates having someone to talk to about this. She has to pay for her other support. Taking Sonny to court is going to cost a pretty penny. John says he’s sure she has enough. Or has she already blown through her Cassadine divorce settlement? She says he’s been looking into her finances, but he says he’s been looking into her, like any potential witness or suspect. She asks which one she is, and he says, the jury’s still out. She asks what he’s learned so far, and he says, she and Sonny are more alike than he thought. She says, if she’s like Sonny, why is he working with her? and he says, she’s turned a corner Sonny never did. He still victimizes every woman who crosses his path, and those who don’t bow down at his feet, he crushes, but she’s broken that mold. She says, she and Sonny were never a match made in heaven. Avery is a miracle born out of a moment of poor judgment. He says, they managed to co-exist until recently, and she says she had to fight tooth and nail for a truce. He says, she was living with Sonny, and she says, Sonny made her believe he respected her and considered her a friend. It felt real at the time. Maybe because she was so vulnerable, she needed to believe it. He says, maybe Sonny is that good of a liar, and she says, Sonny become so erratic and volatile. She doesn’t think he realizes what he’s doing from one moment to the next.

Carly tells Sonny not to go after Cates like last time, but he says, there was no last time. She asks if he expects her to believe it was just a coincidence that John was beat up one block from the coffee warehouse, and he says, she thinks he ordered a hit on a federal agent? She says she thinks he’s smart enough not to have it linked to him. He’d better hope John doesn’t find out about Dex. He says, that’s doesn’t fall in the FBI’s jurisdiction, and he made peace with Dex. Dex isn’t going to talk to Jagger. She asks if anybody else knows about the beating, and he says, Ava.

Tracy says, they take so much for granted in the moment. The sheer depth of happiness isn’t appreciated until later on. She feels that when she thinks about her time with Luke. She misses the buoyancy Luke created. He was so resilient and managed to stay afloat. He improvised and adapted. Without him, she feels like she’s barely keeping her head above water. Stop her please. This is getting maudlin. He says, and miss a chance for her to share her feelings? It’s as rare as a comet. She tells him to set his clock for another 75 year wait, and he says, she can go on like this anytime she likes. He won’t think less of her for being human. He’s never thought less of her for choosing Luke. He saw how happy Luke made her and he likes seeing her happy, even more than he hates seeing her sad. He asks if there’s anything he can do, but she says, no. He already has. She tries to leave, but he grabs her arm and says, come here. He hugs her, and she thanks him.

Anna says, there has to be a way to block John, and Jason asks if there’s anybody in her contacts that she thinks can rein him in. She says, sometimes interfering with an FBI investigation can backfire, and he says he’s asking a lot, like she asked him to wait two hours to turn the phone in. She says she didn’t mean for this to happen, and he says, it doesn’t matter what she meant. He’s supposed to be on a bus to Quantico tonight.

John says, the only thing he’d like more than removing Sonny from Ava and Avery’s life is removing Sonny from society and locking him up in Pentenville once and for all. Imagine the ramifications to Avery’s custody battle if it was revealed sonny was under an FBI investigation. She asks if he is, but John says, not yet. He needs something more substantial to work with. She says she has no information to give him, but he says, she was living with Sonny for months and they spent extended periods of time together. Does she mean to tell him that she has no prosecutable intel? She has to help him first before he can help her. She says she’s in a delicate situation. Put himself in her shoes. Sonny’s not happy about the custody suit, but he’d be relentless and remorseless if he saw her as a threat. He says, Sonny won’t lay a hand on her if he’s charged, but she says, what if the charges don’t stick? He murdered a Quartermaine and was pardoned. He’ll retaliate and take Avery someplace she can’t reach. Or worse, get rid of her.

Sonny says he made a mistake telling Ava about Dex, and Carly says, Ava must have told Cates by now. She wonders when they hooked up, and Sonny says, he and Ava were having an argument in Ava’s suite when Jagger walked by and came in to defend Ava. He left and he’s sure she threw herself on Jagger’s mercy. She says, it’s typical for Ava to play the damsel in distress, and he says, Jagger loves playing the hero. Carly says, if Jagger takes Ava’s side in the custody hearing, it will be a major problem for Sonny. He needs all the witnesses he can get. He says he’s already messed up with Ava. He had a meeting with Michael. He wanted Michael to be a character witness. It didn’t go well. They fought and he blew up and said things he regrets. He was wondering if maybe she could talk to Michael on his behalf and smooth things over.

Kristina asks if Carly would stand up for Sonny, and Michael says, especially if the alternative is Ava getting full custody of Avery. But her testimony could end up working against him. When they were together, there was a lot of tragedy and danger. Scotty will take anything that happened when they were together as fair game. She says, what about Brook or Dante? and he says, there’s only so much Brook can say, and Scotty will have Dante show the judge the scar from when his own father shot him. Sonny needs someone who sees the best in him, and can’t point out the ways he’s a good, loving, generous father. That person is her.

Anna says she’ll use every resource to make sure this doesn’t happen, but there are no guarantees, and Jason says he needs to know there’s a real chance of success, or Carly will take things into her own hands. Anna says, tell Carly that she’ll get him out of this. What else can she do? He says, clean up the mess she made. He ignored his own instincts and let her warn Valentin because she asked him to, and it was important to her. She asks if he thinks he’d have done a better job going it alone, and he says, if he had, and it fell apart, he’d have nobody to blame but himself. She says she did warn Valentin, which put Jason at risk. That’s on her and she’s sorry. But what’s on him and Carly? What responsibility do they bear for the decisions they’ve made that have led them here? They decided to live outside the lines, and she thinks they’re suffering the consequences of that. He says, she’s right. They did this to themselves, but he can’t change what happened and has to work with what he has now. He’s asking her to give him the same consideration she gave to Valentin. She says she will fix this, one way or another. She swears. She won’t rest until he’s out from under the FBI. He says he knows she’ll do her best, but there’s no guarantees like she said. He leaves, slamming the door.

Michael says, Sonny has the strongest, warmest relationship with Kristina, but she says, it wasn’t always like that. He says, Sonny has always been in her corner. He didn’t even bat an eye when she came out. They worked through the hard stuff when she was young, so when the court asks if he was a good father, Diane can call on her as proof. She says, what if they ask if she witnessed dad beating up Dex at the wedding? He’ll not only lose custody, he could lose his freedom. She wants to help him as much as Michael does, but she’s as much of a liability on the stand as he is. He says, that may leave dad on his own.

Carly says, it’s not up to her to fix things between Sonny and Michael. That’s Sonny’s job. He says, Michael doesn’t listen to him. He knows he said things he shouldn’t have said, but as long as she gets them in the same room, he knows they can fix this. She asks what he’s going to do. Yell at Michael again? Call him a traitor? Disown Michael as his son? Sonny says he lost his temper; he’s stressed. Michael will understand. He’s a father and this is about Avery. She says, it’s not. This is about Sonny behaving like everyone in his life is disposable. They only matter when he wants something. Everyone he hasn’t pushed away is walking away. Name one single person who will defend him who isn’t one of his children or an employee, one friend who will stand beside him no matter what. He says, her, and she says she stood in this very room, and he called her a traitor. Their years and their kids together meant nothing. It’s the way he wanted it and it’s the way it is. She’s not cleaning up his mess. He’s on his own. With tears in her eyes, she leaves

Ava says she’ll fight Sonny for Avery, but delivering him to the FBI is something she can’t do. John says he has a child too, and she doesn’t have to explain it to him. There are plenty of other people that he can get enough evidence to get Sonny another way, and when he does, she can be damn sure he’ll never see Avery again. She asks if he means that. Does he think it’s possible? He says, she seems surprised, and she says, it’s been a long time. She works up some tears, and says she forgot what it feels like to receive a kind gesture. He says he has a code too, but unlike Sonny, he sticks to his. He’s not going to let that poor excuse for a man push her around anymore. She says she almost believes him, and he asks what it would take to get her all the way there, and kisses her. (Ugh, a thousand times.)  

Anna calls someone named Jim and says she doesn’t have time to chat. She needs him to to arrange a face to face with one of the agents in his jurisdiction… John Cates. He’s out of control, and if the FBI doesn’t reel him in, she’s going to be forced to.

Michael wonders if he was being naïve, thinking there might be a way back for him and Sonny, but Kristina says, he’s not being naïve. He’s being courageous. He’d be well within his rights to write Sonny off completely, but he keeps trying and that’s admirable. Michael says he’s given a lot of thought to ignoring dad’s past and maintaining a superficial connection, but when will it get to be too much for him? He thinks about his mom and AJ and the price they paid for the lifelong grudges they held. He doesn’t want that for his kids. He wants Wiley and Amelia to know it’s okay to hold people accountable for their actions, but holding onto bitterness stunts you. She says, that’s very perceptive, and he says he learned it from Willow. She’s giving Nina another chance and it appears to be paying off. If she can do that for her mother, it’s the least he can do for his dad, She says, even if Sonny doesn’t extend the same courtesy to him? and he says, what’s happening now doesn’t erase what’s happened before. He raised, loved, and protected Michael. For him to be a good father to his kids, he needs to know he tried his best. She says, after Sonny beat up Dex, she couldn’t see him for a while. It still scares her, but like Michael said, it doesn’t outweigh the years of love. Carly comes in and says, sorry to interrupt. She heard Michael had a run-in with his father… Jason comes in and tells Carly, sorry to interrupt, but he needs to talk to her. She says, yeah, and they step aside.

Tracy finds Sonny somewhere unfamiliar outside and stands next to him. She says, Luke’s club was across the street. Is he indulging in a little walk down Memory Lane? He says, maybe it’s the day for it, and she says, it’s his birthday. He says, you were never on your own with a friend like Luke, and she says, finally, something they can agree upon. Sonny says, they didn’t just celebrate by drinking tequila. One time he woke up in a barn with hay in his hair and a horse in his face. She says, it was her house. It was a gift from Luke for her birthday. He says, Luke was very generous. He was big on gestures. She says, and he never passed up an opportunity to celebrate. He always said, if somebody was going to buy him drinks, why not accept? Sonny says, that’s the thing he loved about Luke. He always enjoyed himself. She says she thinks it’s because some of his life was just not enjoyable.

John’s phone rings, and he tells Ava that he has to take it. He says, Agent Cates… No, he wasn’t… Yes, loud and clear… Okay. He’s on it. He tells Ava that he has to go, and she asks if there’s trouble, but he says, there are a few provincial egos that need massaging. He asks if they can pick this up where they left off, and she says, they most definitely can, and soon she hopes. He leaves and she smiles.

Jason and Carly go to his room, and she asks, what happened with Cates? He says, Cates is sending him on another assignment. He leaves for Quantico tonight.

Tracy says, Luke made up his mind at a very young age that he was going to go for every opportunity that presented itself. She thinks it was her favorite thing about him. Sonny says, the last time he saw Luke was at the waterfront. They were saying their goodbyes and Luke walked off into the sunset, which she knows was Amsterdam. She says she’ll deny it until her last breath that she went to Amsterdam in search of him. She happened upon him in a little café. How could she consider that anything but fate? The time they had together, as Luke would say, they had an absolute blast. He says, Luke was always a good time, and she says, he was the best.

Kristina says, someday Avery is going to go through what she and Michael are going through with dad, and he says, she’ll find out everything there is to know about him. And just like them, they’ll see if it changes the way she feels about him and if she wants him in her life. Kristina says, that has to be Avery’s choice. Ava can’t decide for her.

On the phone, Ava asks, how much will it help her case if Sonny is busted by the FBI?

Cates bursts into Anna’s office and says, she’s been talking to his boss. She says, whatever she needs to do. Set Jason free now or she swears she’ll bury him.

Carly says, Jason’s not leaving, but he says, it’s already been decided. She says, he did what Cates wanted, and he says, she has to listen. There’s a way he can still beat Cates. There’s a way around this. But she has to stay patient and calm. She says, while Cates whisks him away to some other dangerous job where he’ll be killed? She doesn’t think so. She’s turning herself in and there’s nothing he can say to stop her.  

Tomorrow, Nina tells Ava to be thankful if the worst Sonny does is take sole custody of Avery; Carly says, Jason is out of his mind if he thinks she’s going to stand by while Cates takes him away again; and Anna says she’s going to do everything in her power to stop John.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

We should all have off days this good.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/giovanni-mazza-opens-up-about-his-disastrous-gh-audition

Love this. Style and fashion for all.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-tabyana-ali-has-a-spectacular-new-project

It’s sweet that they’re keeping in touch.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-reunites-with-gregory-harrison-see-the-photo

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he was the best Nikolas.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-reaches-out-to-his-gh-fans

Another loss to the soap world.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/all-my-children/amc-stars-remember-esta-terblanche

And while we’re at it, the mid-year roll call.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/remembering-the-soap-stars-we-lost-this-year

👺 Best Of the Worst…

Last weekend, I was finishing Season 2 of Outer Range, and since I was on Amazon, I consulted an article I’d read about the best documentaries on Prime. I chose to watch Best Worst Movie and it’s one of the best things I’ve seen lately. In 1989, a film called Troll 2 came out. It has nothing to do with the Norwegian film Troll or the film Troll with June Lockhart. Actually, it has nothing to do with trolls at all. Written by an Italian film director and his wife, it’s original title was Gremlins, but we see how that could be confusing in the USA.

Years later, when the film was shown on late night TV and cable, a cult began to form around it. Little conventions, late night showings, and watch parties sprang up, and documentary is mainly about that. I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the whole thing because, although it’s not my movie, it’s their movie, and I get it. I’ve been that person who watches something 10,000 times and just wants to watch it again. Of course I had to watch the actual film afterward, and it’s bad. So bad. Not even Ed Wood bad. But I get that too. The fans see something in it that others don’t. Been there, and I hope they never lose that. It can keep you sane.

The cast of Troll 2 is also involved, and it’s an interesting tributary to see how it affected each of their lives. For some it was a blessing, for some a curse, and one actress doesn’t want anything more to do with it, although she reenacts one of the scenes from the movie with two of her co-stars. The only one who doesn’t realize the film is bad is the director, who thinks he made an artistic masterpiece, and the actors are a bunch of whiney egoists.

So give it a whirl. I hope it brings you as much joy as it did me.  

https://theindependentcritic.com/_best_worst_movie__review

🐪 Eat, Pray, Camel…

Taleen wants you to know that she did not beg to be on the show.

🦸🏻‍♂️ A Few More Days…

I probably won’t go the first weekend if it’s crowded, but I can’t wait to see it on a big screen. A selection of everything Deadpool & Wolverine. The finances.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/deadpool-wolverine-box-ofice-1235955857/

The fashion.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2024/07/23/deadpool–wolverine-scenes-from-the-red-carpet-premiere/

The reviews.

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/deadpool-wolverine-first-reviews/

The kudos.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/deadpool-and-wolverine-is-kick-in-the-nuts-the-mcu-needs

The not-so kudos.

https://ew.com/deadpool-wolverine-review-relentlessly-irritating-cheap-jokes-instead-stakes-8682433

The music.

https://ew.com/deadpool-and-wolverine-soundtrack-the-greatest-showman-song-8679476

The cutest couple.

https://www.purewow.com/news/blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-movie-releases

🐉 Dragons In the House…

Possible spoilers if you didn’t see the last episode.

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-paddy-considine-viserys-cameo-harrenhal-daemon-8681112

Netflix competition.

https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/netflix/netflix-the-last-kingdom-game-of-thrones-364207-20240723

👑 Original Game…

We know one of them is not doing a Jon Snow spinoff.

https://ew.com/game-of-thrones-cast-where-are-they-now-8677595

🐶 Rescued By Killer Miller…

Good for her. My rescue chihuahua El Wray has issues, which he’s slowly overcoming, but I’ve never regretted adopting him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-carolyn-hennesy-adopted-the-cutest-dog

✈️ Flight Now Boarding…

Join me tomorrow for soap, Listings talk, and whatever else is entertaining. Until then, stay safe, stay not overdoing your fragrance, and stay holding people accountable for their actions, but not holding onto bitterness.

June 25, 2024 – Anna Finds a Secret Phone, Two For the Return, A Chat, Reuniting, Sergio the Gnat, Island Auditions, New Listings, Owning It, Real Sad, Parading Mermaids, Sharks & Home

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Jason sits in his car outside somewhere and makes a call.

Spinelli plays with the kids, while Maxie waits at an outside table. His phone rings, she sees it’s Jason, and picks it up. She says, if he called to talk to Spinelli, he’s off with the kids, but he says he called to talk to her. He wants her to call Anna just to say hi and check in. Then call him back and tell him if she picked up. She wants more information, but he asks her to just call for him please, and she agrees.

Anna is in bed with Valentin, watching him sleep, when she hears her phone buzz. She picks it up, and Maxie says she called to see how Anna is doing. Anna asks, why? and Maxie says, because Jason asked her to call, say hi and see how she’s doing, and call him back. Anna says she’s fine, and Valentin takes the phone out of her hand. He tells Maxie that Anna will have to call her back, and he and Anna get busy.

Carly goes to visit Jack in Pentenville. Jack says, her visit almost makes his incarceration worth it.

Finn leaves a message for Chase, saying, do not do this. Chase is his brother. Stop avoiding him. He wants to talk to his daughter. He’s the only parent Violet has left, and they need each other. Do not escalate this more than he already has. Call him back. There’s a knock at the door, and Finn opens it to Diane.

Ava tells Sonny, dinner must have gone late last night. She didn’t see him before she went to bed, and he wasn’t around this morning either. He tells her to get used to it. She’s going to be seeing less of him. She asks, why is that? and he says, she’s moving out.

Ava asks where Sonny is coming from. When she offered to leave, he told her it wasn’t necessary and asked her to stay. She took it to mean for as long as she wanted. He says, that was then, this is now. Things change. She says, overnight? (like she doesn’t remember what she just did) and he says, the arrangement no longer works for him. All she needs to know is, it’s over. She says she’ll be out when she finds a place, but he says he wants her out now. Avery will stay with him, and he’s not discussing it further. She can stay at the MetroCourt or with whatever friends she has left, but she’s not staying here another night. He doesn’t want her in his presence. They’re done.

Valentin asks if he’s dreaming or did that happen again, and Anna says, it happened. She’s happy to be here, but she can’t spend the day. Valentin tells her not to go. They’re not done with each other yet. He kisses her.

Jack tells Carly that this is the highlight of his day, but he doubts she came for the pleasure of his company. She says she didn’t, and he says, don’t leave him in suspense. She says, he used to work for the WSB and knows how intelligence agencies work, and he says he’s been on both sides of the law. She says she needs his expertise, but doesn’t know if she can trust him, and he says, she can’t.

Jason asks if Maxie got Anna, and Maxie says she did. Anna sounded annoyed at being woken up. She told Anna that he made her call. What’s going on? Why is he checking on Anna? Why is he worried and why didn’t he call himself? He tells her that he’s got to go. Thanks. He hangs up and she says, rude. Jason gets a text from Anna: I’m fine. V is up. Go before he sees you.

Diane gives Finn some paperwork, and says, while she’s here, she’s happy to answer any questions. Her advice is that he discuss it with someone not involved in the case. He says he doesn’t understand, and Diane says, this document is an emergency court order granting his brother temporary custody of the minor child Violet Finn. The other document is a restraining order barring him from being 500 feet from said minor child. He says, she’s helping Chase steal his daughter.

Anna snoops around the living room again, and Valentin calls from the kitchen that breakfast is almost ready. She looks behind some books and finds a satellite phone.

Ava says she and Sonny share custody. He can’t keep Avery and kick her out. Avery is happy with them under the same roof. It’s going to hurt and confuse her. He says, they lived separately for years. It won’t take Avery that long to adjust. She asks him to think it through, but he says he’s already given it all the attention it needs. She has five minutes. Last night, he felt generous. She’s lucky he didn’t humiliate her in front of everyone. She says she thought she was the only one he could trust, and he says he was wrong, but she says, he’s wrong now to cut ties. Everyone has either betrayed, played, or judged him. He can’t rely on anyone. He says, but he can rely on her, and she says she’s proven she has his back. He asks why she’s fighting so hard to stay. What’s her angle? She says she doesn’t have one, but he says, everybody has an angle – money, power, revenge. Is that why she went after Alexis, for revenge? Ava says, this is about Kristina’s temper tantrum. God forbid Alexis should take responsibility for losing her law license. He says, Alexis lost her license because of Ava, but Ava says, Alexis broke the law. It’s not her fault. Sonny says, Alexis screwed up, but Ava didn’t have to sneak around and turn her in, but Ava says she followed legal procedure. Alexis committed perjury. He asks, who is she to judge? She killed Connie. Maybe he should sign an affidavit against her.

Finn says, Diane is taking a child from her father, but Diane says, not according to the law. They wouldn’t be able to get a court order if there was no proof the child was unsafe where she was, and the father could no longer be trusted to be responsible for her. Finn says, it’s lies. He’s been taking care of her for the last five years. Diane says, they have photographic evidence to the contrary. The court takes the parent/child relationship seriously, and you can’t get a court order without good reason. Finn asks, what about her? What’s her reason for tearing apart a family and taking a child from her sole parent? None of that matters because she gets billable hours. Diane says she was asked to pass along a message. Violet is doing great. She loves and misses him and can’t wait until he’s healthy again. She’s waiting to break her own record for holding her breath under water until he can watch. Finn cries and says, they can’t take his daughter. They can try, but he’s not going to let them. She says, if he comes within 500 feet of Violet, he’ll be arrested. Think about what watching that would do to his daughter. She leaves, and Finn takes out his phone.

Jason finds Elizabeth at the hospital, and says he thought he’d check on her. She looks worried. She says, Finn has gotten worse. He’s spiraling and out of control, and it’s affecting his daughter. Luckily, there are a lot of people who love her and are worried about her. He says he’s glad Violet has a support system, but who’s looking out for her and the boys? She says, they’re doing okay. She’s going to Al-Anon and it’s definitely helped. The boys are hanging in there. He asks if Jake is all right, and she says, he’s gotten better. She doesn’t think he’s as angry with Jason anymore. It made a difference when he called Jason for help and Jason came through.

Calling from the kitchen, Valentin says, breakfast is served, and Anna puts everything back and sits down on the sofa. He brings in two plates and says, it’s not much. It was the best he could do. She says she’d like to see what it looks like when he goes all out, and he says he’d like to spend the rest of his life trying to impress her. She says, it’s not because she doesn’t want to or doesn’t love him. Last night answered that question. Their lives don’t fit together. He says, they did once, but she says, that’s debatable and things changed. It’s impossible for her to imagine a life together after what she did to Charlotte. He says, impossible in Port Charles, but maybe not elsewhere.

Carly says, maybe this was a mistake, but Jack tells her not to be hasty. He told her not to trust him because she can’t. The only person she can rely on is herself. Don’t put her faith in someone else. Carly says, there’s someone in her life who’s never failed her, and he asks, why not talk to them? He advises her to think carefully about who she confides in. Calculate the risk and the reward. What is the reward? She says, if she tells him, he’ll use it against her, but he says, not unless he has something to gain. Pentenville is dark and dreary. She brings in the light. She says, the FBI has evidence, a recording, that she committed RICO violations and was involved in criminal conspiracy.

Finn tells Scotty that Diane shoved these papers at him, and he shows Scotty the paperwork. He says he didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye. Tell him this isn’t real. Scotty says, there seems to be an incident involving Tracy and Violet. What happened? Finn says he had a bad night. He’s ashamed, but it’s been greatly exaggerated. Scotty says he thought Finn and Tracy were friends, and Finn says he did too. She’s also Brook’s grandmother, and Brook and Chase have had their eyes on Violet. Violet must be scared and confused. Who knows what other lies they’re telling her. He needs Scotty’s help. Scotty says, he needs somebody to go to bat with the judge. Maybe one of his NA people or possibly another doctor. Finn says he resigned. He had no choice. He wants to sue the place because they want to slander him and ruin his reputation. To a good lawyer it would be a great lawsuit. Scotty can keep the money. He just wants his daughter back. What does Scotty say?

Carly says she was doing it to protect her family when Sonny was presumed dead, but Jack says, none of that matters. She says, the FBI blackmailed Jason into being an informant, and in return, they won’t charge her. He asks if Jason told her that, and she says, a hacker discovered the file and tried to delete it. He says, that’s impossible from the outside. She’s gotten herself into quite a situation. What does she need to know from him? She says, will the FBI honor their agreement? and he says, not a chance.

Sonny says, Morgan would still be alive if Ava hadn’t messed with his medication and her psychotic sister hadn’t planted a bomb. If her family didn’t exist, Morgan would be alive. Ava says she’s truly sorry about what happened. She loved Morgan. What happened was a tragedy, but she doesn’t need a lecture on morality from him. She admits she’d done bad things, but Sonny needs to take responsibility. She’s not the reason his family is broken and in shambles. All of his children’s problems have one thing in common – him.

Valentin says he couldn’t bring himself to leave Port Charles. He didn’t want to give up the chance see Anna or give up the idea they’d find their way back to each other. Anna says, there are a lot of things to consider. How will it affect Charlotte? Valentin asks her to just consider it. Think about it, for him. She says she has to go, and he walks her to the door. He asks if they can talk tomorrow, and she says, yeah. He kisses her and she leaves. He watches her from the window.

Jason says he wants to keep trying to make sure Jake knows he’s here for him, if it’s okay with Elizabeth. She says she appreciates it, but Jake is his own person now. He’s got strong opinions and Jason doesn’t need hers for Jake to decide if he wants to build a relationship with him. He needs Jake’s. Jason thanks her for not standing in the way and reminding him that it’s not going to be easy. She says, it will be worth it, and he asks if Jake is still into baseball and if the Woodchucks are still his favorite team. She says, yes, and she thinks they have a game coming up with their main rivals, the Red Wings. Jason says he’ll see if Jake wants to go, and she says she’s not going to tell Jake what he should do. She needs to allow him to come to his own terms, but she hopes he goes for his sake, and Jason’s.

Finn says he thinks he has a good case against the hospital. They made wild accusations against him. He asks if Scotty shouldn’t be taking notes, and Scotty says he would if he was taking the case, but he’s not. Finn asks, why? He’ll get his daughter back and Scotty will get rich. Scotty says he doesn’t think a jury is going to be as sympathetic to Finn as he thinks, and Finn asks if he believes what’s in the papers. Scotty says, they’re just papers. Does Finn love his brother? Finn says, even with everything Chase is doing to him, he does, and Scotty asks if Chase loves him. Finn says he’d like to think so. He can’t understand why Chase is doing this to him. Scotty says, Chase is doing what he has to, not what he wants, and Finn says, he’s doing what he’s being told. He wasn’t here. Chase is being manipulated by Tracy into thinking he’s a danger to his daughter. Scotty says, Finn has been barred from seeing his daughter. He’s not in control of anything. He can’t fix this legally. He has to fix himself. He knows how hard it is, but Finn has to open his eyes and see he’s not as alone as he thinks.  

Jason and Anna meet outside for coffee. She says she appreciates him looking out for her, but he didn’t have to stay all night. Jason says, Valentin is dangerous, but she says, not to her. He says, better safe than sorry, and she asks why he didn’t leave when the light went out. He says, it still could have gone sideways, and she suggest they coordinate next time. Valentin is trained in surveillance. It would have been a royal disaster if Jason had been discovered. She’s surprised he didn’t discover Jason. He’s usually more careful. Jason says, it sounds like he was preoccupied, and Anna says she was able to search the house. She found a satellite phone hidden in a bookshelf. She was unable to pull any information from it before Valentin came back, but obviously he uses it to conduct business with Pikeman. Jason says, they’ll have to turn it over to Cates. Then he can shut down Pikeman and put away Valentin for good.  

Jack tells Carly, Jason is too useful for the FBI to let him go after a single job. They’ll use him until they’ve tapped him out or he’s dead. And as soon as the Jason stops being useful, they’re going to put her in prison. She says, so the deal they made is a lie, and he says, they may drop the ball in a myriad of ways, but they never leave it on the table.

Scotty asks why Elizabeth didn’t tell him how bad Finn was, and she says she didn’t want to talk to more people than necessary and turn Finn’s pain into gossip. He says he could have helped her and the boys, and she says she appreciates it, but they’re okay. How was Finn? He says, Diane filed a restraining order and Chase has temporary custody of Violet, and she says, Chase has been updating her. She’s guessing Finn wanted Scotty to represent him. Scotty says, he does, and he also wants to sue General Hospital for defamation. He tried to get Finn to see he’s in no position to be suing anybody and needs to get a different kind of help. Elizabeth asks if he thinks he got through, but he says, no. If he knows anything about hitting bottle, Finn has to hit rock bottom. Then maybe he’ll turn himself around. She asks if he thinks Finn is there yet.  

Finn holds a stuffed bear and cries. He picks up phone and makes a call. He says he’s wondering if they deliver… Good. He’d like a handle of vodka… Make it two.

Scotty says, every addict’s rock bottom is different, and Elizabeth says she heard that at Al-Anon. He says, it’s going to be just as hurtful for her to watch, and she says, it’s killing her to watch Finn destroy his life. He says, whatever happens, he’s here for her and her boys.

The delivery comes, and Finn takes two bottles out of the bag. (I guess a handle is a large bottle? I’ve never heard that term before.) He opens one of the bottles and smells it. He looks at the papers, then looks at the bottle. His hand shakes as he brings it to his mouth, but instead of drinking it, he throws it at the door, smashing it. He throws the other one against the door too, and says, no. He picks up his jacket and leaves.

Jack says he knows how Carly feels, but she has one thing going for her that he didn’t. Time is on her side. She needs to prepare herself while Jason continues his job. She says, prepare for what? and he says, court. She needs to find the best lawyer and come up with a strategy. As sure as their sitting here, one day she’ll have to defend herself in front of a jury. She thanks him for the advice, and he says he’s got plenty. Come back anytime. She leaves.

Jason asks if Anna thinks she’ll get back into Valentin’s house, and she says, the way they left things, she’s welcome back whenever she chooses. He asks if she’s okay with that, and she says, part of her feels like she’s betraying Valentin. She’s done a lot of things she’s not okay with in her career. The job is the job. He says, this means hurting someone she cares about, and she says, it’s not the first time she’s done that either, but she can’t allow Valentin to get away with his crimes. It has to be done, so she’ll do it.

On the phone, Valentin tells someone, move the shipment through Port Charles as we discussed. Sonny won’t be a problem. He’s isolated and coming apart. All it takes to push him over the edge is one last shove.

Ava tells Sonny that she packed a few things and will send for the rest, and he says, fine. Get out. She walks out the door, turns, and says, she’ll be back for her daug… He slams the door.

Tomorrow, Chase tells Finn that he has to take the first step; Sonny says, they’re about to have a legal battle; and Ava tells Trina that Sonny isn’t the only one who knows a thing or two about threats

☔️ It’s Raining Returns…

I guess this squashes my theory it might be Frisco.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jonathan-jackson-returns-to-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jonathan-jackson-opens-up-about-his-return-to-general-hospital

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/lucky-general-hospital-jonathan-jackson-151164

Think Ava will move in with him?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/bryan-craig-returns-to-general-hospital

🎤 Locher Room Chat…

While this was live earlier today, you can still catch it on YouTube. He does excellent interviews.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chat-live-with-greg-rikaart-adam-huss-and-adam-bucci

👯‍♂️ Keeping In Touch…

This is so sweet, and says a lot about them as human beings.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/finola-hughes-and-kimberly-mccullough-reunite

🐪 Through a Camel’s Eye…

Not loving Lesa. In her interview, she made fun of Caroline Stanbury being an example to 50-year-old influencer. Jealous maybe? Since at last count, Caroline had more followers. And news flash. We’re all going to be 50… and 60… and 70… and so on. At least we hope so. My other takeaway from this episode was, Sergio is a handful. Or as Caroline said to him, you’re like a gnat.

🚣 The Love Boat Has Landed…

Imagine my surprise to see this in my local news. Again, this is one of those shows that I find embarrassing for the contestants even if they don’t. You can smell the desperation, and I just can’t look. Unless someone I know gets on it, but even then, it’s debatable.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/across-nj/love-island-usa-auditions-coming-jersey-shore

💰 Millions Coming Your Way…

Already buying that mansion in my head. Premiers July 10th.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/million-dollar-listing-los-angeles-season-15-trailer-premiere-date-cast

🗽 Ryan Takes Manhattan…

I’ll definitely be checking this one out. Premieres June 28th.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/owning-manhattan-season-1-ryan-serhant-release-date-news

https://okmagazine.com/p/ryan-serhant-teases-not-everyone-makes-finale-owning-manhattan/

🥀 Too Real…

This is so sad. It sounds like she had a lot going for her.

https://people.com/mtv-the-real-world-miami-alum-sarah-becker-dead-8667895

🧜‍♀️ Bringing Out Your Inner Mermaid Since 1983…

For some reason, I’ve just never gone to one of these. If I had a bucket list, this would be on it.

https://www.coneyisland.com/mermaidparade

Fabulous pictures of some very clever costumes.

🦈 Dun-Dun Dun-Dun Dun-Dun…

Shark Week is coming – July 7th – 14th.

https://people.com/shark-week-2024-schedule-8662632

👏 An Audience Member In My Own Life…

Join me tomorrow for much of the same, but a day later. Until then, stay safe, stay swimming where there’s a lifeguard even if you’re a strong swimmer, and stay never turning someone’s pain into gossip.

June 10, 2024 – Chase Asks Tracy For Help With Finn, Sleeping Beauty Chef On Deck, Trolls Will Be Trolls, You Pick the Ending, More Emmy & Real

Standard

What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and a GH blow-by-blow on Fridays)

General Hospital

While on their dinner date at The Surf Lodge (where Aunt Stella went with Trina and Josslyn), Willow told Michael about running into Nina at the pool because she wanted to be upfront with him. Michael said he still didn’t trust Nina, and while he didn’t love the idea of her being around their kids, Willow was the decision maker, and he would support whatever she decided. He said, it seemed like there had been a shift, and wondered, what changed?

Curtis met with Drew and told Drew that he thought it was the right time to launch the wellness division. Drew said he had a new venture that might conflict with it. He was thinking of running for congress. He told Curtis about his meetings with McConkey and said McConkey cared about his legacy and wanted a functioning government. He wanted Drew to take his seat and would endorse Drew if he ran. Drew wanted Curtis’s opinion, and said, if he did run, it would affect Aurora and Curtis.

Chase and Brook went to see Tracy, who told them that she’d spent the day remembering Chase’s dad. Chase said he’d like to be doing the same thing, but unfortunately, he was dealing with his brother. Brook said they needed help, and Chase said, more accurately, Finn did. He was drinking. He told Tracy about the bourbon after Gregory’s death, and how he’d caught Finn drinking at Gregory’s memorial party then covering it with breath spray. He was drinking on purpose and didn’t want them to know.

Finn asked what Elizabeth was doing at his apartment, and the woman he brought home said, you’re not the wife, are you? (The wife – ugh.) Elizabeth said, no. She was just the ex-girlfriend.

Josslyn and Dex made plans for dinner. Josslyn told him about Trina meeting Gio, and said she thought it was going to be a good summer.

Nina went on and on to Maxie about seeing Wiley, while Maxie wanted to get their meeting over with so she could go home to Spinelli. Nina said Drew had become tolerable. It had been a long time since she had this much contact with Willow and the kids, and it was because of Drew. If that was the price she paid for dancing with the devil, she was willing to pay up.

Elizabeth told the woman that she thought it was time they called it a night, and the woman asked if Finn was going to let Elizabeth order her around. She told Elizabeth to take a hint; the man’s moved on. Elizabeth asked her name, and the woman said it was Barb. Elizabeth told Barb, go home and sleep it off, and Finn looked like he had a headache. Barb told Elizabeth that she had some nerve, and Elizabeth said, bye. Barb left, and Finn said, Elizabeth didn’t live there. She didn’t love him and didn’t get to judge him. She said he was drunk and making out with a stranger, so yeah, she got to judge. He asked where she’d been and said she’d abandoned him. He wasn’t perfect, and she couldn’t stand to be around him when he was grieving, so he tried to find someone who could. (It sounds like Finn can’t stand himself.)

Willow told Michael that she still took everything Nina said with a hefty grain of salt. She didn’t know how to explain it, but it seemed like Nina wasn’t trying so hard and pushing for more. She was respecting the boundaries. Michael asked if nothing actually happened to change things, and Willow said, his uncle happened. Things changed because of Drew.

Nina told Maxie that she’d seen a side of Drew not many had seen. He was objectively handsome, but she’d seen the way he was with Wiley. Maxie wondered if it was a turn on, and Nina said she was sure Maxie felt the same about Spinelli, that his interaction with the kids made him attractive. Maxie said, it did, and that’s why she wanted to get home to see him, but Nina continued talking. She said, Drew having a 6-pack didn’t hurt… Maxie interjected that it was a 12-pack, and asked why Nina was focused on Drew’s looks when she wasn’t planning on sleeping with him again.

Drew said Curtis would have Michael for support financially and he would pitch in where he could, but Curtis would be in charge of both the internet platform and the brick-and-mortar end. Curtis said he could handle it, but had something to say as a friend. He thought Drew should do it. He thought it would be good for Drew. He had integrity, was pragmatic, and not afraid to fight, but he also understood what was worth fighting for. He thought there should be more people like Drew in government. Drew said he’d get the ball rolling first thing morning, when he got a call. He said, ugh, Nina.

Chase told Tracy that Finn was in denial, saying his addiction was with Zen-Zen, not alcohol. Brook said, Finn had abstained out of a precaution, and Chase said, Finn claimed he was working the program, but rather than telling them he’d changed mind about drinking, he was hiding it. Tracy said, Finn needed counseling or an intervention, and Brook said they wanted to get Violet away from him and to keep her in an emotionally stable environment. Tracy said, Finn wasn’t going to respond well, and Brook said, that’s where Tracy came in.

Elizabeth said, Finn was talking BS and would know that if he wasn’t drunk. Finn said he’d just had a couple of drinks, and Elizabeth said, just tell her Violet wasn’t home. He asked if she thought he’d be like this around Violet, but she said she never would have thought that before, but now she didn’t know. Finn started crying and said he’d made a mistake. He hated himself and hated what he said. He didn’t expect her to forgive him, but give him a chance to explain. Elizabeth said what she wanted was for him to get the help he needed, for his sake and for Violet’s, but they were done. She couldn’t do this to the kids or herself. Finn begged her to stay, when Jason walked in and said, let her go.

Josslyn and Dex saw Michael and Willow at The Surf Lodge, and Michael asked if they wanted to join them. Willow said she thought they had other plans, and Dex and Josslyn went to their own table. Michael said Josslyn told him that she wanted to take things slow, but she thought things had changed now that Dex was a cop, and Willow was surprised Josslyn was confiding in him. She told Michael that she was grateful to Drew for her new position on Nina, and Michael asked why she thought Drew was the reason. Willow said she thought Drew setting aside his anger at Nina allowed Nina to grow in a way she couldn’t before. If he could start fresh, maybe she could too.

Nina insisted she wasn’t going to sleep with Drew again, but Maxie said, Nina was focused on his abs and needed to be honest. Nina said she thought Drew was loathsome, a snake, and unprofessional, and Maxie said unlike Nina. She asked if they could get back to their meeting. Natalia’s had notes… Drew walked in and asked what the hell Nina’s problem was.

Brook told Tracy about her and Chase’s idea for Violet to stay with the Quartermaines and be one of the gang. Tracy said, then it would give them an opportunity to intervene, and Chase said the goal was to get Finn into rehab. He thought Finn would go when he realized he was jeopardizing Violet. Tracy said, of course (🍷) Violet was welcome to stay there, but Chase be prepared for Finn to disappoint him.

Finn asked if Elizabeth called Jason, and Jason asked Elizabeth what she wanted to do. She said, let’s go, but Finn begged her not to. She said they’d talk when he was sober, and Finn said he stood by her when she was tearing canvases apart and shredding wedding dresses. She could leave her keys and go. She dropped them into his unfinished drink, and left with Jason, who told Finn, don’t go near her.

Jason brought Elizabeth to the pool, since she said she needed someplace quiet to think. She remarked that it was closed, but he said he knew the owner. Elizabeth said she wasn’t ready to go home and field questions from the boys as to why she and Finn broke up. Jason said he was sorry. She deserved better. She said, so did her kids.

Chase said he had to hold on to hope, and Tracy said he should, but it might be difficult convincing Finn. If he was in the throes of his addiction, the only voice he could hear was his own. Nothing they said or did would change that, no matter how destructive he was being.

Finn fished the keys out of the drink, threw them at the wall, and took another sip.

Elizabeth and Jason sat with their feet in the water, and Elizabeth said she couldn’t believe she got him to take off his shoes. He told her not to tell anybody, and she promised his secret was safe. She couldn’t believe this happened so soon after Gregory dying, but she wanted to be supportive of Finn. Jason said, it was Finn pushing her away, and she said, the question was, does she let him?

Josslyn said, it was familiar, but different, and Dex asked if she meant good different. She said she was sorry she was hard on him, but he said she should have been. He didn’t like the person he was becoming either, but everything worked out how it was supposed to. He hated losing her though. It ripped his heart out. She said, hers too, and he said he finally felt good about himself again. It never would have happened if she hadn’t been honest with him. She said he was welcome.

Willow said Michael looked shocked, but he said he was just absorbing what she’d said. Was she saying she forgave Nina? She told him that she was saying she was ready to move on, and he said, Nina had sent Drew to prison. He wondered what was different about the situation now. Willow said she didn’t think Drew had made peace, but was choosing to let it go as much as he could. He was choosing the future over the past. Wasn’t that what they should all be doing?

Nina said Drew was using Crimson for his interest in his other company, but he said Crimson was his company too. Maxie said she didn’t want to be here, and skipped out the door, as Nina told her to send Natalia’s correspondence to her. Drew told Nina that he’d fulfilled his end of the bargain, and she said she had too; he was getting the esplanade. Drew said she was getting her grandchildren back, and she said she’d never give in to her natural instincts and compromise her standing with Willow.

Elizabeth told Jason that she might stick it out if it was just her, but she wasn’t sacrificing her boys, physically or emotionally. Jason said he got it, and she said, that’s because he actually heard her. It was like she was speaking another language with Finn. She’s glad Jason showed up when he did. She asked how he knew where she was, and he told her that Jake had called. Jake was so worried, Jake had reached out to him. That’s how much her son loved her.

Josslyn said she was happy for Dex. It was a gift to figure out what you wanted in life. He asked her about school, and she said she’d changed her major to environmental science. Maybe she’d come up with a way to save the planet. She told him that could see herself dating a cop. He asked if that included a cadet, and she said, it was risky, since he didn’t have a badge yet, but she was a risk taker.

Michael told Willow that it sounded great in theory, but he was surprised about Drew, unless Drew had some other reason to make nice with Nina. Willow said she thought Drew was able to see the good in Nina despite what she’d done, and she wanted to see it too. Michael said, Willow seemed happy, and she said she was. He said that was all he wanted, and she said, no more lies and secrets felt good. Michael asked if it felt better than this, and kissed her. She said, nothing felt better than that.

Drew asked what Nina wanted, and she said it was abundantly clear she couldn’t stand him. She closed the door, and he said, the feeling was more than mutual. She wondered, then why did she want to do this? and they got busy.  

Jason asked if there was anything he could do, but Elizabeth said he’d done enough. He let her talk without giving her well-intentioned advice. He said he wasn’t in a position to give advice. He’d left her and Sam to raise their sons on their own. She asked if it was because he wanted to, but he didn’t say anything. She said she didn’t think so. She didn’t know where he’d been, but she was pretty sure it wasn’t on vacation. He said he was here now and would do what he could to make time up with Jake however she thought best. She said, their son needed help and called him, and he showed up. That could go for a lot with Jake and with her.  

Chase said, they had to give it a try, and Tracy agreed, but told them to be prepared for an uphill battle. Chase said, while he was on the job, he’d seen how addiction wrecked lives. He didn’t want that to happen to Finn. Tracy said, they had her full support, and he said that meant a lot. She said, they were family, but she just hoped Finn could hear them.

Finn sat smiling, and flashed back to the camping trip, trivia night, and suggesting to Elizabeth that they take a chance and see where it went. He remembered kissing her, them deciding to get serious, and him saying that he was going be there for her because they were stronger together. He knew he was. He flashed back to more kissing, Elizabeth saying her life was better with him, and him telling her that he was in love with her. He remembered them wishing on a star, getting busy in the hospital shower, and the weekend in the cabin. He looked at the glass and drained it.

Tomorrow, Sam tells Spinelli that a window of opportunity opened up; Elizabeth wonders how Jake really saw Finn; and Chase tells Finn that they have a bigger problem.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Chef Jono won’t get his ass out of bed, and Ellie says she doesn’t want him to have a negative experience because of this. Maybe he should think about it. He says, no, and Gael helps her make grilled cheese. The guests start making their own drinks, and decide they provide nicer service than the actual crew. Guest Simon says, they’d rather fix it themselves than complain. In Ellie’s interview, she says she wants to be chief stew and has to figure out how to manage these kinds of conditions. She’s always been very self-reliant. Her dream was to have a house for her Barbies when she was little, but there was no money. So she got cardboard, a stick of glue, and crayons, and put a roof over these bitches’ heads. The guests finally go to bed at 2:50 am. Ellie goes to bed at like, 6 am.

The boat heads for the Temple of Poseidon. In Princess Jono’s interview, he says he’s proud of standing up for himself. It’s always been an issue for him. In Aesha’s interview, she says she’s setting her standards as high as possible. With no provisions, she might not be able to get to the full extent of them, but she’s going to make sure to get as close as possible. Iain tells Captain Sandy that someone tried to wake up the chef, but he’d thought it was a dream. The captain texts the provisioner, who tells her, the wine will be in this evening, but she says, that’s too late. Iain shows Joe what to do with the lines when docking, and in his interview, he says he loves to teach. Aesha tells Bri that she’s sorry yesterday was stressful. It was the first day on a new boat, and it was a sh*tshow. They’ll get better each day. Jono whines to Aesha about how Ellie tried to wake him up, and she says, to be fair, the guests listed late night snacks on the preference sheet. She suggests Jono pre-prep.

Gael talks to her boyfriend, who’s got a new job, and she reminds him that their goal was to find a boat they could both work on. In her interview, she says, relationships in yachting are hard. If someone gets your lifestyle, you want them to be there with you. She doesn’t know how good she’ll be at long distance, but guesses she’ll find out. Captain Sandy calls Jono to meet with her, and I hope she rips him a new one. Instead, she suggests he put some paninis in the fridge the night before, and they’ll address it at the tip meeting. In the captain’s interview, she says, if the chef is down, he shouldn’t be woken up. Ellie didn’t know, but she’s learning. Aesha has to tell the guests that there’s still no rosé, and says, they have every right be grumpy. In Gael’s interview, she says, Nathan is cute and she thinks platonic relationships are a possibility. In Nathan’s interview, he says, they’ll see what happens. Aesha tells Ellie that the chef not having rest is dangerous, but Ellie says, breakfast wasn’t until 10. Aesha says, next time, there will be premade food. She’s sorry Ellie had to go through that. In her interview, Aesha says, a stew should never be in bed more than an hour after the guests, but she feels confident they’ll keep learning and improving. The guests do a TikTok video and say, content is king. Captain Sandy suggests someone be sent over to a nearby humongous superyacht to ask for wine – ask politely. Aesha tells the guests that they’re going to beg the big boat for wine, and in Joe’s interview, he says, it’s his first lead deckhand role. He wants to become someone in the industry. Captain Sandy gives Joe some money and tells him to do whatever it takes. He and Nathan take the tender to ask for the wine, and Nathan tells the captain, name your price and I’ll put it in your pocket.

Aesha begs from a distance while the trade is done. The captain of the other boat won’t take less than €75 a bottle, and Joe says, according to his research, the brand is 20 quid. The captain says, take it or leave it, and Nathan forks over the money. In Nathan’s interview, he says he’s done sales his whole life and once sold a broomstick. The total is 300 quid, and Joe says he doesn’t even have that in his personal account. The guests cheer when the wine is brought back. The provisioner texts captain Sandy asking if she still wants the wine for this evening, but she says, that’s too late. The charter will be over. Afterward, she says, they’re f***ing fired. Guest Jacob says, the chef somehow nailed their preferences, although another guest thinks it’s not as tasty as the drunk cheese last night. Ellie tells Jono that they’re raving about his food, and he barely acknowledges her. In her interview, she says, he hasn’t apologized asked how her night went. Has she failed him on some level? Ellie tries to teach Bri the ways of the laundry, and in Bri’s interview, she says, in boarding school, their laundry was picked up and brought back all done. She’s stressing balls and doesn’t want to lose her job. Everything about adulting scares her. One guest is missing a pair of pants and another is missing a shirt.  

Bri cries over the laundry while the guests do water sports. Ellie tells Aesha about the missing clothes, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, if she comments on every mistake, it’s like endless nagging, so she’s trying the tactic of more compliments, hoping Bri will improve. In Bri’s interview, she says she found the frickin’ pants. She tells Ellie that they’re on warm air, but Ellie tells her, that’s just for crew clothes. They don’t want to risk shrinkage with the guests’ clothing. In Ellie’s interview, she says she feels she has her work cut out for her. It’s her first time as second stew and she’s working toward chief stew. She feels like she’s on the right trajectory, but there isn’t much competition on this boat. She tells the guest that his pants were hang drying and that’s why they didn’t see them. Bri trips, and God help me, I laugh. Anchor is hauled and Joe bandages Bri’s toe. In Joe’s interview, he says he’s scared about docking. He has no experience on the bow. He’s usually on the aft deck. He’s supposed to keep the stern from hitting the dock, but the rope keeps slipping.

With the deckhands working together, the boat is finally docked. The captain tells Joe to use muscle until she’s in the berth, but he explains the rope was slipping and he couldn’t get the groundline off without mechanics. In Nathan’s interview, he says he doesn’t want to be lead deckhand. He’s just here to have fun. It’s time to say goodbye to the guests, and Jacob thanks the crew for an amazing time. He shakes Jono’s hand, saying, the food… He says, obviously, there were a few things that were disappointing, like the lack of provisions and clothes missing in terms of getting pressed, but overall, they had an amazing time. The guests leave and the crew changes into their reds. Aesha announces to everyone how long her poo was, and then calls a meeting with the stews. She says, they’re going into the next charter with limited manpower, and Bri needs to be quicker. Ellie tells Bri not to feel like she’s the only one making mistakes. They all are. Bri says she didn’t keep track of whose stuff was whose, and Aesha says she’s not mad, but if it’s still the same when they’re at charter 5, she’ll have to look for another solution. She tells them to never be in bed more than an hour after the guests. If they are, it means they were with the guests too much. Ellie says, it was a like a form of entertainment for them, and Aesha tells her to just say, cooking is a safety thing. The captain calls for the tip meeting.

Captain Sandy tells the crew, well done. It’s easy to do a good job when things are going your way, but when they’re not, and they show up the way they did, that’s what is looked for in character. She tells the deck team, first charter, first boat, good job. She says, Aesha leads with kindness and people follow. That’s what makes her stand out. Jono created incredible meals on the fly, even with the lack of provisions. Never wake the chef, but next time food will be prepped to make paninis. Ellie says, the guests wanted a whole thing, and the captain says, she’s learning, and it’s fine, but you don’t wake the chef. Maybe on bigger boats where there’s more than one, but he’s one. The tip is $15K or $1250 each. Not bad for a one-nighter. They were lucky this was a nice bunch of kids. Captain Sandy tells the crew, have a blast.

Jono tells Ellie that she knows not to wake him again, but he’s empathetic to the crazy situation. He’ll make some stuff ahead of time. He doesn’t want that to happen to her again. Jono calls his boyfriend David, and brags, the guests said the best part of the trip was him and the food. In Jono’s interview, he says, David is an opera singer and the most supportive long-distance relationship he’s had. Yeah. I’ll bet he’s a handful. And I don’t mean that in a good way. Ellie tells Bri that Jono complained, but what about what she was going through? She didn’t get enough sleep. It’s all about the chef. She cries and says she’s pissed off. Aesha asks why she was up so long, and Ellie says she was busting her ass. Jono mumbles, that bitch is going to drive him crazy, and Ellie says, he’s making her look like an idiot.

As the deckhands clean the boat, Gael promises to be the best wingman ever. In Ellie’s interview, she says she feels that Jono has affected the captain’s perception of her, and this is her career. The crew gets ready to go out, and in Nathan’s interview, he says, Gael is attractive and has a boyfriend, but he owes no loyalty to anyone. They go to a restaurant and toast to getting through charter one. In Bri’s interview, she says, Joe is a charmer, and in Ellie’s interview, she says, Joe is hot, so it helps. Joe says he has a bromance with Gael, and Gael says she feels like a thorn between two roses. Gael talks to Aesha about her boyfriend and says she’s figuring out the trust factor. What happens when her boyfriend is on a boat with attractive women? Aesha suggests she deal with it when it happens and not think about it. In Aesha’s interview, she says she and her boyfriend have been together for three years, and she’s never been paranoid. If you’re worried, it’s not right. She tells Gael that she’s a catch and if he can’t see it, f*** him. Bri asks if Nathan is an alcoholic, and Nathan says he is Irish. (Hey, he stereotyped himself, not me.) They go to a club and dance, and in Iain’s interview, he says, Ellie is a fancy lady. Aesha thinks Bri likes Joe, and Ellie says she wants to play hard to get. Bri says she has to go to the loo, and Ellie dances with Joe. Nathan asks if Gael has stolen a strawberry for him, and in his interview, a producer asks if that’s a euphemism. He says, they’ll eventually find out, and the crew goes back to the boat.

Nathan tells Gael that they need to lose the cameras. Everyone goes to bed, and Gael texts Nathan: keep an eye on me. Nathan texts back, asking where they can meet that there are no cameras. They sneak off to the bow, and he says, all this for a few strawberries. In Gael’s interview, she says, maybe she likes him a tiny bit. She’s not harming anyone.

To be continued…

😡 Haters Gonna Hate…

She’s a better woman than I am. And she looks absolutely gorgeous in that gown.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-tabyana-ali-had-the-perfect-response-to-an-online-hater

🤰🏼 Art Imitates Soap…

Pregnant By My Ex’s Dad sounds suspiciously like what happened on GH with Esme.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-adam-huss-stars-in-a-new-movie-you-control

🏆 Party, After-Party, House Party, Denny’s…

In case you missed the winner’s list.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/daytime-emmys/the-2024-daytime-emmy-award-winners

Behind the scenes.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/daytime-emmys/the-2024-daytime-emmys-you-didnt-see-on-tv

I honestly don’t see any duds here.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/daytime-emmys/2024-daytime-emmy-awards-fashion-gallery

Pretty much what you’d expect.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/daytime-emmys/2024-daytime-emmys-fashion-the-guys

🏸 Hot Town Summer In the Suburbs…

Come back tomorrow for some soap, a little Dubai, and a few tea leaves. Until then, stay safe, stay being thoughtful about how long you hold a chair without using it at the beach or pool, and stay choosing the future over the past.

May 1, 2024 – Drew Presents Curtis With an Official Offer, Soap Suds, Here Comes Jersey, They’re the Top, Survivor Loss, On Broadway, Amore & First

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis goes to Drew’s office, and Drew thanks him for coming by. Curtis asks if they’re talking about Aurora’s potential move into wellness, but Drew says, it’s not potential anymore. They’re doing it. His people ran the numbers and they’re doing a dual launch. An online lifestyle website, and they’re doing brick and mortar. The flagship gym is going to be right here in Port Charles. It’s going to be huge. All they need is somebody to run the division. So is he interested?

At the hospital, Aiden brings a big plastic container of cupcakes to the reception desk and asks if he can leave it for Elizabeth. The nurse says she’ll make sure Elizabeth gets it, and Aiden goes back to the elevator. Elizabeth sees him and asks if he’s not going to say hello.

In her office, Maxie tells Scotty that he’s got to help them. Lucy insists on being their on-air pitchwoman for Deception. He says, for cryin’ out loud, they know Lucy. She gets one whiff of fame, and it’s off to the races. There’s no stopping her. Maxie says, they have to because Home & Heart said they’re not giving Deception another spot if Lucy insists on being on camera. He says he could threaten to sue, but it’s their show. They can put on who they want. She says, they don’t want another lawsuit. They want to sell their products, and if they lose this opportunity, they lose exposure, which translates to lost sales. So please just talk to her. Convince her they need someone else… Lucy walks in and says, they wouldn’t believe all the people staring at her as she walked through the lobby. It’s very gratifying, although she is just a very humble, working gal, but she has thousands of followers. Did they see her post? So many likes. Scotty looks at Maxie, who says she rests her case.

Kristina says it’s so nice of TJ and Molly to have her over for breakfast. She’s surprised the baby is so quiet. It was practically kicking field goals yesterday. Molly says, sorry they missed it, and Kristina says, her too. He or she is probably sleeping now because they tired themselves out. TJ asks if she’s sleeping, and Kristina says, usually she manages six or seven hours a night, never less than five. Why? TJ says, Molly mentioned she stopped by pretty late the other night… after a fight?

Natalia knocks at Alexis’s office door and says she’s sorry to just show up at her doorway, but Alexis’s assistant wasn’t at her desk. Alexis says, if this is about the editorial… but Natalia says, no. She’s Natalia Rameriz, Allison’s mom. Kristina’s friend? Alexis says, yes, of course (🍷). Come on in. Natalia says she knows Alexis is a busy woman, as is she, but she just thought it was time they met. Alexis says, absolutely. Nice to meet her. They shake hands, and Alexis says she’s heard a lot about Natalia. Natalia says she’s sure, probably not all of it good. Is she right?

Natalia says she and Kristina had a bumpy start, because when she first met Kristina, she was in Allison’s bed, which was a surprise, as Alexis can imagine. Alexis says, she had no idea they were together, and Natalia says, no. Alexis says she understands Blaze hadn’t come out to Natalia yet. She hopes it wasn’t too much of a surprise. She gestures for Natalia to sit down, and Natalia says she had the pleasure of meeting Kristina’s father, and Alexis says, she met Sonny. Natalia says, and from what he told her, they have a really good relationship. Alexis asks if he said that, and Natalia says, and she knows Kristina is very close to her dad. Alexis says, she is. Kristina loves her family. Natalia says, that’s obvious. She said she’s carrying her sister’s baby.

Molly says she told TJ that Kristina came over around midnight. She just wanted to talk. Kristina says she was pretty worked up, which she knows isn’t good for the baby. She just needed some sister time. Nobody calms her down like Molly. These hormones are no joke. And as for the fight, Josslyn apologized to her, and they worked things out. TJ asks if she minds if he asks what the argument was about, and Kristina says, just Josslyn being Josslyn, complaining about her dad. He asks if Sonny did something wrong that they should know about, but Kristina says, nothing like that. It’s just that ever since Carly and her dad broke up, Josslyn totally turned on her dad and she’s always saying negative things about her dad whether they’re true or not. In this instance though, it turned out to be true. Molly says she’s sorry. But parents are human. Sometimes they disappoint us. TJ says, family is difficult. That’s one more reason to be careful. Kristina says, careful? and he says, about keeping her safe. Even if that means keeping her away from that side of her family. (Does he really think that suggestion will go over well?)

Aiden says he dropped off the cupcakes Elizabeth wanted for Amy’s birthday, and Elizabeth thanks him. She says, everybody is going to love them. What does she owe him? He says, they can settle at home. His free period’s almost over. He needs to head back to school. Tell Amy, happy birthday. She asks if he’s forgetting something, and he says, is he? She says, give his mom a hug? and he hugs her. She sees a pink smear on his backpack and asks, what is this? Why is there paint on his backpack?

Drew says, that’s why he wanted Curtis from the very beginning. He’s got experience in management, he has incredible talent for leadership, he has practical knowledge in the fitness industry. He’ll be able to tailor everything to meet their customers’ needs. He hands Curtis some paperwork, and says he really hopes Curtis considers being on board. Curtis says, this is? and Drew says, that’s the official offer. His proposed salary, stock options, benefits, a whole slew of perks, and of course (🍷) his stake in the company. Just take a look and let him know what he thinks. Curtis says he’ll do that – Nina approaches the office – but it’s going to be a huge change to his life. Drew says he gets that. It’s going to be a huge change for Aurora. That’s why he wants Curtis at the helm. There’s nobody he trusts more than Curtis to take charge. Nina says she completely agrees with that. Take charge of what?

Aiden tells Elizabeth, that happened in art class. He wasn’t looking where he put his backpack. Maybe it’ll wash out. She says, maybe, but that’s a lot of paint. He says, or he could switch backpacks, and she says, it reminds her of when he came home with paint in his hair, but he says, it’s art class. There’s a lot of paint. He tells her that he’s got to go and gets in the elevator. Elizabeth goes over to the desk, and Portia says, rumor has it that Aiden made cupcakes for Amy’s birthday, and Elizabeth says, yeah. Portia asks if Elizabeth not to tell her that they’re for nurses only, because she wants one. She knows what an excellent baker he is. Elizabeth says, yes, he is.

Natalia says, Allison told her about Kristina’s pregnancy. It’s a brave new world out there, isn’t it? Alexis says, it is, and it continues to be. Her daughter Molly was having fertility problems, really struggling to have a family, and Kristina wanted to help her out. They love each other and Alexis is very proud of that. Natalia says, of course (🍷) she’d be, but their choices present some complications for Kristina and Allison. Alexis asks, how so? and Natalia says, pregnancy in and of itself is a complication. It’s a disruption in a woman’s life, in a couple’s life. And that’s under the happiest of circumstances. Alexis says she was under the impression that Blaze was nothing but supportive, and Natalia says, she is, of course (🍷). That’s her Ally. (You know, it would help if everyone didn’t call Blaze a different name.) But there’s also public perception to consider. Alexis says she’s very happy to meet Natalia and she’s also glad Natalia came by, but she can see this might be more than a meet and greet. If there’s something on her mind, please feel free to share that. Natalia says she’s really glad Alexis is open to an honest discussion. She’s concerned for her daughter. She thinks she’s entitled to a private life, but as Blaze, that can’t happen. Alexis says, the cost of fame. Her point being? Natalia says, two women seen together, one of them pregnant, people are bound to ask whose baby it is and most people are going to assume that it’s theirs. (Huh? I can’t imagine even thinking about it that hard.) Alexis says she’s not sure why that would be anyone else’s business. Natalia says, Alexis runs a newspaper. She has a gossip column. If the girls are out and somebody shoots a picture of them in public and posts it, Alexis knows better than anybody that one photo can change somebody’s life. For better or for worse.

Kristina says, if TJ is referring to her father, she has no intention of staying away from him. She loves him very much and he always has her support. TJ says he understands that, but he also knows his Uncle Curtis was just shot from simply being in the same vicinity as Sonny, so he’s just suggesting she keep some distance during her pregnancy. Kristina says she made it crystal clear that this baby’s well-being is her top priority, and Molly says, she has, and they appreciate that. Kristina says she’s been eating healthy, she’s been taking her vitamins, staying hydrated. She’s been going to all of her doctor’s appointments. She even paused working at the Corinthos-Davis Center for this pregnancy. She’s taking extremely good care of herself and seeing her friends and her family is included in that. She doesn’t think separating herself from them is necessary or healthy. If they’ll excuse her, she has a full day ahead of her. She gets up, and Molly says, no, please don’t go, but Kristina says, no, really, she should get going. She would hate to have to rush and get home past her bedtime. Molly says. Kristina hasn’t finished her breakfast, and Kristina says she does know how to feed herself. She does manage a restaurant. She tells Molly, love you, and leaves. Molly tells TJ, really? What was that all about?

Drew says, he and Curtis were discussing an upcoming project, and Nina asks if that means Curtis would be joining the Aurora family.  Drew says he’s working on it, and Curtis says, they just started discussing all the details. Nina says, that’s great. As he knows, you don’t just jump on the first offer. Drew is a very smooth negotiator. If they shake on anything, make sure he counts his fingers afterward. Drew says he hasn’t heard her complaining, and she flashes back to them getting busy. Nina says, well, he drives a hard bargain. She’s just giving her good friend some sound advice. Before he gets in bed with Drew, make sure he knows what he’s doing.

Lucy asks what Scotty is doing here, and he says he came to talk to Maxie. Lucy says, really? He doesn’t need an excuse if he really just wants to see her. Why don’t they go to her office, and they can watch a replay of her segment on Home & Heart? He says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea, but she says, it’s a great idea. She knows she did really well. It’s just that she thought maybe she could take notes on her performance so she can hone her craft a little bit. There’s always room for improvement. She’s been reading up on Marilyn Monroe. She studied with Lee Strasburg. The method acting technique says, you should infuse your own experiences to make the audience feel… Maxie says, the pitchwoman for Deception is not supposed to be acting. They’re supposed to be selling. And they do that by projecting sincerity and approachability. The audience needs to feel like this person is a friend whose recommendations they trust. So when the pitchwoman says, Deception’s Disruptor Nourishing Cream really refreshens your complexion, the audience believes them. And they buy the product. But the first thing the pitchwoman has to do is actually mention the product. Lucy says she agrees. Of course (🍷). That’s why she still thinks her name should be in the title of their new skin care line. Lucy’s Luminous Skin Serum or Lucy’s Luminous Luscious Lotion. Which one does she like? Maxie says she actually can’t, and tells Scotty, please stop this madness and just tell her. Lucy says, tell her what? and Scotty says, her appearance on the Home & Heart show, it was a disaster.

Lucy says, disaster? She was an unqualified success. Maxie says, it was a dumpster fire, and Scotty says, go easy on her. Maxie says, someone has to tell her the truth, and Lucy says, the truth is, she completely crushed it. She takes out her phone and says she has all the comments right here to prove it. Maxie says, Lucy talked about herself on live TV for a solid hour. She recapped her greatest successes, real and imaginary. She barely mentioned their product or Deception. She was clearly there to sell herself. Lucy says she is Deception. She created Deception and Deception’s her baby and their audience knows that. Maxie says, yes, she has a following, but that doesn’t automatically translate to sales. She was there to introduce their new face cream, not inflate her own ego. Lucy says, that’s just rude, but Maxie says, rude is trying to one-up Haven. Lucy says, Haven is jealous of her and can’t stand the competition, and Maxie says, Haven calls the shots. She wants sales, not self-promotion. Lucy says, exactly. And the bottom line is Haven is a businesswoman, and she will forget all the envy and anything about Lucy because the sales are skyrocketing and it’s because of her. Maxie asks what Scotty is doing. Tell her. Scotty says, all those skyrocketing sales… Lucy says, they are skyrocketing because of her, because the numbers do not lie. Maxie says, she’s right. The sales are great, but they’re not because of Lucy.

Curtis says, Drew has given him a lot to think about. So if Drew will excuse him, he’ll get to it. Drew says he looks forward to hearing from Curtis and they shake hands. Curtis counts his fingers says, meanwhile, the two of them play nice, and leaves. Nina says, Curtis is her friend, and Drew says, his too. Nina tells him, so he says. Curtis is just getting back on his feet. She doesn’t want Drew to take advantage of him. Drew says he’s not taking advantage of him. He’s offering Curtis an opportunity that benefits both of them. Nina says, it’s a wonder how Drew can keep all these plates spinning in the air without dropping one of them, and he says he guesses it’s just a talent of his. What did she want to see him about? She says, her daughter. She didn’t get a chance to ask why Michael and Willow were in his office yesterday before that lapse of sanity overtook them again. He says, lapse of sanity. Is that what they’re calling it? She says she really wants to know. Why was Willow here?

Portia asks if everything is okay, but Elizabeth says, she’s not sure. Aiden had pink paint on his backpack. He said he just set it down in the wrong place, but it looked like somebody deliberately did it to him. (Actually, it looked more like he brushed up against something.) And last week, he came home with paint in his hair. It wasn’t a lot, but it definitely looked like somebody flicked a paintbrush at him on purpose. Portia says, and she’s worried about bullying, and Elizabeth says, yeah. This happened before when he was younger. The thought has definitely crossed her mind, but whatever is happening, he thinks he just wants to handle it himself. Portia says, yeah, but sometimes their kids think they can handle it themselves, but they can’t really. Elizabeth says she doesn’t want to hover, and Portia says she gets that. She hates that term helicopter mom. It makes you feel like you’re second guessing yourself when you’re concerned or involved in your children’s lives. Elziabeth says, there’s being concerned and there’s wanting to control your son’s life, and she doesn’t know where this falls on the spectrum. Portia says, maybe Elizabeth could chat with his counselor. Talk to his teachers. See what they know, what they don’t know. They see so much more than we do sometimes. At the end of the day, they just want what’s best for their kids, right?

TJ asks Molly to talk to him, and she says, he doesn’t want to hear what she’s thinking right now. He says he gets that she’s angry, and she says she’s frustrated and disappointed, and she can’t for the life of her understand what he thought he was doing coming for Kristina like that. He says he was thinking of their baby’s well-being and Kristina’s too. He commends her for living a healthy lifestyle and following the guidelines, but is it not common sense to want to stay out of the line of fire? She says, believe her. She has no illusions about Sonny, but he’s highly unlikely to put his pregnant daughter at risk. He says, tell that to his Uncle Curtis. Things happen. She says, okay, but let’s have a sense of proportion. She can’t ask her sister to stay away from her father. He says he just did, and she says, he saw how well that went. He says he expected pushback and he’s not sorry he tried. And that’s not going to stop him from speaking his mind to the woman carrying their child, even if she’s the daughter of a dangerous man.

Alexis tells Natalia, as a now responsible journalist, she doesn’t really approve of policing social media sites. She thinks people have the right to think and say whatever they want, regardless of how despicable or ridiculous it is, as long as it’s within the law. Natalia says, that’s commendable, as a journalist. What about as a mother? Alexis says she would hate to see Kristina or Blaze dragged through the mud. That would be painful to see. On the other hand, she didn’t raise a shrinking violet and she’s pretty sure Natalia didn’t either, so she’s confident they’d be able to weather whatever came at them. Natalia says, that’s very supportive and sane, albeit a little idealistic. She’s just sort of a pragmatist, and she can’t help but realize that the fallout for Allison would be a lot different than for Kristina. Alexis says, how so? and Natalia says, isn’t it obvious? Allison is a star with a huge fanbase and following, and Kristina is a… bartender.

Alexis says, if Natalia has an issue with Blaze’s public persona, then that is something she should probably take up with her daughter. She doesn’t really see how she can help her. Natalia says, please understand, she’s not disparaging Kristina, and Alexis thanks her so much for coming by, but she runs a newspaper and she’s getting a lot of calls coming in while they’re having this conversation. You never know when it’s going to be breaking news. So again, she thanks Natalia so much and appreciates her stopping by. Natalia says she’s really glad they got a chance to finally meet, and Alexis says, it’s always good to put a face to the person. Natalia tells her, have a nice day, and leaves. Alexis makes a call and says, how dare Diane not be there when she needs to vent? She just met Blaze’s mother and it wasn’t pretty.

Molly tells TJ that Kristina is doing something incredibly generous for them. She’s giving up nine months of her life to give them a child. The last they can do is not police her every move. He says he doesn’t like how she’s making him out to be some kind of control freak, and she asks, what else he would call the constant questioning about what Kristina eats, how much she’s sleeping, and whether she can see her father until after her delivery date? He says, fine. If wanting the best for their baby makes him a control freak, he’ll wear that as a badge of pride. (I’m thinking now would be the perfect time to throw a pie in his face.) She says, be proud of himself. Just lay off Kristina. He says he doesn’t think it’s unreasonable to want her to stay physically safe, and Molly says, it is if he drives her away. He says, if it does, then that’s on her, not on him. He understands Kristina is hormonal, but taking off in a huff just because they’re asking questions? He’s a doctor. She says, yes, but he’s not Kristina’s doctor. He’s not even the baby’s doctor. If there were concerns, Dr. Navarro would have raised them, but she hasn’t. He says, Dr. Navarro is only evaluating Kristina based on what she sees in front of her. She’s not factoring in Kristina’s connection to Sonny. Molly says, and that’s a good thing. Because Kristina has somewhere she can feel safe, not judged. He says he’s not judging her, and she says, isn’t he? He says, they’re supposed to be in this together, all three of them. They should have some say in how Kristina is living her life. It’s their baby. She says she knows this, but it is Kristina’s life. They can’t monitor her every move. He says, because she’s Molly’s sister. If they’d gone with a surrogate, in a few months from now, they’d have their baby with no strings attached, but now they… She says, no, go on. Say it. Now they’ll never get rid of her?

Portia meets Curtis at the MetroCourt and says, not that she’s complaining, but why did she have to drop everything and meet him here? All his text said was, it’s nothing bad. They sit at a table, and he says, aside from wanting to see his beautiful wife, he has a major decision, and he needs her to weigh in. She asks, what kind of decision? and he says, The Savoy’s been doing really well and he’s thinking about diversifying. She says, like a franchise or making it a brand? but he says, The Savoy is unique, and he wants to keep it that way, but it does involve branding. He and Drew have been talking about him wanting to move Aurora into fitness and wellness. So Drew is starting a new division and wants him to head that division. Portia says she guesses she wasn’t expecting anything like that. Wow. He says, they had a preliminary meeting a few weeks ago and he just now confirmed they’re moving on and Drew wants him in charge. This is the kind of opportunity that only happens once. What does she think? Should he go for it?

Nina says, okay. Drew wants Willow to go public with her medical history. She doesn’t know if that’s a great idea. He says, she’d be talking about her leukemia and her lifesaving transplant. It could help a lot of people. She says, and Aurora is involved in this why? and he asks if she thinks he’s making money off of this. She’s wrong. He’s working with a non-profit who finds donor matches for stem cells and bone marrow. Willow’s story is so inspirational. She’d make such a great spokesperson. She could jump start the whole project. She says, and he presented all of this to Willow like that, and he says, absolutely. And he made it very clear that the ultimate decision is up to her. She says she can’t ask for more than that and thanks him. By the way, she’s rescheduled her interview with Congressman McConkey for this afternoon if he’s still interested in tagging along. He says he is, and not as her chauffeur. He’d like to meet the Congressman and have a chance to talk to him. She says, that’s what she’s offering, and he says, why so accommodating all of a sudden? What’s in it for her?

Portia says she appreciates Curtis for including her, but she’s not sure. The Savoy was his dream, but he seems really excited about this new endeavor, so she really doesn’t know if she should influence him either way. He says he’d still love her opinion, and she says, okay. He’s just now finally recovering, right? He’s literally getting back on his feet. And between the club and Aurora, she just thinks he’s taking on way too much way too soon. He says, the club doesn’t need his full-time attention anymore. The Savoy survived for months after he was shot and in recovery. He’s lucky to have a great staff. N’neka is an absolute rock star, and he’s been getting great help from his dad, chatting it up with the crowd and the musicians. Curtis knows how much he loves that. She says, that’s kind of her point. The Savoy was his dream, and he feels comfortable leaving it in other people’s hands. He says, it’s not like he’s never going to set foot in that place again, and she says, but he’ll have to split his time between the club and Aurora. He says he’ll build time in his schedule to make sure The Savoy remains on track, and she asks if he thinks Selina Wu is going to respect his schedule. Because she thinks Selina still wants to take The Savoy. And what if she uses his absence to make her move?

Lucy says, her social media blew up after she was on H&H, and Maxie says, cyberbuddies and heart emojis don’t translate into cold, hard cash. And speaking of cold, hard cash, when Lucy was on camera, they were way under their minimum of 300 units per minute, but as soon as Sasha stepped in, they were hitting 650 per minute and on their way to selling out. Lucy says, that’s because she laid the foundation and her audience just waited until she was off the screen to start buying. Maxie says, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would her fans wait until she was finished to buy the product? Lucy says, obviously because they were enthralled, spellbound by her narrative. It’s a pretty incredible story, her long, hard road to success. They listened. Maxie says, let’s say there were 1000 diehard Lucy fans that were hanging on her every word. There were 10,000 audience members who were waiting to change the channel until Sasha stepped in and saved her bacon. Lucy says, so Maxie is giving Sasha credit for all her sales. They were her sales. She looks at Scotty and says, tell her. Tell Maxie they were her sales. Tell her. Scotty says, humma, humma, humma, Lucy, and she says, don’t humma-hum Lucy nothing. He was there. He felt the positive energy in the room. She had all those people eating out of the palm of her hand. They couldn’t wait to buy. Scotty says, actually, they did wait. They waited until Sasha showed up.

TJ takes Molly’s hands and says he’d never want to get rid of Kristina. That’s impossible. That’s her sister. His only problem is all the baggage that comes with her. She says, believe it or not, she understands his concerns. Sonny being Kristina’s father and the fact that she may end up prosecuting him, does he know how much she’s dreading that possibility? He says, probably as much as he dreads the idea of their child’s biological grandfather being a mob boss. It’s not all about Sonny. He has his concerns about Kristina too. She says, he knows she had her hesitations at first. But she and Kristina came to an understanding, and she thought that he did too. That’s why they accepted Kristina’s offer to be their surrogate, and she genuinely wants to help. She has said from the very beginning, she will be Aunt Kristina to their child the same way she is to Danny and Scout. He says, but she didn’t carry and give birth to Danny and Scout. There’s a big difference. How long before she’s second guessing them? (Not long if he doesn’t knock it off.) Judging their parenting styles and inserting herself into their lives? She says, Kristina has her own life. She has two jobs and a new girlfriend. He asks if she doesn’t think that could change with her being pregnant, and Molly says, of course (🍷) she’ll reach a point where she’s got to slow down, but he says he’s talking about Kristina. Everyone keeps telling him what a beautiful gift Kristina is giving them, but that gift comes with a cost. Kristina is more than a surrogate. She’s biologically and emotionally invested. Tell him that she can see how potentially difficult this is. She says she understands, but she’s still choosing to be hopeful. She’s seen Kristina really come into her own these past few years. She’s changed. For the better. He says he guesses they’ll see. They have no choice at this point.

Kristina walks into Alexis’s office, and Alexis asks, what brings her here? Kristina says, to see her mom, and Alexis goes over to her, saying, oh, oh, oh. What’s going on? Is she okay? They hug, and Kristina says she came from Molly and TJ’s place, and apparently, she’s doing this entire pregnancy wrong. The wrong diet, the wrong sleep schedule, the wrong everything. Alexis says, it can’t be that bad, but Kristina says, no, it is that bad. It’s worse actually. They think her dad is a physical danger and they want her to keep her distance from him. She’s sorry, but she’s not going to do that. She’s not going to abandon her dad, especially not now, especially when he needs her. He’s pushing everyone away from him, everyone except for Ava, who is camped out in his living room. Alexis says, got it. Breathe. Kristina takes a deep breath, and Alexis says, have a seat. She’s going through a lot. Internally, externally, the hormones are at work. They’re working for the baby and they’re working for Kristina’s hair, she might add. And she’s emotional. TJ and Molly are also emotional. She’s sure they meant well. Would Kristina like her to talk to them? Kristina says, yes, she would. She feels something and cringes, clutching her stomach, and says, guess who just woke up? Alexis says, the baby, and Kristina says, they can really stretch out and then, pow. Alexis says, that’s what they do, and Kristina says, that hurt. Her baby has a real kick. She gets up.

Alexis sits in Kristina’s chair, while Kristina stands in front of her. Alexis feels Kristina’s bump and says, whoa. She wasn’t kidding. Kristina says, funny. It was so nice when it was little butterflies and flutters. Now it’s a totally different ballgame. It’s like a soccer game. Alexis says, Kristina was just like that. She kicked so hard, Alexis thought she was going to leave bruises. Kristina says, really? Maybe the baby takes after her.

Molly tells TJ, it’s a little late for buyer’s remorse. They made a decision to trust her sister, and she for one intends to do that. She’s got to go. She’s got a deposition. He says he doesn’t want to fight. It’s just the two of them, right? He wants this to be the best thing that’s ever happened to them. She says, her too. You, me, and baby makes three, right? They kiss and she leaves for work, but neither of them look like this is the best thing ever.

The reception nurse says, if Elizabeth wants one of the cupcakes, she’d better get to the breakroom, because they’re going fast. And Amy said to be sure and thank her son. What a sweetheart. Elizabeth thanks her and says she will. The nurse leaves and Elizabeth goes behind the desk. She makes a call and asks for the counselor’s office… This is Aiden Webber’s mom. She needs to make an appointment.

Scotty tells Lucy that he’s sorry, but the numbers don’t lie. Maxie says she knows Lucy gives Deception her all. Maybe at times, too much of her all, but she’s not trying to minimize Lucy’s commitment to Deception or her accomplishments. She’s just trying to remind Lucy that Deception is not only hers. It’s not only Maxie’s. It’s not only Brook’s or Sasha’s or Tracy’s, for that matter. They’re all rooting for it to succeed. But in order to gain success, they have to sell, and she’s the wrong salesperson. Lucy shrugs and says, okay. But what Maxie is forgetting is, they don’t have Sasha and Blaze’s uber controlling mommy won’t let Blaze pitch, so she’s all they’ve got. There is nobody else. Maxie says, well, there is one other person.

Curtis tells Portia, there will be no more threats from Selina Wu. He handled it. She says she guesses the only real decision now is how he’s going to split his time and his focus. This is going to be a major project. He says, no question, and she says, and travel. He says he’s in charge. He can set his own schedule. Are there any more objections? He holds out his hand, and she puts hers in it. She says, just one that she can think of. She’s going to miss him. She really enjoyed him being home, having him all to herself. He says, and he doesn’t want to be away too often or too far from her either, but he believes in this project. He knows he can make it happen and, in the process, build something lasting that he can be proud of. She asks, how she could say no to that? It looks like he made his decision.

Nina tells Drew, let’s just say, there’s a little something in it for everybody. He gets access to Congressman McConkey, and she gets access to her daughter. He says he sees. Quid pro quo. She says, giving something to get something makes more sense than them trying to sabotage each other. He says, so she wants to cooperate, but cooperation takes trust. She says she trusts him to see his advantage in all of this, and he says he can definitely see that. His phone rings and he says, Curtis. Curtis says he hopes he’s not interrupting, and Drew says, absolutely not. He’s always got time for Curtis. Curtis thanks him and says he reviewed Drew’s offer. Drew says, and are they doing this? and Curtis says he’s in.

Tomorrow, Willow tells Michael that she’s starting to wonder if she’s doing it for the wrong reasons; Lucy thinks maybe a screentest was in order; Tracy tells Sasha that after lunch, she has a request; and Brook asks someone to go easy on her.

🧴 A Little Bit Of Soap In Your Life…

The best Nikolas of all the Nikolases has a message.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-special-message-to-general-hospital-fans

I don’t remember him from his previous stint on GH, but I’m intrigued about Fergus. And I’d be remiss in not saying that’s a great name for a dog.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/lane-davies-returns-to-general-hospital-in-a-new-role

Hopefully, there will be somewhere for the general public to stream it.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-cassandra-james-debuts-her-first-film

Well, it was bound to happen. I just don’t get why people don’t use Uber or something if they’re going to drink. It’s not that hard. She’s lucky she didn’t kill someone.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-haley-pullos-to-serve-jail-time-for-dui

👠 Anchor Down Your Tables…

The taglines are in place.

https://people.com/rhonj-season-14-taglines-teresa-giudice-family-drama-wont-tear-me-down-melissa-gorga-happily-burn-bridges-8641547

Teresa claims there’s a plan to take her and Luis down. I dunno. They do pretty well all on their own.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey/season-14/videos/where-does-teresa-giudice-stand-with-the-rest-of

Six degrees of The Sopranos.

If you want a head start.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey/season-14/videos/start-watching-the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey

🔪 This Week In Chefs…

Risotto, the bane of a competitive chef’s existence.

After the knives are packed.

⛺️ Farewell To the First…

TBH, I don’t remember her, but then again, I don’t remember most of the cast from the first one. Except for Richard Hatch and that truck driver. Susan?

https://ew.com/sonja-christopher-dead-first-person-voted-out-survivor-8639973

🏆 Light the Lights…

This year’s Tony nominees.

https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees

🐶 A Girl and Her Dog…

Love her, love the dog.

https://people.com/sofia-vergara-and-her-puppy-amore-photos-8633968

🪰 Everything’s Coming Up Cicadas…

Come on down tomorrow, or up depending on your location, for soap and shade in the House. Until then, stay safe, stay not throwing stones no matter what your house is made of, and stay not jumping on the first offer.

April 26, 2024 – Sasha Gets Two Job Offers, Extra Soap, Melrose Fix, Salty Talk, Charming Cast, JoJo’s Take, Extra Fallout, World News, More Messi, A Joke, V Quotes, A Joke & 2031

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt, Carly hugs Sasha, saying, she hasn’t seen Sasha in forever. She asks if Sasha is alone or waiting for someone, and Sasha says she’s waiting for Nina, but Nina seems to have gotten hung up. Carly says she knows how busy Crimson can get. She hopes Sasha isn’t waiting too long. Sasha says, no worries. The longer Nina takes, the longer she has to look for a new place. Carly asks if she’s moving, and Sasha says her rent is too high. She really needs to downsize. Carly says she heard Sasha left Deception. She’s sorry she didn’t text Sasha about it. Not such a good friend, huh? Sasha says, it’s fine. She’s doing great. She sits at the bar, and Carly says, really? She knows how much Sasha put into that company. Sasha says, with all the changes that were happening, it was time to go. She’s really glad she did. Carly says, the appearance on Home & Heart? and Sasha says, a one-time thing. She doesn’t miss the job at all. She just still hasn’t figured out what to do next. Carly says, since she’s looking, would she be interested in working here at the MetroCourt?

Tracy walks into the nook where Leo is snacking and asks Leo why he’s putting that processed garbage into his body. He says he likes it and he’s hungry. He didn’t eat lunch. She says, why not? It’s not like him to forget his lunch. It’s not like him to forget anything. He says he gave it away, and she asks, why? He says, it was a peanut butter sandwich, and she says she thought he liked those. He says he did, but it’s all Yuri ever makes. He’s tired of them. Olivia comes in and asks Leo if he’s ready to go. She has to pick up his friend Teddy and take them to the aquarium pronto. He says he’ll get his backpack, and runs off. Olivia grabs a piece of whatever Leo was eating and says she’s so starving. She didn’t get a chance to eat. Tracy says, do tell, and Olivia says she realizes that dinners have been a little hit or miss lately, but if she makes a couple of lasagnas today, it should last for the next couple of dinners. Tracy says, no, and Olivia says, Tracy doesn’t like her lasagna? Tracy says she loves Olivia’s lasagna. Everybody here loves her lasagna, but this situation is madness. Olivia is running herself ragged at the hotel and she’s condemning everyone in this house to life in leftover manor. Clearly, it is time to hire a cook. Olivia says, bite your tongue.

Walking into the apartment, Gregory says he told Finn that he was fine, and Finn tells him that he keeps saying that. Gregory says his doctor agrees. Last night’s little episode… Finn says, a temporary paralysis? And Gregory says, temporary, yes. He’s made a full recovery. Is Violet here? He doesn’t want to argue in front of her. Finn says, no. She’s still at school. They’re not arguing. He’s just looking out for Gregory. Does he want to lie down? Gregory says, the couch is fine, and don’t worry. He’ll take it easy for the rest of the day. Isn’t Finn needed at the hospital? Finn sits next to him and says he thinks they’ve come to a point where Gregory shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time. Gregory asks, what exactly is he saying? and Finn says he thinks they should get Gregory an in-home caregiver. Just in case anything like last night ever happens again. (I’d like one of those and I’m not even sick.)

Molly goes to Alexis’s office and asks if she’s got a minute. Alexis says, for her, always. Isn’t she supposed to be in court? Molly says, court’s in recess for lunch, and holds up a to-go bag, asking if Alexis is interested. Alexis says she doesn’t know. It depends. What’s she got? Molly says, turkey club with avocado, and Alexis says, yes, taking the bag. Not that Molly needs an ulterior motive to see her mommy… Molly says she needs Alexis’s help. Alexis says she knew it. Legal advice? Molly says, Kristina, and Alexis says, ugh.

On her phone at the gallery, Laura says she’ll be in soon, and tells Ava, sorry about that. City business. Ava says, of course (🍷). She certainly doesn’t want to keep Laura from her mayor duties. Laura says, so she gathered, because Ava never answered her question, and Ava says, which was? Laura asks, how does she like living with Sonny? when Sonny walks in. He asks if he heard his name, and Laura says, yes. Ava asks, what’s up? and he says he needs their help, both of them. Laura says, with what? and Sonny says he wants to commission one of Ava’s artists to create a piece so he can donate it – he asks Laura if she’s ready for this – to the city. Laura says, what makes him think the city would be interested in that?

Olivia says she appreciates Tracy’s perspective. She realizes she’s been a little overbooked lately. Tracy says, a little? and Olivia says she can feed her family. Tracy says, Olivia needs to face facts. She is spreading herself too thin. She’s reduced her son to eating Snackaroos and peanut butter a la Yuri. Olivia says, Carly’s back at the MetroCourt… and Tracy says she’s missing the point. The Quartermaine family has always had a cook. They need one. Olivia says, Tracy is trying to kick her out of her own kitchen, and Tracy says, it’s Monica’s kitchen. Alan gave it to her, and Olivia is not staff. She’s a Quartermaine. She lives here; she doesn’t work here. And while Tracy admires her concerted effort, she can’t be responsible for feeding this family. Tracy is calling an agency and getting referrals. Olivia says, no! She’ll agree to a cook, but only if she hires the cook.

Carly says she’s co-owner of the MetroCourt again, and Sasha asks, how’d that happen? Carly says, Nina sold her half, and Sasha says, congratulations. Carly thanks her, and Sasha says she’s really happy for Carly. She’s just caught off-guard. Nina never said anything about selling. Carly says she thinks it happened pretty quickly. So does that mean Sasha will consider working for her? Sasha says, of course (🍷) she’ll consider it. She really appreciates the offer. Carly says, but it’s not what she’s looking for, is it? and Sasha says she doesn’t know. She’s trying to look around and see what feels right. Carly says she’s been there, and Sasha says, but you know what does feel right? Carly back here at the MetroCourt. Carly laughs and says, yes, and Sasha says, and Nina back at Crimson. Carly says, better there than here, yes. She’s going to take menus to a customer. If Sasha needs anything, let her know. She’s happy to help. Sasha thanks her and says she will. And she will definitely keep this place in mind. Carly leaves and Sasha sends a text to Nina: Where are you?

Molly tells Alexis, Josslyn and Krissy had another blow up. And this time Josslyn had some very specific things to say about Sonny. Alexis says, Kristina has great big feelings about her father. He’s her hero. Nobody knows that better than she does. Molly says she thinks that’s really why Kristina was upset. Because deep down she knows the things Josslyn was saying were true. They talked, and she was calmer by the time she left, but when TJ found out she’d come over so late and how wound up she’d gotten, now he’s worried that all this stress is going to hurt their baby. Alexis asks what Molly said, and Molly tells her that she tried to defend Kristina’s feelings. It is upsetting – she can’t even imagine – but there are other things to consider. The stress can’t be good for Kristina or the baby. It certainly isn’t good for TJ. Alexis says, or Molly, and Molly says, it’s gotten to the point where prosecuting criminals is how she relaxes. Alexis says, been there, and Molly says, so she was hoping Alexis would talk to Kristina.

Finn says, there are caregivers out there who can keep a low profile, but Gregory says, there should be a babysitter when he’s alone with Violet. For Violet, not for him. Finn says, what if Violet hadn’t been here last night? What if she hadn’t getting him his ventilator? Gregory says he knew something was wrong and asked Violet to get the ventilator for him. If he’d been alone, he would have called 911. Finn says, what if paralysis had hit and he was unable to dial? and Gregory says, fortunately, he’s not quite there yet. Finn says, not this time. What about the next time? Because they both know it will happen again. And the time after that, and the time after that. Gregory says, they don’t need to think about the time after that yet. He just needs to be ready for the next time and he will be. He promises. He starts to leave, but Finn says, that’s not good enough.

Laura says she knows they’re in Ava’s gallery, but can she have a moment alone with Sonny? Ava says, by all means, and leaves, but she listens from around the corner. Sonny says, it’s just you and me. What’s on your mind?

Finn says, Gregory can’t see his point of view, but maybe he can see Violet’s. He’s never seen her more scared than what she was last night. Think about that. Put himself in her shoes. Watching her grandfather collapse, running to get his ventilator, watching him lie on the sofa unable to move. What does he think that did to her? Gregory asks if Violet is afraid to be alone with him now, but Finn says, no. She probably never will be. She loves Gregory and wants to spend all the time with him that she possibly can. What if things had been worse? Gregory says, they weren’t, and Finn says, not this time. But what about next time? What happens if he starts to aspirate or collapse or convulse or pass out completely? Knowing Violet, she’d probably try to save him, and if she couldn’t, she’d probably blame herself. Gregory says he would never allow that to happen, and Finn says, at the risk of being devil’s advocate, how would he stop it? They have a responsibility to make Violet feel safe in her own home, right? Gregory says, that’s emotional blackmail, and Finn says he knows. It’s also reality. It’s the reality they have to accept. The bottom line is, Gregory needs help, and when he’s not here, Gregory needs a caregiver. Period. Gregory says, or what? and Finn leaves the apartment.

Sasha reads a text from Nina: Sorry! Be right there. Olivia sees Sasha and asks if she’s got a second. Sasha says she does. What’s up? Olivia says, first of all, she wants to thank Sasha for saving her neck the other night with the shepherd’s pie. It was absolutely delicious. Dante won’t stop talking about it, and frankly, she’s a little bit jealous. Sasha says she’s happy to give Olivia the recipe. It’s one of those dishes that, once you make it a couple of times, you can start to play around with it and add your own touches. Olivia says she does want the recipe. She can’t wait to make it. And that leads her to what she actually wants to talk to Sasha about. Ever since the last cook left at the Quartermaines, she’s been doing all the cooking. And when she gets very busy, which does happen sometimes, the family is left to fend for themselves. So she’s come to accept… It’s been pointed out to her that it’s time for the Quartermaines to hire a new chef. Fend for themselves means different things to different people. For Leo and Monica, it means Yuri makes eggs for breakfast and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.

Nina walks into the restaurant and asks Carly if she can have a moment. Carly says, that depends. What’s it about?

Olivia says she’s got to find someone she can work with. She won’t go back… She cannot go back to the days when the Quartermaines were banned from the kitchen. Before Cook 3 left, she doesn’t think Tracy knew where the kitchen was. Sasha laughs and says, that tracks. Olivia says she loves cooking for her family. She actually finds it very therapeutic almost. Sasha says she feels the same way, and Olivia says, there are people who find joy in life because of the labor intensity of her lasagna. Sasha says, cooking to her has always been peaceful, grounding. Maybe it’s because she cooked with her grandmother. The times she spent in the kitchen with her is definitely what she missed the most about her. Olivia says, Sasha really loved her, and Sasha says she still does. Olivia says, and Sasha loves cooking through her, huh? and Sasha says she guesses she does. Olivia says, and she’s good at it. So what does she say?

Alexis tells Molly, women have earthquake hormones during pregnancy. They live through it. Babies ride through it. Molly says she knows that intellectually, it’s just… Alexis says she knows Molly is worried. She knows Molly is terrified. Molly says, very much, and Alexis says, on the bright side, she knows how thrilled her sister is to do this for her, and Kristina is oddly thrilled about the ups and downs of the pregnancy. Molly says she’s so grateful to Kristina for doing this, and she loves how excited Kristina is about it. Alexis says, but there’s something more, so what is it? Besides Josslyn. Molly says she just wishes TJ could relax a little. Kristina’s emotions go to 11 over Sonny, then TJ’s go to 11 over Kristina. Alexis says she can imagine TJ’s 11 is a lot different than her sister’s, and Molly says, oh yeah. Because he’s always been so even keeled… whatever that means. Alexis says she thinks it has something to do with boats… Never mind. Go on. Molly says, so when he’s this upset, it doesn’t look like a lot, but if you know him… Alexis says, it’s sizeable, and Molly says, and when he’s upset, she gets upset. Then she starts to think maybe this is all her fault, because TJ has spent years and years listening to her side of her disagreements and arguments wit her sister. So maybe because of that TJ doesn’t trust Kristina.

Laura asks, what’s behind this latest burst of philanthropy? and Sonny says, his kids. Port Charles has always been their home. If they visit city hall and they see something beautiful he donated, then they can feel as proud of the city as he does. Laura says, and proud of him? What if one day his little girls find out he nearly beat a man to death with his bare hands? Does he think it’s all going to be okay because he donated art? He wonders why she’d ask him that. They’ve been friends for how many years? Is she going to turn on him?

Molly says she doesn’t think TJ thinks Kristina is a bad person, not that she would ever do anything to intentionally harm the baby, and Alexis says, of course (🍷) not. Molly says, but she is who she is, and he is who he is, and the two of them are emotional opposites. Alexis says, that they are, and Moly says she and TJ are just so excited and nervous to be parents, and they’re treating every bump in the road like it’s this huge mountain to overcome, but there are bound to be bumps. Alexis says, oh, there are and there will be, and Molly says, and Kristina has every right to be worried about her father, but she doesn’t know how Kristina is going to handle it if things get worse for Sonny. Alexis asks what he did now, and Molly makes a zipping motion across her lips. She asks if Alexis will just check in with Kristina, and Alexis asks if she has to. Molly says, please, and Alexis says, okay. Molly thanks her and says she has to get back to work. She tells Alexis that she loves her, Alexis says she loves Molly too, and they hug.

Gregory opens the door to Tracy and says he sees Finn called in reinforcements. She says, not this time. Should he have? Gregory asks if he’s expected to believe Tracy isn’t here to check on him, and Tracy says, that’s a ridiculous question. Of course (🍷) she’s here to check on him. That’s what friends do. Is he trying to pick a fight with her? He says, no. He’s sorry. He saw his doctor today. She asks what he said, and Gregory tells her that the doctor said he’s back to what passes for normal for him these days. She says she’s no expert, but that sounds like good news. He says, it is, but it’s not good enough for his son. Finn is insisting that he hires an in-home caregiver to monitor him. She says, that sounds sensible to her, but he says, it’s not sensible; it’s overreacting. And it’s not going to happen.

Sasha asks if Olivia wants her to help interview potential cooks, but Olivia says, no. She wants Sasha to be the new cook. Sasha says, her? and Olivia says, yes. Sasha says, that’s her second job offer today. Olivia says, what? and Sasha says, never mind. Olivia says, here’s what she needs. She needs someone to do breakfast, lunches, including school lunches for the endless parade of kids going through that house, and dinners on weeknights. She’ll do dinners on weekends and any other time she wants, but she promises to give Sasha a proper heads up. She knows cooking for the Quartermaines isn’t the same as cooking for herself, but she promises everyone will be very patient with Sasha while she gets used to the job. So what does she think? She knows it’s a lot to take in. Sasha says, it is. She never thought she would end up in a kitchen again. Olivia says, again?

Nina says, there’s an electrical problem in her office, and Carly says, really? They can’t have that. What kind of an electrical problem? Nina says, they’ve been experiencing random surges, and Carly says, has she? That’s terrible. Nina says, and it’s been happening more and more frequently, and Carly says, funny. That never used to happen since the emergency maintenance crew was ordered for no apparent reason. (So much for Carly saying she didn’t want to hurt Nina anymore.) Nina says, the reason was flooding, and Carly says, yet nothing was wet. But Nina is having an electrical issue, so she’s going to hire the contractors Nina used since she liked their workmanship so much. Nina says, great. As long as the problem is addressed. And one more thing. Jason may have bought the MetroCourt back for Carly, but the person she should really be thanking is Ava.

Laura says she doesn’t see how trying to tell Sonny the truth means she’s turned against him, and he says, okay, fine. She wants the truth? She tells him that she’s just saying that’s the least he owes his kids, and he asks if she tells her kids the truth about everything. She says, the important things, she really tries, and he tells her, let’s say Donna and Avery come to him one day and they say, dad, why’d you beat that guy up? He’s going to say that he lost his temper. He had his reasons, but he regrets his actions. Is that okay? She says, it’s just that she hasn’t seen any evidence of that regret, and he says, they both know Cyrus is not a victim. Laura says she knows what Cyrus is capable of, and Sonny says, that’s the thing. He doesn’t think she does. Cyrus belongs in prison until he meets his Maker. She asks if he really thinks he’s in a position to judge who deserves to be behind bars and who doesn’t, and he asks, since when does she care about Cyrus? He’s been her brother for what, five minutes? She says, it’s because of what Sonny did to him, and Sonny says he and Laura are family. They’re blood. They’re connected through Spencer and Rocco. She says she knows that’s true, but that has nothing to do with this. He says he doesn’t even know what they’re talking about, and she says, what they’re talking about is a lifetime of crime and violence that she’s looked past time and time again. And she can’t do it anymore. She just can’t. Okay? And she can’t turn a blind eye anymore to his business, the things that he’s done, the crime, the people he’s hurt… the people he’s killed. Ava continues to listen, and Laura says, putting a wing on the hospital and donating art to the city doesn’t just make all of that go away. They still happened. They’re still there. They matter. It doesn’t just disappear because he did his daily good deed. (What’s bothering me about this storyline is, aside from nearly everyone turning on Sonny without even giving him a heads up, he’s not behaving normally. Even his physical movements aren’t the usual. How come no one is noticing?)

Carly asks what Ava has to do with Jason buying the MetroCourt, and Nina says she didn’t accept the offer right away. She talked it over with Ava first. Ava led her to believe Sonny would like it if she sold the MetroCourt to his best friend. Carly says, Ava sandbagged Nina. Ava was standing right there when Sonny called Jason a traitor and threw them both out of the penthouse. Nina says she figured it out. After the deal was done. Too late to change her mind. Carly says, it’s a pattern with Ava. She uses people until they’re no longer useful. That’s what she did with Carly’s son. In the end, all Ava cares about is getting what she wants. Nina says, in Ava’s defense, not everyone has a Jason to get her what she wants (I wish I did <heaving Jason sigh>), like losing a hotel fair and square. So much for Carly earning the MetroCourt back on her own.

Finn stops by Alexis’s office and asks if it’s a bad time. She says she hopes so. If not, she’ll have nothing to report. He says he’s sorry to bother her at work. He was on his way to a meeting and he just… She asks, what’s going on? and he says his father had a seizure last night. She says, no, and he says, it resulted in temporary paralysis. He’s okay. Alexis tells him to sit, and he says, when he walked in and saw him lying there, unable to move, and Violet beside him, terrified, not knowing what was going on… Alexis asks if she’s okay, and he says he thinks seeing her grandfather collapse… and after lying there, she had to run and get his ventilator. He thinks it’s something she’ll never forget, but right now she’s as good as can be expected. She says, how is Gregory? and he says, his ALS is progressing rapidly, but his dad… He gets it. His dad wants to be independent. He wants to make up for all those risks he never got to take in life. Jumping out of airplanes and whatever it is that makes him feel alive, but… He talked to Gregory today, and he told Gregory that he thinks they need to get some sort of in-home help for when he’s not there, and his dad flat-out refused and they had this big argument. Alexis says she’s sorry. She’s not shocked, but she is sorry. He says him too. He gets it and he’s trying to do everything he can to support him, but this time he’s going to have to put his daughter first.

Gregory tells Tracy, the day is coming when he’ll be completely helpless, and he’ll need people taking care of his every need and every bodily function, watching over him all the time, every single moment, but he’s not there yet. She says, he’s not far from it, and he says, thank you. Why is it such a sin for him to hold on to what little autonomy he can for as long as he can? She says, it‘s not, and he says, she’s being very agreeable, and he finds it suspect. She laughs and says, he has every right to hold on to his autonomy for as long as he possibly can. He says, thank you? and she says, just as Finn has every right to have a safe emotional environment for his daughter. He can’t risk Violet finding Gregory if he’s unable to move. Or worse. He says, she’s not telling him anything Finn hasn’t already told him already, and she says, then she assumes Finn’s already asked him the obvious question. He says, what question is that? and she says, what is more important to him, his pride or his granddaughter’s well-being?

Sonny asks Laura what he’s supposed to do. Confess to everything he’s been accused of? She says, that depends. How many of the things he’s accused of are true? He says he’s done far less than Cyrus, and she says, but Cyrus’s crimes don’t absolve his. Sonny says, Cyrus held her at gunpoint and he’s the bad guy? and she says she’s sorry. She thinks there are two bad guys. He says he does everything he can to protect his business, his family, and everybody he cares about, and that includes her. Does she know why? She says, why? and he says, so the bad guys don’t come after her. (He doesn’t even look good. He has giant circles under his eyes.) She says, being a good man when you’re not committing a crime, doesn’t absolve him from the times he does commit a crime. And being really good at covering up his tracks doesn’t make him less guilty. He rubs his forehead, and she says, at some point he has to be held accountable. He says, by who? and she says, think of his children, okay? His little girls, Donna and Avery. What’s going to happen when they’re old enough to figure out what their father does for a living? And they will. He’s not going to be able to keep that from them. What is he going to say? He says he’s going to do what he always does. He’s going to do everything in his power to protect them. She says she knows he will, but who’s going to protect them from him?

Sasha says she worked as a line cook and a part-time chef for a few summers in the Hamptons, and Olivia says, it was meant to be. Sasha says she was never the head chef. She was the substitute sous chef when the real chef was out. Olivia says, she worked in a busy restaurant. Cooking for the Quartermaines is going to be a piece of cake. An overly ornate five-tier pain in the butt piece of cake, but still, it’s a piece of cake. Sasha says, this is really flattering, but is Olivia sure she wants to offer her a job based on one shepherd’s pie? Olivia says, she loves to cook. She’s a great cook. They need a cook. Oliva says, it’s a match made in heaven. Or an opening in the universe, depending on your spiritual beliefs. Not to mention the fact that Cody shows up for dinner several nights a week. She’s sure he wouldn’t mind having Sasha around.

Finn asks Alexis to tell him if he’s wrong. Tell him that he shouldn’t just give into his father and give him everything he wants. She says she can’t tell him that, and he says he wants to give him everything he wants. Go parasailing. Go get shot out of a cannon. Go out in space and see the earth from orbit. Do all the things. He’ll do them with his dad, but he doesn’t think his dad can do those things right now, so shouldn’t he give in and give him this one thing? Alexis says, maybe. It’s certainly worth trying to talk to him again, but she doesn’t know that he’s going to end up with different results. He says, she’s right. He’s going to go back and talk to him. She says she thought he was going to a meeting, but he says he can do that later. She says, when the oxygen mask drops from a plane, what do you do? and he says, you put your mask on first, but this… She says, this is the same thing. This is as challenging as it gets. And in order for him to navigate through this, he’s going to have to take care of himself, which means taking care of his sobriety. He says he knows what she’s saying. He gets it. But in this moment, he just feels so selfish. She says, then be selfish. Can his dad wait for an hour for him to go to a meeting? He says he’s not sure, and she says, what do the doctors think? He says, probably. He doesn’t know. She says she understands that his father needs to hold on to his autonomy for as long as he can, but she also knows there’s nothing more important to him than Violet.

Gregory tells Tracy that he never wants Violet to be afraid the way she was last night. He was scared too. When something like that happens, you never know when it’s going to end, if ever. But when he was trying to stay calm, the worst part was knowing he couldn’t comfort his granddaughter. She asks how he thinks Violet felt, not being able to comfort him, and he says he understands what she’s saying, but she and Finn need to understand what he’s saying. She says, okay. There is another solution. He says, great. He’s all ears. She says, first, he has to decide what’s most important to him. If it is in fact spending the time he has left with Finn and Violet here in their home, then he has to abide by Finn’s wishes. But if his independence is his top priority, then he simply moved in to an assisted living facility – Turning Woods is supposed to be really nice – and he can have Violet visit him there.

Laura says she didn’t intend for them to have this conversation here today, and she mean for it to go like this either. She hopes Sonny will take some of this to heart. Please. Just think about it. Just think about doing the right thing. He doesn’t say anything, and she says, at any rate, the City of Port Charles will not be accepting his donation of art. Not while she’s the mayor. She walks out, and Ava walks in, since she didn’t have far to go. She asks, what happened to Laura?

Alexis tells Finn to take the time and go to his meeting to give his dad some time to think things through. When Finn talks to him again, tell him that he and Chase and Violet are worried about him and want someone to take care of him when Finn can’t be there. And she thinks sooner rather than later, he will see Finn’s wisdom. Finn says, here’s hoping, and she says, and whether he does or not, he can’t take care of his family until he takes care of himself first. He says, that’s good advice, and she says she’s good. in fact, she’s so good, she’s going to follow her own advice. Would he like company at his meeting? He says he’d love it.

Gregory says, she’s good, and Tracy says he’s going to have to narrow that down a little bit. He says, the art of persuasion, and she says, oh, that. He says, obviously if he has to choose between Turning Woods and here, even with a caregiver, of course (🍷) he chooses here. She says, that’s not persuasion, that’s just common sense. And by the way, if she were in his shoes, she’d be handling this much, much worse. She wouldn’t sit for it. She wouldn’t stay. She’d run away to the far corners of the earth where her family couldn’t find her to help her, to care for her. And no matter how miserable and lonely she got, she’d still have her dignity and her freedom, and have no one to share it with. But luckily, you my friend, are so much smarter than I am. He says, she’s the smartest woman he knows.

Sasha tells Olivia that she can’t say it isn’t tempting. She left Deception because she wasn’t satisfied there anymore. She wanted something completely different from what she was doing, and working as a chef at the Quartermaines would definitely be different. Olivia says she doesn’t want to pressure Sasha, and Sasha says, of course (🍷) not. Olivia says, but she would be remiss in not telling Sasha that it’s a live-in position, which means she’d get free room and board in a beautiful mansion with all meals included. Sasha says, so she’d get to eat what she makes, but Olivia says, better. Sasha gets to eat what she makes. And get paid for it. Come on. What does she say? Sasha tells her, she says, that’s exactly what she needs right now.

Carly says, other than fixing the electrical issues Nina brought on herself, is there anything else she can do for Nina? (I’m all about their outfits today. Kudos to wardrobe.) Nina says she might as well just tell Carly. She signed the divorce papers. She and Sonny are no longer married. But Ava is closer to him than ever. From one ex-wife to another, she doesn’t think Ava is good for Sonny. In fact, she thinks Ava could be toxic for him. Carly says she doesn’t agree with Nina on much, but she does agree with her there.

Sonny tells Ava that Laura didn’t want his gift to the city, and she says she was surprised by Laura’s reaction at first, but she thought he could talk her into it. Public art benefits everybody. He says he guesses not when it comes from the wrong person, and she asks, since when is he the wrong person? He’s been unfailingly generous to the City of Port Charles. There are wings in the hospital and playgrounds in the park because of him. He says, it doesn’t matter to Laura. She can’t get past what he did to Cyrus. She asks if Laura knows that Cyrus provoked him. That he orchestrated his own beating? It wasn’t Sonny’s fault. He says, Laura thinks it was. He owned up to it, and now she wants to punish him. He’s been good to Laura for so many years, and he thought she was loyal to him, but he guesses not.

On Monday, Michael asks, what’s with this mystery meeting; Nikolas asks if Ava is in love with Sonny; Valentin says, Anna is not going to be a problem; and Anna tells Jason that he’s putting this entire investigation at risk.

🧴 No Suds Left Behind…

IMO, the best of the Nikolases.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/adam-huss-returns-to-general-hospital-2

A confirmation of yesterday’s news from a different source. Mostly the same info, but I thought it was weird how he looks like Jim Parsons in the photo.

https://ew.com/nicholas-alexander-chavez-not-returning-to-general-hospital-8639347

He’s got the all-clear on his health report card.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-cameron-mathison-shares-a-cancer-update

I’d rather see him back on GH, but I’ll take it. It’s good to see him back in the game.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jack-wagner-on-joining-the-new-melrose-place

🏄 Speaking Of That Place…

Rebooting her rep.

🧂 Needs More Salt…

It is kind of disappointing. On all fronts.

Cringe, but what do they expect from this one?

It’s all good. Until next time.

I actually thought they made a pretty good couple.

🍹 Bless Their Hearts…

This was a little short on info, but where Craig will land is anybody’s guess.

🩰 Dance Like Everyone’s Watching…

The Reunion scuttlebutt as seen through JoJo’s eyes.

https://www.etonline.com/dance-moms-the-reunion-jojo-siwa-defends-abby-lee-millers-behavior-to-co-stars-223989

https://www.etonline.com/dance-moms-the-reunion-jojo-siwa-defends-abby-lee-millers-behavior-to-co-stars-223989

🌁 Falling Further…

I’m obsessed with this show. The attention to detail was just amazing.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-worldbuilding-production-designer-costume-designer-interview

The soundtrack was impressive as well.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/ramin-djawadi-interview-fallout-house-of-the-dragon-iron-man

This makes me want to play the game. So far, I’ve been strong.

https://www.inverse.com/gaming/fallout-amazon-characters-stupd

🐎 You Too Can Dress Like Delores…

Looks like the future of Westworld is up in the air, but you can own a piece of it.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/westworld-auction-season-5-canceled

🐕 Milking His 15 Minutes…

This good boy is not giving up his seat that easy.

https://people.com/all-about-messi-oscars-dog-anatomy-of-a-fall-8607453

🦉 Quotes of the Week

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. – Richard David Bach

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. – Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Winners do things losers don’t want to do.Dr. Phil McGraw

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

To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization. – Harriet Beecher Stowe

I won’t undertake war until I have tried all the arts and means of peace. – François Rabelais

If you just go with the flow, no matter what weird things happen along the way, you always end up exactly where you belong. – Tom Upton

She is the apple that goes in the pig’s mouth. – Marie Calvet (Julia Ormond), Mad Men

A lifetime isn’t forever, so take the first chance, don’t wait for the second one! Because sometimes, there aren’t second chances! And if it turns out to be a mistake? So what! This is life! A whole bunch of mistakes! But if you never get a second chance at something you didn’t take a first chance at? That’s true failure. – C. JoyBell C.

Golden rule, motherf***er. – Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), Fallout

🐼 Leaving Them Laughing

A panda walked into a café and ordered a sandwich. He ate it and then pulled a gun out and shot the waiter. The panda then plunked a badly punctuated wildlife manual onto the table. Look me up, he growled as he walked out the door. The wounded waiter opened the book to the entry for panda. It read, Panda: Large, black and white bear-like mammal native to China. Eats, shoots & leaves.

🌸 Shine On Pink Moon…

In the next two days, do one thing you’ve never done before. Then join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and a new chef on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay never reaching past someone without saying excuse me, and stay putting on your own oxygen mask first.