Tag Archives: Ariana Grande

October 24, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Pays Ronnie a Visit, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watching Soon, A Rarity, An Ending, Spooky Viewing, All Dressed Up Plus a PSA, One Dozen Quotes & A Thrill

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What I Watched Today

(Weekday bites, Friday’s whole GH enchilada & media minutiae)

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                           

Monday:

Carly had wine with Jack and asked how his business trip was, even though the moss bowl🎍was probably more interested than she was. He told her about Charlotte’s visit with her father, and she said she hoped he got what he wanted from Valentin. He said he didn’t see the flowers he’d sent, and she said she had to throw them out.

Marco told Nathan that the arraignment was going to be handled by ADA Lansing-Davis. Marco saw Molly come in and went to talk to her.

Nina was brought into the courtroom and hugged Nathan. Willow was brought in, and she stared at Nina.

Michael asked why Dante thought he’d framed Willow. Dante said his grandfather’s gun had been found at Elizabeth’s and Willow said he put it there.

At the tea party, Olivia introduced Lucy to Ronnie, and Lucy immediately gave Ronnie a real estate spiel and her card, but Olivia intercepted it and said it wasn’t a business meeting. They were hoping Ronnie would make Port Charles her permanent home. Lucy said she was also the town historian. Ask her anything. Fun fact. This used to be her house when she married Monica’s husband Alan.

Tracy told Brook that she was glad to throw the party for Ronnie. What better way to demonstrate that she didn’t belong and never would?

Portia saw Elizabeth outside the Quartermaines and said she wasn’t just having morning sickness in the morning. Elizabeth asked if she told Curtis, but Portia said she wasn’t going to until she knew for sure he was the father. They went inside and Stella greeted them. Elizabeth asked, how’s the vibe? and Stella said there were a lot of ladies, tea, and tons of finger food. She hoped they were hungry.

Olivia introduced Felicia to Ronnie and said she was an Aztec princess. Ronnie curtsied, but Felicia said she gave up the title a long time ago. Tracy laughed, and Brook told her not to be mean. She suggested Tracy welcome Ronnie.

Jack asked why Carly threw out the flowers, and Carly flashed back to smashing the vase. She said they’d slipped out of her hands and shattered, and it seemed best to throw them out. He said he was afraid she was still mad about Josslyn and Vaughn, and she said he wasn’t wrong about that.

The judge said, first up, was The People vs Willow Tate, and Willow said she thought she and Nina were going to be charged together. Willow pled not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, and they moved on to bail. Molly said Willow had a history of erratic behavior and her mother had ample means to spirit her away, but Martin said that was absurd. Willow had strong ties to the community, was a nurse, and had two children in Port Charles. She had no criminal history and the victim was there in support of her. But the judge agreed she was a definite flight risk and bail was denied.

Martin saw Lulu in the hallway, and she said she’d been covering for someone from the Port Charles Press. They’d arrived and she had to go to a tea party to meet Monica’s long lost sister. They’d been estranged, but Monica left the house and most of the estate to her. Martin said it must have made Tracy furious and that made him happy, and Lulu left for the party.

Ronnie met Portia, and Tracy told Stella that she was staying out of the way in case she got blamed for stirring the pot. Stella said she took it that Tracy wasn’t a fan, and Tracy asked, what’s not to like about a gold digging grifter? Stella said there still might be trouble. Portia and Jordan were in the same room and on the brink of open warfare. Tracy said as long as Brook couldn’t blame her.

Ronnie said Jordan was absolutely stunning (truth!) and wondered why she was single – not that there was anything wrong with that. Jordan said she’d been focused on her career, and Portia said she had a hunch Jordan wouldn’t be single long. She asked Brook if there was herbal or decaf tea and Brook went to get it.

Jack said he knew something was off, and Carly said she’d been struggling. He said he thought she understood he had no choice, and she said she thought she did, but had time to think about it. Did she really want to be with someone who was basically required to keep things from her, even if they involved the people she loved? He asked if she was ending things.

Nina said she felt terrible, but Nathan said there was nothing she could do. Focus on her own situation. Was she going to take the plea deal?

Drew wondered what the judge was thinking, and Martin said Willow would be transported to Pentenville as soon as Nina was arraigned. His hands were tied. He had to leave and suggested Willow get a lawyer to represent her at trial. He was already representing Drew, and she needed an actual criminal defense attorney, a damn good one.

On the patio, Dante told Michael that he wasn’t there as a cop, but convince him that he didn’t shoot Drew. Michael said the police had evidence that proved Willow was guilty, and Dante said Michael wasn’t there when Chase and Anna came back with the second warrant. Where did he go? Willow said he was in Elizabeth’s house. Michael said Elizabeth told him that he could wait, and Dante said he had ample opportunity to plant the gun. Michael said he didn’t. He wanted to talk to Willow about family therapy. He’d noticed that the visitation hearing was moved to January, and it was too long for the kids to go without seeing their mom. If he framed Willow, that meant he shot Drew. Did Dante think he could? Dante said between Michael and Willow, Michael had the stronger motive.

Carly said, when they met, she and Jack had an easy rapport, even though he’d been keeping secrets from her, big ones. She came to him for help with Lucky and he called in an air strike. He said he knew how important she was to him even thin, more than any woman had ever been. He’d do anything for her. She asked how he could keep her in the dark about daughter.

Felicia said Stella took no guff from difficult patients, and Ronnie said she had her share of nasty customers at the diner. Stella said she had the feeling Ronnie wasn’t a guff taker either, and Ronnie said, nope. Tracy said, et tu, Stella?

Martin found Lulu in the foyer and said she left her phone at the courthouse, but she said it wasn’t hers. She had it in her bag. He was about to leave, when Stella told them to come in and meet Monica’s sister.

Michael told Dante that Willow had every reason to shoot Drew. He’d lied to her from the beginning and slept with her mother. Dante said they’d reconciled, but Michael said maybe she had second thoughts. Dante said Michael and Drew were at odds. Drew blew up Michael’s family and was trying to get his kid, and Michael had a history of violence. Michale said he was protecting his mom and sister, and Dante said they would still use it against him. He should turn himself in. Michael said Dante gave him the same advice last time, and even though he was under 18, he was sentenced as an adult and went to Pentenville. Why would he ever take Dante’s advice again?

The judge called The People vs Nina Reeves. The charge was conspiracy to commit murder, and she asked how Nina pled. Molly said the prosecution was amending the charge to making a false statement, and Nina pled guilty. Willow asked Martin what Nina was doing.

Jack said when he and Carly started getting serious, they discussed parameters and he was clear about his work. Carly said they’d been through so much since then and she learned to trust him. She was convinced he’d never do anything to hurt her, but he did. Nothing was more important to her than her kids and he knew that, but he let Josslyn be pulled into his world and said nothing. Why didn’t he tell her that Josslyn was in danger?

Martin met Ronnie and explained he was a party crasher. He’d thought his niece left her phone at Willow’s arraignment. Stella asked how it went, but he said, not well, and Lucy asked if it was true that the gun was found in Elizabeth’s house. Elizabeth said, unfortunately, yes, and Lucy asked if she thought Willow was capable of shooting Drew. Tracy said she thought Willow would be a poisoner, but she must have thought that took too long, and Elizabeth said it wasn’t the time or place for gossip. Lucy said, it was merely conversation, and Lulu offered Portia some finger food. Elizabeth intercepted the tray and said she’d see if the other guests wanted some, and Portia looked sick. Jordan looked at Portia.

Dante said he’d never forgive himself for the part he played in Michael going to prison, but Michael said he shouldn’t have brought it up. Sorry. Dante said, don’t apologize. He knew that and wasn’t trying to upset Michael or make Michael think he didn’t believe in him, but since he’d been back from Germany, Dante had seen a different side. Michael always had the ruthless thing going on, but seemed harder and colder. Michael asked if Dante could blame him, and Dante said he couldn’t, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t worry or wonder what Michael was capable of. Maybe shooting his uncle in cold blood.

Stella told Ronnie that everything in the house told a story, and Ronnie said, if the walls could talk. Stella said she was sure the Quartermaines were happy they didn’t, and Ronnie said she got the sense that when the Quartermaines were quiet, that’s when you had to worry. Stella said it didn’t take Ronnie long to figure them out, when Martin said he was going to get while the gettin’ was good. Stella walked him out while Ronnie sipped her tea.  

Molly said the DA’s office had a plea deal that they were ready to present. In exchange for Nina pleading guilty, she’d get probation for one year and a $10,000 fine. Willow said Nina was recanting and helping the DA to save herself, and Drew yelled, bitch! How could she do this to her own daughter? The judge banged her gavel.

Jack said he didn’t tell Carly because there was nothing to tell. Josslyn was unwittingly dating an agent, but she was never Vaughn’s target or part of his mission. She was never in any danger, but he could understand why Carly was angry. Carly said it was a betrayal like no other, and he said he hated that and felt worse because he caused it. He cared about her and couldn’t lose her. Please tell him that he hadn’t. She asked him to promise one thing, and he said he’d try. She said she knew Vaughn and Josslyn broke up, so it wasn’t an issue, but in the future, if he found out Josslyn was at risk, promise he’d tell her. He promised, and she said he hadn’t lost her. She kissed him and he said, thank God. Did she want to have dinner with him tonight? She said she had a girls’ night with Donna, and he said he couldn’t beat that offer. She suggested a raincheck, and he said, absolutely, as long as they were really okay. She said they were, and he said he didn’t know how it happened, but she was his whole world. She said she felt the same, and he left.

The judge shouted for order, and Drew said Nina backstabbed her own daughter. He hoped she felt good about it. The judge said, another outburst, and she’d have him removed. Molly said Nina had signed a sworn statement, but needed to recant vocally on record. Nina asked if it was really necessary, and Nathan said she had to, for her sake and Willow’s. Nina said, on the night of September 2nd, 2025, between 9 pm and 10:33 pm, she was in her apartment at 979 Carlyle, alone. She didn’t see her daughter until later at General Hospital after Congressman Cain was shot. Willow began to cry.

Michael said if that’s how Dante thought of him, how could he stand to be in the same room? and Dante said he couldn’t ignore what he’d seen. Before the accident, Michael let Willow take the kids. Michael said Dante was ignoring what Willow had done while he was gone and was condemning him, and Dante said the old Michael was more compassionate. Michael said Willow proved herself unfit in his absence and stalked Daisy, but Dante said he didn’t have any proof that Willow targeted Daisy. Maybe he was framing her for that. Michael said he sent his newborn to another continent. Did Dante think he’d do that if he didn’t believe she was in danger? She was growing up without him. Every time Daisy’s mom sent a picture, it was like a knife in his heart. Dante said if he was so sure it was Willow, bring Daisy back, and Michael said he’d love to, but as Dante said, he had no proof. He wasn’t risking Daisy’s life like that. Even if Willow hadn’t been the one targeting Daisy, it wouldn’t matter. He could still prove his children weren’t safe with her. Dante said Willow loved those kids. She loved Wiley like her own. Michael said, letting her adopt Wiley was his first mistake. Wiley was scared and confused because of Willow. Her needs and feelings came first, even if it hurt her children. No more. Dante said it was all just a shame, and Michael said, like Dante told him, he’d changed, and so had Willow. She’d been in a downward spiral for a while. If Dante didn’t think she was capable of putting a bullet in Drew’s back, he was grossly underestimating her.

Olivia insisted that Portia try a stuffed mushroom, and Portia ate one. She said it was so good, then dashed out. Jordan followed.  

Lucy said the house was so beautiful, but felt stuffy, and Ronnie said when she fits got there, she couldn’t tell the difference between the crypt and the main house. Lulu told Lucy that she thought Ronnie had something stronger in her tea, and Lucy said they were going to grab a water for her. Ronnie said, sounds good, and Olivia asked how she was feeling. Ronnie said, good, so good, and Olivia said she knew it was a lot. Maybe Ronnie should lie down for a little bit. Ronnie said, why? They were in the middle of a party. Besides, things are gonna get fun now. She tapped on the teapot with a metal utensil, and asked, who wanted to cut loose and have fun? They could start with the music and play something less snoozy. Who was in charge of the music? She banged on the teapot again, and Tracy said, stop banging. That was her mother’s teapot, and Ronnie could break it. Ronnie said, who cares? It wasn’t a museum. It was a home, and it was her home. She laughed and said, so, ladies, please. In her home feel free to let their hair down and just do whatever they want to do. Kick off their shoes and take off whatever they wanted. She sat on the couch, took off her shoes, and said, that’s better. She put her feet up on the coffee table.

Carly called Spinelli and said she needed his help. But if he did this, he couldn’t tell anyone, not even Jason… Yes, it was that important. Please. She didn’t have anyone else to turn to… She thanked him and said she appreciated this. He needed to create a new identity for her, starting with a fake passport with a digital trail that could stand up to an extreme background check. Can he do that, please?… Don’t ask. Just make it good.

The judge said Nina was free to go. Arrangements were being made to transfer Willow to Pentenville. Willow said, this can’t be happening. It’s not fair. Nina forced her to lie. It was Nina’s idea. Nina said she was trying to help Willow, and Willow said she was going to prison because of Nina’s help. Nina said she’d explain later, but Willow said, don’t bother. It won’t matter. She hated Nina for this. Leave her alone. She was innocent and Nina should be behind bars. Drew had to help her. He said he promised, and as she was taken away, Willow said, he promised.

Dante said Michael would do anything for his kids, wouldn’t he? and Michael said he thought he knew what Dante was getting to. He was going to ask if Michael would kill for them. The answer was yes, but he thought Dante would say the same thing. Dante said it sounded like Michael would have no problem framing Willow – Lucy and Lulu almost walked in, but listened from the hallway – and Michael said if he’d shot Drew, Drew would be dead. He wished he had framed Willow. He’d make damn sure she was guilty and his children would never have to see her again. Lucy looked at Lulu.

In the foyer, Jordan asked if Portia felt better, but Portia said she felt fine. Jordan said she saw Portia run out and she seemed nauseous, but Portia said she was perfectly fine. Jordan said Portia was pregnant, wasn’t she?

Tracy said Ronnie was clearly inebriated, but Ronnie said she was relaxed. Had Tracy ever in her whole life been relaxed one time? Tracy said, not recently. She wasn’t surprised that Ronnie had a drinking problem. Ronnie said she did not have a drinking problem, but Tracy had a problem, a big problem. Did Tracy want to hear what it was? Felicia said this wasn’t going to end well, and Elizabeth said, but she couldn’t look away. Ronnie said she’d tell Tracy anyway, and Tracy said, of course (🍷). Ronnie said Tracy was uptight, frigid, and completely undersexed. She needed to go out and find herself a debaucherous, degenerate guy to take care of them for her. Stella dropped her cup and it shattered on the floor, and Ronnie laughed, flopping onto the sofa.

Tuesday:

Drew walked into Alexis’s house and said he was making her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Kai met Curtis at Bobbie’s and said he was getting back Trina’s trust. Curtis said that would make it easier for him to ask this.

Trina and Josslyn were at the Brown Dog Bar and Josslyn said she sensed something was weighing on Trina. She was here for Trina, always. Trina said her parents were getting a divorce.

Portia said she wasn’t pregnant, but Jordan listed everything pointing to it. She asked if Curtis knew.

Tracy asked Ronnie to repeat what she’d said, but Olivia thought they got the gist. She left to get coffee, water, or anything, and Brook suggested Tracy go out for some fresh air. Ronnie said Tracy was full of hot air, and Tracy said Ronnie couldn’t speak to her like that. Ronnie said she’d speak how she wanted to in her house, and Tracy said she was three sheets to the wind. She took flowers out of a vase and was about to throw the water on Ronnie, and Ronnie said, don’t you dare.

Trina told Josslyn about Portia altering Heather’s test results. Somehow Drew found out and had been blackmailing her parents. Josslyn said there wasn’t a hole deep enough for Drew to fall into, and Trina blamed herself, but Josslyn said none of it was her fault and there was nothing she could have done to change it. Trina flashed back to telling Kai that she wished she could let them know the evidence was gone, and told Josslyn that she might have one thing that would turn it around.

Lulu came into Bobbie’s and told Curtis that she was pursuing a lead. Curtis introduced her to Kai, and she said she had a new angle on the Congressman Cain shooting. Curtis said when she was ready, he hoped she brought her article to Aurora first.

Felicia told Tracy, put the vase down, and Tracy said it wasn’t worth ruining. Ronnie said Tracy was mean spirited and abruptly sat down, saying the room was spinning. Olivia gave her water, and Tracy said she thought the party was over. Brook wanted everyone to meet Ronnie, and they did. She was a sloppy drunk who used alcohol to give her a personality. Stella said, enough, and Tracy said she was just trying to sober Ronnie up. They could all agree Ronnie Bard in this house was an insult to the Quartermaine family.

Portia said she didn’t have to answer Jordan’s questions and told her to back off. Jordan said she couldn’t pretend not to see what she saw, and Portia said, then don’t pretend. Mind her own damn business. Portia left, and Jordan called Anna. She said she was sending out the bat signal. Meet her at the Brown Dog.

Drew told Alexis that Willow was charged with premeditated murder because Nina lied, giving her fake alibi that she went along with because she thought Nina was guilty. ADA Turner made a deal Nina in exchange for recanting the alibi. Alexis said she didn’t see what this had to do with her, and Drew said Willow had been sent to Pentenville, and Alexis said that was the risk you took when you shot someone, but Drew said Willow was innocent. Michael planted the gun in her things. She didn’t have a lawyer and needed the best. He’d double Alexis’s retainer. Alexis said, absolutely not. It was never going to happen.

Curtis told Kai that he and Portia were filing for divorce. Trina had been blindsided and he was worried she’d need support. Kai said he’d do everything he could to help her get through, and Curtis said he didn’t want her to feel like she had to take sides.

Josslyn told Trina that it sounded like other things were going on, but the blackmail didn’t help. Relationships were hard and sometimes things just didn’t work out.

Anna had a glass of wine waiting for Jordan, and Jordan said she’d just found out Portia was lying to Curtis – again.

Portia saw Isaiah at the hospital and said she’d just been at a tea party from hell.

Ronnie said the room was still spinning, and Elizabeth asked if she was on any medication. Ronnie said, no, and she hadn’t had one drop of alcohol. She wasn’t drunk. They could check her tea. Felicia sniffed the cup and said, no alcohol, and Tracy said, that’s what alcoholics did – deny. Ronnie said she wasn’t drunk and had no idea what happ… Oh wait a minute. Somebody slipped her a micky.

Drew asked why Alexis didn’t want to defend Willow. Michael separated her from her kids and wasn’t it Alexis’s duty as an officer of the court to make sure justice prevailed? Alexis said she couldn’t believe his audacity when he’d kept Scout from her family. She felt sorry for Willow. Because of his selfishness and bad advice, she’d been influenced into making bad decisions, but that was on them. She didn’t want to deal with him in this mess even if he tripled her retainer. He said he had something even more valuable.

Jordan said Curtis held on to the bitter end and finally said it was over, and Anna said she wasn’t surprised. Jordan said they were filing for divorce and now this, and Anna asked what Portia was lying about. Jordan said Portia was pregnant.

Portia told Isaia that Jordan should mind her own damn business. They’d agreed to only telling Trina, but she was convinced Curtis told Jordan. Isaiah said, like she’d told him, and Portia said Curtis running to Jordan all the time made her furious, but Curtis would have custody of Jordan in the divorce and Jordan would finally leave her alone. Isaiah said he had a sure-fire way to improve her mood.

Kai said he hoped Curtis and Portia weren’t divorcing because of Drew. He knew Drew was responsible for Stella’s investigation and targeted her just to hurt Curtis. That opened his eyes to who Drew really was. He was sorry it took so long. Curtis tried to warn him, but he didn’t listen. For that, and a lot of other things, he owed Curtis an apology.

Lucas saw Lulu at Bobbie’s, and she asked him to join her. He said Elizabeth told him that there was a tea party at the Quartermaines, and he assumed she was invited. Lulu said she went briefly, and he said, tell him everything. What did Tracy do? Lulu said she wasn’t there long, but she and Lucy walked in on Michael having it out with Dante. Michael said that if he’d shot Drew, Drew would be dead, and he wished he’d framed Willow. He would have made sure she was guilty, so she never saw her children again. Lucas said, that meant Michael didn’t do it, but Lulu said Michael was so cold and calculating. He was too smart to tell a cop that he did it, but she was convinced Michael was capable of shooting Drew and framing Willow. Lucas said he thought she liked Michael, and she said, of course (🍷) she did, but who was more likely to shoot Drew in the back, Willow or Michael? Lucas said, in his opinion, Willow was more capable of violence than most people thought.

Tracy said, someone drugged Ronnie? Ridiculous. Ronnie said she’d been a waitress all of her life, and before that, she served cocktails. She learned to tell the difference between someone being drunk and someone who’d had something slipped in their drink. The drugged ones always said the same thing. They felt free, detached from their bodies like they were outside, seeing everything that was happening. That’s exactly how she felt now, like her mind was wrapped in cotton. Tracy said, drop the victim act and sleep it off, and Ronnie said she wasn’t drunk, but Tracy was working hard to convince everybody she was. Somebody wanted to humiliate her, and Tracy was the only person miserable enough to have done it and drugged her.

Anna asked if Jordan thought Curtis would stay with Portia because of the baby, and Jordan said Curtis didn’t get to raise Trina. It looked like Portia found another way to hang onto him. Anna said, then why hadn’t Portia told him that she was pregnant?

Isaiah said the renovations on his cabin were done and it looked amazing. It was the perfect weekend getaway for him and Portia. They could go on a day trip to the village, hold hands, and stroll. No one would know them or care. They could make a fire and open up a bottle of wine, and he might be persuaded to make his famous three-cheese omelet and serve her breakfast in bed. Portia said she’d love that, but wasn’t sure right now was the best time to get away together. He said if she needed to get away and be alone, he could give her the key, and she said, he’d give up his cabin time for her? He said, if she needed it, nothing would make him happier, but she said she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to spend time with him. They kissed.

Curtis told Kai that he knew how easy it was to fall for Drew’s lies. Drew fooled him. He’d considered Drew a good friend until he saw Drew’s true colors. He’s glad Kai wasn’t taken in. Kai said he could barely look at Drew. He was ready to resign, but then Drew was shot. Was it wrong of him to keep working for someone he had zero respect for?

Lucas told Lulu that Willow needed to be a mom. She was consumed with it and blind to everything else. She needed to be with Wiley and Amelia regardless of what was best for them. Lulu said Willow thought she was what was best for them, and Lucas said she was delusional. The things she’d done to the kids were not okay just because as a mommy she decided they were. She wasn’t thinking like a mentally healthy person or a good mom. Lulu said she couldn’t disagree, and Lucas said Willow blamed Drew for not getting visitation and sleeping with her mom when he was seducing her away from Michael. As a mom, it was enough of a motive for her to shoot Drew. She was unwell and Lulu should think twice about going after Michael in the press. Carly would never forgive her, and she’d be helping a guilty woman go free.

Drew said he’d life the restraining order on Alexis and she could spend time with Scout if she agreed to defend Willow, and Alexis said he was going to use that sweet little girl as a bargaining chip? That was the textbook definition of extortion. He’d denied Scout’s family access to a child who loved and needed them and was using it to dangle in front of her so she’d do what he wanted. He didn’t care about what was good for Scout. He only cared about what was good for him. He asked what she thought Sam would want her to do.

Brook said Tracy wanted to prove Ronnie didn’t belong and spiked her tea to make sure that would happen. Tracy said she would never, and Olivia laughed. She said they all knew Tracy got Alexis drunk, then framed her for drunk driving, and Ronnie said, that’s horrible. Tracy did that to someone else? Tracy said she did not drug Ronnie, and Ronnie said she had it with Tracy. Tracy had a lot to say today. Now shut up and let her have her turn.

Lulu told Lucas that she was just trying to report the facts. She couldn’t keep the facts from the public because Carly would be upset. Whoever shot Drew needed to be brought to justice. Lucas agreed, and she said, what if the PCPD had the wrong person in custody? Lucas said Michael was a good man, and Lulu said, so was Sonny, but he could also be completely ruthless at heart. Michael was like his father.

Alexis said she couldn’t believe Drew brought Sam into it, and he asked how many times she’d criticized what he was doing and used Sam. How would Sam feel if she rejected the opportunity to spend time with Scout? Alexis said she hated him, and he said all he was asking was for her to do her job defending an innocent woman. She said that’s why she didn’t want to take the case. He’d do anything to get what he wanted and she refused to be part of it. He said she wouldn’t be dealing with him at all. Willow would call all the shots. She said, fine. She’d take the case. On one condition.

Jordan told Anna that she couldn’t say for sure if Curtis knew, and Anna asked if she thought it was possible Portia didn’t want the baby. Jordan said she had no idea, but it could definitely be the reason she was keeping the pregnancy a secret. Portia was doing what she wanted and not thinking about Curtis’s feelings. Should she?

Kai told Curtis that he liked the work and made great contacts who would consider him for a job after graduation, but it wouldn’t happen if he quit. Curtis said, then stay. He wouldn’t be a hypocrite. A lot of people hated their bosses (truth!), and if he could create a brighter future, why not stay and learn what he could. But be sure to maintain his own sense of right and wrong while he does it.

Ronnie said she tried to get along with Tracy, but from the minute they met in the crypt, where she was trying to say goodbye to her sister, Tracy had been a complete witch to her. In her letters, Monica had said Tracy was mellowing over time, but if this was an improvement, she couldn’t imagine. When Monica sent her letters, she was so impressed with the life her sister had made for herself. A big house, a loving family, she thought Monica had it so damn good, but coming here and meeting Tracy and seeing her in action, she pitied Monica. She would rather be dead broke and sleeping in the streets that put up with Tracy’s nasty insults and temper tantrums. Tracy asked if everybody was just going to stand around and let Ronnie speak to her like that, and Olivia said it was Ronnie’s house. Ronnie said Tracy treated her like someone who snuck in to steal the silver. All she ever wanted was to find out more about Monica. She had no expectations when she came there other than to share stories about her sister, who she avoided most of her life because she stupidly let her angry teenage self, with her whole 16 years of life, determine how the rest of her life was going to go. For that, Tracy attacked her every time she could. Brook was kind to organize this party for her, and it meant a lot. She thanked Brook for that, but Brook’s grandmother had used her kindness to humiliate her. Tracy wasn’t just vindictive, but she was spiteful and cruel. She wasn’t putting up with it anymore. Get out of her house and don’t come back.

Trina asked if Anna would mind her talking to Jordan, and Anna said, of course (🍷) not. She left, and Trina asked if her dad told Jordan that he was getting a divorce. Jordan said, he did. She was sorry. She knew it was hard for Trina. Trina said it was, but they still loved each other. She thought they could work things out, but it couldn’t happen if Jordan didn’t keep her distance from Trina’s dad. Jordan said she and Trina’s dad had known each other a long time, and Trina said she knew, but Jordan needed to give her mom and dad the space to realize they still had so much that tied them together.

Anna sat down across from Josslyn, who said, please sit. Anna said, so Josslyn was a WSB agent, and Josslyn nearly choked on her drink. She said that conversation is not for the Brown Dog, and Anna said Josslyn needed to tell her one thing. When she was at the Five Poppies, did she hear anyone mention the name Cesar Faison? If Josslyn did, she needed to know. Josslyn said she couldn’t tell Anna that information. She wasn’t WSB anymore. Anna said no one knew Faison better than she did. If he was somehow involved in any of this, the situation was going to get very dangerous. Not just for Josslyn, but for a lot of people. Make no mistake, Josslyn was going to need her.

Isaiah asked if that was a yes to going away this weekend, and Portia said she’d absolutely love to spend time alone with him. It would give them a chance to talk about everything going on between them.

Curtis told Kai that Drew would do everything in his power to exonerate Willow. Don’t let Drew drag him into anything illegal, and if Kai needed anything, call him.

Lulu told Lucas that Michael was raised by Sonny and seen Sonny do whatever it took to get what he wanted. It had to have an effect on who Michael was as a person. Lucas said he wasn’t a fan of Sonny’s, but Carly and Monica countered his influence, and Lulu said she hoped he was right. The last thing Michael said was that he hoped Willow never saw her kids again. He seemed to justify anything he did as long as he thought he was acting in the children’s best interest. Lucas said, if that was true, heaven help the kids. Willow was the exact same way.

Alexis said she’d represent Willow if Drew lifted the restraining orders on her, Molly, Kristina, Rocco, and Danny, but Drew said, not Danny. Alexis said Scout missed her brother. She had the right to see Sam’s kids. He said Willow needed a great lawyer and he could ask another one. He would not have that hit man’s son anywhere near his daughter. She said Danny wasn’t Jason. It was ridiculous to pretend he was. Drew said he didn’t care, and Alexis asked, what the hell was wrong with him? How could he be horrible to Sam’s kid? He said it wasn’t his kid, and she said he was a petty little man. He said it was his final offer. Scout could see everyone except Danny. Alexis said she wanted to see Scout tomorrow, and he said, fine, after she met with Willow.

Tracy said Ronnie couldn’t throw her out. They were all okay with this? Olivia said she loved Tracy, but she’d been horrible since day one. Now she drugged Ronnie’s tea. Of course (🍷) Ronnie was throwing her out. She didn’t want Tracy at the MetroCourt either. Tracy said, wow. Thanks for that. She’d been kicked out of the house before, but always made it back. Why? Unlike Ronnie, she was a Quartermaine. Olivia said, don’t start, and Tracy said she couldn’t believe her own family siding with a con artist, whom she did not drug. Brook said she loved Tracy, but Tracy did it to herself, and Tracy told Ronnie that she said it herself. She walked away from Monica. And despite all the correspondence they supposedly shared, Monica didn’t want Ronnie in her life. So didn’t she think they would have met in person if Monica wanted Ronnie in her life? What was cruel was Monica giving this beautiful house to her sister in name only and leaving the woman who spent 45 years with her a jar of relish. Tracy seemed on the edge of crying and said, Ronnie wanted to know about her sister. She was never cruel. Something was very wrong here. This was not Ronnie’s house and would never be her home… but she was going to leave now and she was going to take every framed photograph of her family and every prized possession with her. She’d call for her things in the morning. She left.  

Wednesday:

Lois went to see Sonny and said she hoped he’d show her the same grace as last time. Sonny said, after he found out she’d lied to him and the family for over 20 years.

Josslyn saw Emma outside Bobbie’s and wanted to talk. Emma said it better be good.

At Bobbie’s, Gio told Ronnie that she was the first person to order tomato juice, coconut water, and hot sauce. She said it was the perfect antidote to… a tea party. Brook said breakfast was on her after the stunt Tracy pulled, and Gio asked what Tracy did now.

Tracy woke up on Lulu’s couch and suggested Charlotte and Rocco hit the mute button. Lulu told them, keep it down. Tracy had a rough night.

On the phone, Britt said she was aware she was late. That’s why she was calling. She didn’t know when she’d be in. She’d been detained. Anna let Britt into her office, and Britt said if she lost her job, she was holding Anna responsible, but Anna said that was the least of Britt’s problems and present her with a bill for the manpower and resources used involving her supposed death.

Nathan went to Jack’s office and Jack asked where he’d been for the past seven years.

Steinmauer. Valentin was brought into the visiting area and sat across from a woman. He said when they told him that his lawyer was there, he didn’t expect her. Carly – in a dark wig and glasses – said, Barbara Saunders. She was asked to review his case and recent developments may result in his early release.

Lois said she couldn’t change what she did, but wanted to right as many wrongs as she could. So was Sonny going to invite her in or ask her to kick rocks? Sonny told her to come in and they hugged.

Josslyn said she heard Emma got her job with Dalton. She wasn’t looking to work for him, but Emma shouldn’t be either. Emma said he hadn’t tried anything, and Josslyn said, not yet. He wasn’t the average creep. He was a lot more dangerous than Emma thought and Emma needed to trust her. Emma said Josslyn was the least trustworthy person she knew. Josslyn being unreliable worked in Emma’s favor and she planned on taking full advantage of it.

Ronnie said she’d shared words of wisdom with Tracy, who didn’t take kindly to them, and Gio said he wished he’d been there. Brook said he didn’t, and Ronnie said Tracy accused her of being drunk and she knew she wasn’t drunk, but knew something was off. It hit her that her tea had been spiked. Gio said, Tracy drugged her? and Ronnie said, uh-huh.

Lulu said Tracy was staying a little while, and Charlotte asked, how long? Tracy said it was open-ended. She’d been kicked out. Charlotte stifled a laugh and wondered why, and Lulu said Tracy was a guest and they’d treat her as such. Rocco said he needed help with his French homework, and he and Charlotte went upstairs. Tracy asked if they didn’t go to school, but Lulu said it was an in-service day and they were off. Before Tracy settled in and sent out change-of-address cards, they needed to get a few things straight.

Carly said she’d like to speak to her client alone, but the guard said they needed eyeballs on the inmate all the time. Carly said her client had the right to privacy in this situation and asked if she needed to elevate the matter. The guard left, and Valentin said her credentials must be unimpeachable. She said she had help from a friend, and he said, Jack could have gotten her in with no pretense… unless she was keeping the meeting from him. Why?

Jack told Nathan that they had footage of him getting off an exit before the accident. He’d been on the phone, but no phone was found on him or in the car. Nathan said he didn’t remember, and Jack said there had been a ping from a burner phone before the accident and it was likely from the phone he’d been using. With any luck, they’d find the person he’d been talking to. Nathan asked why he was going through the trouble, and Jack said when someone resurfaced who was presumed dead, it warranted investigation, especially if it was the son of Cesar Faison.

Lois said sitting on the boardwalk in Atlantic City with Brook was one of the best days of her life, and Sonny asked if it was the first time they’d been alone. Lois nodded and he asked if they’d spoken since. She said, no. She’d never ask him for help with that, but needed help with repairing Brook’s relationship with her son. Gio was pushing away and she had to make that right.

Brook said she thought Tracy saw the tea as a chance to show that Ronnie didn’t belong, and Gio said it wasn’t just bad. It was illegal and dangerous. Ronnie thanked him for his concern, but said she was okay today and more than got back at Tracy. She evicted her. Gio said he didn’t expect that, and Brook said, neither did her grandmother. Gio said it was good to set boundaries. If you didn’t, people walked all over you.

On the deck, Rocco said he’d lied to get Charlotte away from Tracy, and Charlotte said Tracy couldn’t just order them around. He said he knew Tracy was a lot, but she could be nice, and she was just kicked out. Be easier on her.

Lulu said Tracy was welcome to stay as long as she needed to, but Charlotte and Rocco were teenagers. That meant they were loud. Tracy said she lived with Rocco and Danny. She knew their ways. Lulu said, not in quarters this close. If she couldn’t deal with their ways, it was best she found someplace else. Tracy said she wouldn’t have to deal with their ways if Ronnie Bard hadn’t gotten loaded and convinced the entire family that she was to blame.

Josslyn asked what Emma meant by taking advantage, but Emma said it was none of her business. She was done talking. Josslyn grabbed her arm and said she knew she’d screwed Emma over and it was fine that she was mad. But don’t let herself get in deeper. She wouldn’t hurt Josslyn, but she’d hurt herself. Trust her when she said Emma didn’t want to be near what Dalton was doing. Emma asked what made her so sure Dalton was bad, and Josslyn flashed back to talking to Jack. Her phone rang, and she told Emma, don’t say I didn’t warn you, and left.

Valentin asked what the state of Carly and Jack’s relationship was, and Carly said, as far as Jack was concerned, she was knee deep work and wouldn’t see him for a few days. He said, Sonny and Jason wouldn’t be happy. She must have a very good reason to see him.

Britt said told Anna that she couldn’t afford it. It was ridiculous. Was it even legal? Anna said Acting DA Turner could find a way to make it legal, or she could feed the bill to the shredder and forget about it. Britt asked how much the memory lapse would cost, and Anna said, who helped fake her death? What was she doing at the Five Poppies and who was in charge? She needed every detail.

Sonny told Lois that Gio had moved in with him and had a job at Bobbie’s, and she said knowing Gio was there made her happy. By any chance did he get a new violin? Sonny shook his head, and she said, what about school? He said, Gio didn’t want to go right now. He was figuring out who he was and what he wanted minus the input of the people who loved him and wished him well. She said she understood why he wanted her and Gloria out of his life, but music was a big part of who he was. It was a gift from Camilla. He said, Gio associated it with the lies he’d been told his whole life, and she said she couldn’t stand it. Gio was giving up something he loved, and her daughter couldn’t have a relationship with her son. The two people she loved most were hurting because of her.

Emma told Gio that Josslyn tried to convince her to quit working for Dalton, and Gio wondered if she had a good reason. Emma said she thought Josslyn wanted her job back. They’d put Dalton on the back burner for too long and it was time to show the world who he really was.

Ronnie told Brook that her son was a good kid, but Brook said she couldn’t take credit. Ronnie said Gio mentioned he’d just found out she and Dante were his parents, and Brook said, they all did, and it came out in the most traumatic way, driving a mile wide wedge between them. They were hoping if they gave Gio some space, he’d come back, but at this point, she didn’t know if he would ever let her be a part of his life.

Nathan said his mother left her past behind and Faison was dead, and Jack said so were Nathan and his sister. He got Nathan’s brain scans and there was nothing there. No trauma or lesions. Nothing that would impair his memory from the time of his supposed death until he woke up in the hospital. Nathan asked if Jack was calling him a liar, and Jack said they had reason to believe Cesar Faison’s syndicate was still in operation. Now was the time for Nathan to tell him if he was involved.

Valentin told Carly that he was content living abroad in relative peace, when Jack tried to shoot him three feet from his daughter. Carly was collateral damage when he’d tried to kill Jack and if Jack was around her daughter, she wasn’t safe. Carly said she planned on destroying Jack Brennan and asked if he wanted to help.

Nathan asked if Jack thought he was part of a syndicate run by a dead man, but Jack said he didn’t know who was running it. He’d exchange full immunity for answers, but if Nathan declined, he would charge Nathan with the same crime – conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and treason. How would his son feel about that? Nathan said he just met his son for the first time and lost seven years of his life. Faison was a criminal who’d threatened the mother of his son and shot him. Faison was no father to him. Ask Anna. Unlike Jack, Anna knew him and would tell Jack that he’d help if he could. He was glad he met Jack because now he knew who Jack was. Jack could threaten him all he liked, but don’t push him around.

Britt said the Five Poppies was out of Anna’s jurisdiction. Anna had no right to question her about something that happened thousands of miles away. Anna said she did if it affected the safety of the people there, and Britt asked if she had evidence connecting it… She didn’t think so. It was time for Anna to let go of her delusion of being an international agent and accept the fact she’d been demoted. Anna said the reason Britt was there was because she sent Jason. He’d assumed Britt was in Croatia because she was going to die and he was willing to let her live out her last days as she saw fit. She told him that the WSB was looking at the Five Poppies and that suggested Britt’s presence wasn’t voluntary. So Jason went to rescue Britt. She wasn’t trying to take Britt down. She was trying to help her.

Lulu asked if Tracy was saying Ronnie framed her. Admit she spiked Ronnie’s drink. Tracy said she didn’t. This was the second time she’d been accused of drugging someone. Where did people think she got this stuff? Lulu said people knew she was resourceful. Was she saying it was someone else? Tracy said Ronnie over imbibed, and she was an easy scapegoat, and Lulu said Tracy had set her sights on taking Ronnie down since she came to town and had her investigate Ronnie. Ronnie lived a quiet, law-abiding life. Tracy said she didn’t believe it, and Lulu asked why she was so convinced otherwise. Tracy said she knew Monica as well as she knew herself. There was no way Monica would give Ronnie a doghouse much less the family estate. That woman was hiding something and she knew it.

Charlotte admitted that maybe she was harsh. She was jetlagged and the visit with her dad was weird. Rocco asked if she meant bad weird, but she said, just weird weird. It was good seeing him, but in a huge creepy prison, it was hard. Rocco said maybe he’d get out on good behavior, and Charlotte asked how dinner with his other family was. He said, good. Liesl and Nathan were cool. She said, what about Britt? and he said she was hard to read, but he thought she cared about her mother and brother. She asked if he noticed anything off, but he said he didn’t know Britt well enough. Why? She said when she was with her dad, he asked her to pass along a message to him. He said Rocco shouldn’t trust Britt.

Valentin said now Carly saw Jack as the son of a bitch he was. What changed her mind? Obviously, Jack had done something to one of her children. She asked what he’d do if Jack recruited his daughter, and he said he wouldn’t rest until Jack was six feet under. How long had Josslyn been a WSB operative? Carly said she thought eight months, but didn’t know how Jack lured her in, and he said there were two kinds of recruits. Those who were interested and those who had to be convinced, exploited. Those prospects were vulnerable and there was leverage – money, a misguided sense of patriotism, a personal tragedy they wanted to avenge. She said Josslyn’s boyfriend Dex was murdered, and he asked if the murderer was found. She said it was Cyrus Renault who disappeared. Josslyn left town afterward. He asked if she thought Jack possibly had something to do with it.

Lois told Sonny that she kept the secret, but could have told Brook before everyone found out and given her a chance at a real relationship with her son. Sonny said she could have also given the family a chance, and she said she was happy Gio let Sonny be a part of his life. Sonny said he thought she was leaving the past in the past and moving forward, and she said that’s what she was trying to do, but needed his help. Gio needed to stop blaming Brook. He needed to know it was all on her, but he wouldn’t talk to her. She needed Sonny to get them in the same room. He said, even if she talked to Gio, it was no guarantee it would change anything.

Ronnie said she thought Gio was trying to make sense of his part in the family, and Brook said she didn’t know why he wanted to be part of the family. He knew the Quartermaines were a bunch of liars, and now he thought they’d drug your tea too. Ronnie said, what’s a family without a little dysfunction? and Brook said, that was a generous take. Ronnie said Tracy wasn’t the only Quartermaine. The rest had been so lovely since she walked in the door, including Gio, who had an open invitation to come back. The problem was, finding a way to draw him back in. Brook said she thought she may have that covered.

Emma said she thought the master key would get them in the lab, and Gio said it would have if Dalton hadn’t taken extra security measures. Between that and her grandma trying to stop them, they were up against it. She said she thought they were in luck. Her grandma had been distracted and was busy. Now what the best chance they were going to get.

Tracy told Lulu than Monica never mentioned her sister, but as soon as she died, Ronnie showed up with letters as evidence. Lulu asked if she didn’t have them looked at by a handwriting expert, and Tracy said, they could be wrong. She was getting a second opinion. She had been closer to Monica for the last two years than anyone and Michael was the center of Monica’s universe. There was no way she’d disinherit him in favor of a sister she hadn’t spoken to in a decade. The will was a forgery. Charlotte wondered what a moving truck was doing pulling into their driveway.

Britt said she didn’t need rescuing, and Anna said the evidence suggested otherwise. Britt said she’d been working in a lab on developing an exfoliant scrub, but Anna said she didn’t think they’d use a bomb to cover up a spa treatment. Britt said it was a competitive market, and Anna said they forgot to add the toxicity screening. That ran up Britt’s bill by 10K, but she’d settle for Britt telling her who she was working for. Britt flashed back to finding her meds with the note signed C, and said, that Eurocreep Pascal, but Anna said, he was the middleman. Who did he answer to? It wasn’t Cesar Faison, was it? Was her father still alive and running the Five Poppies?

Jack showed Josslyn the video of him talking to Nathan, and Josslyn asked if he thought Nathan knew something. He said, didn’t she? and she said she hardly knew Nathan, but heard he was a total Boy Scout. She didn’t think he’d do anything connected to Faison. He said, so he should take Nathan’s memory loss at face value? And she said, look at Jason, but he said, Jason’s answers were less convenient than Nathan’s.

Valentin said he assumed Josslyn felt vulnerable after Dex’s death, and Carly said, she was devastated. She told herself that Josslyn was lost in a personal vendetta, when all the time, Jack used it as a test to recruit her. Valentin said, maybe Jack pointed her in Cyrus’s direction to see how far she was willing to go and she figured it out. Carly wondered if Josslyn murdered Cyrus, but Valentin said maybe she tracked Cyrus down on her own and it was part of Jack enticing her to be a recruit. Jack couldn’t resist, especially if Josslyn finished the job herself. Carly asked if he was telling her that the man she’d been falling in love with turned her daughter into a killer.

Sonny said Lois needed to live with the possibility that things may never be the same with Gio and Brook, but she said she had to try. She was begging him to please help her make this right.

Gio asked Emma to promise that whatever they did, they did it together, and she said, obviously. She needed him for back-up. He said he preferred being her partner in crime, and they kissed.

Brook smiled, and Ronnie said she was guessing that lovely young woman was part of Brook’s plan. Brook said Emma rescued Outback. Dogs weren’t allowed in the stable, but she told Emma that Outback could stay since she figured Emma would come visit. Ronnie said, and Gio would come with her. Not bad. She guessed that Brook was Tracy’s good granddaughter.

Gio’s phone rang, and he told Emma that it was Sonny. Sonny told him that he needed to come back to the house when he got off work, and Gio asked if everything was okay. Sonny said Lois was there and it was important that Gio see her.

Lulu said, everyone knew how much Monica loved Michael. Edward left him a fortune, and she didn’t need to demonstrate her love with more money. Maybe she felt Ronnie needed both. Charlotte and Rocco brought in two big boxes, and Lulu asked what was in them. Tracy said a few items she rescued from the house, and Lulu looked out the window. She said, a few? There was a giant moving truck parked in her driveway.

Britt said she was tired of hearing that name. That man had been a blight on her entire life. Her mother was obsessed with him and ignored her. Now she might lose the only good thing she had going in her life – her job – because Anna dragged her in. She hated to disappoint Anna, but her psycho ex had nothing to do with the Five Poppies and he was dead. She answered Anna’s questions and wasn’t paying the bill. Anna could burn it or bill her, but she just wanted to move on with her life. Anna said Britt thought she was protecting herself by staying silent, but she was making herself vulnerable, and Britt said she was done. She had to see if she still had a job. Thanks for nothing. She left.  

Josslyn told Jack that she was at the Brown Dog with a friend and Anna was there. Anna made a point of interrogating her about the Five Poppies and Cesar Faison came up more than once. Jack said Anna was probably jumping at shadows. However, she did know Faison better than anyone else and they couldn’t discount that. Two of Faison’s dead children showed up in Port Charles alive while they were investigating his last project. That wasn’t a coincidence. They were connected somehow.

Valentin said maybe Jack stepped in and took care of the rest, but Carly said Josslyn was a participant in Cyrus’s death. She may not be able to get Josslyn out, but she could get Jack out of Josslyn’s life before she did something worse or he got her killed. Valentin said they couldn’t do it alone, but together they had a chance. They had the one thing that could destroy Jack. Carly asked, what? and he said, her. She was the only one Jack trusted. Anyone else he’d spot from a mile away. He’d never see it coming. She asked what she was supposed to do, and he said, the first thing was to make Jack think she loved him more than anything or anyone in the world.

Thursday:

Chase saw Michael in the steam room and asked if he saw the headlines in the Port Charles Press. The article said other suspects might be at large. Did Michael really believe Willow was capable of shooting Drew?

Cody went to the main house and introduced himself to Ronnie. She said she had to tell him that she always had a weakness for cowboys. (Nice nod to OLTL.)

Brook knocked at Lulu’s door, and Tracy opened it. Tracy told Brook that she had nothing to say to her, and slammed the door in her face.

Gio went to Sonny’s house, and Lois said she was hoping he would come. He said he almost didn’t.

At Bobbie’s, Martin told Drew that the press did a good job casting reasonable doubt on Willow. He’d do whatever possible to find her a good attorney. Drew said there was no need. He took care of it.

Willow saw Alexis in the visiting room at Pentenville and asked if Scout was okay. Alexis said she was there for Willow. She was Willow’s new attorney.

Jacinda met Kristina outside Bobbie’s and said her agency told her that Kristina requested a meeting. Kristina said she didn’t want to pry, but was going to. What did Jacinda have going on with her brother? Jacinda asked, why? and Kristina said she was concerned. She loved her brother, and he’d been through the ringer. He’d had a difficult recovery, and his ex had told the court that he’d abandoned his children. He might appear to have it all together, but deep down, he had a big heart and had been hurt badly. She was worried that he and Jacinda were getting more serious and moving too quickly.

Chase insisted Willow wasn’t a murderer, and Michael said he didn’t think they should get into this. Chase said he knew Michael and Willow had problems, but it had gone too far. An innocent woman had been arrested. Michael said Chase didn’t know Willow as well as he thought he did.

Alexis said Willow deserved the truth. Drew didn’t leaved her a choice.

Drew said Alexis agreed to defend Willow on one condition, that she be able to see Scout, and Martin said he was glad it worked out. He’d talk to the judge about lifting the restraining order. Drew said he still needed the restraining orders as leverage. He wouldn’t enforce them unless he felt Alexis wasn’t doing what she could to free Willow. Martin asked, what about the rest of the family? and Drew said, the Davis women, but not Danny or the Quartermaines. Martin said that meant Scout wouldn’t get the privilege of meeting her new great aunt. The Quartermaines had a new relationship to play with – Monica’s long lost sister Ronnie.

Ronnie said Monica had written that she was pleased the family finally found a wonderful head groom, and Cody said she loved the stable, but not every horse was hers. Ronnie said, Tracy made that clear, and Cody said the name of Tracy’s horse was Hades. Ronnie said, hard to handle, bad tempered, and bites, but Hades could stay, and Cody said he heard Tracy moved out. Ronnie said she evicted Tracy, and he said he’d gotten to know Tracy and was sorry to see her go. Ronnie said she thought Tracy would be rough to work for, but if there was another side to Tracy, she’d like to hear it. Cody said Tracy was cold, mean, and thought she was better than everybody else, but she could be extremely generous, loyal to a fault, and would literally do anything for the people she loved, and she loved Ronnie’s sister.

Brook continued to bang on the door and said, open up. She would just get louder. Tracy told her, get in here. What did she think they had to talk about? She didn’t drug Ronnie at the tea party. Brook said that wasn’t why she came, and Tracy said Brook had known Ronnie for an hour and a half and known her for her whole life. Why was Brook taking that hash slinging harridan’s word over hers?

Lois said she wanted to take the chance to clear the air, but Gio said he’d rather move on. She said she wasn’t there to explain anything. She’d heard he took time off from school and wasn’t playing music anymore. He said he was working and figuring stuff out, and she said she was worried about him. He was pushing the things he loved out of his life, like music. Music didn’t betray him and neither did Brook or Dante. The person who betrayed him was her.

Lois said he had every right to be mad at her, but she was asking him to put his anger where it belonged – on her, not Brook or Dante, and especially not on himself. Gio said he wasn’t angry, but she said, of course (🍷) he was. He said he didn’t want to be and he wasn’t mad at himself, and she asked why he was waiting tables. He said there was nothing wrong with it, and she said he should be playing concert halls or even the park. He was so incredibly talented. It would hurt Camilla to know he wasn’t playing music, but it would hurt more knowing it was because of her. He said he was still trying to make sense of his whole life, his childhood, his mom. Nothing was what he’d thought it was. She said she knew it would take time to figure all that out, but he also needed to figure out how Dante and Brook fit into his life as well. She knew he was angry, but Dante didn’t even know, and Brook gave him up because she was so young. She came to her mother for advice, and she was the one who told Brook that he’d be better off – she started to cry – if he was adopted out to a young family. She was with Brook when Brook gave birth, and giving him up for adoption was the greatest sacrifice of her life.

Brook asked Tracy, why not make peace? She wasn’t asking her to apologize for the tea party, but for treating Ronnie like dirt. Tracy said she wouldn’t give Ronnie the satisfaction, but Brook said she’d already lost her mother and grandmother. She didn’t want to lose Tracy too.

Ronnie gave Cody some snacks and said she’d gotten the recipe from her line cook, and Cody said he’d kill for the recipe. She said, tell her more about Monica, and she’d give it to him, and he said he didn’t know her as well as everybody else, but he was told that before Monica and Tracy became close, it was the clash of the titans. In the end, Tracy was Monica’s mouthpiece, bodyguard, and attack dog. She stood up to Drew Cain when Monica couldn’t do it herself. Ronnie asked why she kept hearing that name. Michael had a lot of things to say about Drew, and she was hoping he was exaggerating. Was he really as bad as Michael said? Cody said, if anything, he was much worse.

Martin said Monica left her estate to her long-lost sister, not Michael, and Drew said he didn’t realize Monica had a pattern. She cut him out of her life like she did her sister.

Jacinda told Kristina not to worry about her and Michael, and Kristina said Jacinda came to see him after his grandmother died. Jacinda said she came to offer her condolences. There was nothing serious between them, but she got why Kristina was protective. She’d do the same thing. Kristina offered to get Jacinda coffee, and they went inside. Drew said, if it wasn’t the call girl that was paid to drug him. He bet the police would love to hear about her and Kristina’s meeting of the minds.

Alexis said she agreed to defend Willow because Drew offered her access to Scout, and Willow said she was truly sorry Drew put her in this position. Scout wanted to see her aunt and brothers. Alexis said, her brothers weren’t part of the deal. At least not Danny. Willow said she’d do what she could to help change Drew’s mind about the restraining orders. She also wanted Alexis to defend her because Alexis believed she was innocent, not because she was forced to. Alexis said, coercion or not, she’d defend Willow to the best of her ability. She would listen to Willow and Willow only, but if Willow didn’t want her services, say it now.

Michael said Willow was more traumatized by Dawn of Day than anyone knew. She’d made huge mistakes. Chase asked if he honestly believed she’d shot Drew, and Michael said anything was possible. Chase said there were other suspects, and Michael said, like him. Chase said, yes. Him, his mother, and anyone else who went in and out of the Quartermaine mansion. Michael said, Willow was in and out of the mansion, but Chase said she’d moved out months ago. Michael said they hadn’t changed the locks and she was the one who’d stalked his daughter Daisy.

Lois said, giving up Gio for adoption was the hardest thing his mom ever had to do, and Gio said he thought of Camilla as his mom. Lois said he was right. Sorry. Camilla was his mother and always would be. She’d never take that away from him. He asked why the family wanted something from him that he couldn’t give. He knew Brook and Dante were his biological parents, but they weren’t much more than that. They were people he kind of knew growing up, but it wasn’t like he had a relationship with them and he wasn’t sure he wanted one.

Brook said if Tracy told Ronnie that she was sorry, Ronnie would give her another chance. She knew Tracy was angry at Monica. Tracy said she knew in her bones that Monica didn’t do that, but Brook said, don’t exile herself to make a point. A house could be replaced. She couldn’t.

Drew threatened to tell the police about Michael paying Jacinda for a fake alibi and told Kristina not to mess up the deal he’d made with her mother. Jacinda suggested he watch his step, and he said he could still press charges. She said, do it. She’d love to explain to the police how he was loaded with ketamine and hired her for the evening and night, then got caught. Next time he hired an escort – and there was always a next time – don’t do body shots in a room of people with phones. He said she didn’t want to push him, and raising her voice, she said he got a lawyer to give her $50K to stay in Australia. That wasn’t something you did when you were looking for justice. He said she knew the justice system, having been arrested three times, and she said she had a record. So big deal. He said he paid her good money to stay away, and she asked if it was taxpayer money. He said the next time he saw the police, he was pointing them straight to her.

Willow said if Alexis was willing to help, she accepted, and Alexis told her about the paper suggesting suspects had been overlooked. They had a lot of ground to cover and when she asked questions, she needed Willow to answer honestly. Did she shoot Drew? Willow said, no, and Alexis asked why the weapon was found in her belongings. Willow said, Michael put it there, and Alexis asked why he’d do that. Willow said he was framing her to keep her away from her children. Michael shot Drew, not her.

Chase said that was insane. Willow didn’t stalk Daisy. Michael asked if he remembered the night Daisy was missing, and Chase said she’d been in her bassinet the whole time, but Michael said she hadn’t. And there was the other incident after Daisy was born. There were things that never made sense. She’d been moved from her crib and was facing a different direction and wearing a different onesie. Chase said, Sasha just forgot, but Michael said, she didn’t. Then there was the first incident when Sasha was brought the wrong baby. Willow was there because of her meltdown at the courthouse. Chase asked why Michael didn’t tell him when it was happening, and Michael said he had no proof. Willow likely broke in to terrify him and Sasha. She could have easily gotten her hands on the gun.

Ronnie asked why this guy hated the family, and Cody said, after Drew seduced Willow, Monica turned on him and threw him out. He claimed all he did was fall in love. Ronnie said, with his nephew’s wife? and Cody said, exactly. After that, Drew was out for payback from Monica and the Quartermaine’s, especially Tracy. He was using his political power and money to attack them. She said, that’s a lot, and he said, there’s more. Drew went too far. He had Tracy arrested for drugging him with ketamine. She said, Tracy drugged him too?

Brook said Tracy might consider the possibility of being nicer to Ronnie, and Tracy said she wasn’t apologizing for something she didn’t do. Brook said she was asking Tracy to try and make Ronnie feel welcome, but Tracy said she couldn’t. She knew Monica did not want that woman to have that house. She wasn’t going to pretend otherwise to get along. Brook said Tracy was needlessly rude and now she was camped out in Lulu’s living room. Was that what she wanted? Tracy said if her family turned their backs on her for standing up for Monica’s wishes, so be it. At least she’d know she took a stand.

Lois said she knew Gio’s walls were up and it was all on her, but maybe someday he’d find a way to let the walls come back down. Gio said he needed to get going. He was meeting friends and stuff. Lois said, have fun, and keep his heart open to music and whatever, and he said he got it now. She never meant to hurt him. She was just doing the right thing. She said she still was. All she could do was try. Gio asked how things were with Brook, and she said, not good. He said he was sorry to hear that. He knew how close they used to be. He hoped they got back to that someday. She said, her too, and he left.

Jacinda told Drew, do your worst, and Kristina said, let it go. A public official hired a woman for her time and embarrassed himself. Let’s go. It’s a congressional scandal, nothing special. Outside, she told Jacinda that she had no idea Drew would be in there, but Jacinda said he was just a jerk. No wonder Willow took a shot at him. Kristina asked if she wanted to go somewhere else for coffee or a drink, but Jacinda said she’d take a raincheck. There was something she had to take care of. She left, and Kristina looked inside at Martin and Drew.

Willow said she prayed Drew remembered what happened the night of the shooting, and Alexis said, if he did, she hoped it was for his sake, not Willow’s. Willow asked what she meant, and Alexis said, in this instance, a sudden memory would look suspicious to the court and be exploited by the prosecution. They’ll think he was making it up to exonerate her. Willow said, so if he did remember… and Alexis said, it wouldn’t help her case. She thought she had what she needed, and they’d pick this up tomorrow. Willow thanked her and said she felt a lot better knowing Alexis was fighting for her.

Chase said Michael was being malicious, accusing Willow of stalking a baby. He had no evidence. Michael said that’s why he didn’t file charges, but it showed what Willow was capable of. Chase said, the one most capable of shooting Drew was Michael. He had more access, bigger motive, and the resources to protect himself. Willow was on her own. That was the definition of injustice. Chase walked out.

Cody told Ronnie that he didn’t know what happened at the tea party, but Tracy didn’t drug Drew. He did it to himself and when he got caught partying, he tried to put the blame on Tracy. Tracy had done a lot of things, but she didn’t do that. Ronnie asked if she should give Tracy the benefit of the doubt, and Cody said, if Tracy did drug her and she called Tracy on it, he thought Tracy would say to her face, you’re damn right and I’d do it again. Ronnie said she worked hard to get along with Tracy, and Tracy humiliated her in front of everybody. When she left, Tracy took the family photos and possession and looked like a walking estate sale. The movers left a box, and she had to call them. Cody said he’d run it over, and she thanked him. He said he was happy to help. He had to make himself look good for the new boss. He picked up the box and left.

Brook told Tracy, fine. Sit in Lulu’s house, surrounded by her pride and relics. But before she left, she needed Tracy to know she loved her and that would never change. So call her anytime. She left.

Lois called Brook.

Cody went to see Willow at Pentenville and asked how she was holding up. She said, better now. How were the kids? He said, fine, and she asked if there were any developments in the case, but he said, not yet.

Jacinda thanked Michael for meeting her at the coffee bar, and he said she wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. What happened? She said his sister Kristina asked her for coffee and to check on them, and he wondered if she’d asked about anything. Jacinda said, no. She was sweet and very protective of him. That wasn’t the problem. Drew was. He threatened to send the cops after her for drugging him. Michael said, let him. He had no proof. She said she had priors and took money from the congressman to stay out of town. Nothing seemed to touch him. Michael said he couldn’t argue with that. How could he help? She said she needed to disappear – again.

Brook went to Sonny’s, and Lois said, she came. Brook said just because she came didn’t mean she was going to stay.

Alexis met Kristina at Bobbie’s and asked what was going on. Kristina said Drew was there earlier and said the strangest thing. She should check in with Alexis before she ruined the deal. Don’t worry. She didn’t lose her temper. Alexis said she would have understood, but before they got into it, she had to tell Kristina that she was defending Willow.

Chase said he was going to investigate Drew’s shooting as a private citizen until Willow was exonerated, but Willow said, don’t. It would cause nothing but problems. He said she was his friend and he had to help, but she said, not if it cost his job. He said he’d do it on his own time, and she wondered if he’d get into trouble for undermining the DA’s case. He said he had every right and the department couldn’t stop him. She said she didn’t want him to risk his neck, but he said someone had to. A person should not go to prison for a crime they didn’t commit.

Jacinda said she knew Michael was counting on her, but she had to watch her own back, and he said running wasn’t the way to do that. They were each other’s best option, and she should stay put and stick to the original story. It was a terrible alibi, but he thought he had a solution that would work for both of them. He’d pay her to fall in love with him

Cody brought the box to Tracy and asked how she was doing. She said she was living with two teenagers. How did he think? He said she could impart her worldly wisdom on them, but she said what she wanted to impart involved duct tape and chloroform, but Lulu wouldn’t approve. How was Hades? He said, fine. Once this had blown over, she could see for herself. She said she should probably board Hades somewhere else, and he asked what was in the box. She said, Alan’s train set. He would put it out every Christmas for the children, but he was the only one who played with it. She thanked him for bringing it, and he said it wasn’t his idea. Ronnie… She said, do not extol the virtues of St. Ronnie, and he said they weren’t so different. She said she hated him for saying that, and he laughed. He said they were both strong women. Ronnie was just nicer about not letting people push her around.

Ronnie opened the door to find Drew and she said, thank you, but I have a nice relationship with the Lord. He said that’s not why he was there. Did she happen to be Veronica Bard? She said she was. How could she help him? He said the question was, how could he help her?

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Brook asks when Lois got into town, and Lois says, this morning. There were a few things she needed to take care of, and Brook was at the top of her list. Brook says, the last time they saw each other in Atlantic City, they shared a nice moment. Let’s not ruin it. Lois says she knows things are still bad between them, but there’s something Brook needs to know.

Carly walks into the steam room and sees Britt lying on a bench with her eyes closed. Britt says she’d like to have another cucumber water and eucalyptus towel, and Carly wings a towel at her head. Britt sits up and asks what the hell Carly thinks she’s doing. Carly says, teaching her an important lesson – how to share.

Spinelli thanks Jason for meeting him at the Brown Dog Bar, and Jason asks what he needs. Spinelli says he was hoping Jason would be so kind as to impart his parental wisdom, and Jason asks, why? Spinelli says he has the utmost respect for Jason’s relationship with Danny despite their regrettable time apart. They seem close. Jason says, and? and Spinelli says he loves James like is own son, but now that James’s father is back, he fears James may be taken away.

Nathan visits Lulu, and she says she was wondering when she’d finally see him. He says he needs to thank her for saving his life, and they hug.

At Bobbie’s, Kristina says, Alexis is defending Willow after everything she’s done to Michael? and Alexis says, if they want to see Scout, yes. She’s going to defend Willow, and in turn, Drew will drop the restraining orders against them. Kristina says, that’s good news. She’s sick of Drew punishing them all. Alexis says, unfortunately, he’s still punishing one of them, and Kristina asks what she means. Alexis says she doesn’t want to get into details. Scout will be here any minute. But Drew refuses to drop the restraining order against Danny. Kristina asks if Danny knows, but Alexis says she didn’t have the heart to tell him or that theirs have been lifted. Kristina says she doesn’t blame Alexis, and Alexis suggests they cherish their time with Scout… and there she is. Scout walks in and Alexis hugs her and says it’s good to see her.

Jacinda asks if it isn’t suspicious that Michael happened to be with an escort when Drew was shot, and Michael says, it’s a terrible alibi, but he thinks he has a solution that will work for them both. She says she’s listening, and he says he wants to pay her to fall in love with him. She says, to be clear, her time is for rent, but her emotions are not. Maybe he needs to find another alibi.

Ronnie says she’s not into politics, but she knows she’s definitely seen Drew’s face on the news, and Drew says he wishes the reporting was more accurate. He’s doing what he can to right that. How is she settling in? She says, it’s an adjustment, and he says, everybody in the house was born with a silver spoon in their mouth except them. They have more in common than she thinks. She says, really? and he says, give him a chance to prove it to her.

Britt says she got here first. If Carly has a problem with the way she seems, Carly can leave. Carly says she owns the hotel, including the spa and steam bath. She’s not going anywhere. Britt says she gets it. Carly is rich and owns everything. But does she have to remind everyone every five minutes? Carly says she doesn’t want Britt here and can throw her out when she wants, but Britt says she doesn’t think Jason would like it.

Spinelli says, the situation with James’s father is tricky. That’s why he needs Jason’s guidance. He possesses valuable insight into what Nathan is thinking because he’s worn similar shoes. Jason says, when Danny and Jake thought they’d lost him until he came back, and Spinelli says, yeah. And in the wake of his absence, he had to rebuild the relationship with his sons and it’s gone well, right? Jason says he’d like to think so, and Spinelli says, good. That’s what he wants for him and James. He wants them to have an unbreakable bond like Jason has with Danny. What he doesn’t want is for James to be taken away by the father he already has.

Nathan says he’s been meaning to come by and see Lulu. He couldn’t talk at the arraignment because his sister needed him. Lulu says she’s glad he was there for Nina. If Britt got locked up, they could throw away the key. He says he sees her antipathy with his other sister, and she says she’s not going to let Britt ruin the moment. She can’t believe he was the guy in the crashed car. He says he’s grateful, but wishes he knew how he ended up there, and she asks how it is being back. He says, it’s hard not remembering the last seven years of his life. The last he remembers, he and Maxie were married and Maxie was pregnant. Now Maxie is gone and James has grown up. Lulu says, it’s a lot. Maxie has them spinning. He says he just wants to take care of James and make a good life. Get his old job back at the PCPD. Lulu says she wants him to get his job back, but he doesn’t need that to be a good dad to his son. James will love him no matter what. Nathan says he hopes so, but he’s not sure what he’s up against here, and she says she understands better than he thinks.

Scout says it’s been so long since she’s seen them, but Alexis says, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they’re together and today is a Davis Girls fun day. Kristina says, except for Aunt Molly. She got stuck at work, but they can video chat with her later. Alexis asks Scout’s nanny if she thinks they can spend time alone, and the nanny says she can keep an eye on things from the counter. Alexis says she’s sure, and the nanny leaves. Alexis says she wanted to make sure to tell Scout how brave she’s been and how proud of Scout she is. She was very brave when her dad was in the hospital. Scout says she’s glad he’s home, but the police made a mistake and took Willow away. Her dad said Alexis was going to help bring her home.

Drew says he’s sure Ronnie got an earful about him and just hopes she doesn’t take what she hears at face value. The Quartermaines don’t take kindly to outsiders like them. He’s been part of the family for a long time and if they can smear his name as easily as they have, imagine what they could do to somebody like her. Ronnie says she doesn’t have to imagine. Tracy says it right to her face. He says, let him guess. Tracy says she’s not good enough to be here and says she’s an opportunist just after the Quartermaine name and fortune. She’s very quick to shame and name call, isn’t she? Ronnie says, Tracy probably just hates everybody, and Drew says she’s probably right. There’s something else they have in common – Monica.

Michael tells Jacinda that he’s sorry. Every word came out wrong. She says she hopes so, and he says he didn’t mean to imply he could buy her feelings. Quite the opposite. He really liked her the night they met. That’s why he wanted to buy her a drink. He had no idea she was… She says, that she was an escort? and he tells her that he was going to say he had no idea she was the woman involved in Drew’s ketamine scandal. Now she’s involved in something a hell of a lot bigger. If they want a believable alibi, they need to find a way to have a real relationship, something other people believe because they believe it themselves. She asks if he thinks people would believe a man like him fell for a woman like her, and he says, why wouldn’t they? She’s smart, beautiful, and magnetic. No one would be surprised that he’d be with her. The real question is, why would someone like her be with someone like him? She says, maybe because he’s sexy, intelligent, and successful, and he says, they sound pretty great and pretty believable as a couple. She says, who is she to argue? and takes out her phone. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, taking a selfie. If people are going to buy this, they need to leave a social media trail. She takes the photo.

Brook asks why Lois is at Uncle Sonny’s, and Lois says, Sonny graciously let her use this place to take care of a few things. Gio was just here. Brook asks, why? and Lois says she was giving him a gentle nudge toward her and Dante. Brook says she wishes Lois hadn’t done that, and Lois says she knows. It’s her butting in again, but she had to try. Brook says she didn’t have to do anything, but she chose to anyway, and Lois says she doesn’t want to argue. She doesn’t want to leave the country with them in a bad place. Brook asks why she’s leaving the country, and Lois says, an opportunity fell into her lap and if she takes it, she’ll be leaving the country.

Lois says, because she was with L&B Records and Miguel Morez, somebody reached out and offered her a job as tour manager, and Brook says she’s happy for her. She’s a great tour manager. Lois says she didn’t expect Brook to tell her that, but it may not even happen. Not without Brook’s blessing. Brook asks what she means, and Lois says it’s for Brook’s client, Blaze. Brook says, right. Blaze finished opening for Miguel. Lois says, Blaze did such a great job, she made an even bigger name for herself. She gained so many new fans that Miguel’s people want to capitalize on it and send her on a tour all of her own. They asked her to manage it, but she’s not taking the opportunity away from Brook. So it’s her call.

Alexis says she promises to do everything in her power to help Willow, and Scout says, good. She likes Willow and hopes Willow marries her dad for real one day. Kristina says she wants to know how Scout is doing. The last time they talked, Scout was trying out for the swim team. How did it go? Scout says she made the team, and Alexis applauds. Scout says her first meet is next Tuesday, and Alexis promises she’ll be there. Kristina says she’ll be right next to Alexis, and they’ll be cheering Scout on. Danny and Rocco come in, and Scout hugs Danny. The nanny’s beady eyes watch them.  

Drew tells Ronnie that Monica was the person who welcomed him into the family. She didn’t know anything about him, but as soon as she found out he was Alan’s son, that was all she needed. He’ll always be deeply grateful for her being there during the toughest time of his life. Ronnie says, that sounds like her sister, but not from personal experience. They were not close. He says, they weren’t very close either, at least during the last year. They’d had a serious falling out. He made some mistakes and was trying to fix them, but because Tracy interfered, Monica wouldn’t even give him a chance. He wishes he’d had the opportunity to deal with it before she died. It’s painful to have to live with for the rest of his life. He’s sure that’s something Ronnie knows all about too.

Michael tells Jacinda that Willow has been charged with Drew’s shooting, but he’s still on the suspect list. He’s much, much higher than her, so he needs her a whole lot more than she needs him. She says, true, but he gets points for being honest, and he says he’ll always be honest with her. It’s the only way to make this thing work, if they have trust, and he needs her to trust him. She says, because? and he says, if they want it to work and for people to believe them, she needs to get a different job.

Outside Bobbie’s, Danny says, whatever he did, he’s sorry, but Alexis says he didn’t do anything. Drew did. Danny asks why Drew can’t just leave them alone? and Alexis says, because he’s an ass. He agreed to lift the restraining orders on all of them, except he kept Danny’s in place. Danny asks if that means everyone can see Scout except him, and she says, yes, but it’s not going to last long. She’s going to fix it. She hates this so much, but in the meantime, they need Scout to spend time with the rest of them to balance the bad influence Drew has. Rocco says, everyone but Danny, and Alexis says she knows it’s not fair, but at the moment, they need to go by Drew’s rules. It’s unconscionable, she knows, but she’s going to take care of it. Danny says he knows she will. She always does.

Drew tells Ronnie, sorry. He’s texting his daughter’s nanny. Ronnie says, that’s fine. She can certainly see how he’d made his life in politics after the speech he gave her. He clearly has a way with words. He says he was just telling the truth. He loved Monica. That didn’t stop because they weren’t speaking. She says, one thing she knows about Monica, once she made up her mind about you, it was really hard to break through. Anyway, she’s glad they had the chance to chat. He says him too, and she says she’s sorry, but she can’t shake the feeling he came to her with an ulterior motive. He says he wouldn’t call it an ulterior motive, but there was something else he was hoping to talk to her about.

Jacinda tells Michael that she’s not saying he’s wrong. Her continuing work as an escort will give people a reason to doubt their relationship, but not having an income is not an option. She has bills to pay. He says he totally gets that, but he can get her a job that pays well, and who knows? Maybe she’ll like it more than the place she’s at right now. She says he’s going to a lot of trouble to make this work. That makes her think he has something pretty serious to cover up. She wasn’t actually with him that night, so she has no idea what he did or didn’t do. He says he didn’t shoot Drew, but he did come dangerously close. He was mad that night and drove over to confront Drew, but then he got out of his car, and it hit him. What Drew was going to do was escalate things. That’s what he always does. Nothing good would come of it and he decided to move forward, for him and for his kids, and leave Willow, Drew, and all that behind. Jacinda says, every time he talks about his kids, he lights up. She can tell how much he loves them. You’re a complicated man, Michael Corinthos, but underneath it all, you’re a good guy. He says he really wants to be, and she says, by the way, she does. He says, does what? and she says, believes him about not shooting his uncle.

Lulu tells Nathan, for her, it felt like a good night’s sleep, but for everyone else, four years had passed. Her little boy and girl were teenagers, her father was dead, and so was her Aunt Bobbie. She felt like she was living in another world, an alternate universe. Nathan says he’s really sorry, and she says, yeah, so is she. He says, that stuff messes with your head, right? and she says, it’s hard to explain the anxiety, the questions, the displacement, the guilt. Dante had to raise Rocco, and her daughter went with her father, so she knows all too well what he’s going through. He says he guesses she does. He has so much guilt about Maxie. She might be the only one who can walk him through it.

Spinelli tells Jason, before Maxie was transferred to the hospital in Boston, he promised to keep the family together and James is an integral part of the family. He needs to play this exactly right. Jason says he doesn’t know Nathan too well, but everybody thinks he’s a good guy. He’s sure Nathan will respect everyone’s feelings when he gets to know his son. Spinelli says, he’s right. Nathan is a good guy. That’s why Maxie… loved him. He was arguably the love of her life, and Nathan made it clear he still loves her. Jason says, stop. He has to stop. That was the past. Maxie loves him and James has plenty of room in his life for him and Nathan. Spinelli thanks Jason for saying that. He doesn’t want to lose James.

Carly says, funny. Britt acts like she wants as little to do with Jason as possible, yet she finds a way to drop his name in every conversation they have. Britt says, exaggerate much? and Carly says she and Jason have been best friends for a very long time. She’s in his life and that’s not going to change. Jason wouldn’t care at all if she threw Britt out of the hotel. He’s seen her be way pettier and never blinked an eye. Britt says she gets why Carly would brag about that, and Carly says she tells it like it is. Britt says Carly talks a big game, but she knows it’s driving Carly crazy that Jason flew all the way to Croatia to find her. How hard did Carly try to convince him not to go after her? She’s sure it made Carly mad that he didn’t listen, and she knows Carly is upset that Jason still can’t stop thinking about her after all this time.

Brook tells Lois that she has a lot going on right now. Gio, Chase’s job, Monica’s estate is in limbo. She could never take on a position like that, even if it was offered to her. Lois says, Brook has a lot on her plate, and Brook says she usually does. Blaze just lost her mother. Even though she and Natalia didn’t have the best relationship, she can understand why Blaze would want maternal energy around right now. Things aren’t great between her and Lois, but she trusts that Blaze will be in great hands. Lois says, that means… and Brook says, take the job. Lois has her blessing. Lois thanks her and says, that means a lot. Brook asks when she’s leaving, and Lois says, today.  

Michael says it’s likely both he and Jacinda will be called to testify at Willow’s trial. So there can’t be a traceable money trail between them. She’ll still get paid a sizeable amount, just under the table. Jacinda says, that’s fine, and Michael says, good. She needs to have a reason that she left her last job. He’ll cover her expenses, and she’ll need a legit title and position. She asks what kind of job he has in mind. Does it come with health insurance?

Alexis comes back and asks, who’s ready to order? and Scout asks, where are her brothers? Alexis says she’s sorry. They had somewhere to go. They wanted to stay and said to tell her how much they love her. Kristina says, Scout hardly saw them. They didn’t get to talk.

Drew says he loves that Monica left Ronnie the estate. Keeping the house in the family is a great way to preserve Monica’s legacy. He also understands Port Charles is not her home and she might have a life she wants to get back to. If that’s the case, he’d love the opportunity to make and offer on his family’s home. If that’s what she decides, he hopes he’s her first call. Danny and Rocco come in, and Danny tells Drew, get the hell out of our house.

Carly says she’s not surprised Jason can’t stop thinking about Britt. He’s loyal to a fault, even to the people who lie to his face. Or did she tell him what she was really up to in Croatia? Britt says, who’s asking? Carly or her WSB agent boyfriend, Jack Brennan? Carly says she doesn’t do Jack’s dirty work, and Britt says, just Jason’s. Carly says she and Jason have been through things Britt can’t even imagine. Once again, the reason alludes her for Jason putting himself on the line for Britt. Why not do something to justify his faith in her, like be a decent person? Britt says she really misses the Five Poppies spa. It was so much quieter. Carly says, then she should go back… Unless she can’t.

Spinelli tells Jason that the other day, he tried to hint that what James needs is routine and consistency in his life. In other words, James should stay with him and James’s sister, but Nathan mistook that and thought he meant that James needed him to consistently be a hands-on father. Jason tells him, all he can say is, when he came back to town, he saw Sam and Dante had built a blended family and Danny loved being a part of that family. He didn’t want to disrupt that, so who knows? Maybe Nathan will feel the same way. Spinelli says, even so, things changed with Danny and Jason is with him full-time, and Jason says, only because Sam died. Spinelli says, that’s exactly his point. What if the worst happens and Maxie doesn’t make it? What happens to his family then?

Nathan tells Lulu that he can’t stop wondering if things had been different, if he’d never left, would Maxie feel the same? Maybe to him it didn’t feel like seven years had gone by, but they had. Maybe in all that time, she fell out of love with him. Lulu says, no. Maxie never stopped loving him. She was devastated when he died and mourned for a really long time. Then she moved on with her life. In true Maxie style, she made big mistakes along the way. Nathan says he heard about it from Nina, and Lulu says, Maxie never would have gotten involved with Peter August if she hadn’t been spinning out over losing him. It took years for Maxie and Spinelli to reconnect. She loves Spinelli and he worships Maxie, but she truly thinks Nathan was the love of Maxie’s life. And when Maxie wakes up – and she will wake up – she’s going to be stunned, then thrilled that he’s alive. But if he’s wondering if Maxie will choose him or Spinelli when she comes back to him, only Maxie has the answer to that.

Lois says she’s flying to Seoul later today, and Brook says, that makes sense. Blaze has a lot of fans there. How long is the tour? Lois says, TBD. She’s adding new dates all the time. It’s part of the job description. Brook says she’s sorry. She knows things aren’t great, but she hates to think that Lois won’t be here and waiting when she’s finally ready. Lois says she’ll always be there for Brook. It doesn’t matter how long they’ve gone without speaking – days, weeks, months, God forbid years – the second Brook needs her, she’ll drop everything and come running. Lois starts to cry and says, Brook is her heart, beating outside her chest. She always has been. Brook starts to cry too, and says she needs Lois, every single day, a thousand times a day. Not an hour goes by that she doesn’t wish she could call Lois, but something in her isn’t ready to move on from this. Lois says, don’t feel bad about the way she feels. She kept a secret from Brook that wasn’t hers to keep. She swears she’s learned from her mistake. She just hopes she gets the chance to prove it to Brook someday.

Scout asks if she can come over for a sleepover, and Alexis says she’d love that, but they’d have to ask her dad. The nanny says, it’s time to go. Scout’s dad wants her home. Kristina says, they haven’t even ordered, but Alexis says, that’s okay. They’ll see each other soon. Scout says, okay. She loves them. Alexis hugs her and says she loves Scout too. She’ll see Scout at the swim meet. Kristina says, they’ll be the ones cheering the loudest, and hugs Scout. The nanny says, let’s go, and she leaves with Scout. Kristina says, what the hell was that? and Alexis suggests they not make a scene. She’s sure Drew’s little spy called and told him that Danny was here. Then their time with Scout was over before it got started.

Drew says he was just here to talk to Ronnie about adult business. It doesn’t concern Danny either. Danny says, it does. He lives there. Drew isn’t even allowed on the grounds. How did he get past the front gate? Drew says, Ronnie decides who gets to be here now, and Ronnie says, okay. Let’s just cool it, okay? She and the congressman were just having a chat, but Danny is obviously upset about something. Maybe they could discuss it and work out some kind of understanding. Rocco says, she doesn’t know Drew like they do. He’s a bad guy. He’s been keeping their sister away from them and still won’t let Danny see her. Drew says, it’s a long story, and Danny says, Drew filed restraining orders against Scout’s entire family to keep them from seeing her. Ronnie says she doesn’t understand that. The way he was talking, he seemed like someone who really values family. Why is he keeping his daughter away from hers? Drew says, Danny put Scout in danger. He kidnapped her… Danny says, that’s a lie. He was bringing her home. The doorbell rings, and Ronnie says she’ll get it. When she’s gone, Drew says he’s just about had it. They’re both entitled little punks that don’t know when to shut up. It’s time that they get something straight.

Lois opens the door, and Brook says, ma, and goes to her. They hug and cry, and Lois says, hey. When Brook was growing up it was them against the world. She hopes they’ll be that way again someday. She loves Brook so very much. Brook says she knows. Safe travels. Lois says, okay, and leaves. Brook watches as she walks away from the house.  

Nathan thanks Lulu for what she said about Maxie. Most people say if she wakes up, but Lulu said when. It helps. Lulu says she can be this confident because it happened to her. She fought her way back. Maxie is a fighter, like they are, and Maxie is going to come back for James, like she came back for Charlotte and Rocco. Nathan says he hasn’t met Charlotte yet, but Rocco’s a great kid. He’s smart, interesting, and polite. She thanks him and says she thinks so too. When did they see each other? Nathan says, they had dinner last night, and she says, him and Rocco? He says, him, Rocco, his mom, and Britt.

Jason says, Spinelli has to stay strong and positive for Maxie and the kids, and Spinelli says, he’s right. Jason says he knows how hard it is on him. If there’s anything he can do to help… Spinelli says, actually, he could talk to Nathan. Tell Nathan his story and that he knows what it’s like to want to reconnect with his son, but he held back and took it slow for Danny’s sake. Convince him it’s the right thing to do in this situation. Jason says he doesn’t know why Nathan would listen to him. He barely knows the guy. Spinelli says, Jason did save his sister’s life. That should give him an in. Jason says, okay. If it will make Spinelli feel better, he’s happy to do it. But Nathan’s not a dumb guy. He may think Spinelli sent him and think Spinelli is trying to keep him away from James. Spinelli says that should have occurred to him, and Jason says, so why not be more direct? Why not invite him over and let him see James as part of a big loving family? Then he’ll see with his own eyes how happy James is. Make Nathan a partner in parenting. Spinelli says, it’s not only wise, but surprisingly full of heart. Perhaps Jason is becoming less stone cold and a little more warm and fuzzy. Jason just looks at him, and Spinelli says, or not. They get up, and Spinelli almost hugs Jason, but Jason is like, no. Spinelli says he’ll let Jason know how it goes leaves.

Carly says they all know Britt is hiding something. Between her, Jason, and Jack, they’ll figure out her dirty little secret. Britt flashes back to the note that came with her medication, and says, this place sucks. It doesn’t even have a cold plunge. She leaves.

Kristina says, what if Drew thinks they had it planned to have Danny show up and takes Scout away from them again? and Alexis says she’ll have to make sure he knows it was a coincidence – and it was, by the way. Kristina asks, what if he doesn’t believe her? but Alexis says, Drew wants Willow acquitted and knows she’s the best person to do that. But if she fails, he’ll keep Scout away from them for good. Kristina says, if anyone can get Willow free, she can, and Alexis says, the problem is, if Willow claims she’s innocent, she has to give the jury someone else to find guilty. Kristina says, please tell her that she’s not trying to pin Drew’s shooting on Michael.

Jacinda tells Michael that she has one stipulation. She doesn’t want the job to just be her cover. She wants to actually do the job, learn something new. She’s a hard worker. Who knows? Maybe this will be her next career. Michael says, don’t worry. She’ll have full autonomy. He doesn’t want to micromanage her. He wants her to succeed here. She says, good. Then she’s in. He says, okay, and holds out his hand, but she says, please. They want this to be convincing. He says, done, and they kiss.

Drew says, Scout’s nanny told him what Danny did. He showed up at Bobbie’s earlier while Scout was there. That cannot happen again. Danny says, or what? It doesn’t matter how many restraining orders he hits them with. They’re seeing their sister. He can’t watch her every second of the day. She’s not his prisoner. Rocco says, Scout is smart and she loves them. He can’t keep them away without making her hate him. Drew says he doesn’t want to play these games with them. If he feels Scout isn’t safe here in Port Charles, he will take her and relocate to DC. How often do they think she’ll see them then? In the meantime, he’s going to have both delinquents arrested and thrown in jail, just like Danny’s dad and just like Rocco’s Uncle Lucky. Ronnie brings in Laura, who says, I beg your pardon. I believe you’re out of your depth now. You have a much bigger problem than my grandson and his brother. You’ve got me.

On Monday, Curtis says, Jordan isn’t the reason his marriage is over; Trina asks if she’s interrupting Isaiah and Portia; Kristina tells Sonny that he might not be so happy when he hears what she has to say; and Drew says, all Ronnie had to do is name her price.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

This doesn’t surprise me one bit, and she’s blowing up on Instagram.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-star-scarlett-spears-donna-will-star-as-young-glinda-in-wicked-sequel/

Failed retirement looks good on her.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/why-failed-retiree-jane-elliot-is-thrilled-with-her-general-hospital-resurgence-as-tracy/

At first, I was leaning toward him actually being Faison, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think evil twin, but it’s not unheard of.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-nathan-really-back-on-general-hospital-fans-weigh-in-on-his-mysterious-return/

Daytime Emmy stuff.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/the-52nd-annual-daytime-emmy-awards-the-complete-winners-list-as-it-happens-live/

https://ew.com/daytime-emmy-awards-2025-winners-list-11831588

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/daytime-emmys-2025-inside-the-winners-circle-with-stars-of-general-hospital-young-and-restless-and-more/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/the-2025-daytime-emmy-awards-what-you-didnt-see-behind-the-scenes-during-and-after-the-ceremony/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

The captain told Nathan that he had some people who didn’t get it, and in Nathan’s interview, he said he’d given them the benefit of the doubt first charter, but now it was looking like a joke. Primary Grant wanted something to eat at some ungodly hour and Aesha stepped in, suggesting fries. Of course, he insisted on truffle being added, but by the time they were served, he wasn’t hungry anymore. He wasn’t belligerent or even demanding, but he was idiotic and insensitive to the fact that the crew members were human. After being told no swimming, guest Jack also tumbled, or rather bounced, into the water while drunk. The guests did leave a $20K tip, $1818 each, which kinda, sorta made up for a charter of idiots. Looks like a deckhand might be headed for walking the plank though.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The Below Deck trip was planned, but Heather said she couldn’t enjoy herself on a superyacht. They were savages. Lisa was annoyed that she couldn’t bring her glam squad and tried talking smack about Angie to Heather, but Ozempic Face wasn’t having it. Heather told Meredith that Lisa was never going to own it and apologize, but Meredith preferred giving Lisa the benefit of the doubt. Todd suggested Bronwyn stop getting in the gutter and rolling around in the slime. She assumed she’d be fighting with Lisa and was setting herself up for it. Whatever happened was on her.

Housewives Wife Swap

This is what reality TV should be about – learning how other people live who aren’t you. Angie from RHOSLC swapped with Lindsay, a wife living off the grid. In the 24-hour period when the swapped wives play by their rules, Mary showed up when Lindsay was demonstrating how to gut a fish. Seeing Mary’s face was priceless and was one of the many moments that made it worth watching.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

These women should always stay high. Gina and Fancy Pants did mushrooms and romped through fields of tulips, while Shannon tried her hand at riding a plaster horse. Gina was mesmerized by clogs with flowers in them! While there weren’t any knockdown drag outs, there was plenty of behind the back gossip, which I find tedious since it’s always rehashing the same stuff over and over. In Gretchen’s interview, she said if Tamra hadn’t changed when she accepted Jesus, what made them think she’d changed now? Good point. I could see why Tony Geary moved to Amsterdam. It looks amazing and so much fun – the markets! the canals! the flowers – weed included!

Random Reality Items

I smell desperation.

Tease is right. There’s not much to see there.

Yikes. It’s so creepy that people do this.

Looks promising. I was totally surprised when I realized how much I like this show. Those who can’t do watch it on TV.

Getting some Lala.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

The Perfect Neighbor. Netflix. A documentary about someone who is very far from being the perfect neighbor. When the entire neighborhood hates you, they can’t all be wrong. Racist and antagonistic, Susan Lorincz is a neighbor you don’t want to have, constantly berating the neighborhood children for being children. Hand to God, I had a downstairs neighbor like that when I lived in an apartment, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Lorincz takes things too far, fatally shooting a mother of four through a locked door and then using Florida’s Stand Your Ground law as a defense.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1424110/the-perfect-neighbor-what-happened-to-susan-lorincz-ajike-owens

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025). Netflix. The reviews weren’t good, but I didn’t hate it. It is what it is. A slasher film with all the tropes. There was a more complex plot than the original, which only led to unanswered questions, but does it really matter? This is the kind of mindless film where you just kick back with your popcorn and not think too hard. Probably the best thing about it was the inclusion of actors from the original film and an amusing fantasy sequence with one of them.

https://decider.com/2025/10/17/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-2025-digital-streaming-movie-review

https://www.splicetoday.com/moving-pictures/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer-ages-gracelessly

🔮 Watch Of the (Near) Future…

Genius casting!

https://ew.com/wicked-for-good-casts-colman-domingo-cowardly-lion-11832887

Airing November 6th, 8 pm on NBC, streaming on Peacock the following day.

https://ew.com/first-look-at-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-in-wicked-for-good-tv-special-exclusive-11834430

It’s almost here.

https://ew.com/welcome-to-derry-on-set-it-prequel-tracing-pennywise-origins-exclusive-11830263

👠 Over At the Frankenstein Place…

I can’t wait to read his memoir.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/tim-curry-makes-rare-appearance-045437579.html

🐝 Time To Buzz Off…

One of those good things that will be coming to an end.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/yellowjackets-ending-season-4

🎃 Halloween Watch…

Obviously, best and scariest are a matter of opinion, but there are some good ones here.

https://ew.com/best-halloween-movies-streaming-11832026

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/scariest-movies-of-all-time

🐈‍⬛ Casting a Spell On You…

🍄 Omg, the mushroom Pug.

🗽 These costumes make me feel guilty for not being more ambitious.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/19/us-news/costumed-canines-strut-stuff-at-nycs-halloween-dog-parade/

https://hyperallergic.com/1050567/the-goodest-boys-of-nyc-halloween-dog-parade-2025/

🐕 And of course, ways to keep your pets safe.

🦉 Quotes of the Week

I don’t want to pinch your bubble. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?

You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. – Shonda Rhimes

A good character is the best tombstone. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. – Charles Spurgeon

Whatever you are, be a good one. – William Makepeace Thackeray

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

The road to success is always under construction. – Lily Tomlin

Leaders who win the respect of others are the ones who deliver more than they promise, not the ones who promise more than they can deliver.Mark A. Clement

No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has. – Henry Ward Beecher

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. – Maya Angelou

Success is defined as the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. – Unknown

You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.Leymah Gbowee

We’re married now. My hell is her hell. – Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell), Mike & Molly

🪄 Magic In the Night…

Until next week, stay safe; stay keeping your pets out of the mix on Halloween; and stay not doing body shots in a room full of people with phones if you hire an escort.

January 24, 2025 – Sidwell Meets Laura, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Nom-Noms, Animal Endeavors, 10 Concise Quotes & Freeze-Out

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What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

No soap, inauguration.

Tuesday:

Kristina waited at the launch with Alexis who was going to Spoon Island to meet with Sidwell about Windymere. Drew wanted to charge Tracy with kidnapping because she wouldn’t tell them where the children were even though Martin had a court order. Anna looked like she had a headache when Tracy feigned innocence, and Tracy asked if she looked like a nanny, but Anna said, only one in a Grimm’s fairytale. Tracy told her that Yuri had taken the children and nanny out for the day. Maxie met with Natalia about a new testing facility for Deception. She wanted the closing pushed back to give Sonny time to be with Michael and told Natalia that it wasn’t safe to be in Sonny’s orbit.

Michael was brought to consciousness and told Carly that he wanted to go to Germany. He also wanted to see Sasha. Drew horned in on Anna talking to Tracy, and Jack showed up at the station with info about the incendiary device. Ava was also going to Spoon Island to see Sidwell and badgered Alexis about the settlement money.

Jason went to track Sasha down and Carly told the others that Michael wanted to go to Germany, but Willow wanted to speak to him to confirm and apologize. Tracy claimed they were taking the kids from Monica, but Drew said it killed Tracy that Alan gave the house to Monica, and it was just a power play. Jack told Anna that the WSB was familiar with the device, and it had probably been developed for black ops. She asked if he ever used it and if he was the one who planted it.

Willow went in to see Michael and confirmed he wanted to go to Germany. She apologized for everything, and said the kids missed and loved him and he had to get better for them. She said she’d always love him, and he suddenly clutched in pain.

Ava said her daughter wasn’t safe with a man whose enemies tried to incinerate him and wanted Kristina to testify at the custody hearing. Alexis told Ava to stay away from her daughter or Ava would answer to her. Jack told Anna that he’d be more discreet than setting a luxury high rise on fire. She said the attack was sophisticated and not a usual mob hit.

Carly freaked out about Michael, when Jason arrived with Sasha, but Portia had to sedate Michael again to ease the stress on his system. Carly blamed Willow, but Jason told her not to take out her anger on Willow and focus on Michael. Carly said she’d be going to Germany with him, and Anna called Jason, telling him to get to the station.

Alexis said that Ava didn’t ask, but taunted and badgered. She wondered if Ava would want anyone treat Avery the way she treated Kristina, and Ava left since the truth is hard for her to hear. At the station, Anna told Jason that it was his family, so deal with them. Sasha told Maxie that she’d had a prenatal checkup and thought of Liam. Drew horned in at the hospital and told Willow that he thought Carly had finessed the situation. Sonny advised him to leave, but Willow wanted to talk to him.

Sidwell met Alexis at the dock, and she said she didn’t need to see Windymere again. The Cassadines weren’t known to be sentimental. Maxie offered to go to appointments with Sasha, who said she wasn’t ready to tell the world, but she was glad Maxie and Felicia were there for her to talk to. Maxie asked if Sasha was allowing herself to be happy.

Drew told Willow that he’d had Tracy arrested, but they didn’t know where the kids were, and they didn’t have Michael to use as leverage this time. Willow didn’t like the thought of using Michael as leverage, but was worried she’d messed up in cooperating with Sonny and Carly.

Tracy didn’t want Drew near the kids, but Jason said it was Willow’s call. Tracy said, Willow no longer had a mind of her own and was Drew’s puppet, but Jason said, Michael would want them with their mother. Tracy told him that she wouldn’t go to jail because she had too much money. Ava went to see Sonny and said if Avery had been where Michael was standing, she would have been killed.

Anna said she didn’t have time for the Quartermaines’ petty feuds and had real crimes to deal with. Alexis gave Sidwell the title to Spoon Island and told him that if isolation and excess were what he was looking for, he found his perfect dungeon. He said valued his privacy. Carly thanked Jack for getting Michael into the clinic and arranging for a medical jet. He told her to focus on her son and he’d take care of everything else. Anna told an officer to take Tracy to booking and told Tracy that sometimes the best way to win was to bend.

Drew convinced Willow that Sonny and Carly had been manipulating her. As he chatted her up in the chapel, Jason walked in. Sonny said he wouldn’t let Ava poison his daughter against him, and she said she was going to show the judge the charred remains of the penthouse and photos of Michael’s burns and she was going to get her daughter back permanently. She left and Sonny tried to take his heart meds, but keeled over.

Wednesday:

Charlie’s was reopening and Kristina and Lucky toasted to their dads who were great partners back in the day. Natalia found Sonny, got some medication in him, and called 911. Jason thought there was a compromise if Willow stayed in the gatehouse with the kids and Monica could have access. Lulu wanted to speak to Tracy, but Dante said, no. Lulu said she was fluent in Tracy Quartermaine and asked to have a crack at her.

Spinelli said they might have lost a gastropub, but gained the essence of cool in the new Charlie’s. Willow said if Jason could get Tracy to agree, she’d move back to the gatehouse, even though Drew told her not to negotiate. She had all the power she needed. Felicia told Sasha that the q’s thrived on toxic shenanigans and not to get caught up in it. Lucky told Elizabeth that he may have found a lead in their case.

Brick hit on Jordan going into Charlie’s, but she was meeting Isaiah. Kristina told Brick that him being there officially made it the coolest place in town. Sonny came to while Natalia was on the phone with 911, but he insisted no help. Jason asked to speak to Tracy who asked what the catch was. Drew said Tracy was using Monica to bully Willow. She said her kids were traumatized enough and she wanted to bring the kids back to their home. Jason said it was Tracy’s only chance to make a deal that would keep the kids close to Monica, and Lulu agreed he was right. Would Tracy rather be right or free? It was her turn to be strategic and play the long game. Be smart and take the win.

Sonny asked Natalia to call Isaiah and ruined his date with Jordan, but Brick took his place. Lucky told Elizabeth to follow his lead. Sasha told Felicia that she didn’t even recognize Willow anymore and she’d used Michael as leverage. Felicia suggested they show her some grace. Cody acted like an ass at Charlie’s and told Spinelli that if he wanted to stay out of prison because of Society Set-Ups (which none of us even remember anymore), he’d pony up some $75K. Brick asked if he should be jealous. Isaiah went to Sonny’s, and Sonny explained what had happened with Ava. Isaiah said the pills were just a stop gap measure and Sonny needed to see a cardiologist. Drew tried to talk Willow out of living at the gatehouse, no doubt for his own selfish gains, but Willow wasn’t having it. He said if the Quartermaines saw a way to get her children, they’d do it. Tracy agreed to take the deal.

Lucky talked to Martin about Cyrus, who said it was their mother who inspired Cyrus’s vocation. Isaiah said Sonny couldn’t be there for those he cared about if he didn’t take care of himself. Natalia said she’d stay with Sonny. Jason let Willow know that the kids were waiting at the gatehouse. Martin’s mother said if it had been up to Cyrus, she would be gone, but Cyrus just hadn’t wanted her to suffer. Lucky said they were still missing something because neither Dex nor Sam were terminal. Spinelli said Cody was the same sketchy grifter he’d always been. Lucky told him to take a walk, and Cody told Lucky to take a nap and punched him. Brick intervened, and Maxie thought she’d have to save Cody from himself.

Drew told Martin that Willow needed to be freed from the Quartermaines and Martin asked if Drew meant free to be with him. Drew said he’d do anything to protect Willow. Cody was brought into the station as Tracy was being released. Kristina said bar brawls weren’t the vibe she was going for. Willow came home and all was right with the world. For now.

Thursday:

Both Cody and Lucky were arrested, and Elizabeth tended to Lucky’s wounds in the interrogation room. Mac wondered what the hell was going on with Cody. The more he tried to get through, the more Cody pushed him away. Molly went to see Cody, who thought Lucky should have to pay for damages too, since he’d also been arrested. Molly said he was the only one throwing punches. Ava went to see Laura and Brick went to see Sonny. Kristina told Alexis about the fight, and Jordan said Brick had to step in to stop the fight, but the police thought Lucky was involved. Laura told Ava that a lot had changed and she couldn’t be Ava’s character witness. It was better if she wasn’t involved.

Josslyn told Lucas that she knew Cyrus had stabbed Dex and how she’d messed up at the station. Lucy brought Sidwell to Charlie’s and the thought it was distinctive and inviting. Lucy paved the way for a meeting with Laura.

Molly said no charges would be filed if Cody paid for the damages, but he said he had no money. Mac asked what the hell was wrong with him. Mac asked if Cody’s drunken fights were part of a bigger problem. Ric showed Ava an apartment since she had to establish a permanent residence, but she thought the square footage was lacking. Natalia told Brick what was going on with Sonny’s health, and Sonny filled him in on the rest. Brick said they had to make sure a close call like this never happened again.

Sidwell had to jet. Kristina said he seemed nice, and Alexis said nice and peculiar, since he thought Windymere was charming. Jordan went to see Laura and told her about Sidwell being in town. Cody promised he was done with booze and bar crawling. Mac said Cody was in a spiral that was getting worse, and he wanted to know why. Molly told Felicia that Cody was being a five-star ass. Lucky wanted to talk to Felicia about Cyrus, and Lucky discussed Cyrus with Josslyn. He said all they had were theories and suppositions and they needed evidence.

Lucky and Elizabeth talked to Felicia who said she thought it was the right choice to ban Cyrus from the hospital. Cody told Mac it wasn’t about Sasha. He trashed things when they were good. Mac said he had a family to rely on now and couldn’t push them away. Natalia went to Charlie’s and told Kristina that Sonny and Brick were discussing business. Brick arranged for Sonny to see the best cardiologist in the country in Los Angeles, to keep the diagnosis from the Five Families (marinara sauce). Ric said Ava didn’t have the means for a long-haul custody battle.

Kristina said she was worried about Sonny as she’d gotten a new date for the custody case. Anna said there were no outstanding warrants on Sidwell and even Interpol’s tag had been dropped. Laura got notice of the meeting and said it might be time to give Sidwell what he wants. Ava told Ric that Laura backed out of being a character witness and he told her to never doubt he was on her side, then they kissed. Josslyn said she was going to find the tie between Cyrus and the murders.

Mac left Cody in jail to think. Ava agreed to take the apartment. Laura called Sidwell and made a date to meet. Molly said, as long as people like Cody were saved from the consequences of their actions, there would always be a next time. Lucky wanted to talk to the Turning Woods staff and check their records, but Elizabeth said he’d stepped on a lot of toes there, so he agreed to let her do the talking. Lucas asked Josslyn to promise she’d stay away from Cyrus.

Friday’s Enchilada:

Baden-Baden, Germany. Carly goes into her hotel suite breathing heavy. She almost throws a bottle, but decides against it. Instead, she sits down and cries.

Willow leaves a message for Drew telling him that she’s back at the gatehouse and just wanted to hear his voice. There’s a knock at the door, and Nina says she brought breakfast. She asks how it is being back, and Willow says she’s afraid she made a huge mistake.

Drew asks if Curtis has a second to talk, but Curtis says he doesn’t know what Drew could say that he’d want to hear.

Trina sees Josslyn at the hospital and asks what she’s doing here. Josslyn says she’s trying to stop a murder.

Stella visits Kai, who’s watching a game tape. She says she came to check on him and see if there are any more flowers or gifts that he wants her to distribute. He says, the volunteers took care of it, and she asks if he’s sure he doesn’t want to keep some of it. He says he won’t be here long enough to enjoy it. He’s getting out soon.

Lulu goes to Maxie’s office, but Maxie’s not there. The phone rings, and she answers it. Maxie comes in and mouths, who is it? and Lulu mouths back, Blair Cramer. Maxie says, no, and Lulu asks if she can have Maxie return the call. Maxie says, Lulu has improved since she worked at Crimson, but she’s overqualified for the Deception job and wouldn’t be happy. Lulu says, happiness is overrated, but Maxie says, Lulu isn’t into beauty or cosmetics and needs to be challenged to keep her interested. Lulu says she just wants to earn her own money on her own terms and not rely on what Tracy and her mom decide, but Maxie says, she’d be miserable if she took the job. Lulu asks, what’s going on? Is Maxie trying to get her to withdraw her application, so she doesn’t have to turn her down? Brook walks in and asks what Lulu is doing here. Didn’t Maxie tell Lulu that they’re not hiring her?

Sidwell knocks on Laura’s office door and tells her that he’s looking forward to their meeting. Laura invites him in, and says she thinks he knows Anna. Anna certainly knows him. Anna says she and Sidwell met when he tried to have her killed while she was in Africa. He also tried to have Laura’s son killed.  

There’s a knock at Carly’s door, and she opens it to Jack.

Sidwell says he feels terrible about the situation with Lucky in Africa, and Laura asks if by situation he means holding Lucky captive and forcing him to play poker in order to stay alive. Anna says, he tried to execute her and Jason, but he says, the incident differs vastly from his perspective. His business was threatened. Anna and Jason lied about who they were, as did Laura’s son, and Holly stole from him. Laura asks if that justified holding them captive and torturing them, and he says, when his livelihood was threatened, he took any steps the law of the land allowed to protect it. He was in a country that had no law and nothing he did was illegal. Anna says, they have a fairly strong law here. He abducted Sasha, held her for ransom, and blew up a building – a trifecta of illegality. Sidwell asks if someone accused him. Is there a witness or evidence? He has no idea what she’s talking about. Anna says, they have nothing at this time, and he asks them to allow him to explain why he asked for a meeting. He’s an exporter based in Europe, but wants to expand to the North American market. Laura asks, why Port Charles? Llanview, Pine Valley, or even New York City would be a better choice. To be clear, they don’t want him in Port Charles.

Lulu says, this isn’t about the job, and Brook says she’ll handle it. She’s an officer of the company and has an interest in its success. The job at Deception is to be her assistant. Lulu says, they already established that, and Brook says, given a choice, she wouldn’t choose to work with Lulu. She’s uncomfortable to have around and it makes for a difficult work environment. Lulu says she gets that Brook doesn’t like her, but doesn’t understand why. She’s not the one who came between Brook and her boyfriend. Brook was the one who did that to her.

Willow tells Nina that she didn’t think moving back to the gatehouse would be that big a deal. She’s lived here for years, and it was great, but that was before this ugliness. Tracy walks in, looks at Nina, and asks why she’s not surprised. Nina says, nice to see her too, and Tracy says she saw Wiley getting on the bus to school and Amelia is out for a walk with the nanny. She thought it was the perfect time to go over new ground rules.  

Drew says he didn’t like the way he and Curtis left off. They’ve been friends for a long time, and he didn’t intend to double-cross Curtis. He thought he was doing right by him and Michael, but he failed. He should have handled it differently. Curtis says, ya think? and Drew says, things are different now. Michael is out of the picture, and they can use the opportunity to pivot from his mistake and do something that will work for them both. Curtis says, given what Drew’s done, whatever he’s thinking isn’t going to work, and Drew says he had that coming. He understands why Curtis is angry, but he never meant for it to come to this point. They’ve known each other a long time and go way back. They’ve been through so much together. He’s just asking Curtis to hear him out.

Josslyn tells Trina that she’s trying to see if anybody has any information on Dex, but she’s not getting anywhere. Trina says she gets that Josslyn wants answers and doesn’t blame her for being frustrated, and Josslyn says she had to do something to honor Dex’s memory. She asks if Trina is here to see her mother, but Trina says she’s here to see Kai.

Kai tells Stella that he’s had an MRI and every scan possible. He wishes they’d hurry with the results. The sooner they do, the sooner he’s back on his feet. She says she knows patients who would enjoy a break from enormous men chasing and tackling them, but Kai says he loves football and wants to get back as soon as possible. She says, he still has a lot of work ahead, but first he needs the paperwork. He thanks her for taking care of everything, and him, and she says she’s happy to, but he doesn’t want to push too much too soon, or he’ll set his recovery back. Listen to his doctor. He says he’s not going to do anything to jeopardize his full recovery. He wants to be back for next season.

Carly asks what Jack is doing here, and he says he had a meeting in London. He swung by to see how she’s doing. She says, normally, she’d ask him to wait downstairs so she can pull herself together, and he says he’ll wait wherever she wants. Or if she’s not up to a visit, he can leave. She tells him, come in, and asks if they can order room service. He says, yeah.

Nina says, Tracy can’t barge into her daughter’s house, but Tracy says, it’s Monica’s house because Alan gave it to her and Monica wants her great-grandchildren close by. It’s for her sake Tracy agreed to Willow living here. Willow says she agreed to the compromise because of the kids and Monica, not Tracy. Tracy doesn’t even like her kids. She kidnapped them and kept them from their mother, convincing herself that it was in their best interest, but it wasn’t. Willow withdrew the charge because it hurt too many people, but she could easily change her mind and have the charge reinstated.  

Curtis says, because of the friendship he and Drew used to have, he’ll hear Drew out, and Drew thanks him. He sits down and says he doesn’t like that he’s not in control of a company he started, and he wants it back. He suggests they set up a stock sale so he can get that back. He’s not going to throw his weight around. All he wants is ownership of his own company back. Curtis says, Michael is out because he’s recovering from third degree burns, but Drew tells him that he’s not saying that. Curtis says, it sure as hell sounded like it, and Drew says, Michael has wealth beyond belief. Curtis has a contract to be CEO for five years and he’ll honor that. Curtis says, he’s suggesting the orchestrate a stock sale, Drew gets controlling interest, then steps back and lets him run it without interference. Drew says, Michael did what he did to get back at him for Willow. It had nothing to do with the business. He’s seen the incredible things Curtis is doing and knows he cares about Aurora. Curtis says, of course (🍷) he does, and Drew says, as a courtesy, he wants it acknowledged that he founded the company and it’s running successfully. It makes sense since he’d be the majority shareholder. Curtis says, Drew makes good points, but he’d rather resign than take the deal.

Trina says, she wants Kai to know, if there’s anything she can do, he can count on her, and Josslyn says, it must be rough for him. She thinks it’s good for him to see Trina. Kai’s identity and everything in his life revolves around football. She’s not in that world and brings a different perspective to the conversation. She’s a good friend. She asks, what’s in the bag? and Trina says she went to the wellness center and got power bars and electrolyte water. (I drink that!) It’s good to stay hydrated while in the hospital. It was no big deal. Josslyn says, Trina could have done it later, but Trina says, sometimes later is taken away. They both know that. Josslyn says, that’s why they’re best friends. They get each other. Trina says, they really do, and Josslyn says she’s heading out. They hug, and Josslyn says, let her know how it goes with Kai.

Stella tells Kai to take time to heal. He has his whole life ahead of him and needs more than an arm and shoulder to throw a football. He says, ironically, he’d been debating whether to enlist in the draft or play his senior year. The decision’s been made and he’s glad he has another season at PCU. Stella says, that’s a good way to look at it. And she has one more season to watch him. He asks if she likes football, and she says she loves it. This season was the first time she followed PCU. Their quarterback is a phenomenon. He says, if she wants tickets, just say the word, and that goes for when he’s in the NFL. She says she’s always wanted to go to the Superbowl, and he says he likes the way she thinks. They laugh, when the doctor comes in. He asks if now is a good time to talk, and Kai says, perfect. Stella leaves, and Kai says, so what’s the good news?  

Brook says she feels like Lulu is just waiting for her to mess up and it’s stressful. Nothing kills creativity more than criticism. Lulu says she doesn’t sound critical all the time, but Maxie says, they both do it. Lulu says she doesn’t intend to be critical, and Maxie says, maybe it’s a habit, but it’s not fun to be around and she doesn’t like it. She loves them, but she’s just being honest. Deception has had a lot of ups and downs. Hiring her to work as Brook’s assistant when it’s obvious they don’t like each other seems like there would be complications.

Jack asks how things are with Michael, and Carly says, the doctors at the clinic say he’s doing fine, but they won’t let her see him. She understands that it’s cutting edge and intense. He needs to be isolated because he’s injured and in a lot of pain. But they’re in a foreign country and she has no control. He says, she can leave and go to Johns Hopkins where she’d be allowed to visit, but she says, Michael needs to be here. She’s hoping he comes out like Ava and won’t need surgery or skin grafts. She gets it. He needs to be here. Jack says, even if it means following their rules? and she says, it’s what Michael needs and what she wants. It’s the first offer of hope, and she wants that for Michael. More important, Michael wants that for himself.  

Curtis tells Drew that he wouldn’t betray Michael if he was completely healthy and down the hall in his office. He’s not going to do it while Michael is recovering. Drew says, he had no problem seizing the company Drew co-founded, but Curtis tells him not to rewrite history. Michael gave him the score about Drew double-crossing him. Drew asks why Curtis doesn’t see it from his perspective, and Curtis laughs. He says he’s not going to try and explain it to the man used to know. This Drew in front of him, he doesn’t recognize him. What the hell happened to him?  

Tracy asks if Willow was so dazzled by Drew’s faux hero persona that she had to have him at any cost or was she more conniving than Tracy gave her credit for. Was she trading up from Michael to Drew when he went to congress? Willow says, that’s not what she was doing, but Tracy says, either way, she’s proved untrustworthy. She thinks Willow is little more like Nelle than she realized.

Jack says he respects Carly’s decision to leave Michael where he is, and she says, it’s the right call. She’s been emotional since she got here. He says, if there was ever a time, this would be it, and she says she feels like it’s her fault. He says, she’s Michael’s mother and it’s normal to feel responsible, but she says, it’s more than that. Michael was burned because he was at Sonny’s, and it was her decision to bring Sonny into Michael’s life.

Stella sees Trina and says, what an unexpected treat, and Trina says she came to see Kai. How is he doing? Stella says, he’s in good spirits and getting ready for next season, and Trina says, he’s staying at PCU and she’s not sad about it. Stella says she doesn’t think Kai is sad either. He’s missing out on the draft, and she’s impressed with his attitude. It will get him through tough times. Trina says, Kai surprised her. She prides herself on not making snap judgements and she did with him. He wasn’t what she thought. Stella asks what she thought, and Trina says she thought he was a shallow arrogant jerk who only cared about football. Stella says she’s glad to know that. She’s really liked him ever since his terrible downward dog in yoga class. Trina being in his corner will do him a world of good.

Lulu says, the last thing she wants is to cause complications at Deception. She’s sorry she imposed on her and Maxie’s friendship. It won’t happen again. Brook says she knows they’ve all been through hell. Being in a coma for four years and having liver failure must be a complete nightmare. Maxie says, they wanted to do anything if it would help Lulu get better. They were all tested for compatibility, even Chase and Brook. Lulu says she didn’t know, and Brook says, there are a lot of things she doesn’t know. While all of that was happening, Maxie was running Deception and managing Lucy, which is a full-time job, and dealing with the lawsuit that almost took them down. Lulu asks who sued them, and Brook says, her grandmother. Lulu says, Tracy? and Brook says, the details don’t matter. Her point is, Deception survived in large part because of Maxie’s creativity and hard work. Lulu has no idea how much Deception means to Maxie.

Sidwell says he didn’t choose Port Charles randomly. He’s invested in property. Laura says, he’s an intelligent guy. He must know she’s going to keep a close eye on the man who hurt her son. Anna says she’d think he’d cut his losses and leave, but he says he prefers to prove that he’s a law-abiding citizen, and Laura and Anna laugh. He says he’s sure Anna and the PCPD will be checking up on him on a regular basis, and Anna says, he can count on it. And they’re not the only agency who will be keeping tabs on him. He says he welcomes all the attention and knows in time they’ll decide he’s an asset to this fair city this. He thanks Laura for the meeting, and she says, he may find it difficult to do business in a town where he’s not welcome. He says he looks forward to proving them wrong, and leaves.  

Drew tells Curtis that when he was given the opportunity to go to congress, he thought he’d have a chance to achieve something he didn’t believe possible. The more he was around politics, the more he wanted it. At the time, he and Willow’s relationship changed. Curtis says, Willow is his nephew’s wife, and Drew says he knows. It just happened. They weren’t trying to hurt Michael. Willow saw what he was trying to achieve, and they developed a connection. One she doesn’t have with Michael. Curtis says, whatever he has to tell himself to feel better, and Drew says he’s not the first person to be in this position. Not all marriages last forever. His didn’t and neither did Curtis’s.

Nina tells Tracy, enough. It’s not right for her to use Nelle’s name. Tracy says, Nelle cut a wide swath of damage and that one is the same. If she sees the opportunity, she’ll step in on the children’s behalf. Willow asks what she means, and Tracy says, act responsibly or she’ll lose them. Nina says, they belong with their mother, and Willow says she’s made a genuine effort to compromise. If that doesn’t work, she’ll take the kids back to her mother’s apartment and Tracy can explain to Monica and the rest of the family why they’re gone. Tracy says, fine. However, there’s one condition and it’s non-negotiable. Willow’s boyfriend may not visit on the property. If she’s compelled to look into Drew’s lying eyes, she’ll have to do someplace else. Drew is banned from the property permanently. She leaves.

Carly tells Jack that she and Michael’s biological father didn’t get along… except once. He laughs, and she says, his family, the Quartermaines, didn’t like her very much. She had feelings for Sonny at the time, and he helped her get custody of Michael. She got what she wanted and ignored the very real danger of making Michael a part of Sonny’s life. Their kids have been paying ever since. Jack says, she’s being too hard on herself. Michael is strong and capable and an excellent businessman. Carly says, he wouldn’t have been at Sonny’s except for her choices, and he says she can’t let herself think that way. Hindsight is always 20/20. There’s no point in dwelling on past mistakes. That way, madness lies.

Lulu says she would never do anything to hurt Maxie. Maxie is one of the most important people in her life and she loves her. Maxie says she knows and loves Lulu too, and Brook says she knows how much Lulu cares about Maxie, but she needs to realize what Maxie has been through and how far she’s come. Lulu says she knows things have changed and she’s got a lot to catch up on. She’s trying as fast as she can. She’s been focused on getting a job, so she can gain independence and search for Charlotte on her own terms, but she’s only been seeing things from her perspective. She didn’t take a second to look at it from Maxie’s. It’s not fair and she’s sorry.

Jack tells Carly that early in his career a mission went wrong and an agent, a friend, was killed. One colleague left the WSB and wallowed in guilt. It destroyed his marriage. Jack didn’t outwardly react, so people assumed he didn’t care. Carly says she’s sorry for what he went through, and he says he lost a good friend that day. He tears up and says, there’s nothing he could do to change that. The only way forward was to learn from what went wrong. You can’t life according to what if. You never know what a different decision would have brought. She says, you can’t change the past. She’s been down that road when she lost her son Morgan, and it leads nowhere good. He says, it never does.

Drew tells Curtis, what happened with Michael’s marriage and his injuries are two very different things. He didn’t cause Michael’s burns, and he didn’t help push Willow away. Curtis says, right, and only the doctors can help Michael’s physical injuries. Drew says he made a mistake in placating Michael because he felt guilty. He knows what’s best for Aurora, and if he’d stuck by Curtis, they’d be in a different place. Curtis says, Drew had to do what was best for himself. So does he. When Michael recovers – and he will – he’ll actually respect Michael’s business sense, maybe better than Drew’s. Drew says, wow, and Curtis says, if Drew’s ultimate success is in stealing Willow from his nephew, he’ll have got what he wanted and will find a way of life for himself.

Nina says she’s proud of Willow. Few people can say they stood up to Tracy Quartermaine. Willow says she couldn’t have done it without her mom by her side, and Nina says, it’s where she belongs. Willow says, Drew is right. The Quartermaines treated Michael terribly. She saw how they hate Drew. She should probably do what Drew said and move back in with Nina. (What is wrong with this woman?)

Lulu says she knows Maxie and Brook got close over the past four years and she guesses she felt threatened. She saw the opportunity to have Maxie on her side. Maxie says she doesn’t want side either one of them. They’re both her friends. She can’t force them to like each other, but she does reserve the right to love them both. Brook says she’s worked hard not to be the person she was. Part of her issue is that Lulu reminds her of her past regrets. Lulu says she’s not alone. They all have regrets. Tracy walks in saying, she’s had a bad day, so don’t… Lulu! What is she doing here?

Anna tells Laura, according to her search, Sidwell has no outstanding warrants, and the property transaction was legal. Laura says, what if Anna, Lucky, and Jason submitted an international complaint to the court? but Anna says, that’s no good. Sidwell was doing business in an area that’s completely lawless with zero authority to back them up. Laura says, what about Sasha’s kidnapping? Maybe she can tell them something they can use against Sidwell. Anna says, unfortunately, for various reasons, it wasn’t reported. There’s nothing on the books and nothing tying Sidwell to the property that blew up. Laura says, a man like Sidwell doesn’t change overnight, and Anna agrees. Laura asks what Anna is thinking, and Anna says, Sidwell’s arrival coincided with the fire in Sonny’s apartment. Laura asks if Anna thinks Sidwell was behind the fire, but Anna says she doesn’t know. It’s too soon to say. She’ll have the CID check the warehouse that blew up after Sasha’s abduction. If there’s a match, they might be able to pin it on Sidwell.

Drew tells Curtis that a freshman in congress is a good friend to have, but he has no reason to help the company succeed. Curtis says, he’d rather sink his own company that see it succeed without him, and Drew says, Curtis has one final chance to reconsider his offer. Curtis says his answer stands and opens the door. Now get the hell out. Drew leaves and Curtis slams the door.

Nina says she saw Willow stand up for herself in a way she hasn’t seen before. She compromised with Carly and Sonny because it was the right thing to do. She could tell Willow was more at ease. She has to continue to trust herself and her instincts. The Quartermaines and Monica appreciate the effort she’s put into the kids and Michael will appreciate it when he gets back. Willow says she hopes so. She doesn’t want to hurt Michael more than she already has. Nina says, the effort she’s making is a huge step toward an amicable resolution for them both in the future. Willow wonders if she should stay here. She’s going to miss Nina. Nina says, not a chance. She’ll be here all the time. Willow says, good, and they hug.

Maxie says, Lulu was thinking about applying for the assistant position, and Tracy says, she’s hired. Lulu says, they were just talking and she’s not sure she’s a good fit, but Tracy says, of course (🍷) she is. Lucy says the company is run on beauty and creativity, and Lulu has a boatload of both. Lulu says she thinks she’ll go see if Carly will hire her at the MetroCourt, but Tracy says, absolutely not. She’s the majority shareholder and the final decision is hers. She wants Lulu here. Lulu says, that’s nice of her and thanks, but she’s good. Tracy says she’ll pay Lulu double what the last assistant made, and both Maxie and Brook say, what?! Tracy says, Lulu is worth twice what Gladys Corbin was, and Brook says, Wade was her last assistant. Tracy says, Lulu is worth double what Wade was making. What does she say. Lulu says, it’s a great environment and it would give her a chance to work with people she respects and loves. She guesses she has to accept it. Tracy says, woohoo! Welcome to Deception. The phone rings and Tracy asks what Lulu is waiting for. Lulu answers the phone. Maxie Jones’ office…  

Trina goes into Kai’s room and says her Aunt Stella told her that he was impatient for rehabilitation. She brought him some power bars and electrolyte water. He thanks her, but his tone is flat, and she says she knows it’s silly. He probably has tons. He says, it’s not that, and she asks if something is wrong. He says he saw the orthopedist and he’s never going to play football again.  

At Turning Woods, Josslyn tells the reception nurse that she has a light load this semester and was looking to do something more meaningful with her time. She was hoping there were extra slots for volunteers. The nurse checks and says, there’s one slot not covered. It’s all hers if she wants it. Josslyn says, absolutely. Sign her up.

Jack asks if Carly wants him to find out why she’s being denied access to Michael, but she says she can handle it herself. He says he’s disappointed that she doesn’t need him, but not surprised, and she says she’ll get in to see her son whether they like it or not. He says he doesn’t doubt it for a second, and she says, but she would like a ride. He says, done. Consider him her chauffeur.

(Mrs. Jack Brennan… 💘)

On Monday, Laura says, Lulu might be headed for trouble; Drew tells Martin that they have another thing coming if they think he’s not seeing Willow; Kristina asks if Sonny thinks it’s really the best time for him to be traveling right now; and Jason needs Anna to do something more for someone now.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Good news! And a reminder that mental illness and addiction don’t discriminate.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/vinessa-antoine-shares-her-brothers-been-found

She must get tired of fielding this question.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/is-carly-leaving-general-hospital-laura-wright-speaks-out

So did he take the subway? Nothing says NYC like that smell.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/steve-burtons-weekend-to-remember-in-nyc

Too bad they didn’t get much of a final scene.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-katelyn-macmullen-says-goodbye-to-chad-duell

This is a better tour than you get from the adults.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/go-backstage-at-general-hospital-with-gary-james-fuller

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Gary acted like someone held a gun to his head to drink so much, when Captain Glenn was being nice. The punishment was forfeiting 500 euros of the tip, which was $23K, so they still got $2055. Gary apologized, and he and the captain hugged it out. The charter was 8 women, all with a different food restrictions, which made Cloyce’s head explode. Next time, the finale.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Boz told Dorit that she thought there were more than memes between PK and Kyle, but Erika told her that it was nothing. When cornered into sharing her text with PK with the group, Kyle read it and then stormed out saying, I’m done! Memegate lives on.

Yeah, I never thought for a moment LVP was coming back to RHOBH. She’s a busy woman what with all her restaurants, a hotel, and single-handedly ridding the world of the dog meat trade.

The Real Housewives of New York City

Ubah is a real disappointment, suggesting Brynn slept her way into the Housewives. That in itself is an insult. If I was going to sleep my way into something, it would not be this show. This is where the big kerfuffle happened. The women were all upset, since Ubah saying such a thing was beyond insensitive given Brynn’s history. Then Ubah got super upset and claimed she never knew Brynn’s history, or she never would have said it. The fourth wall was broken all over the place – although I did question whether or not that was some kind of ratings Hail Mary pass – and Brynn suddenly wasn’t sure if Ubah actually knew her history. It literally took me the rest of the show to follow this, so don’t feel bad if you’re lost. Apparently, this was some kind of friendship breaking point, but TBH, I didn’t think it was all as big of a deal as they were making it, especially since the only two people involved should have been Ubah and Brynn.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It was the Reunion and literally ten minutes in, everybody was talking over each other and Andy was yelling. However, kudos to the women for their gorgeous outfits – the ladies in shades of red. Whitney said Bronwyn didn’t claim her publicly as a friend, which I thought was really weird. Do we need to confirm friendships on Instagram now? A viewer suggested Heather had become a mean girl when she lost weight, but I don’t think that’s quite it. Heather was always a mean girl (to which she concurred), but IMO, she lost her authenticity along with the weight and becoming a Housewives clone, like Jen in RHONJ. It ended with Todd and John looking like they might get into a battle royale.

Southern Charm

Whitney said the coffeemaker was so complicated, you needed a Ph.D. in astrophysics to run it. Highly doubtful. You probably just need to not have a hangover. It was much of the same, the usual if you’re friends with them, you can’t be friends with me. Austen was sour grapes over Craig wanting to move on from their friendship and podcast, but hey, sometimes it just isn’t forever. I have plenty of friends I’m no longer friends with for various reasons, but that just means we went in different directions. It’s not an insult. I think if Paige had really wanted to make it work with Craig, she could have been bi-state or however you put it. But again, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Shep wanted to be Jimmy Buffet without the guitar, living in the Bahamas with Sienna, and in his interview, he said, you don’t have those fantasies if you’re not serious about it. I dunno about that. Molly is the MVP so far, playing the euphonium – i.e. tuba – in the Charleston Concert Band, coincidentally directed by her high school band teacher. Imagine. An actual interesting person with an interesting focus. Or even any real focus. She said, music changes you, as all art should. She also thought tantric sex was too much work. Same. JT tried to tell Taylor some truths about Gaston, but she wasn’t having it. I get covering her ears and going, la-la-la, but I’d want to know. JT wasn’t understanding that there’s a time and place and that wasn’t it.

Southern Hospitality

Emmy had another breakdown and I’m over it. Although she did bring Tammy Faye raccoon eyes, which I applaud.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night on Peacock. This is an interesting foray into what goes on behind the scenes of a sketch comedy show that’s been on since the beginning of time. Or at least the mid-70s. A four-part miniseries, it’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s interesting to see how a show with that kind of longevity works. Personally, I think I’ll enjoy Saturday Night – which I’m hoping to catch this weekend – more, but this still held my interest. I’m there for a documentary, and the third episode focusing only on the More Cowbell sketch is well worth it.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-secrets-cast-writers-cowbell-1236110501/

https://www.thewrap.com/snl-50-beyond-saturday-night-ep-morgan-neville-interview-peacock/

Wicked at the movies. Yes, I actually ventured out in the world to see it, since I’d won a ticket in some instant win internet contest. There was no way I was battling children for a seat, so I skipped the first weekends after it opened. Then I got whatever was going around as a Christmas gift, but I managed to squeak in before it was gone entirely. I’m glad I did, since this really should be seen on a big screen. As I’m sure you already know, it’s magnificent. I’d never seen the Broadway play and the score isn’t my favorite, but the story is bittersweet, the casting is perfection, and it’s beyond lavish with the special effects. One of my favorite parts was the reunion of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the original Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, and I wondered how it felt after all those years. My only question was, in a world where there are bears who are nannies, a goat who’s a professor, Munchkins, peacocks who wear hats, flying monkeys, and a place literally called Emerald City, why is a green woman considered strange?

https://collider.com/wicked-oscar-nominations-best-original-score-john-powell/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/cynthia-erivo-best-actress-wicked-oscar-nomination-interview-1236266022/

https://deadline.com/2025/01/ariana-grande-best-supporting-actress-oscars-interview-1236265006/

🏆 Awards Corner…

It’s that time again. The Academy Awards will be airing March 2nd.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/2025-oscar-nominations-see-full-130201914.html

🦁 Four-Legged News…

🦛 Yet another pygmy hippo influencer.

https://people.com/how-to-watch-pygmy-hippo-poppy-livestream-8773741

🐩 I never thought about this. It’s kind of weird.

https://www.cuteness.com/1737908/dog-breeds-dont-exist-why/

🐶 Best Bowl in town.

https://people.com/puppy-bowl-2025-record-breaking-142-puppies-8772392

🐕 I love a special needs pup.

https://people.com/11-puppies-with-special-needs-puppy-bowl-2025-8772912

🥠 Quotes of the Week

We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams. – Jimmy Carter

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. – Jim Rohn

When someone tells me no, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them. – Karen E. Quinones Miller

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison

He has all the integrity of a coat rack. – Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), General Hospital

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. – Michael John Bobak

It is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness. – William L. Watkinson

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen Covey

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. – Thomas Berger

Don’t be a Gino. – Jasmine Pineda, 90 Day Fiancé: The Last Resort

🐻 Hibernation Mode…

Until next week, stay safe; stay driving extra carefully in weather you’re unfamiliar with; and stay not waiting for later, since sometimes later is taken away.

January 17, 2025 – Michael Gets the Final Say, Soap Suds, Not My Reality, Weekend Watching, Plus One, Getting There, Gate in the City, Exit Interview, Good Guy, Awards, The Players, Hebodomad Quotes & Things

Standard

What I Watched Today

(The whole GH enchilada & entertainment minutiae on Fridays)

General Hospital

Monday:

Willow said she was in charge of Michael’s medical care, and Michael went into cardiac arrest. Portia said Willow had the right to make decisions about Michael’s medical care, and Drew told Carly and Sonny, hand over the kids and they’d have access, like the trashbag he is. Carly said, Drew was pushing things to point of no return, so Willow would have no one to turn to but him. Nina finally talked Sonny into giving the kids back, and Willow thanked Drew because she’s an idiot in love with a trashbag.

Cody wanted to invest in crypto, but Tracy said it would be better to set his money on fire. Alrighty then. But later, Cody told Brad to call his Aunt Selina because he had a sure thing bet on football after he’d talked to Kai for 3 minutes. Later, Portia said she wanted to use Brad’s talent for bending the rules to find out what patients had gotten digitalis without it being prescribed. Brad was a busy guy this week.

Lulu told Laura about what happened in Prague and asked when Laura was going to tell her that Anna had shot Charlotte. She said she thought Dante was right in that she’d led the shooter to Valentin. Laura promised to help Lulu find Charlotte again.

Isaiah told Lucas that they could choose to do something, and risk Michael dying, or do nothing, and Michael would definitely die. He chose to do something and gave Michael a medication that counteracted the digitalis. Isaiah told Portia what happened with Michael, and they came to the genius conclusion that, someone in this hospital is killing people with digitalis.

Tracy and Stella talked about Monica, which was like a knife to the heart knowing that Leslie Charleson had passed away.

Tuesday:

Lucky talked to a woman from the Port Charles Redemption Mission and found out Cyrus’s focus was on patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Lucas told Elizabeth about Michael and how Isaiah had given him digoxin immune FAB to counteract the digitalis. Lucky said they had to figure out what connected all the digitalis victims and why Cyrus would want them dead. Jason told Sonny that whoever planted the bomb in the penthouse would try again.

Willow told the kids that Michael was in the hospital. Dante told Sonny what happened in Prague. Josslyn conferred with Lucky about Cyrus.

Drew showed up at Nina’s and after she slammed the door in his face, she let him in.  She said he’d moved Willow away from what she loved and valued with the sick hold he had over her and gave him the business. She said Drew wouldn’t know love if it jumped up and bit him in the ass.

Tracy said she’d help Lulu if she had a solid lead, but Lulu needed to be more strategic and less emotional. Jason suggested the clinic in St. Petersburg where he’d been held hostage for Michael’s treatment, since Ava had her burns treated there. Sasha helped trick Willow into letting the kids go to the main house, and Tracy said, they weren’t leaving. Martin argued with Tracy about letting the kids go with Willow. Felicia said Jason and Carly had to leave the ICU, and Nina told Sonny that he had to go to the Quartermaines and get the kids from Tracy.

Wednesday:

Lucky and Elizabeth went to Beradino’s where Cyrus works. Josslyn went to Anna about Cyrus stabbing Dex. Alexis spoke to Drew about Sam’s wishes for Scout. Drew decided to commute to DC rather than live there. Carly wanted to call a press conference and out Drew, but Felicia told her not to make it worse than it already was.

Sonny talked to Tracy, who told him that Drew was the enemy and to handle him accordingly. Trina and Gio watched the game at The Brown Dog, and Emma showed up. (Since she was nuEmma, I didn’t realize she was also the pickpocket in Rice Plaza.) Cody was also at the bar. Alexis said Scout needed consistency and stability, and Drew said, maybe Willow was what she needed. Alexis wondered if it was less what Scout needed, and more what Drew needed. Tracy reminded Sonny that Michael was AJ’s son.

Felicia needed a drink, and Sasha was her designated driver. Elizabeth chatted Cyrus up while Lucky was in the bathroom, then suggested to Lucky that she volunteer at the mission. Carly asked Jack about the Boronsky clinic, and he said it no longer existed, but the burn expert was now in Germany. Carly badgered him about getting Michael into the German clinic. Jason showed up at the Quartermaines and asked Tracy to please give the children back. Tracy said it was the first time he’d ever said please, but then pulled the Monica card. Alexis suggested Scout move in with her, but Drew wasn’t having it. Anna questioned Cyrus, but Josslyn blew everything and alerted him to the investigation. Tracy said, for once in Jason’s life, don’t choose Sonny, choose his family, and he did.

Thursday:

Chase got checked out and Brook went to see Dr. Navarro. She told the doctor about her teenage pregnancy, and Dr. Navarro told her that it should have no impact on her trying to get pregnant now. Nina suggested Willow compromise, but Willow was all about what Drew said. She thought Nina was asking her to bow down to Carly and Sonny, but Nina said Willow needed empathy. Lay down her weapons and maybe they’d lay down theirs. Tracy said using the kids as bargaining chips wasn’t going to fly. They were where Monica wanted them and that’s where they were staying. (Keep twisting those knives.)

Kai ended up in the hospital and Cody had to pay off his bet. Carly told Tracy about transferring Michael to the burn expert, and asked how far Tracy would go if it was Ned. Tracy said, as far as she had to. Nina told Ava what was going on and that Willow’s life was in shambles because of Drew. Dante talked to Cody about Lulu, and Cody said, Dante could keep doing what he was doing and get shut out, or do things Lulu’s way.

Trina visited Kai in the hospital. Tracy sympathized with what Carly was going through as a mother, but it was about what Carly had put the family through for years. Tracy suggested Carly and Sonny find another way. Nina discussed the Willow/Drew situation with Ava. Selina tried to get Cody back in the game, and Dante wondered what was up, but Cody told Dante that he was okay. Alexis talked to Curtis about Drew. Nina wanted to get Willow thinking for herself again, and Ava said, tell Willow who he really is. When they were falling in love, he was having sex with her mother. Chase told Tracy that she couldn’t keep Wiley and Amelia from Willow and this had to stop. Willow asked to see Carly.

Friday’s Enchilada:

In her office, Brook leaves a voicemail for Chase that she’s done with her appointment and Dr. Navarro was super positive. She should get her test results soon, but maybe they should do something to relax, like spend a weekend in New York City. Have dinner and see a show, just them, and they can have baby making time. They’ll figure it out tonight. She loves him. Lulu comes in and asks if she’s interrupting.

Chase says, Tracy can’t keep the kids from their mom, and Tracy says, not him too. He has no idea how many times she’s had this conversation today. She was hoping for a break. He says, they’ve been through a lot, and he’d like to think they could be honest with each other. She says she’s going to stop him. He makes her granddaughter so happy, and she holds his entire family in the highest regard, so she’s going to put this as nicely as she can – butt out.

At the gallery, Lucas shows Ava a video on this phone, and she says, look how well Avery is dancing. Her costume is perfect. Lucas says, Avery was so proud. She wanted to make sure he recorded the rehearsal for Ava. She thanks him for bringing it, and he says he wanted to return the favor for her talking him down on Christmas Eve. She says, of course (🍷). She can’t stop thinking about the fire at Sonny’s. She’s so grateful Avery wasn’t there. She asks if they know the cause yet, but he says, all he knows is that the police are looking into it.

At Beradino’s, Cody looks at a cashier’s check and says he was so close to making his dreams come true. He sees Drew and walks over to him. He says he’d tell Drew that it’s nice to see him, but he’s far too sober to lie.  

Jordan starts a conversation with Martin near the bar, but then sees Drew and Cody and says she’s needed over there. Drew asks if Cody is disappointed that there’s’ nothing left to blackmail him with, and Cody says, you smug… Jordan tells him, don’t even think about it.

Outside Michael’s room, Willow says she’s glad Carly is here. She was hoping to talk with her and Sonny. Sonny joins them, and Willow thanks them for getting here so fast. Sonny says, it sounded important, and Willow says she knows they’re upset, and she understands why. She’s hoping they can find a way forward that works for them both. Carly asks if that means she’s going to let them see their son.

Chase tells Tracy that he’s had a front row seat for everything that happened with Michael and Willow because he’s friends with them both. He’s begging her not to make it more difficult. She says, it’s not difficult; it’s simple. The children are going nowhere. He tells her that everyone says she’s acting out of spite, but he doesn’t believe that. He saw how she helped his dad and Finn. Through all the snarky and sarcastic comments, he knows nothing means more to her than family. He knows she thinks she’s helping protect the kids, but he promises she’s only causing more drama.

Brook asks if Lulu needs help, and Lulu says she was looking for Maxie, but she can hang out in the waiting area. Brook says, she’s better off texting. Maxie is meeting with a vendor, and her afternoon is booked solid with interviews. Lulu says, that’s why she’s here. She was hoping to be one of them. Brook asks if she’s applying for a job at Deception.

Ava tells Lucas that she knows firsthand what Michael is going through. It’s a horrible, painful ordeal. Have they arrested anybody for setting the fire? Lucas says she doesn’t think so. Anna and Chase were at the hospital to question Michael, but he was in no shape to talk. Ava says, he was injured because of Sonny, and Lucas says she knows what she’s thinking, but Avery is completely safe. He sees her all the time. If he had doubts about Avery’s safety, he’d tell her. She says, of course (🍷) she worries about her little girl. She’s glad Lucas gets to see Avery so much and came to show her the video. Will he do one little favor for her? He says, it depends, and she says, give Avery a hug and tell her how much her mama loves her. He says he’ll do it tonight after work. He’s headed there now. She asks him to send her the video and he says he will. He leaves, and Ava makes a call. She says, I need to see you right away.

Cody tells Jordan that he has no beef with the congressman, but it seems the congressman might have one with him. Drew says he does, but Jordan says, neither of them need to get into anything in a public place. Cody should go. Cody says, gladly. He’ll see Drew around. Have a terrible day. He hopes Jordan’s day is a pleasant one. He leaves and Drew says, nice to see Jordan’s got his back, and she says, it looked like he was the one escalating things. What was it about and what did he do?

Willow says, the situation between her and Michael is being made more difficult with everyone getting involved. Michael wouldn’t want her separated from their kids. Carly says she had the kids and sent them to the Quartermaines, and Sonny says, she did what she thought was right at the time. Carly says she had no idea Tracy would hold them hostage, and Willow says, the kids are worried sick about Michael. Carly says, Wiley called her. He’s wondering what happened. Willow says, he called her too and asked when daddy was coming home. Carly says, Sonny made a good faith effort, and Sonny says, but Tracy refuses to let them go. Carly says, Tracy has no right to keep them and can’t legally. They’ll figure out a way to get them back. Willow says she hopes Carly is right. She needs to trust her own judgement about what’s best for her children and Michael and she’s come to a decision.

Ric walks into the gallery and asks, what’s so important? Ava says, Avery’s life is in danger. He needs to petition the court for an emergency custody order for her to have Avery full-time. Ric says he thought Carly had Avery, and Ava says she assumes he heard about the fire. It was no accident. Ric says, of course (🍷). Any time there’s a catastrophe in Sonny or Jason’s vicinity, it’s some attacker seeking retribution. She says, what if Avery had been there? She could have been burned like Michael. It’s terrifying. He says he’s sorry. As a father, he understands, but the court won’t see it as a reason for an emergency change in custody. Avery was nowhere near there at the time of the fire. She was with Carly and Donna where she has a bedroom and where she’s lived most of her life. Ava says, if he won’t file it, maybe she should find herself a lawyer who will. He says, that’s her right, but they’ll tell her the same thing. Wait until the right moment to make her move. She tells him, says the absentee father, and he says, it’s no reason to get personal. She says, sorry, but she could never understand how he could stay away from Molly for so long. It kills her not seeing Avery every day. He says, one of his biggest regrets is not being able to be a presence in Molly’s life, and she says, what if he was in her place and Molly was in danger? What would he do? He says he’d move heaven and earth to keep her safe, and she asks why he’s telling her the opposite. He says he wants her to fight, but be smart. Her current custody battle with Sonny is going to be very long and very expensive. She says she may be overextended at the moment, but it’s not like she’s living in the street, and he says, then why hasn’t she paid him?

Lulu says she’s here to apply for the job, and Brook says, it’s an assistant position. Wasn’t Lulu’s last job as a reporter at The Invader? Lulu says, that was four years ago. Deception needs an assistant, and she needs a job. They don’t all have trust funds. Brook says she doesn’t care what Lulu thinks, but every job she’s had, outside the music industry and in, she’s stood on her own and earned her own paycheck, Lulu says, like when Brook was paid to seduce Dante? (very mature) and Brook says she did that and it was a lapse in judgement. She and Dante have moved past that. Lulu says she didn’t get the memo, and Brook says she lives in her family’s home with her husband. Dante and Rocco live there too, and they all get along great. They let go of something that was a lifetime ago and they’ve moved on. Lulu says, Brook is being condescending, when Maxie comes in. She says she sees they’re getting along as great as ever, and Brook’s phone dings. After reading a text, she says she needs to go home and talk to her husband. She leaves Lulu in Maxie’s capable hands. She trusts Maxie will make the right decision. She leaves and Maxie asks Lulu what they were arguing about this time.

Tracy says she didn’t realize Chase had a psychiatric degree to go with the police badge, but he says he doesn’t need a degree to read her. She says, since he’s an expert in her behavior, what is she going to say next? and he says, she’s going to argue that Willow can’t be trusted because she cheated on Michael with Drew. Drew will never be a real Quartermaine, and even though she doesn’t like Michael, he’s a real Quartermaine. Family’s got to stick together. How did he do? She says she’s delighted they’re on the same page. Now drop the entire thing. He says, there’s one more thing. She left out something important. Wiley and Amelia are Michael’s kids, but they’re also Willow’s kids, and they need their mom.

Willow says, Michael would want both Carly and Sonny to be with him during this and she won’t stand in their way. Carly thanks her and looks through Michael’s room window. Sonny thanks Willow and says he knows how difficult the decision is. She says she’s not sure how it got so messy, and he says, they’re both grateful she’s letting them see Michael. She says, Michael has done so much for her. He gave her the gift of family and supported her dreams even when they changed. All she wants is for him to get better and be with the kids again. Portia joins them and says she needs to discuss the next step in Michael’s recovery with Willow. Willow looks at Carly.

Tracy says, Chase is disposed to favor Willow, seeing her as a well-meaning angel led astray, but Chase says, that’s not true. She says she watched the congressman’s hubris in taking Willow and Wiley to the inauguration. She saw the pictures. Willow, Wiley, and Scout, the perfect readymade family. He had no concern whether Michael or Monica would see the photos. Chase says, Michael and Monica are adults. This is about two kids who need their mom. Tracy says, their mother does not put them first. She does.

Lulu says, a miracle recovery doesn’t pay the bills. She needs a job. Maxie says, at Deception? and Lulu says she saw the ad, but she didn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, so she tried other places. The Invader is under new management, and nothing else panned out. Maxie says, she’s overqualified, but Lulu says she just needs to make money. Maxie asks if she’s interested in cosmetics, and Lulu says, not really, but she wasn’t into fashion and she was still good at her job at Crimson. Maxie says, what about the Brook factor? and Lulu says she promises to be on her best behavior working with Brook. Maxie says, she’d be working under Brook, and Lulu asks if she’d be Brook’s assistant. Maxie says, since they hate each other, she doesn’t see it going well, but Lulu tells her that she wouldn’t say hate. It’ll be fine, but it’s weird that Brook and Maxie are BFFs now. When did that happen?

At the hospital, Cody says, just the man he didn’t want to see, and Brad pulls him aside. He says he told Cody that he’d text. Coming to where he works is not cool. Cody hands him the check, and says, it’s most of the money he owes Selina. Brad says, most of it? He placed a bet with his aunt for Cody and not he can’t pay up? Lucas sees them.

Ava says she’s working to secure funds. She’ll get the money. Ric says, she could work harder, and she says she’s good at what she does. She’s in communication with some long-term clients who are experienced collectors. She just wants her daughter with her. He says, she needs to dig in for the long haul. They both know how Sonny is with his kids. He’s territorial and had his share of custody battles and won. At least Avery is close by and safe. Watch and wait. Patience is the key. Sidwell walks in and asks if someone can assist him. Ava says, of course (🍷), and introduces herself as the owner of the gallery. She asks what she can do for him, and he says he’s brand new to Port Charles and stumbled on her lovely gallery. He’s Jenz Sidwell. She says, it’s nice to meet him, and Ric introduces himself, shaking hands with Sidwell. Sidwell says, since Ava owns this fine establishment, perhaps she can guide him to which painting is worthy of his attention.

Jordan asks what Drew was trying to accomplish starting a fight, but Drew says, Cody approached him. She tells him, stop looking innocent, and he says he just doesn’t trust Cody. She asks who he does trust. Look around. Is there anyone currently talking to him who isn’t on his payroll? He says he’s guessing Curtis filled her in on what happened at Aurora, and she says she’s aware of the issue. He says he hopes she’s aware that he was giving Curtis a promotion, a huge raise, and complete control of the wellness division. She says, that’s his problem. It’s not about the money. It’s about how he treats his friends who were always loyal. Curtis values honesty and Drew lied. Drew says he never lied, and she says she stands corrected. He misled Curtis. He let Curtis think he was going to be CEO. It’s less betrayal in his books, but in hers, it’s semantics.

Portia says she’d like to speak with Willow in private, but Willow says, Carly and Sonny can hear too, so they can all discuss options. Portia says, good. They got Michael a bed in the Johns Hopkins burn unit. It’s the best hospital in the country and vacancies are rare. Willow says, he’ll be close enough to visit, but Carly says she might have a better option.

Chase says, Tracy can get herself in trouble if she doesn’t turn over the children, but she says she’s not afraid of litigation. He says he’s talking about criminal charges, and she laughs. She says, the carrot didn’t work, so now he’s bringing out the stick and threatening her. Good luck with that. She’s faced down worse. Brook walks in and asks why Tracy is picking a fight with her husband.

Maxie says she’ll have to fill Lulu in on her relationship with Peter August another time over a bottle of wine. And when she says, bottle of wine, she means several shots of tequila. Lulu asks what that has to do with Brook, and Maxie says, Brook was there for her in a big way. Lulu tells her, if you say so, and Maxie says, Lulu may not want to hear it, but Brook is a good person. She’s flawed and made questionable choices, but who hasn’t? Brook has been a good friend. Lulu says she’s glad Brook was there when Maxie needed someone, but something about Brook always rubs her the wrong way. She plays at being Bensonhurst, but has the Quartermaine name and fortune to fall back on. Maxie says she’s not buying that. Lulu is obviously upset, but she doesn’t think it’s about Brook. What’s really going on? Lulu says, Charlotte.

Ava says she’ll show Sidwell around. Ric was just leaving. Ric says he’d like to stick around and watch her work, and she says, art is subjective. What speaks to someone depends. She asks Sidwell to tell her something about himself so she can steer him in the right direction. He says he’s an importer looking for a North American base, so he moved to Port Charles. Ric asks, where’s his house? and Sidwell says, it’s an old, gothic residence on Spoon Island. Ava says, he bought Windymere? And he asks if she’s familiar with it. She says she used to live there, and Sidwell laughs.

Cody says he thought he had luck, but it was not his lady, and Brad says he’s $5000 short. Cody says he’s good for it, and Brad says he’ll tell his aunt. Maybe they can work out something. Cody says he’s never going to use the term sure thing again. He jinxed himself. Brad says he’s sorry, and Cody says he’s got to go. Brad walks over to Lucas and says, it’s not what it looks like. What he saw isn’t what he thinks.

Jordan tells Drew that she’s the last one to cast stones. TJ’s father was her husband’s best friend. The issue isn’t how he chooses his relationships. It’s how he treats the people in his life. Drew asks if she realizes that Curtis was just as deceptive in stealing Aurora, but she says, he led Curtis to believe he’d be permanent CEO, then went behind Curtis’s back and promised the job to Michael. Drew says he was trying to make peace, but it was a futile effort, and she says, stop. She doesn’t want to hear his explanations. He dug a hole for himself and if he doesn’t start making amends, he’s going to be alone and isolated. She believes he’s a better man than his recent actions indicate, so she’s going to give him some advice. Start mending fences. She leaves, and Martin joins Drew. He says he guesses it’s safe to assume the appropriate amount of rain has gone down on him from his constituents.   

Carly explains there was a groundbreaking procedure to remove scar tissue in a burn unit used by the Boronsky Clinic in St. Petersburg, Russia. It’s now closed, but the doctor is working in Germany. Willow asks if she wants to send Michael to Germany and asks if Portia has heard of the procedure. Portia says, no, never, but Carly says, the results are incredible, and Jack Brennan was able to secure a space in the clinic. Sonny asks if they can talk privately, and they step away. He asks why she didn’t tell him before, and she says she wanted to make sure it was possible. Michael can make a full recovery with no scars. He says he’s not sure, it’s so far away, but she says, you can’t even tell Ava was burned. She wants that result for Michael and Sonny has to trust her that this is the best thing. She’ll be there every minute of every day. She gets that he doesn’t trust Jack, but doesn’t he trust her?  

Carly tells Willow that the clinic has had incredible results, but Willow says she doesn’t think it’s best for Michael. He needs to be nearby so they can visit. Portia says she has no information, so she has to advise against it, and Willow says she’s not comfortable with Michael so far away and the doctors not having vetted the procedure. Carly says, he’ll make a full recovery, but Portia says, his burns are quite severe. Carly says, they’ve already seen the results. No one is able to tell that Ava had third degree burns. Willow says, Michael won’t have his family, and she knows Johns Hopkins is a great hospital. It’s her preference. Sonny says he thinks Michael should make the decision, and Willow says, that means waking him up. Portia says, it will cause immense pain, but Sonny says, it’s Michael’s life and he should make the call. Carly says she knows Michael wouldn’t want them to make the decision for him, and Willow says, she’s right. Michael has to decide for himself. Wake him up and let him choose. Portia says, okay, but only one of them can go in and talk to him, and Sonny says, that would be Carly. Willow says she agrees.

Sidwell says, it’s nice he and Ava have Windymere in common. How was her time there? Ava says, it was eventful, and he asks, what made her leave such a magnificent home, if she doesn’t mind him asking. She says she was living there with her husband and they split up, and he says he’s sorry to hear that. She says, he’s being kind, but she’s moved on, and he says he’s glad to hear that. He’s a firm believer in second chances and kismet. How else could you explain him wandering into her gallery? He sees she has the taste and expertise he needs to help him choose the right art to make his new home his own. Ava says she happens to have the perfect painting in mind and steers him to a large modern art canvas. She says, this painting is by talented Greek artist from Crete. He’s a marvelous painter and a talented sculptor. Sidwell says, the light in the study will make this a vibrant addition to his collection, and she says she loves the artist and would love to show him more of their work. They walk to the next room and Ric follows.

Tracy tells Brook that she and Chase disagree. He believes she should give Wiley and Amelia back to Willow and she refuses. Brook says, because of Monica, and Tracy says, the children are Monica’s only saving grace. They put a smile on her face and they’re going to take that away? Brook says, they all love Monica, and Tracy says she’s glad they agree. The last thing Monica needs is more stress. Brook wonders, if Monica asks, is Tracy going to tell her that she needs to be their mother, especially if their father can’t be there for them?

Maxie says she’s happy that Dante brought Lulu home safe, but she’s sorry Valentin ran off with Charlotte. If it was one of her kids, she’d be going crazy. Lulu says she needs to find Charlotte and it’s going to take a lot of money. Maxie says, good thing her stepmom is an heiress who loves her, and Lulu says her mother and stepmother agreed to help her, but they want to wait and see what Valentin’s next step is. She needs Charlotte home now. Maxie says, Lulu never liked waiting, and Lulu says, Maxie knows her well. Maxie says, she can’t galivant across the world when she doesn’t even know the country, and Lulu says she doesn’t know where her daughter is. Charlotte lost four years of life living without her mother. She needs something she can control and the only thing she came up with was getting a job. Maxie says she gets that, and Lulu says, it’s not just the money. She wants to get a place where she and Rocco can live, and Charlotte when she finds her. Maxie says, it makes sense. Lulu was always Miss Independence, eager to get on with life. Lulu says, life has moved on and she’s racing to catch up instead falling farther back.

Drew says he’s not discussing his personal life with Martin, but Martin says, as a survivor of three divorces, does Drew mind if he offers some unsolicited advice? The heart wants what it wants, and you can’t help who you fall in love with. Drew says, exactly. He’s not going to apologize for how he feels about Willow. Martin says, as long as he stays true to his feelings, and does the best he can for himself and for the woman he’s involved with. Drew thanks him and says, that’s actually what he wanted to talk about. They sit down, and Drew says, Willow is in the hospital with Michael, as it should be, but the situation with the children is up in the air. They need to get Wiley and Amelia away from the Quartermaines and back with Willow where they belong. Martin tells him, easier said. Tracy is holding them, and he wonders if there’s a more amiable opponent he could be set up with. Like Stalin or Vlad the Impaler. Genghis Kahn comes to mind. Drew says, Tracy has no legal rights, and Martin says, she’s well-connected with deep pockets and knows how to work the system to her benefit. It’s one hell of a combination to go up against. Drew says, she thinks she’s safe behind the walls of privilege and money, but she’s wrong. He’ll do anything to reunite the children with Willow.

Wearing a sanitary jumpsuit, Carly goes into Michael’s room and says his name. He looks at her, obviously in pain.

Sidwell gives Ava a check and says he’s thrilled with his new painting. He enjoyed their talk on art. Perhaps she can come over and help him with the placement. He’d also love any suggestions on future purchases. She says, it’s her pleasure, and he says, it’s lovely to meet them both. He’ll see them soon he hopes. He kisses Ava’s hand and leaves. Ric says, it was enlightening to watch her work, and she says she barely lifted a finger, but she knows how to close a deal. Ric says, yes, you do, and takes the check from her. She says she just earned it, and he says he appreciates her first payment for his services.

Brad tells Lucas that Cody wanted him to place a bet on the PCU game with his aunt. He didn’t want to, but Cody was persistent, so he called his Aunt Selina. Cody lost and this is his payment to her. Lucas says he sees, and Brad says, once he delivers it to her, he’s not going to see her again, he swears. Lucas says, thanks for telling him, but Brad doesn’t owe him any explanations. Brad says he knows he doesn’t, but Lucas taught him that telling the truth is important, so he wanted Lucas to know. Lucas says he appreciates that.  

Maxie says she knows what Lulu is going through. She’s been there. Lulu says, now Maxie has it all – an amazing career, her children together under one roof, and a wonderful relationship with Spinelli. Maxie says she went through a lot of trial and error. No one trusted her to make her own decisions since she was shown to be flaky. She thinks Lulu is already taking the right steps to ensure the life she wants, and Maxie believes she’ll make it happen. Lulu says she needs to have a job if she really wants to make it happen. Maxie says she needs to know that Lulu can put her history with Brook aside and get along working together. Does she think she can do that?  

Chase says he gets that Tracy has the best intentions, but at the end of the day, it’s not her call. Tracy says, Brook’s husband is brave standing up to her, but she doesn’t understand why he’s defending Willow. Brook says, he’s trying to keep the peace, and Tracy should listen to him. Martin and Drew walk in along with an officer, and Tracy says, back so soon? Holding out a paper, Martin says, it’s an official order signed by a judge. They’re allowed to take Willow Corinthos’s children back to her. Drew tells Martin to ask the nanny to get the kids ready, but Tracy says, it’s a waste of time. She can’t comply. They’re not here. Drew asks where they are, and she says she hasn’t the foggiest. He says, the officer knows what to do, and the officer takes out handcuffs. Chase tells him to put those away, but he says he’s sorry. The congressman wants her arrested. Tracy pulls away and says, don’t touch her, and Drew says, resisting arrest. The officer says, she did touch him, and Tracy says, he’s so going to regret this.

Sonny says he’s glad they were able to come together to do what’s best for Michael, and Willow says, Michael is going through something terrible. He’s lucky that he has Sonny and Carly to fight for him. Not everyone has that kind of unconditional love in their life. Sonny says, they’re the lucky ones to have Michael as their son.

Michael says, mom? and Carly says she’s here. And his dad is out there. They’re here to do everything they can to help him get better, but they need his help. Tell them how to make the choice he needs.

On Tuesday (see below), Willow asks Drew if she ruined her chance of getting Wiley and Amelia back; Anna asks if someone is the one who planted the device in the penthouse; and Ava asks Sonny to do what’s best for their daughter before it’s too late.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-soaps-preempted-on-monday-january-20-2025

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

The most important story.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-vinessa-antoine-asks-for-help-finding-her-brother

She will be greatly missed. After all, Alan gave her the house. It’s so weird how they must have filmed in advance, yet they’re talking up a storm about her on the show.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-star-leslie-charleson-dead-at-79

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/daytime-stars-remembers-leslie-charleson

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/wally-kurths-heartfelt-tribute-to-leslie-charleson

You never know. On All My Children, Bobby Martin came back after 40+ years of polishing his skis upstairs.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-opens-up-about-his-gh-exit-and-return-plans

Don’t do it. It’s not him.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/cameron-mathison-warns-do-not-donate-to-a-gofundme-in-his-name

💉 A Dose of Reality…

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Once again Gary proves himself to be an idiot. The guests wanted some of the crew to join on a night out, and Captain Glenn, being the decent soul he is, told Daisy, Gary, Keith, and Chase, two drink maximum. And if they came back drunk, they’d forfeit their share of the tip. Gary had 10 drinks. 10. Then got pissed off when the captain called him on it. Classic Gary.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The episode focused a lot on PK and Kyle’s friendship, and Dorit’s reaction. Of course, Kyle is never wrong and while I often think Dorit is wrong – and her reactions are over the top – I can’t disagree with her on this one. If one of my close friends was texting with my estranged husband, they would no longer be my close friend. Kyle whined that Dorit made it sound like she was being inappropriate. Doubtful anyone thinks she’s got it going on with PK, but it is inappropriate for her to be buddy-buddy with her friend’s almost ex. Let’s just call it what it is now – Memegate. Garcelle, Kyle, and Sutton took Erika to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday. A good time was had by all. It actually looked a lot more fun than any of their formal parties.

Real Housewives of New York City

If I was on a trip to Puerto Rico, I wouldn’t have the bandwidth to argue about a dead pigeon. I’d be too busy swimming in the possibly-less-than-blue water and eating local cuisine. The women did synchronized swimming at Jenna’s instruction. Apparently, she’s quite a fan of it, and it was pretty amusing until Raquel got whacked in the forehead by Jenna’s elbow. That Jenna, always full of surprises. Ubah was out of control, and Erin can’t win. If she fights back, she loses. If she walks away, she loses. As usual, Jenna and Raquel were the voices of reason. Next time, the finale.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake CIty

Heather suggested a fun dinner party game where the women pulled out the worst thing they had said about one of the others on their phone and shared it with the group. As you might have guessed, this didn’t go over all that well, and resulted in tears and Lisa running from the table after someone read something about John. Oh, horrors.

Bonus scene.

Southern Charm

Once again, two men acted like middle school girls – that would be Austen and Craig – while Whitney pretended to be the voice of reason. In her interview, Madison said she and Brett thought that Austen and Craig would be the couple least likely to break up, but it looks like they did. Craig dared to meet with JT, and Austen wasn’t having it, but it was just the opening Craig needed to scrape Austen from his shoe. As little as I like JT, I don’t get why some of them keep harping on him calling Patricia a bitch, when the footage shows clearly that he didn’t, and most of them don’t believe it anyway. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and sometimes an a-hole is right too.

Southern Hospitality

I just couldn’t even this week, but here you go.

Random Events

BTW, Bill was not happy.

https://people.com/rhonj-star-jennifer-aydin-uninvited-from-housewives-cruise-after-viral-outburst-jersey-mikes-8771411

Amazing timing.

https://people.com/karen-huger-enters-rehab-skips-real-housewives-of-potomac-season-9-reunion-after-dui-8772200

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Borderlands. It was hard to find something that was at least partially positive. There are plenty of worse films, although I actually enjoyed this. Perhaps because I’m unfamiliar with the games. I’m definitely in agreement with the writer that Night Swim was a total waste of time.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/movies/borderlands-isnt-the-worst-movie-of-the-year-despite-what-the-internet-wants-you-to-think

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action. A fascinating look at a man who began as someone I admired, but chose to serve money and ratings rather than the greater good. I’d known about the coaching, but not about the murder connected to the show. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and this was just sad.

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-fights-camera-action-tv-review/

https://screenrant.com/jerry-springer-documentary-netflix-shocking-reveals-list/

The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin. I’m there for a cult story, but missed this somehow. While this documentary has been around a while, they’ve been showing it recently on TLC, so I caught it. I have some vague memory of her in the news, but had no idea how messy this got. And the hair… What’s with the hair?

https://people.com/human-interest/what-to-know-about-gwen-shamblin-lara-hbo-max-the-way-down/

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/the-way-down-hbo-max-review

🔍 One To Watch…

IMO, Baylen Out Loud is what reality TV should be about. I’m rooting for this girl, and with a supportive family like she has, I think she’ll make it after all.

https://people.com/baylen-dupree-struggles-with-boyfriend-upcoming-air-force-relocation-in-new-tlc-series-8773525

https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/baylen-out-loud-season-1-trailer-tiktok-star-takes-on-adulthood-while-tackling

🤹‍♀️ Upcoming Awaited Seasons…

The latest on The Last of Us.

https://deadline.com/feature/the-last-of-us-season-2-cast-release-date-everything-to-know-1235940502/

While you wait.

https://collider.com/grounded-last-of-us-part-2-documentary-youtube/

An understandable pause for Fallout.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/fallout-season-2-production-pause-la-fires

An Squid Game accident? Really? Highly doubtful.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-release-date-2025-netflix

👠 They’re Not Wrong…

Sex and get away from my front door in the City.

https://ew.com/carrie-sex-and-the-city-apartment-iron-gate-tourists-8774330

☕️ His Final Thoughts…

I never did understand Eraserhead, but he did some fine work.

https://people.com/david-lynch-expressed-hope-over-divided-country-in-one-of-last-interviews-exclusive-8776098

🥇 A Mighty Fine Man…

It’s such a shame about his health issues, but he’s blessed to have such a wonderful family to support him.

https://people.com/bruce-willis-seen-in-public-dementia-diagnosis-la-police-officers-8775698

🏆 Awards Corner…

No surprise, GH is in the running.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/2025-writers-guild-awards-daytime-drama-nominees-announced

The BAFTA noms.

https://ew.com/2025-bafta-awards-nominations-full-list-8774808

🐕 No Gutter Balls Here…

I want them all.

https://ew.com/puppy-bowl-2025-meet-adoptable-dog-players-8773005

https://paradepets.com/pet-news/puppy-bowl-players-2025-super-bowl

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Just because my heart is beating doesn’t mean I’m alive. – Ish Williams (Alexander Ludwig), Earth Abides

There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man (and woman) which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus. – Blaise Pascal

You don’t break habits, you replace them. – Coach Mike Bayer

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

Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker. – Hilary ‘Zig’ Ziglar

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson

She took every bit of power I had and left me with household appliances. – Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Agatha All Along

🌉 Taking a Sentimental Journey…

Until next week, stay safe, stay warm, and stay valuing honesty.

November 15, 2024 – Drew Asks Ric To Broker a Deal, Still Leaving, Upcoming Watches, Last Penguin, Wicked Bond, They’re the Top & Tale

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny punches the heavy bag, when Lucky walks in and asks what that bag ever did to him. Sonny says, it’s good to see him. Is he here to spar? Lucky says, actually, he was looking for Sonny, and Sonny asks, why? What happened? Lucky says he just wanted some advice, but doesn’t want to interrupt Sonny’s workout. Sonny suggests Lucky join him. He’s sure Lucky is itching to hit something. Lucky says, that doesn’t sound so bad, and Sonny tells Lucky to get some gloves out of his office and he’ll meet him in the ring. Lucky says, sounds like a plan.

Jordan sees Elizabeth at the hospital, and Elizabeth asks if she’s looking for TJ. Jordan says she was here on city business, but now that it’s out of the way, she wanted to check on how Lulu was doing. Elizabeth says she’s happy to report Lulu is stable and improving, and Jordan says, that’s great news. Ever since Lulu’s surgery, Laura seems a bit lighter. Elizabeth says she’s sure Laura is overjoyed with how it went, and Jordan says, she is, but her joy is definitely tempered. Elizabeth says, because of what happened with Sam, and Jordan says, Laura is devastated that Sam died saving her daughter’s life.

Terry thanks Isaiah for waiting, and he says, no problem. He just wishes he knew what he was waiting for. Terry says, of course (🍷). Let’s get to it. Frankly, she thought he’d have some idea of why he’s here, and he asks if there’s a problem with Lulu Spencer’s recovery.

Felicia says, it must be important for Anna to call her to come to the office at this hour, and Anna says she thinks it is. Felicia says, so tell her. She’s dying to know. Anna says, Robert’s leave of absence. He cc’d Mac on the email. Did Mac tell her? Felicia says, they figured Robert was finally taking that well-deserved holiday, and Anna says she wishes. Felicia says, that’s not what’s going on? and Anna asks who she thinks is in a world of trouble again. Felicia says, Holly? and Anna says, Holly. And she left town at the same time as Robert. So what are the chances he’s going to have a relaxing holiday?

Poor Jason is just trying to have a beer, when Carly knocks at his door. She says, Kristina said she’d seen him walking through the diner and it looked like he’d been in an accident. What happened? He says he’s fine, and she says she doesn’t know why she bothers asking him anything when he always gives her the same answer. He says he told her, he’s fine, but she says she asked him, what happened? She’s not leaving until he tells her. He says he got into a fight with Drew, and she says, what? Why? He says he had his reasons, and she asks what he means. He says, all she needs to know is that Drew got everything he deserved. (Well, not everything, but it’s a start.)

Drew opens the door to Ric and thanks him for coming by so soon. Ric asks, what happened to him? Drew says, a minor accident, and Ric says, Nina mentioned there was an altercation. Is that the minor accident he’s talking about? Drew says, yeah. He and his brother Jason had a disagreement. Ric asks if that’s why his face looks like this. Please tell him that they’re pressing charges.

Elizabeth says she knows how Laura feels. Sam’s death was tragic. She’s just relieved Lulu is improving. It’s truly a miracle. And they’re awfully lucky that Dr. Gannon agreed to do the surgery. Jordan says, he really came through? and Elizabeth says, she seems surprised… pleasantly surprised, but still. Jordan says she knew Isaiah was confident, mostly from him, but maybe a little overconfident. Elizabeth says, turns out his confidence was justified. The OR nurses are singing his praises, and they’re not easily impressed. Jordan says, he’s done dozens of these procedures before. It must have been fairly routine for him. Elizabeth says, the complications with Lulu’s surgery made it anything but routine. Most surgeons wouldn’t even attempt a transplant. Jordan says she guesses he is as good as he says, and Elizabeth says, not only was he successful, he made it look easy. Jordan says, it sounds like the OR nurses aren’t the only ones impressed with Dr. Gannon’s surgical skills, and Elizabeth says, let’s just say when all eyes were watching, Dr. Gannon proved himself to be a very talented surgeon. Jordan says, from what she’s heard from Elizabeth and the mayor, it certainly seems so.

Isaiah says, they want to hire him? and Terry hands him an envelope, saying, here’s their offer. She thinks he’ll find it quite generous. Plus, the odds of him being kidnapped by a homicidal warlord are somewhat smaller. He laughs and says, when he got her call, he thought there was a problem with Lulu’s recovery. She says she’s sorry she wasn’t more direct on the phone. Honestly, she thought he’d be expecting the offer. He says, not at all. He doesn’t know what to say. She tells him that he doesn’t have to say anything right now. Think hard about the offer before he makes a decision. Go over the information in the packet, then come to her if he has any questions. If there’s anything they missed… He says he won’t be shy, and she says, good. Because they’re willing to do whatever it takes to keep him at GH.

Drew asks, why the enthusiasm? and Ric says, let it suffice to say, he and Jason can’t stand each other. Drew says, because Jason works for his brother, and Ric says, all Drew needs to know is, his and Jason’s mutual antipathy makes him the perfect person to represent him. Drew asks if that means the attorney/client privilege is in effect, and Ric says, absolutely. (Doesn’t he have to give a retainer first, even if it’s a dollar?) Drew says, then there’s something Ric needs to know. He leads Ric into the living room and closes the door. He says, the reason that Jason attacked him is because he’s had some involvement with Michael’s wife Willow, and Ric says, define involvement. Drew says, all Jason knows is that he and Willow kissed, and Ric says he already knows that. Drew says he told Michael when Ned was trying to blackmail him. Ric says, so Ned decides to leverage this information, then Drew decides to neutralize him by coming clean to Michael. That took some brass. Drew says, Michael must have told Jason about the kiss and then this happened, and Ric says, so they’ve got blackmail and assault. Drew must want justice. Drew says he wants this to end – tonight. He doesn’t want to get the police involved and he has no desire to press charges. Ric says, then why is he here? and Drew says he needs Ric to broker a deal with Jason. He needs to understand that Drew is willing to put this behind them if Jason will stay quiet about what he knows.

Carly says, if Jason’s not going to tell her why he got in a fight with Drew, can he at least tell her what happened? Jason says, he came in the house. I hit him. He hit me back. I hit him again. End of story. She says, the house where Drew lives? and Jason says he was waiting for Drew when he got home. She says, he got into a fight with Drew at the Quartermaines with Danny and Scout upstairs?

Elizabeth asks if Terry’s got a second, and Terry says, sure. What’s up? Elizabeth says she just saw Dr. Gannon leaving Terry’s office. Is there something Terry wants to share with her? Terry says she’s shocked that the head nurse would ask such probing questions about a confidential matter, and Elizabeth says she’ll shut the door. Terry says, promise she’ll keep this to herself, and Elizabeth says she promises. Terry says she just offered Dr. Gannon a position at General Hospital, and Elizabeth says, that’s awesome. Terry says, it will be if he takes it. He didn’t seem so sure when he left her office. Elizabeth says, give him time, and Terry says, if he does accept, she’s sure Lucky will be glad his bestie is staying in Port Charles… Did she say something wrong? Elizabeth says, Dr. Gannon may end up sticking around, but Lucky’s already looking for his next adventure.

Sonny and Lucky spar in the ring, and Sonny asks, what’s on his mind? Lucky says, what’s on his mind is, what is he doing here? and Sonny says, getting his butt kicked. Lucky says he means, what is he doing in Port Charles? This is his home, but he already feels like moving on again. They finish sparring, and Sonny says, anywhere in particular? Lucky says he was thinking of heading back to Somalia… somewhere else in Africa. Somewhere he can do the most good. Sonny says, Lucky worked with the surgeon who operated on Lulu, and Lucky says, yeah. Isaiah Gannon. He’s a friend. Sonny says, Lucky did some good stuff. It took a lot of guts. Lucky says, or he’s an idiot. That’s also a possibility. Sonny says, he’s not an idiot, and Lucky says, it’s a good thing he did what he did for Lulu anyway, right? Sonny says, now he wants to go? and Lucky says, when he’s out there in the world, he feels like he has purpose. He wakes up every day and knows he’s doing something that matters even if nothing happens that day. Sonny says, he can be there just in case, and Lucky says he’s protecting people who are saving lives. He happens to be good at it. Sonny says he guesses it gives Lucky the purpose he’s craving, and Lucky says, if he happens to be somewhere where he makes a difference. Sonny says, it sounds like he’s already made his decision, and Lucky says he wishes it were that easy. Sonny says, it’s not? and Lucky says, all those other times when he went away, he left his family behind. Sonny says, and he doesn’t know if he can do that again.

Anna says she thinks Robert going off with Holly was her fault, and Felicia asks, how? Anna says, Holly came here and said she was leaving, and she encouraged Holly to go say goodbye to Robert, never thinking she’d leave with him. Felicia says, the timing could be better, especially for Sasha, and Anna says she’s not surprised at Holly, but Robert could have stayed for his daughter. Felicia asks if Sasha is the only reason Anna is upset that he left town, and Anna says, yeah. Why? Felicia asks how Anna feels about him leaving town, and Anna says she loves Robert. She wants him to be happy. Felicia says, even with Holly? and Anna says, if she makes him happy, sure. Felicia asks what she’s hiding, and Anna says, Holly has gotten herself in trouble with some very dangerous, powerful people, and she does need someone to protect her. Felicia says, and who better? and Anna says, Robert is obviously going to clean up whatever mess she’s in, and they’ll fall into each other’s arms… Felicia says, it sounds romantic, and Anna says, that’s the problem. Robert will ride to her rescue and then they’ll fall into each other’s arms and Robert will think, this is it. Finally, it’s going to last. And then… Felicia says, disaster… heartbreak, and Anna says, Holly will start lying again and stealing and conning. And once again she’ll find a reason to avoid making a real commitment to Robert.

Ric says he understands why Drew is hesitant to press charges. He wants to avoid a scandal. Drew says he can weather a scandal, but Willow shouldn’t have to, and Ric says, noble, but has he considered a jail cell is a better place for Jason? Drew says, Jason needs to be at Sam’s funeral tomorrow. His son needs him there. Ric says, fine. They can wait until after the funeral. But Nina said a PCPD detective lives here. Drew says, Detective Chase, and Ric says, sooner or later, he’s going to find out what happened, and he’s going to want to go by the book. Drew says he’ll talk to Chase. He’ll tell him that it was just a personal misunderstanding, a personal disagreement that got out of hand, and the police don’t need to be involved. Ric says, to protect Willow, and Drew says, the Willow situation is taken care of. What he needs from Ric is to convince Jason to take his offer. Ric says, which is? and Drew says he won’t press charges as long as Jason keeps his mouth shut about him and Willow. Ric says, unfortunately, he’s not going to be able to do this, and Drew says, why not? Ric says, because Drew’s not being straight with him. He needs all of the facts. Drew asks what Ric would say if he told him that he’s never going to, and Ric says, then he’s afraid he can’t represent Drew. Drew says, okay, the whole truth. He and Willow slept together.

Jason says, the kids were asleep, and Carly asks how he knew they wouldn’t come downstairs, especially if they woke up to the sound of their fathers punching each other. He says, that’s a really big what if, and she says, if they would have come downstairs and seen their fathers fighting each other, does he know how badly that would have messed them up? He says, there wasn’t time for them to see anything, and she says, he’s all Danny has left. He can’t do things like this anymore, no matter how much he thinks Drew deserves it. (She’s no fun.) He says he cares about the kids, but this needed to happen, and she says, really. It needed to happen. The night before Sam’s funeral. He says, yes.

Elizabeth tells Terry that she said she was upset and Lucky asked what good he was to Aiden. Terry says she thought things were going well between those two, and Elizabeth says, they’ve been great. That’s why she didn’t understand why he said that. Terry says, maybe he feels like he’s no good to anybody, and Elizabeth says, but why? Terry says, he came all this way to help Lulu, only to find out he couldn’t. That had to have done a number on his head. Elizabeth says, but since then, he’s been a support to his mom, he convinced Isaiah to do the surgery, he’s stepped up with Aiden. Terry says, no issues with Aiden coming out to him? and Elizabeth says, none. He’s totally given Aiden time and space, and shown him nothing but love and support. Terry says, he doesn’t sound like a guy ready to bail, and Elizabeth says, except that Lucky and Aiden are getting closer. And when things get real, Lucky takes off. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Terry says, she has every right to be angry with Lucky, but Elizabeth says she’s not angry with him. She’s angry with herself. Terry asks, why? and Elizabeth says, because she let herself believe this time would be different. This time, Lucky might stay.

Lucky punches the heavy bag, and Sonny says, so if he goes back to Africa, is somebody going to be waiting for him there? Lucky says, like a girlfriend? but Sonny says, no. He’s just saying, if Lucky gets on a plane tonight and he landed there, would there be a job waiting for him? Lucky says, no. He just kind of jumps in where he’s needed. Sonny says, if no one’s waiting, then what’s the rush? and Lucky says he doesn’t know. He’s restless. He needs to be useful. Sonny says, maybe his mom needs him to be useful, but Lucky says he’s sure she doesn’t need him. Sonny says, she came very close to losing her daughter. Now tell him about Lulu. Lucky says, she’s doing better, but odds are she’s not going to be waking up anytime soon. Sonny says he thought Lucky loved bad odds, but Lucky says, not when it comes to the people he loves. Sonny says, maybe those people want him around and need his help, and Lucky says he’ll make sure to visit more. Sonny says he knows Lucky means that, and Lucky says, Sonny doesn’t think he will? Sonny says, it took him so long to come back here, right? How is his son doing? Lucky says he knows what Sonny is doing. Aiden is used to not having him around. Sonny says, that’s not a great thing, is it? and Lucky says he can’t be in a place where he doesn’t have anything to offer. What is he supposed to do in Port Charles? Dig ditches? Sonny says, there are other options, and Lucky says, like what? He’s not going to be a cop again. His dad warned him about joining the force and he should have listened to him. Sonny says, maybe, and Lucky says he doesn’t know what he was thinking back then. He thinks he was just looking for a place to fit in. Sonny says, and he doesn’t? and Lucky says, if what he’s looking for isn’t here, why should he stay?

Isaiah comes downstairs, reading the offer, when Jordan approaches him. She says, Dr. Isaiah Gannon, and he says, Deputy Mayor Ashford, and hides the papers behind his back. She says she takes it his ears were burning, and he says, why this time? She says she sees his ego is still intact and he asks if she thought it wouldn’t be. Was she looking for him? She says she was actually here checking on her boss’s daughter. Elizabeth said he did a great job with her surgery. He thanks her and she says she’ll let him get back to whatever it is he was doing. He says he’s sorry. He didn’t mean to be rude. She says, he wasn’t. She sees he’s not taking compliments very well… He says he’s just dealing with something unexpected, and brings out the papers. She says, bad news? and he says, Dr. Randolph offered him a position here. She says, congratulations. That’s great. Is he going to take it? He says, probably not.

Carly asks what Jason is going to do now, and he says, about what? She says, let’s start with Sam’s funeral tomorrow. He says he’ll be there, and she says, how does he know Drew won’t have the police there? He says, Drew won’t be getting the police involved, but she says, he doesn’t know that. He says, yes, he does, and she says, what if he’s wrong? He says he’s not, and she asks if there were any witnesses who saw him attack Drew. He nods, and she says, they could go to the police. He could be arrested. The DA could press charges. He says, Drew won’t let that happen, and she says, Drew may not have any choice in the matter. Jason could be arrested, he could go to jail, and he could be tried. And every single thing he’s done could be called into question. He says, it’s a risk he had to take, and she says, and he won’t tell her why. He shakes his head and says, no, and she says, okay. She heads for the door, and he asks where she’s going. She says she’s going to go fix his mess, and leaves.

Ric says, so the truth is, Jason attacked Drew because he slept with Michael’s wife, and Drew says, Jason doesn’t know they slept together. Nobody does. (This guy is a creeper and stupid. It’s a big house with 5000 people living in it. Nosy people and children. Anybody could know it.) Ric asks if he’s sure about that, and Drew says, absolutely. He and Willow are the only two people who know about that. Ric takes out his phone and starts snapping pictures of Drew’s face, and Drew asks what he’s doing. Ric says, his face is evidence, but Drew says, they don’t need evidence. He just needs Ric to make this thing go away. Ric says, the statute of limitations for assault in New York is five years. Drew might not always be a politician, but Jason will always be his brother, and he is relentless. Drew says, Jason got what he came for, and Ric asks if he honestly doesn’t think Jason is biding his time so he can come back and actually attack Drew again. Drew says, it’s not his style, and Ric tells him, so says the man who got sucker punched. Drew says, is Ric going to do what he asked or not? and Ric says, fine. He’ll talk to Drew’s brother, but Drew needs to listen to him and be prepared. Drew says, for? and Ric says, there’s a very good chance that this attempt to muzzle Drew’s brother is only going to piss him off more. So if Drew won’t reconsider and put Jason in prison where he belongs, at least he’ll be ready for what comes next.

Felicia says, Robert and Holly may finally get their happily ever after, and Anna asks, what makes this time different from all the others? Felicia says, this time, they have a daughter, and Anna says, they’ve had a daughter for decades, but yes, Robert didn’t know about it until now. Felicia says, now he does and now they’re a family, which means Robert didn’t just leave to save Holly. He left to save Sasha’s mother, which makes all the difference in the world. Anna says, Felicia’s been doing a lot of babysitting, hasn’t she? and calls her Pollyanna. Felicia says she likes that, and she does hope for the best. Anna asks if she doesn’t think she’s going a bit overboard, but Felicia says she doesn’t. Although she is a little worried about Sasha. She may feel like she’s been left behind. Anna says, it’s not like she’s been abandoned at daycare. She’s a fully grown adult. Felicia says, that doesn’t mean you still can’t be hurt by your parents’ actions, and Anna says she’s just not sure that they’re gone forever. Maybe with Holly, but Robert has a daughter. He’ll want to build a relationship with her. Felicia says she knows that, and Anna knows that, but Sasha doesn’t know that.

Sonny says, if Lucky is looking for a job, that’s not a problem. Lucky’s father was his best friend. He’s always going to look out for Lucky. Lucky says, that’s why he’s here, and Sonny says he knows a lot of people who could use Lucky’s skills. Lucky says he appreciates that more than he can say, but with all the respect in the world, it would have to be legit. Sonny says, Lucky’s mother would have his head and he’s already on thin ice. Lucky says, she’s the last person you want to piss off, and Sonny says, doesn’t he know it. Lucky says he appreciates the offer, but… Sonny says, Lucky would be doing him a favor, but if he doesn’t want to be somewhere, don’t stay because other people want him to. Lucky says, it’s kind of selfish, isn’t it? and Sonny says, maybe, but maybe it’s time for him to move on.

Isaiah says he had no plans to return to surgery. He operated on Lulu because her brother asked him to. Jordan says, despite doing a brilliant job? and he says, there are plenty of surgeons who could have done it just as… almost as brilliantly. She says, how many? Thousands? Tens of thousands? He laughs and says, in this country? About five hundred. She says, so not many, minus him, and he says, when he was in Africa, he was making a difference, treating people no one would help. Fixing broken bones, treating contagious diseases, vaccinating people for everything from measles to meningitis. People who were marking their time a year ago will live to see their grandchildren. She says, he’s passionate about his work. She respects that, but there doesn’t need to be a transplant specialist to administer vaccines. He says, but you have to be willing to go to the people who need you, and she says, there are doctors for that. And as a transplant recipient, she would hate to see him waste his skills. He says, right now he’s trying to wrap his head around staying in Port Charles or being useful elsewhere. She says, he wants to be where he can do the most good, save the most lives, and he says, exactly. She says, considering he’s the best surgeon in the country – according to him anyway – wouldn’t that be the OR? Have a good night. She walks away and he ponders this.

Drew is about to go upstairs, when there’s a knock at the door. He opens it to Carly, and she says, oh my God. His face. Has he been to General Hospital to get checked out? He says, let’s just cut to the chase. They both know why she’s here. To protect Jason.

Lucky says, no matter what he thinks he should do, it feels wrong. He’ll see Aiden or his mom or Lulu, and think, yeah, a little more time. Then everything inside him starts screaming for him to leave. Sonny says, then go, and Lucky says, but when he decides to do that, checking flights and message boards to see where he might end up, he feels guilty for even looking. So here he is. Sonny says he wishes he could tell Lucky what to do, and Lucky says him too. Sonny says, be your own man, like your father. Whatever Lucky decides to do, he’ll support him. Lucky says, Sonny doesn’t think he’d be running away again? but Sonny says, the way he sees it, Lucky is going back to a life he built himself. It’s his home. No wonder he wants to go back. Lucky says, so no matter what he does, it’s the right choice? and Sonny tells him that he doesn’t know if that’s what he said, but listen to him. Lucky needs to be honest about why he’s going. He needs to be honest with his son and he needs to be honest with his mother, but especially with himself. Lucky’s phone buzzes, and Sonny asks if he has someplace he has to be. Lucky says he has to meet someone, but thanks for hearing him out, and Sonny says he’s just putting it out there, but he really needs a sparring partner, so he hopes Lucky sticks around. Lucky gives Sonny a nod and leaves.

Elizabeth says she just realized why she’s upset about Lucky leaving. After all these years, he still has this effect on her. Terry says, she still cares about him, and Elizabeth says, he can be such a great guy. When he’s not wrapped up in his own angst and turmoil, and he’s not wanting to be anyplace other than where he is. Terry says, otherwise, he’s great, and Elizabeth says, he can be really charming, and kind, and warm, and fun. It’s been really nice watching Aiden get to know that side of him. Terry says, which will make it that much worse when he leaves again, and Elizabeth says, and he always leaves. She feels like such an idiot for getting her hopes up, for imagining what it would be like for Aiden to have a father and for her to have… a co-parent. Terry says, a co-parent and a partner, but Elizabeth says, no. That’s over. What’s done is done. Terry says, she just admitted she still cares about him, and Elizabeth says, it’s because of those crazy mixed-up feelings that she let herself believe somehow, they could be a family.

Ric goes to Jason’s room and Jason asks what he wants. Ric says he’s here to offer Jason a deal, and Jason says, a deal for what? Ric says he’s going to draw up an NDA. Jason is never to speak of why he attacked Drew Quartermaine, and in exchange, Drew won’t press charges. Jason says, if Drew wanted to press charges, he’d be in jail, and Ric says, the statute of limitations is five years. Jason says he’ll wait, and Ric says, it’s a golden deal. Take it. Jason says, no thank you, and Ric says his client is very concerned about the well-being of Jason’s son Danny. Jason says, Ric doesn’t talk about his son, and Ric says, or what? Drew had a great deal of empathy and kindness, more than he’d recommend. Drew’s willing to let Jason off the hook. Jason says, and Ric must be so disappointed, and Ric says, if it were up to him, he wouldn’t hesitate to put Jason away.

Carly says she’s here because, despite their differences, Jason and Drew are still brothers, but Drew says she doesn’t have to play the brother card. He’s already made the decision not to press charges. She says, good, because Jason needs to be there for Danny tomorrow, and Drew says, maybe he should have thought of that before he committed another felony. Carly says she told him the same thing. She knows Drew is upset, understandably. She’s going to go so he can get some rest. He says, she’s not going to ask why Jason attacked him? and she says, that’s between the two of them. She doesn’t need to get involved. He laughs and says, she’s always involved, especially when it comes to Jason, so admit it. She came here to ask him not to press charges. She says, because Jason needs to be at Sam’s funeral tomorrow, and he says, so he’ll wait until after the funeral and then press charges. Is that all right?… He thought so. She tells him that she didn’t say anything, but he says, when it comes to Jason, she doesn’t need to. She will take Jason’s side and stand by him no matter what. She says she still holds Jason accountable, and he says, since when? This is why they split up. They split up because she’ll take Jason’s side over him, over anyone. She says, he never gave her a chance to prove him wrong, and he says, because their relationship was over the second Jason came back to Port Charles. And now Jason attacked him, unprovoked, with their children upstairs, and she’s still defending him. She always will.

Felicia tells Anna, Sasha didn’t just gain a father. Sasha got Mac and her and Maxie and her children and Robin. She’s a Scorpio. Anna says she’s a former member of the Scorpio clan, but Felicia says, there are no former members. Only forever members. Anna says, that might be a lot for Sasha. She’s never had many relatives. She might not know what having a family means. Felicia says, it’s time that changed.

Terry asks if Elizabeth has shared these feelings with Lucky, and Elizabeth says, if her feelings mattered, he wouldn’t have left Port Charles in the first place. And he would have been present for their son. Terry says, so what is she going to do? and Elizabeth asks, what can she do? She just has to accept him for who he is. Terry says, and? and Elizabeth says, and she’s going to tell him that he can’t keep her and Aiden in limbo like this. They can’t just spend their days wondering if he’s going to stay in Port Charles or up and leave again. Terry says, it’s not fair to Aiden or her, and Elizabeth says, no, it’s not. So she will tell Lucky, if he’s not going to stay and make a life here, then he needs to go.

Lucky walks into the hospital, and Isaiah thanks Lucky for meeting him. They bro hug, and Lucky says he was going to swing by and visit Lulu anyway. What’s up? Isaiah says he was going to tell Lucky that he was going back to Africa and ask if Lucky wanted to come with him, and Lucky says, now? Isaiah says, but Dr. Randolph offered him a position here at GH, and Lucky says, as a surgeon? Isaiah says, no. As an orderly, but I can work my way up. Yes, as a surgeon. Lucky asks if he’s going to take it, and Isaiah says his kneejerk was to say no. But then someone reminded him that he has a highly specialized skill set and he can save lives other people can’t and he shouldn’t let that go to waste. Lucky says, okay. Then stay. Isaiah says, Lucky isn’t going to try and talk him out of it? but Lucky says, this is a great opportunity. Isaiah says he thinks so too. What about Lucky? Is he going to stick around? Lucky says he’s still trying to figure that out.

At the gym on the phone, Sonny says he needs them to set something up. It’s for an old friend of his.

Carly tells Drew that she might not know what happened, but from what she understands, it wasn’t unprovoked. He asks if Jason said he provoked him, but Carly says, he said Drew deserved it. He says, right, and what Jason says is gospel, and she says, Jason doesn’t act without reason. Certainly not like this. (Truth!) Which means Drew must have given him a really good one.

Jason says, Ric can threaten him all he wants. He’s not going to put his name on anything. Ric says, fine by him. He doesn’t care how Jason gets put away, by jaywalking or anything else. As long as he’s behind bars. Assault would do nicely though. Jason says, Ric can tell his client that he’s not going to say anything about what happened tonight… or about anything else. Ric laughs and asks if he’s supposed to take Jason’s word for that. Jason says, Drew will. And tell him if anybody finds out, they didn’t hear it from him. Ric says, okay. He’ll deliver the message. Nice doing business with him. You want to hit me, don’t you? Jason says, who doesn’t? and Ric gets closer. He says, take your shot. I dare you… That’s what I thought. Jason reaches out his hand, and Ric jerks back. Jason touches his lapel, barely, and says, it’s nice doing business with him. Ric says, his condolences for Sam, and leaves. Jason closes the door and heaves a humongous Jason sigh.

On Monday, Drew tells Nina, nothing is stopping Jason from going to that funeral; Cody tells Dante, between the two of them, they can do just about anything; Maxie says she’ll be damned if she’ll let someone get away with that; and Lucky asks someone if he knows them.

🛁 The Long Goodbye…

We’re all still in shock. That being said, I love the shoes with the hospital gown.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/watch-kelly-monacos-emotional-goodbye-to-gh-cast-and-crew

👀 Watching Wish List…

This looks intriguing, and I love an apocalyptic tale. Earth Abides begins December 1st on MGM+. Home of From!

https://people.com/earth-abides-trailer-alexander-ludwig-jessica-frances-dukes-exclusive-8735448

https://www.firstshowing.net/2024/full-trailer-for-apocalyptic-series-earth-abides-with-alexander-ludwig/

They showed the trailer for Red One when I saw Deadpool & Wolverine. I don’t care what the ghost of Roger Ebert says, I want to see it. I don’t need substance, especially where Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans are involved.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/red-one-dwayne-johnson-chris-evans-film-review

https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-saw-red-one-critics-calling-lump-of-coal-missing-the-point-amazon-the-rock

https://collider.com/red-one-cast-characters/

https://ew.com/red-one-jk-simmons-redemption-mall-santa-stint-8744755

This is more a wish for the wish list.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/game-of-thrones-movie

🐧 An Ending To a Beginning…

Definite spoilers and a possible second season.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-penguin-ending-explained-batman-2

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-penguin-dcu-batman

🪄 Girl Power Lives…

This is as it should be. There’s room for everybody.

https://extratv.com/2024/11/12/wicked-ariana-grande-and-cynthia-erivo-on-the-promise-they-made-each-other-exclusive/

🐾 Be Influenced…

The power of the paw is mighty.

https://lefty.io/blog/the-top-pet-influencers-of-2024

🦉 Quotes of the Week

As to wishing it had not happened, one can’t help momentary wishes: guilt begins only when one embraces them. You can’t help their knocking at the door, but one mustn’t ask them in to lunch. – C. S. Lewis, from The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III

Goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. – Jim Rohn

Goals are the thing you talk about instead of the thing you do. – Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan), Planet Terror

Be careful in the company of monsters that you don’t become one. — Cindy Gerard, Take No Prisoners

I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it’s an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I’ve learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them. – Sasha Azevedo

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. – Albert Einstein

Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare. – Japanese Proverb

If you don’t believe me, then google it. – Cesar Faison (Anders Hove), General Hospital

If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden. – Japanese Proverb according to Martha Stewart, Martha

🚏 Season Of Change…

Have a weekend filled with serendipity and join me next week. Until then, stay safe, stay being thankful for at least one thing every day, and stay never wasting your skills, whatever they may be.

November 21, 2022 – Holly Tells Robert the Whole Truth, New Everything On Deck, Latest Crew, All About That Music Award & Next

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Drew stretches in the park, when Carly comes along. She asks if he’s going for a run, and he says he just finished. She points out that he just happened to be in the park when she came along, and tells him that they need to be careful. Someone knows about them.

Dex reaches for Josslyn’s hand, and she says, he’s awake. She feels his forehead, and says, his fever’s going down. She asks how he feels, and he says, much better. He struggles to sit up, and she asks, how’s the side? He says, it only hurts when he moves, and she gives him some water, saying, hydrate. He says, first of all, he wants to thank her. If she hadn’t helped him, he’d be totally screwed. She says, he’s welcome. What’s the second thing? He says he needs her to do something for him.

Sonny is on the phone, when Frank comes in with Brick. Sonny leaves a message for Dex, saying, three days is too long to go dark. One email’s not enough. Get back to me. Now. Brick says he hasn’t heard from Dex either; he’s been trying to track Dex through his sources. Sonny thanks him, and says, that isn’t the only reason he wanted to see Brick. Last night, he said he was cool about everything that went down with Brick and Carly. He’s not.

Austin comes to Britt’s office, and tells her, Dr. Talone’s on her way. Britt says, oh joy, and he says, she’s the leading specialist on Huntington’s disease, and her waiting list is usually months long, so… She says she appreciates the strings he pulled to get her a consult, but he doesn’t have to stay. He says he knows, but he can if she wants him to, and she says, it would be nice to have some moral support if this really is the beginning of the end.

Scotty joins Cody at the MetroCourt, and says he’s agreed to meet Cody, but being Dominique’s son can only get him so far. What does he want? Cody says, some legal advice. He might be coming into an absurd amount of money.

Robert says, the game’s over, and when Holly tries to protest, he says, enough. He baited her with a phony address on his phone. Fifteen minutes ago, Whitten and his agents descended on that property, acting on an anonymous tip. She supplied the tip. How long has she been working with Victor?

Josslyn says she’s not getting Dex clothes, but he says he bled all over what he was wearing; sorry about Michael’s shirt. She says, she told him, Michael won’t miss it, but that’s not the point, and he says, the point is, he can’t walk out in blood stained clothes. She says, the point is, he can’t walk; he can’t even stand. He says he can, and struggles out of bed. He says, see?

Carly says, Josslyn saw them kissing the night Sonny brought her home, and Drew says, and she didn’t say anything until now? She says, Josslyn’s got a lot going on. She’s fine. She can be trusted. He says, even when Josslyn was a kid, she always had his back. She made him feel like family. Carly says, he is family, and he says, that reminds me. Michael and Willow asked me to look into something that might be important to us. She says she likes the sound of us, when Olivia comes along. She says, well, well, well. Fancy running into them here.

Holly says, Robert has the wrong idea, and he says, damn it. You can’t talk your way out of this one, kid. She says, yes, she’s doing Victor’s bidding, but not by choice. She jumps up, and says, Not. By. Choice.  The more she tells him – God, it’s so complicated – the more she tells him, the more he has a target on his back. He says, damn it. There’s a target on everyone’s back as long as Victor is walking around. Luke was murdered. Anna was framed. From what he’s hearing, they’re all in danger, her included. He can help her, but she’s got to tell him everything, and he means everything.

Scotty says, Cody is coming into money; illegal money no doubt. Cody says, nope. He’s coming into this honestly. It turns out, Serena may not have walked away with all the Taub fortune. Scotty asks what he means, and Cody says, there is some dispute as to whether or not the fortune belongs to Leopold Taub’s heirs or Cesar Faison’s.  

Britt thanks Dr. Talone for making the time to see her, and Dr. Talone says, it’s an interesting case, but she has to leave for Toronto soon, so let’s just dive in. Britt says she’s asked Dr. Gatlin-Holt to sit in for moral support, and Austin says, that’d be him, and thanks her for coming. He’s the one who forwarded Britt’s records. Dr. Talone says she’s looked them over. Britt tested positive for the gene two years ago? Britt says, correct, and the doctor asks why she was tested. Family history? Britt says, that, and she thought she was experiencing symptoms, but it turned out to be her carpal tunnel acting up. Dr. Talone says, the details from that visit are vague, and Britt says she was incognito in a way at the time. She gave a false name to the doctor. Dr. Talone says she’s sure what the doctor told Britt was accurate, but without a full medical history, it might not have been complete. If the trouble swallowing is what Britt fears, it might imply she’s further along. Britt asks, how much further? and the doctor says, it could be, Britt’s secondary condition of carpal tunnel was masking over symptoms of chorea; a symptom of Stage 2 Huntington’s. If Britt wasn’t upfront with her identity, she assumes Brit withheld certain details of her life, say, five or ten years ago? Britt says she was essentially on the run most of that time, except for the year she spent in prison. Dr. Talone asks if she experienced irritability, anxiety, depression, or restless limbs during that time, and Britt asks if the doctor didn’t just hear her. She was on the run, then in a prisoner, so yes, she was anxious, irritable, and depressed. Dr. Talone says, It’s possible at that time, Britt was experiencing a harder to detect stage of the disease.

Brick says he’d never disrespect Sonny by making a move on the mother of his kids, and Sonny says he believes Brick, but when Carly meddles in his business, in his people, it usually ends up with disaster. Brick tells him, give Carly some credit. She handled herself well and took over the reins while Sonny was missing. Sonny says he gets that, but whatever she’s into now could be conflict with his kids. He can’t have that. Brick says, if the situation was dangerous, he’d tell Sonny. he gives Sonny his word. Frank pops in, and says, a supplier wants to meet with Sonny outside, and Sonny tells Brick that he’ll be right back. Brick sits, and takes out his phone.

Carly tells Olivia that she was just walking by… and Drew says, he was finishing his run. Carly says she was out for a stroll, since she has so much time on her hands, not being at the MetroCourt anymore. What about Olivia? Olivia says she just dropped Leo off at his first basketball practice. It’s just a little intermural thing with kids on the spectrum to practice their team building skills before the season starts. Carly’s phone dings, and she sees a text from Brick: At Sonny’s office. He knows we met up last night. Got some wild ideas about it. Carly says she’s got to go; something came up. She leaves, and Olivia says, Leo had quite an adventure last night. Drew says, Leo’s such a great kid, and she says she thinks so. He can’t stop talking about that cellphone he found outside the gatehouse.

Dex struggles to breathe and stand at the same time, and Josslyn asks if he’s going to sit down, or is she just supposed to watch him fall over? He admits he can’t run any marathons, but thinks he can make it back to his place, and she says, the last time he did that, he popped two stitches, and the wound got infected. He says, that’s because he was trying to sneak out of her brother’s house at night. He was in a hurry, he brushed up against a tree, and that’s when he popped the stitches. Fortunately, it’s broad daylight now. He just needs her to get him some clean clothes, and he’ll be out of here. She says, he can’t leave yet; he’s still too weak. He asks, how many people are on this floor? and she says, 30. He asks, how many floors are there? and she says, 10. He says, there are 300 ways to get caught, and she says, if he goes outside and collapses, that’s another way to get caught. He says he’ll be on his own, and she won’t be implicated. He didn’t come to her for help, but she helped him anyway. He’s not going to repay her by making her an accessory after the fact. She says, accessory to what? He still won’t tell her what he did… Correction; what Sonny ordered him to do. He says he only stayed last night because he was too messed up to leave, but he’s better now. So if she won’t get him the clothes, he’ll put his back on and take his chances.

Britt asks if Dr. Talone is saying that she could have been showing symptoms while she was on the run. That was eight years ago. Dr. Talone says, she’s trying to make the symptoms Britt had align with what they know of the disease. Trouble swallowing is her main symptom? Austin says, if Britt is honest with the doctor, it might help her make an accurate diagnosis, and Britt says she’s been more irritable lately. The tremors still show up once in a while… Dr. Talone says, define once in a while, and Britt says, okay, fairly regularly, but she keeps them in check. The doctor says she’d like to conduct some tests.

Cody tells Scotty, Leopold Taub bequeathed several pieces of jewelry to his direct heirs, including a necklace that somehow ended up with Peter August. Scotty says, Britt found that necklace in a safety deposit box, but it’s funny. The girl with the necklace is now hooked up with Cody through Society Set-Ups. Cody says he guesses it was fate, and Scotty says, or not. Cody says, the necklace contains diamonds cut from the Ice Princess, and Scotty says, the Ice Princess. The Cassadines were going to freeze the world with it. Cody says, that’s what he heard, and Scotty says he has a little piece of advice for Cody – run for the hills.

Holly says she’s been lying to Robert. Her memory of the last two years is anything but fuzzy; it’s seared into her. He suggests they take it from the beginning, and they sit down. She says she was investigating Rudge and his casino; that much is true. The rumor was, Victor was alive and well, and working with Rudge. Victor still had allies in the Bureau, word got out, and her cover was blown. Rudge kept her captive in the casino for weeks, until… He says, she managed to call him, and we flash back to Robert getting an indecipherable call from Holly, asking for help. She says she knew help was on the way, when Victor revealed himself to her. We see Holly bound to a chair, and she tells Robert, Victor wanted her to know what would happen if she tried to contact him again. We see a woman with a hood over her head being dragged into the room, and she says, Victor wanted to make an example of someone she cared about. Victor (who’s wearing a tuxedo) cocks a gun, and she says, that’s when he shot Paloma. We see Victor fire the gun, and Robert says, her sister? She says, the bastard made her watch while he murdered her sister in front of her eyes. Victor used her sister to demonstrate what would happen if she tried to escape. Robert says, Paloma looked just like Holly. It was her body they found on the casino grounds. We flash back to Robert telling Olivia, it’s Holly’s wedding ring, and Holly says, and wearing her wedding ring. Along with falsified dental records, voila! Everybody in the world thinks she’s dead. Evidently, Paloma was expendable, but Victor thought he might have some use for Holly someday. We flash back to seeing Holly on a monitor, yelling, open the door, you bastard! Let me out of here! She tells Robert, she was kept in the lap of luxury until her temper got the better of her. We see her being thrown in a cell, then banging on the door, yelling for help, and the door has a padlock on it. She tells Robert that Victor moved her from Crete to God knows where. Then he did find a use for her. He brought her here. Anna was getting in the way of his master plan, whatever the hell it is, and he wanted her to distract Robert, after framing Anna. He says, tell him she didn’t shoot Lucy, and she says, it was her. He says he doesn’t believe it. How could she? Lucy was her friend, and Holly killed her. Holly says she did no such thing. She said she shot her, but Lucy’s not dead.

Josslyn comes back to find Dex taking medication, and she tells him that he’s supposed to take it with food. She gives him an energy bar, and he asks if she had any trouble, but she says she was in and out in less than five minutes. As far as she knows, no one saw her. She tosses him a duffel bag, and he opens it. He says, socks? and she says she didn’t think he’d want to wear his old ones, and she wasn’t digging in his bloody bag of clothes to find others. He has a hard time even sitting up, and she tells him to give her the socks. She says, the fact that he can’t get dressed by himself might tell him he’s still too weak to go. She puts his socks on him, and he asks if she can help him with the pants. She puts them over his feet, and he gets up, zipping them. She says, that’s impressive. What is he going to do about the shoes?

Sonny asks Brick, where were we? and Brick says he respects Sonny. If this was about business, he’d tell Sonny what happened, but he prefers to leave other people’s private matters private. Doesn’t their friendship allow for that? Frank knocks, and Carly walks into the office. She says she heard Sonny got the wrong idea about her and Brick. She’s glad Brick is here while she sets Sonny straight.

Josslyn puts clothing in Dex’s bag, and he asks what she’s doing. She says, it would look weird for him to carry around an empty bag. He tells her to put his stuff in, and she says, and if somebody happens to open his bag, and it’s full of bloody clothes, that won’t make him look guilty at all. He asks what she’s going to do with them, and she says, take them to her mom’s and burn them in the firepit, along with the sheet, and everything she brought from Michael’s. He says, she’s going to a lot of trouble for him, and she says she is, so don’t get caught. She hands him the bag, and he kisses her. She kisses back, and he says, damn. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She says, well, it did, and he says he has to go. She says she can drive him, but he says, she’s done enough. He’ll take it from here. She says, wait, and gives him his keys. Their hands touch for longer than necessary, and he says goodbye. He leaves, and she watches him go from the door.  

Olivia tells Drew, now Leo wants his own cellphone. She said, when he’s twelve years old, which didn’t go over to well, and she told him, that’s 20 years younger than when she got her first cellphone. She snaps her fingers, and whistles, asking if he’s there, and he says, sorry. He was just… She says, thinking about Carly? She doesn’t suppose things between the two of them have progressed, have they?

Carly says she heard Sonny was asking questions about her being in Brick’s room. Not that it’s any of his business. Brick says, he just told her that Sonny was curious, and Carly says, here’s the deal. She and Drew are seeing each other. They have to keep it quiet because there are some insider trading issues at play. She asked Brick to cover their digital tracks. Sonny gestures for Brick to leave, and Brick says, gladly. Carly tells Sonny, she’s sure he has a lot to say, and he says he’s happy for her.

Britt comes back to her office, and says, Austin’s still here. He asks how it went, and she says, hell if she knows. Dr. Talone’s not exactly the warm, cheery type. Her bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired. He says, she woudn’t know anything about that, and they laugh. She thanks him for not treating her any differently now that he knows the truth. It’s easier to talk about this to people she doesn’t know very well. He says he’s touched, and she says she just means, it takes a lot more energy to get into it with people she’s closer to. He says, of course (🍷); like Cody, Brad… She says she knows how her story is going to end. It’s one thing to share the gory details with a triage doctor – he says, that would be him – and it’s another for her loved ones. She wants them to remember her, not what this horrible disease does to her. There’s a knock at the door, and it’s Dr. Talone. Britt asks what she found.

Scotty says, the Ice Princess is cursed. It’s a fact; look it up. Cody says he’s done some research, and Scotty says, anybody who’s claimed that diamond has died, including Luke Spencer. He wants nothing to do with it. Cody says, so Scotty won’t help him? but Scotty says he is helping Cody. He’s telling Cody to walk away. Cody says he’ll handle it himself, and Scotty says, forget the curse. Cody is going after this inheritance, and he’s going to screw over the girl he allegedly cares about. Is that really worth it?

Robert says, Lucy is alive? and Holly says, it was never Victor’s intention to kill her. Lucy’s just another person he can use as leverage against the people of Port Charles. He asks how she managed it, and she says, there were two shots fired that night. The first one she shot was a rubber bullet. We flash back to Lucy getting shot on the docks, and Holly says, the second was a real bullet. She fired into the water, leaving casing and residue on the pier. He says, but the video showed Anna, and she says, during Victor’s tenure at the Bureau, he perfected the art of prosthetics which he made her wear, just like Luke and Faison. Lucy was retrieved from the water almost immediately by Victor’s guards. We see Lucy being carried across the pier between two guards, as she’s asking, what happened? Holly asks Victor where they’re taking her, and Victor says, don’t worry. She’s in good hands… for the time being. But Holly still has more work to do. Robert says he doesn’t understand. Why not run to the cops, then and there? With Lucy alive, Anna’s cleared. She says, Victor must never know she told him this. Nobody must know Lucy’s alive. He says he doesn’t think Victor would harm Lucy. He seems to have a soft spot for her. Holly says, it’s not about Lucy. There’s another reason Victor must never know she betrayed him. He asks what Victor’s got on her, and she says, not what, who. My son.

Sonny says, it will never be easy for him to see Carly with another guy, but she’s seeing Drew, and he’s a decent enough guy. Sonny isn’t threatened by him at all. He’s not surprised; Drew is around her all the time. She thanks him, but says she didn’t come here for his approval. She came here because she didn’t want him to get the wrong idea about her and Brick. She asks how he knew she was in Brick’s room, and he says, because Nina said she saw Carly. Carly says, of course (🍷). It’s Nina’s mission in life to make her miserable. He says he told her that he was happy for her; can’t she be happy for him? She says she’ll be happy for him when his girlfriend learns to mind her own business. Frank opens the door, and Brick comes in with Dex. Brick says he found  a friend of Sonny’s waiting to see him. Carly says she’ll leave them to their business, and when she’s gone, Sonny asks where the hell Dex has been.

Dr. Talone says, Britt is showing signs of entering Stage 3 of Huntington’s disease. If her timetable is correct, Britt is in the low intermediate stage of the disease. Her current symptoms will increase, along with eventual significant cognitive impairment. Britt asks how much time she has, and the doctor says, the average life span of a patient in Stage 3 is five to fifteen years. But as for living her daily life, it could be as soon as 18 months before she needs full time care and assisted living.

Robert says, Victor has Ethan, and Holly says, after Robert’s adventure in Monte Carlo, Ethan found evidence that she might still be alive, and came looking for her. He asks why Ethan didn’t bring it to him, and she says she doesn’t know; maybe he wanted to get confirmation first. Unfortunately for all of them, Victor’s people caught him, and Victor is holding him to secure her cooperation. Robert says, so Victor’s got Anna on the run, he’s got Lucy and Ethan as prisoners… Holly’s phone dings, and she says, and he’s got her over a barrel. Robert asks if that’s him, and she says, he’s coming here. Robert has to go. Robert says, put him off, but she says she can’t provoke him, or he’ll do the same to her son that he did to her sister.

Olivia says, Drew and Carly would have a good reason to keep things quiet, and he says, such as? She says, a lot of questions Ned was asking about the merger; like who knew what and when they knew it. He says, the merger that never happened, but she says, hypothetically speaking, someone she’s married to could raise a pretty big stink with the SEC. And if that were the case, he should know he can count on her not to say anything. Carly is her best friend, and he’s family.

Josslyn cleans up her room, shoving the sheets into the bag with Dex’s clothes, and there’s a knock at the door. It’s Carly, and Josslyn tells her, Dex is gone. Carly says she knows. She saw him in Sonny’s office. Josslyn says, unbelievable. She almost kills herself trying to save him, and he runs back to Sonny. Carly says, Dex is working for Sonny by his own choice. As grateful as he is that she helped him, that job is going to be his top priority. Josslyn asks if Carly wants her to say this was a one-time thing, and she’s never going to see Dex again, and Carly asks if Josslyn would be disappointed if it was a one-time thing. Josslyn says she needs to go home. She needs to use the fire pit. Carly says, now is a good time, the girls aren’t there, and they leave.

Dex tells Sonny, the bullet grazed his side. It bled a lot, and got infected. He found a place to crash until his fever broke. Sonny asks why he didn’t call, and Dex says he lost his phone. Sonny says, that’s not very professional, and Dex says he was pretty out of it the first night. He didn’t know if the cops were looking for him. He kept his hat on and his face in shadow the whole time, but there was still a chance the guard could ID him. Sonny asks what Brick thinks, and Brick says, out of contact for three days, conveniently. Could be he lost his phone, but Brick sees why Sonny would be concerned. Dex says he laid low because he didn’t want to bring any trouble back to Sonny. No matter what, Sonny can count on him.

Holly tells Robert, she’s trying her best to save everyone. Anna, Lucy, Ethan, but something has to give. Robert says, she’s right; something does.

Britt thanks Dr. Talone for going out of her way to meet with her, and the doctor says she’s sorry she doesn’t have better news. She leaves, and Austin asks if Britt wants to go for a walk. She says, thanks, but she needs to be alone, and he asks if she wants a drink. She says, he’s been great, but she needs to handle this by herself. He says she knows where to find him, and leaves. She looks at her framed degree, then her business card. She tosses the card down, and holds out her hand, seeing the tremor. She says, damn it, and throws the degree into the bookcase, smashing it and whatever’s on the shelf. She swipes everything off of her desk and onto the floor, then throws a vase of flowers against the wall, shattering it, and cries.  

Victor arrives at the docks, and tells Holly that he just got word from Eileen Ashby; Anna has escaped. She asks how that’s possible, and he says, you tell me. She says she saw the text on Robert’s phone, and that was the address she gave to the Marshal. He says, Robert may be on to her; best be on her guard. Meanwhile, he has another assignment for her. One involving an old friend of hers.

Britt’s office is a mess. She kicks a chair, and picks up the necklace, which does not seem as heavy as it should. She says, gee, Peter, thanks. You got this from dear old dad. Guess what I got? Cody knocks at the door, then walks in.

Tomorrow, Brook tells Linc that she’s going to expose him for the creep that he is; Nina asks Dante how worried Ava should be; Cody tells Britt that she’s definitely worth loving; and Victor tells Holly that she’s got a lot more to lose.

Below Deck

Captain Lee tells us, St. Lucia is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. It’s straight out of a postcard. He’s been a captain for 37 years, and it’s time to do captain sh*t. He has a set of expectations that are so far out of the f***ing park. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s like a mercenary chef. She’s coming in to murder sh*t and get tips. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s been crowned king… chief stew. It’s so good to be in charge. In bosun Ross’s interview, he says he’s from old school yachting. You work hard so you’ll be able to play hard. He may have overstepped on occasion, but tries his best to be professional. In her interview, stew Alissa says she’s a flirty person, and likes the attention on a boat. In stew/deckhand Camille’s interview, she says, she’s a Mississippi gal, and loves to twerk, which I’m sure will be a useful skill, and in deckhand Ben’s interview, he says he’s Peter Pan looking for his Tinkerbell. In deckhand Katie’s interview, she says she might be a pretty face, but she knows how to rock it. Deckhand Tony tells us in his interview, his entire life fits in his backpack. If it doesn’t fit, it must go away. Life is about collecting experiences. In stew Hayley’s interview, she says, people would describe her as a sensational stunning hot mess crazy bitch. The captain says he’s going to work their asses to the bone. Yachting isn’t all fun and games; it’s deadly serious. He’ll chew their asses and spit them out in a heartbeat. We see scenes from the coming season.

Fraser arrives first, and says, the boat looks huge and brilliant. He looks around, while Captain Lee looks over the crew’s CVs and wonders why every CV says, self-motivated. Fraser comes to say hello, and the captain says he knows Fraser will shine. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s been chief stew for one season, and wants to be a leader and a friend. He wants to mix personal and professional together to create something wonderful. The captain tells Fraser that Camille is a floater, but she’ll primarily be with him. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, the boat is 197 feet. All the rooms are bigger, and there’s an extra deck. He tells Fraser that they’re picking up tomorrow, and it will be the usual sh*tshow. Rachel gets there next, and in her interview, she says she’s excited to see her boat daddy. The captain tells her that she has her own cabin, and she says she’s going to knock their socks off. She and Fraser hug. Ross meets the captain, and says he’s worked on 26 yachts, which makes Captain Lee happy. The captain reviews the deckhands with him, and says, Tony will be the greenest. In Ross’s interview, he says he has 11 years’ experience, and the hardest element for him is social dynamics. He holds back, and thinks of it as a chess game. In Alissa’s interview, she says, her ultimate goal is to make as much money as possible, meet high-end people, mooch off them, and live their life. When Hayley arrives, she tells Fraser that she loves St. Lucia, but the humidity isn’t doing her hair any favors. In her interview, she says, the three things she likes about herself are her t*ts, ass, and hair. Ben and Katie slip in, and Fraser talks to the stews. Hayley says she’s more geared to service, and Alissa says she loves housekeeping. Fraser says, it’s all good, and sends them to do cabins, saying, we’ll just get it all done. Tony and Camille are the last to come on board, and in Ross’s interview, he says he’s attracted to a few of the girls. It complicates things more if they’re on his team. He’s going to try and be as professional as he can, but it’s not his strong suit.

Fraser tells Ross that he’s throwing Camille in, but whenever Ross needs her, she’ll be his. Katie tells Camille that she’s from Ohio, and Camille said she detected Midwest. In Camille’s interview, she says she’s from a small town in Mississippi, but it was too small for her. Growing up, she didn’t get invited to parties because she was always the center of attention. It wasn’t on purpose, but she loves being extra. I see she’s modest too. Captain Lee calls a staff meeting, and jokes that they’re a motley looking bunch. Fraser goes to get the captain some coffee, but there’s no coffee or cream. Captain Lee shrugs it off, and introduces himself. He gives them the two rules: don’t embarrass the boat, and don’t embarrass yourself. He says he has a pocketful of plane tickets that he’ll have no problem handing out. He’s a little incapacitated from a nerve issue, so he’ll be depending on them in some areas. In the captain’s interview, he says he had back surgery, but the worst is behind him, and the doctors say he’ll continue to get better. He tells the crew that he wants to set records, and get all the cash they can possibly get. Pick up is tomorrow. Now go to work.

In Fraser’s interview, he says, Alissa knows what she’s doing. All her work is polished and structured. Hayley is all over the place, but enthusiastic. So far, so good. Provisions come in, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, more decks makes it harder. She has to go all the way down for her dry storage and walk-in freezer. It’s going to build her calves, and give her a nice hard ass. In Katie’s interview, she says she grew up in Ohio, and decided to move to Florida, where she got into yachting. She can do everything the boys can do. The captain radios Ross, Fraser, and Rachel for a preference sheet meeting. The first charter’s primary is Peng, an in-demand tax professional. He’s bringing his best friends to celebrate his birthday. The friends want Peng’s face decorating everything. They’ve requested a rave style party, and a Zen day at the beach. They’d also like a Playboy mansion themed party, with a sexy male dancer, and someone to jump out of a cake. Captain Lee says, they’ll be leaving his old ass out of that. The stews work on the cabins, and get to know one another. In Hayley’s interview, she says, yachting is like an ex-lover. You don’t want to commit, but occasionally want to dip back in. In Fraser’s interview, he says, he’s giving this his all, and he’s already stressed. There’s always a voice in the back of his head telling him that he’s not good enough. The boat is huge, and he didn’t know what he was facing. It’s worse than he thought, and he’s freaking out.

Fraser tells himself not to have a panic attack today, and the deck crew cleans the boat. In Tony’s interview, he says he worked on small boats; not like this one. He was born in Costa Rica, and he’s a free spirit. Going to the mountains for a few days with his backpack, that’s life. Fraser asks the interior to meet in the Sky Lounge, and the deckhands put on finishing touches. In Fraser’s interview, he says he had a mental breakdown last night. He can’t do everything, and has to learn to delegate. Here is his bible. He gives the stews a schedule of their responsibilities, and says, since he doesn’t know them, he went off their experience. He’s making Alissa his second, so she’s in charge of helping the girls out. In Alissa’s interview, she’s says she’s going to smash it. Her triangle of the people she listens to is, Captain Lee, Fraser, and whoever’s paying. If you’re not in the triangle, just do your work. Fraser says his priority is laundry, and Camille switches over to the deck for line instruction. Ross shows them a diagram of the boat, and goes over who is on which lines. In Camille’s interview, she says, she’s used to a small boat, but she likes being outside with the boys. It’s a vibe; wearing sunglasses and drinking a Coca Cola. I have no idea what the hell she’s talking about. Rachel curses the galley, and Fraser texts provisioner Marissa for a person to jump out of the cake. In Alissa’s interview, she says, Camille is giving her attitude. It’s annoying, but they’ll see how it progresses. The captain says, one hour, and Fraser takes a final look around, saying, everything is pretty. Camille does a pre-charter twerk, and the guests arrive. Ross says, God help us.

Captain Lee welcomes them aboard and to St. Lucia. He says, they have some fun planned for the birthday boy. Fraser will give them a tour, and they’ll get this party started. Primary Peng is off to great start, as he trips going up the first set of stairs. He also needs to pee, and there’s no soap in the bathroom. In Fraser’s interview, he says, the guests have been here ten minutes, and we’ve already f***ed up. The main bedroom has a skylight that opens up to the hot tub, which is just weird. Was that a money saving move, or is the owner some kind of kinkball? Captain Lee goes over things with Ross, and tells him, stay sharp. In the captain’s interview, he says, there’s a new crew, a new boat, a new location, new everything. It’s a lot of pressure, but you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube. He tells the deckhands, let’s not burn daylight, reminding me of John Wayne in The Cowboys. The boat heads out, and Peng and guest Quai decide to move a table, spilling the vase of flowers on it. In his interview, Fraser wonders, is it too soon to throw oneself overboard? Tony asks the captain about his career path, and Captain Lee says he’s been in the business 40 years, and did every sh*t job there is. In his interview, the captain says Tony is green as far as skills go, but he has a great smile and a willingness to learn. He can work with that. Ben has a Titanic moment with Camille in the crew mess. They drop anchor in Vigie Beach, and lunch is prepared. The guests seem pretty drunk already, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, lunch is late. there’s a new crew, new equipment, and a vast boat. She feels like a rushed a-hole, and it sucks.

Fraser tells Rachel that he’s going to seat the guests, and she asks if it’s over yet. Lunch is served an hour and fifteen minutes late, and guest Ashley is hangry. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s feeling frazzled, but all he can do is roll with the punches. Peng wonders where the food came from. After lunch, the guests go swimming, and Peng wonders why the water is wet. No more for him. In Camille’s interview, she says, if she was second stew, she’d have more fun. She thinks Alissa was the type who got all A’s, while she’s the type who rolled with it if she got a C. Ross and Katie pick up the cake, and Ross puts a bag over it, so it’s a surprise. Observing the guests, Captain Lee says, they’re drunker than a bunch of four-peckered goats. According to him, goats seem to get drunk a lot. The guests tell Fraser that they’re all Mormons. I would assume not practicing considering the amount of alcohol they’ve consumed. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says he’s been a captain for 37 years, and sailing the Caribbean a long time. St. Lucia is one of his favorite islands. It’s breathtaking, but the trade winds blow, and make your life miserable. Suck it up, creampuff. The boat rocks, and Peng wonders if it’s him. Everything has gone flying in the galley, and in Rachel’s interview, she says she has to stop what she’s doing and clean thoroughly. If someone chews on glass, it’s her ass, but it takes time. This is such a nightmare. She hates her life.

In her interview, Rachel says, this isn’t going how she planned. Glass is everywhere, and she’s in a time crunch. She’s worried about spiraling and shoving her foot up someone’s ass. All the guests wear shirts with Peng’s face on them, and Camille welcomes them to dinner in the Sky Longue. Ashley says, the décor is way too pretty. They look like Mississippi porch whores. I’m not sure what that means, but VC Andrews comes to mind. In Camille’s interview, she says, the guests are extremely f***ed up, and that’s her vibe. She loves drinking. Dinner is an hour late, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, the guests required a multi-course tasting menu. Everything is downstairs, and it’s a lot of running. Every second counts in service. It goes from zero to 100. Guest Junior says, Peng was his first friend in Salt Lake, and everyone gets all sentimental. Hayley and Camille do cabins, and Camille whines about nothing being prepared. She says she’s discombobbled, which I don’t think is a word. In Hayley’s interview, she says, smile, suck it up, and carry on. The dancers come on board, and not liking the Fireball shot, Peng spits it out. In Tony’s interview, he says, it doesn’t make you more special because you have more money. Hanging out and respecting the locals makes you a richer person. Fraser tells Rachel that the guests are impatient, and in his interview, he says, they still have a party to do, and it’s stressing him. Where’s Rachel at? Quai says she’s chill, but she’s bored, and decides to get ready for the rave. The rest of the guests leave the table, and Rachel says she’s going to cry.

In Rachel’s interview, she says, suck my d*ck, and Fraser radios for the crew to get in their outfits. Dessert is served, and the guests’ minds are appropriately blown by Rachel’s creation. In Fraser’s interview, he says, the guests are ready to party, and he hopes they can turn this around. The cake is set up, and one of the dancers pops out when Peng comes in. There are lots of glowsticks, and everyone jumps around to house music or whatever. The dancers do the limbo, and Rachel brings out a cake with a giant sparkler on it. The dancers leave, and Fraser says, it’s day one; kill me now. In his interview, he says he’s feeling unbelievably overwhelmed. He’s bit off far more than he can chew, and doesn’t feel prepared or capable of doing the job. Alissa bosses Camille around, and in Camille’s interview, she says, there’s a way to lead. Bossing is when you’re pushed down, told what to do, and made to do it because you’ve got to. It doesn’t sit well with her. In Alissa’s interview, she says, if you don’t want to be corrected, do it correctly. It’s going to be a long season.

This season, Captain Lee says, his mind is here, and his heart is here, but his body won’t cooperate. He’s made a decision.

⚓️ Meet the New Crew…

There are a few familiar faces.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/below-deck-season-10-get-to-know-the-crew-members

🏆 Award Worthy…

The AMA winners.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/20/entertainment/american-music-awards-winners-2022

Performances and moments.

https://www.etonline.com/2022-american-music-awards-best-moments-and-biggest-performances-of-the-night-194774

A tribute.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/watch-pinks-touching-performance-honor-olivia-newton-john-93719361

And most important, who wore what.

https://people.com/style/2022-amas-best-dressed-stars-photos/

🖼 Inside Looking Out…

Tomorrow, just soap and tea, so come sit a spell. Until then, stay safe, stay being gracious with intolerable relatives, and stay remembering that life is about collecting experiences.

December 27, 2021 – Willow Gives One Reason, Soap Caroling, Hayden Weighs In, What Kathy Wants & Things

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook opens her eyes to a naked Chase who asks, is this hot enough for you? and gets in her bed. She wakes, and says she’s been single way too long.

After hot yoga class, Drew tells Chase, if this is what staying in shape looks like in 2022, he might have to consider confinement again. Chase says, it’s supposed to be a nice total body workout. It’s supposed to get you limber, which is weird because he doesn’t think he can get up. Curtis holds out his hand, and says, forget about being limber. This was torture. Compared to work, there’s nothing worse. Drew says, really? Nothing?

Marshall brings Epiphany a bouquet of flowers, and she asks what they’re for. He says, these, Dr. Johnson… Nurse Johnson, are an expression of gratitude, for sharing her dulcet tones with him, the staff, and the patients of General Hospital. Now when can they do it again? Epiphany laughs.

The class changes, and Maxie sees Chase coming out. She asks how class was, and he says, it’s exhausting. She says that’s why she hates hot yoga; he’s probably dehydrated. She asks how Bailey is, and he says, she’s amazing. She does this thing where she feeds herself. She’s trying to. It makes for a hilarious and very messy mealtime. She says she’d love to see that, and he says she should come by the house… and realizes he’s saying it like he lives at the Quartermaines. He says he’s actually headed there now, as long as Brook doesn’t have a problem with it. Maxie asks why she would, and he says, you never know with her lately. He tells Maxie, see ya around, and leaves. She goes into class, and tells Lucy that they should really air the place out after hot yoga class. Lucy says, what? and Maxie asks if the nose of Deception can’t smell how stank it is in there. Lucy says she hadn’t noticed, and looks zen already.

Laura sits with Martin at the MetroCourt, and asks where Lucy is. He says they just ordered breakfast, and she bolted. Something about exercise he thinks. She tells him, you don’t say, and he sits back, saying, go ahead. She says, what? and he says, she’s sitting there flexing her sisterly muscles, dying to warn him off the delightful Miss Coe. She says, nope. She has no sisterly advice for him. In fact, she’s got to go focus on being a grandmother.

At Kelly’s, Esme wonders what she should pack for a cabin getaway, and asks Spencer if Sonny’s cabin has a hot tub or sauna. He says he doesn’t know; he’s never been there. Besides, doesn’t she think it’s a little early for packing? She says she’s just excited; isn’t he? He says it’s hard to get excited about a trip, knowing when it’s over, so is his life. (Dramatic much?)

Willow is sworn in at Nina’s hearing.

Valentin comes up behind Martin, and takes off Martin’s Santa hat. He says, trouble at the mall? Martin says, oh what fun it is to laugh. The holiday spirit lingers this year. Not that it had anything to do with Valentin. Valentin sits, and says, what is it now? and Martin says, his gift must have gotten lost in the mail, but Valentin says, clients don’t give gifts; clients receive gifts. Martin says, forgive him. It’s hard to get all the holiday shopping in when you’re busy avoiding death. Valentin says, congratulations, and Martin says, on being alive? Valentin says, yes. He thought if Cyrus didn’t kill Martin, surely Laura would. Martin says, a hardy humbug to him too, and Valentin laughs.

Brook races into what is apparently called the Nook, grabbing some coffee, and Ned asks, when was the last time she slept in like this? She says she was up all night with Bailey, and when she finally got to bed, all she could do – she thinks about her dream – was toss and turn. She asks, where is the oat milk in this house? He says, bad dreams? and she says, something like that. What is Ned even still doing there? She thought he and Olivia had an appointment with Leo’s doctor. He says, soon, but he always has time for his one and only daughter. And the mess she’s made of her one and only life.

Martin says he’d hoped Valentin’s Turkey Day revenge had dulled the pain of losing Bailey, but he doesn’t think there’s a slice of ELQ big enough to make up for losing the love of a child. Valentin says, no, and Martin says he’s sorry; both for Valentin going through it, and that he wasn’t there when Valentin did. Valentin says Brook hurt him. Worse than that, she hurt his daughter Charlotte, and he wants to make sure she pays for that. Martin says, that’s his boy. Does Valentin want to order breakfast, and mull over ways to even the score? Valentin says he does, but right now he has other matters on his plate. Victor walks in, but Anna intercepts him, and says she doesn’t think so.

Esme says Spencer’s been going through a lot, so much stress. It will be good for him to get away; for both of them. When was the last time they had any privacy? He admits it’s been ages, and she says they could really use some time behind closed doors. Laura comes in and asks what today’s special is.

Carly wonders what Scotty is doing, and Sonny says, he’s probably trying to get them to drop the charges by going after the DA’s credibility. Michael says, he’s turning the attention away from Nina and onto him, but did he have to use Willow? Carly says, Willow will be fine, and Michael says, she will, but Scotty won’t. Not when he’s through with him. Sheridan says, sorry to spring this on Willow, but he wants to address opposing council’s allegations. Has she ever donated to his campaign as Pennsylvania Attorney General? She says, no, and he says, his previous campaigns for Llantano District Attorney? She says, no, and he asks if she’s met him prior to today. She says, in October, at the home she shares with her son and his father, Michael Corinthos. Sheridan asks if she can describe the nature of that meeting, and she says she arrived home to find him and Michael speaking. He asks if she remembers the subject, and she says, their shared values. He says, what else? and she says, there were introductions, and then he had to get back to Llanview. He asks if at any point during that meeting she came to know that Michael had pressed him to bring a case against the defendant. She says, no, and he thanks her for clearing that up. No further questions. Judge Milford asks if opposing council has any questions, and Scotty says, one or two, and gets up.

At the Bistro, Drew says, Corinthos Coffee, and Curtis says, not much to choose from in these parts. Drew says he’s not complaining. It’s nice to come back and have at least one thing unchanged. Curtis asks if the thrill of his homecoming is wearing off a bit, but Drew says, not the Scout part. Seeing Scout is thrilling every single time, and after talking to only guards for the past few years, having a conversation with a normal person is quite a trip. (Was he kidnapped in 1975?) Curtis says, but the rest? and Drew says he can only sit on his butt at Monica’s for so long. He has to do something with his life; he has to be productive. He just has no idea where to start. Curtis says, what about Aurora Media? and Drew says, Curtis means the company he and Sam created for a fresh start? Curtis says, good point. There’s no place for him at ELQ? Drew says he’d have to get a therapist first. Thanks to Curtis, he does have something to do with his time. He’s been thinking about Marshall, and may have come up with an angle.

Epiphany tells Marshall, she thought the flowers were to say thank you, and he says, they are, but he was also hoping to soften her up for his proposition. She asks, what proposition is that? and he says he had a wonderful time last night. She says she did too, and he says he thought so, but she didn’t stick around long enough to say so. She says she thought it was obvious, and he says, maybe she’s just more inclined to express herself through song rathe than word. She laughs, and says, he’ll soon learn she has no problem speaking her mind… If he sticks around. He says he plans to, and leans forward. He tells her that he thinks they make beautiful music together, so he wanted to ask her – she says, yes? – if she wants to join his band.

Brook says she should have put Ned’s empathy on her Christmas list. Why can’t they go one week without him coming down on her? Like she doesn’t know she has issues. Like she needs him to point them out. She’s trying to make her life better, and him, of all people, talking about mess? What’s going on with him and Olivia? Are they even in the same bed? The same room? The same wing? He says she’s right. He’s the standard bearer for messes in this family. She’s an amateur by comparison. She says she’s confused, and he says if she has any issues, it’s in large part because of him. What kind of example has he set when it comes to relationships? What kind of example has he set when it comes to anything actually, and he’s sorry for his choice of words. He thought the word mess was an objective take, and something they have in common. She says, now they’re bonding over their mutual chaos? and he says, maybe they can come up with some solutions. He’s been working on his mess with Olivia, and he’s been doing some thinking about her situation with Chase. She needs to get out in front of this. Make sure Chase doesn’t hold Bailey over her head like Valentin did. From the doorway, Chase clears his throat.

Scotty says, Willow referred to Michael as the father of her son, the man she lives with, not married. She says, no, and he says, that’s kind of a modern arrangement. Sheridan says, it’s irrelevant, and the judge tells Scotty, stick to the point. Scotty asks if she and Michael revisited the subject of the DA’s visit after he left, and she says, the subject came up. He asks if she took it at face value; two guys just shooting the breeze about values. She says she wondered about it. and he asks if that wondering got the best of her. Did she ask Michael? She tells Judge Milford that she thought her conversations with Michael were protected, but the judge says, they’re not. Scotty says, spousal privilege doesn’t apply to co-parenting, but you know what applies to just about everyone? The penalty for perjury.    

Maxie tells Lucy, the timing of this IPO could be better. Does she think they should give Sasha time to grieve? She can’t imagine Sasha can work right now; she doesn’t know how Sasha is functioning at all. Lucy flashes back to her tryst with Martin while she says, ohm. Then she says, ohmmmmMartin. Maxie says, what was that now?

Martin asks Valentin, just out of curiosity, who should he be more concerned for? Anna or Victor? Valentin says, Victor, definitely.  

Anna says, eyes on her, and Victor says, it’s a wonder anyone’s eyes are ever off of her; his son’s in particular. What exactly is the nature of their relationship? She says she thinks that falls under the category of none of his bustiness, kind of like his stretching this morning during his pastoral workout. He says he didn’t see her there, and she says, she’s everywhere. She saw him picking up The Invader, and he picked up mints; that was very considerate. She was also at Kelly’s when he visited Spencer. He says, she’s following him, and she says she is. Port Charles is her home, so from here on out, she’ll be his shadow. And if he gets out of line, she’ll be there to deal with him. He says, the way she dealt with Peter? and she smiles.

Spencer pours coffee for Laura, and says he brewed it himself. She says, he’s learned his way around a coffeemaker, and Esme says, he’s doing a great job, grandmother… Sorry, she meant mayor. Laura tells her, Laura will be fine for now, and says Doc been telling her about this wonderful shift he’s seen in Spencer, but she doesn’t know if it’s because of this job, or just a byproduct of getting caught. Spencer says, here it comes. He knew it was too good to last. Christmas is gone, so is the peace. Let him have it. How disappointed is she? Or has her disapproval moved on to hate, just like his father?

Scotty asks if Willow needs a refresher course in the consequences of lying in court, but she says, that won’t be necessary. Michael told her, like many businesses, his family’s company seeks relationships with political figures, and Scotty says, the evidence shows, the DA received a huge chunk of money from her and Michael. The DA objects, saying, no such evidence has been offered. Miss Tate has never made a donation to his campaign that he’s aware of. Judge Milford says, sustained, and Scotty says, ELQ made a huge donation to Sheridan’s campaign before his client’s arrest. So what was expected from that donation in return? Willow says she wasn’t privy to the conversation, and Scotty says, but she must have thought Michael was going to get something for his gift. She says, Michael’s only interest was in justice, and Scotty says, for whom? She says, for his father. Nina kept Sonny from his family for nine months. Scotty asks if she didn’t expect Michael was going to get the DA to pursue charges against his client for his donation, and Sheridan objects, saying Scotty is close to badgering. The judge says, sustained. Scotty asks if it isn’t Willow’s understanding that the DA was going to bring charges against Nina in exchange for a hefty donation to him. She tells him, whatever was said was between Michael and DA Sheridan. As far as she’s aware, the contribution was entirely above board and legal. He says, funny she should bring legal up, because that’s what they’re trying to get to. Do the charges against Nina even merit a trial, or should they just be tossed out; that it was possibly an act of heroism. Does she have any reason to believe that the alleged victim, Sonny Corinthos, sees himself as a victim at all?

Victor tells Anna to forgive him if he finds her threats lacking in substance. As he understands it, she’s had multiple opportunities to end Peter’s reign of terror, yet every single time, she’s backed off, which confounds him. He’s read her file. Her no-nonsense reputation is well-earned. She thanks him, but says, yet here he is still testing her. He says, by living his life? and she says, by imposing himself on Valentin. He laughs, and says, they’ve come full circle. She does care for Valentin, doesn’t she? While he’s truly gratified at her attachment to his son, he suspects Valentin is even more so.

Epiphany says, Marshall is putting together a band? and he says he’d be honored to land her as the lead vocal. He thinks their chemistry is off the charts. She says, it was just one performance, and he says, exactly. It can take people weeks, sometimes months, to gel like that. They were total strangers, nowhere near a studio, or anything resembling a stage, singing holiday tunes, yet it was still a natural fit. He got to talking with the other musicians afterwards, and they all thought, why not give it a shot? Get together for at least one day, and feel out something that doesn’t sound like it’s wrapped in tinsel. What does she say?

Drew says, Curtis hasn’t been able to find out much about Marshall Ashford, and Curtis says, he’s got zero digital footprint, and if his mother owned any property with him, she parted ways with it a long time ago. Drew says, civic documents? and Curtis says, birth certificates, educational records, but all of that dried up after Marshall married his mom. Drew says, he’s no P.I., but it seems strange, and Curtis says, very. It suggests Marshall had another life before he came here, or someone went to great lengths to erase all traces of him. Drew says, then maybe it’s time they stop looking for Marshall Ashford… Curtis says, and start looking for the man he’s pretending to be.

Carly wonders what’s going on, but Michael doesn’t know. Scotty says, Willow is close to the crime; that’s why the prosecution called her. She possesses a different perspective that the judge might want to consider before this goes to trial. Judge Milford allows it, but tells Scotty, keep it moving. Scotty asks if Willow would like him to repeat the question, but she says, no. To her knowledge, Sonny is no one’s victim. Scotty says, he’ll rephrase it then. Sonny testified that he didn’t bring charges against Nina because he wanted to move on with his life; he’d lost enough time with his wife and family. Does she think Sonny left anything out? Sheridan objects, and asks if Scotty can be more vague. The judge tells Scotty to get where he’s going; make it fast and make it direct. Scotty asks if she thinks Sonny had some sort of unstated motivation to not sic the state on Nina.

Laura says, she could never hate Spencer. Is she disappointed? Absolutely. He put his father, Ava, and Ava’s daughter through a living nightmare. He says, Avery was never in any danger, but she says, Avery was kept away from her mother, and don’t make excuses. It just makes everything worse. What he did was horrible. Esme says, he didn’t do it alone. He had help from her. Spencer says, she was just trying to be supportive, and she says, but she went overboard, and should have used better judgement. Laura says, that’s an understatement, and Spencer says, he’s learned his lesson, but Laura says, has he? Really? Spencer says she doesn’t believe him? and she says she wants to believe him, but the fact he’s thrown in with Victor makes her wonder.

Valentin tells Martin, Victor’s sudden revelation that he’s a Cassadine has him wondering if there’s any wiggle room in the will. Martin says, what will? Mikkos’s? The one who got Ava thrown off the parapet? That will? Valentin says, if he could avail himself of some of the fortune that Nikolas stole after all, it would make for a happy ending, wouldn’t it? Martin says he’ll look into it. If he were Valentin, he’d just focus on Victor. Shake the tree, and see what comes loose. Valentin says he can handle Victor, and it looks like Anna can as well. Martin asks how are things with Anna, and Valentin wonders if he’s asking for a friend, but Martin says he’s not throwing his hat in the ring. They both say, he’d lose, and Martin says, there’s no need for a duel. With all due respect to Anna, he’s decided to move on.  

Maxie says, Martin Gray? and Lucy says, namaste; keep her voice down. Maxie says, sorry. She had no idea Lucy was interested in him. Lucy says, neither did she, and Maxie says, tell her what happened. Lucy says, he fell into her lap. No, she fell into his lap, and the rest is sort of history. Maxie says, good history? and Lucy says, it was so fun.

Ned says he hopes Chase isn’t offended, and Brook says, he just compared Chase to a Cassadine, but Ned says, Chase comes out far ahead in comparison. Brook says, lightyears ahead, and Ned says, but Valentin has already started his retaliation for the lie about Bailey, and there’s sure to be more to come. Brook says, and his point? and Ned says, children bring out the best and worst in people. He’d hate to see his granddaughter used as a weapon again between warring parents. Chase says he’d hate to see that happen too, and Ned says, good. His suggestion is for the two of them to sit with lawyers, and iron out their respective roles in Bailey’s life. The clearer they are now, the less room for conflict moving forward. Chase says, makes sense, and Ned says, it’s all about the boundaries.

Scotty tells Willow to wrack her brain, and Nina tells him, no. He asks if Willow knows any reason Sonny wouldn’t file charges against the woman who allegedly kept him away from his family. Willow says, she’s not in Sonny’s head. She can’t tell him all Sonny’s reasons, and Scotty says, one reason. Give him one singular reason. Nina says, no, but he tells her, quiet. He asks why Sonny wouldn’t want restitution, and Sonny tells Carly, let’s go. She says, now? and he takes her hand, heading for the door, but she stops. Scotty says, the penalty for perjury is seven years behind bars in another state away from her son. How old does she think her son will be when she gets out? Willow says, yes, and he says, yes what? She says, there is another reason why Sonny didn’t go after Nina.

Epiphany says she has no time to devote to a band, but Marshall says, they’ll work around her schedule. She says her shifts are all over the place, and he asks if it’s her polite of saying no. She says, it’s not a no or a yes. She got turned around when he said proposition, that’s all. He says, oh. Oh. She thought he was asking her out. She says, her mistake, but he says, for the record, if he were to ask out a virtual stranger, he sincerely doubts he could aim higher than her. The truth is, he doesn’t date. He hasn’t for a long time. The fact is, he wasn’t very good at it, but if he could ever interest her in a jam session… She says, it’s possible. It depends on her schedule. He says, then just follow the music, she laughs, and he leaves.

Curtis tells Drew that Marshall has had several aliases, and probably lived under several dozen rocks over the decades, but he has no leads, and the guy’s not forthcoming with information. Drew says, so Curtis asked? and Curtis says, more like demanded, but the more Marshall said nothing or talked around the answers he wanted, he just got so pissed… Drew says, he shut right down, and Curtis says, so if he goes in all curious and nice, Marshall will be suspicious. Drew says, then let him try. Let him do the digging. Curtis should just play it straight. Curtis asks, how? and Drew says, they can’t get a lead on Marshall’s missing years, so they need Marshall to cough one up. They lay a job in his path, something that’s just too good to resist. He’ll have to put down his social security number or a reference or something. Real or fake, it doesn’t really matter; it will give them a place to start. Curtis says, a job; that’s good. He says, Drew does know this means he’ll have to deal with Aurora or ELQ, and Drew says, let him deal with that. Curtis wonders what kind of gig Drew can put out there. As far as he knows, all the guy does is music. Drew says, believe it or not, music is something his family knows.

Brook asks if Ned is done with his extremely practical and very mercenary advice, and he says he is. She tells him that he should go; he doesn’t want to be late for his appointment. He says he’ll provide her council, and tells Chase to let them know when he’s found a lawyer. He leaves, and Brook says she’s so sorry about Ned butting in, but to be fair, it’s a family tradition. Chase says, he would get a lawyer, if he were actually working and could actually pay for one, and if Bailey was actually his, but he does agree with boundaries. He’ll do everything he can to keep up appearances for Maxie and the baby, but when it comes to them, she needs to let him know how much space she needs, and he’ll give it to her.

Lucy says, ohm, and the instructor says, the eternal. Earth, air, heaven… Maxie asks Lucy if there’s going to be a second round, and Lucy says they kind of talked about it. Maxie says, she’d like there to be, right? and the instructor suggests they focus on their breathing. Maxie asks if Lucy wants to get out of there and grab a latte, so they can chat about it. They dash out, Lucy saying, namaste, as they go out the door.

Martin tells Valentin, Lucy Coe, and asks if Valentin is wishing he could trade places. Valentin says, no. He’s wishing he had a lawyer with more common sense. Lucy is his business partner. They’re about to take Deception public. It’s going to make him, Lucy, and Martin a lot of money. Martin says he’s still not seeing the problem, and Valentin says, Martin can’t effectively represent him and his best interests if he’s sleeping with Lucy Coe, who, by the way, is notorious for getting the better of her lovers. If Lucy gets the better of Martin, she gets the better of him. So Martin can have him or Lucy, but he can’t have both.

Anna says she’ll be keeping an eye on Victor, and he asks if that isn’t superfluous, given his deal with the WSB, but she says she’s not beholden to a deal. So she strongly advises him to behave himself. He says, or? and she says, he read her file. You tell me. She walks away.

Spencer says, Uncle Victor is the only reason he’s going to Spring Ridge and not Pentenville, and Laura says she’s grateful for that, but wishes she didn’t have Victor to thank for it. Spencer knows he messed up, right? and he says, yes. She says, good. His job now is to make amends. He says, okay, and she says she wants to see that; not just give lip service. He says he has to get back to work, and leaves. Esme tells Laura, don’t worry. Once Spence gets out of Spring Ridge, he’ll have plenty of people to keep him the straight and narrow. Her, Laura, Doc; one big happy family. She hugs Laura, who looks pretty surprised.   

Sonny tells Carly, let’s get out of here, but she won’t budge. Sheridan says Scotty has gone far enough with his fishing expedition. He’s threatening Willow with perjury when she hasn’t been deposed, and there’s no indication that she knows anything germane to these proceedings. Judge Milford says, overruled. He wants to see where this is going. Scotty says, whenever she’s ready, and Willow looks at everyone. Nina looks like she wants the earth to swallow her up, and Willow says, a few weeks ago, she overheard Nina and Sonny having a conversation at General Hospital. Scotty asks if it was out in the open, but she says, in the chapel. He says, so it was just the two of them? and she says, yes. He asks what they said in this conversation, and she says she wasn’t there for all of it. He says, the part she was there for, did Sonny touch on the nature of his relationship with Nina? She says, he did, and Sheridan says, hearsay, but Judge Milford says, overruled, and asks Willow to be more specific. She says she overheard Sonny say, whatever happened between him and Nina in Nixon Falls has to come from him, and it will. Scotty asks, what was that? What was between the accused and the alleged victim? and Willow says, love, and Nina closes her eyes. Michael is like, what? and Carly looks at Sonny, all pissed off. I laugh.

Tomorrow, Curtis asks Stella what he doesn’t know about Marshall, Olivia wonders what if Leo needs something she can’t provide, Michael asks why Willow didn’t tell him about overhearing Nina and Sonny, and Scotty asks if Sonny considers himself the victim of a crime.

❄️ Still Ho-Ho-Ho’ing…

Enjoy the soap version of Let It Snow.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Is She Or Isn’t She…?

Will Hayden stay gone? Your guess is as good as hers.

💎 Aspirations…

Everyone’s favorite friend talks RHOBH.

https://extratv.com/2021/12/22/kathy-hilton-reveals-what-she-wants-her-role-to-be-on-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-season-12/

🐖 Pig Flying By…

Hope Santa was good to you, or, if you’re not a Believer, you were good to yourself. Since there was no Deck – although there was a great episode of Galley Talk, reviewing the Shame Cocoon episode – can I possibly go to bed early? Nah, but I can log in another hour of Korean TV on Netflix. I’m currently obsessed with the series Black. This week looks much like last week. There are new Rules, but no new Housewives, and GH is a rerun on Friday. Of February 24, 2021. I shake my fist at the sky once again, saying, why? Why can’t they rerun a decent holiday episode on a holiday? Alas, God gives me no answer. So until tomorrow, stay safe, stay not feeling pressured to have a date on New Year’s Eve, and stay following the music.

May 10, 2021 – Jason Contacts Carly, Alli Finds Out the Truth, Celebrities Celebrate & Rain

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Britt wakes to find Jason sitting there with a gun, and asks what he’s doing. He says, keeping watch, and she says, he’s been shot. Not only should he not be sitting up, he should be sleeping. That’s how you heal. He says, if he lies down, he’ll fall asleep again, and she says, ding-ding-ding. He says if he falls asleep, he can’t keep watch, and she asks if she’s been unclear on this concept. He’s her patient. He says, no. They’re fugitives.

Josslyn walks into the giant moss bowl kitchen, and Carly asks if her dad didn’t want the ride. Josslyn says, not so much, and Carly says she’s sorry she wasn’t home. She’s sorry Josslyn couldn’t get in touch with her last night. She knows it must have been scary not hearing from her. Josslyn says, she’s there now, and Carly says, she is, and wants to know everything. Starting with why Josslyn didn’t go to the tournament. Josslyn doesn’t say anything, and Carly says she’s never seen Josslyn do this before. Josslyn says, do what? and Carly says, hide from her problems.

Nina sees the Tan-O is closed, but peeks in to see Sonny straightening up. She goes in, and Sonny asks if she’d like some coffee. She says she’ll get it herself, and he says he just made a fresh pot. She goes behind the bar, and he says he’s sorry if he made her uncomfortable last night. She says he didn’t, and he asks if she’s sure. The last thing he wants to do… She says, they’re good, and he says he’s got some news he wants to tell her. She says, oh no, and he says he saw Eli and one of the guys from the firehouse dance. She says, as in one of the guys who tried to rob the place? and he says, Elijah paid his bail. He’s bad news. She shouldn’t go out with him. Eli walks in.

On the phone, Brook says, how many times must she reassure them? The baby is very important to her; she won’t take any risks. Maxie says, she can’t believe she’s saying this, but with Britt gone, Brooke is the only person she can trust to protect her baby from Peter. Brook says, and she will. She’ll protect the baby no matter what. Maxie just has to trust her. Maxie says, she has no choice, and Brooke says, that’s the spirit. She hangs up, and nearly runs into Ned, who says, hello, daughter.

Cyrus sits down near Peter at the MetroCourt bar, and Peter says he heard Cyrus had trouble at the hospital. Cyrus asks if Peter is looking for a scoop, but Peter says he’s just a concerned citizen. After all, a dangerous criminal is on the loose. So tell him, how far does Cyrus think a man in Jason’s condition can go? Cyrus says, probably further than Peter wants him to.

Maxie opens the door to Sam, who says, she sounded urgent. Is everything okay? Maxie says, no, pulling Sam inside. She’s about to give birth, and Sam’s ex kidnapped her OB/GYN. She needs Sam to get Jason to bring Britt home, like, immediately.

Peter tells Cyrus, his reporters tell him there were signs of a struggle in Britt’s office. He wonders if they were after Britt or Jason. Cyrus asks if that concerns Peter, that his sister is in the hands of a murderer. Peter says, not particularly. He and Britt are only newly acquainted, to say nothing of the fact that she was disloyal to him. Cyrus says, Britt is his fiancé’s doctor, is she not? and Peter says, there are plenty of other doctors who can deliver babies. Cyrus says, so if Britt were to disappear permanently… Peter says he would have no problem with that.

Jason tells Britt, it’s a nice barn, and she says, he told her that they couldn’t go to a safe house, so this is the best she could do. He asks if she knows who owns it, and she says, Nikolas Cassadine. They’re on a nature preserve. She thinks Nikolas’s uncle originally bought it to go hunting, but they used to bring Spencer there to go hiking sometimes. She doubts anyone has used it since Spencer was shipped off to boarding school. Jason says, the hay is fresh, and the building is maintained, which means there’s got to be a caretaker. Somebody could walk in on them at any time. She says, hence him sitting up and keeping watch, and he says, rule number one when you’re on the run (ha-ha! that rhymes), you have to sleep in shifts. She says he’s nursing a gunshot wound and a stab wound, and he says, she’s worn out. When he woke up, he saw she had fallen asleep. She says, sorry, and he says she doesn’t have to be sorry. He’s just trying to explain. She guesses she makes a crappy fugitive, and he says, kind of surprising. She asks, why? and he says he thought she’d know how this whole thing works. She says, because she was on the run with her despicable, psychopathic father? He nods, and she says, they hid out in five-star hotels, so she’s never done the whole barn sleeping thing. She’s not loving it.

Carly asks if Josslyn took off for Pennsylvania to hide from her teammates or herself. It’s not the answer. Josslyn says she wasn’t hiding; that’s not it. Carly asks, then what is it? It’s not like Josslyn, abandoning her teammates, and not sitting on the sidelines, cheering them on, and Josslyn says she knows. It’s just… Carly says, what? and Josslyn says she was just so disappointed about her ankle. Carly says, and being waitlisted, and Josslyn says she didn’t know she was like this. She thought she was a team player. Carly says she is, but Josslyn says she’s not. Apparently, she’s all about herself, and if things out going well for her, then too bad for everyone else. Carly says, that’s not true. She wants Josslyn to think about something. Everything Josslyn is going through, the struggles, are just going to make her better down the road. Josslyn asks how she knows that, and Carly says because she knows they’re not born perfect. It’s the obstacles they push through that make them strong, and brave, and resilient. Josslyn says, it’s just been really scary, and Carly says, what has? Josslyn says, this feeling of being out of control, and Carly says, yeah; it’s a terrible feeling. Carly’s phone rings, and Carly says she’s sorry, but she has to take this. Josslyn asks who’s phone it is, and Carly says, hers. It’s the only way Jason can talk to her. She answers, and Jason says, it’s him.

Carly asks if he’s okay. He says he is, and she asks if he’s just telling her that. He says he’s really okay, and she asks him, hold on for a second. She asks Josslyn if she’ll go upstairs and check on Donna, and Josslyn obliges, asking Carly to tell Jason that she said hi. She leaves, and Carly asks where he is, and he says, someplace safe. She asks why they had to leave so soon, and he says, Dante called Spinelli to the PCPD, and did it using Sam’s phone. Dante is a special case; he’s part of the family. That’s why the best thing is to keep moving, and avoid the safe houses. She wonders what the deal is with Dante. Why did he pick this exact moment to slap on the badge? He says he doesn’t know, but he’s sure Dante thinks he’s doing the right thing, like the rest of them.

Ned tells Brooke, he assumes that was Valentin. All that baby talk, who else could it be? She says, yes. She’s got quite the worrywart on her hands. He says he’s proud of her. She stayed strong, and told him she’s going to do what’s best for the baby. Motherhood is starting to look good on her.

Sam says she and Jason aren’t together anymore, but Maxie says he’ll come home if Sam asks him to. Tell him the kids are in trouble. Sam says, that is really cruel. She’s not lying about the kids. Maxie tells her, then come up with something else. Just get Britt back asap. Sam asks if she’s worried about the baby, but Maxie says, the baby is perfect. It’s the baby’s father that’s the problem.

Carly says she knows everything is a disaster, but there’s some good news. He asks if it’s about the meeting with the Five Families linguine with red clam sauce. What happened? She says they backed her, and he asks if Cyrus was there. She says, in all his hideous glory, and he says, that’s great she got Cyrus to stop, but don’t do anything else. She says she’s got it, and he says, does she? She says she hears him, and he says, good. She asks if he’s really okay. Is he in a lot of pain? He says he’s okay, and she says she’s so sorry she forced this on him. Her plan didn’t work, and he’s paying the price. He insists he’s fine, but she says he’s not fine; he was shot. He says Britt patched him up.

Britt asks what brings Ned by, and adds, that sounds weird since it’s his house. Ned says, it’s Monica’s house, and they both say, Alan gave it to her. He says he came to apologize. In all this talk of pregnancy, and Valentin, and ELQ stock, he realized he hasn’t told her how excited he is to welcome her child; his grandchild. When Lois was pregnant with her, he sang to the baby. They’d heard if the baby was spoken to in utero, it would recognize their voices when it was born, and it would be a comfort to the baby. He doesn’t know if that’s true, but from the moment Brook was born, she loved to be sung to. Her whole face would light up. She says she remembers. Not from birth but, you know. He says he wants to carry on the tradition, so the baby know how much it’s loved. She says he wants to sing to her stomach? and he asks if that’s okay. She says, of course (🍷) it’s okay, and he says he’s just being a stand-in until she gets her voice back. He plays the guitar and sings a lullaby. Olivia comes in, and asks, what’s going on? and Ned says he’s singing to the baby.

Jason thanks Carly for the blood, and she suggests Frank come and get him; they can work together. He says, no, and she asks, why not? He says for the same reason she’s using a burner phone. She’s being watched. She asks if she’s supposed to trust him alone with Britt, and he says she’s supposed to trust him to figure out what’s next. She says she’s not good at sitting back and doing nothing, and he says he knows it’s hard, but he’s at his limit. If she gets in trouble, he might not be able to get her out. She says she’s not going to get in trouble, and he says, please. She insists she won’t, and says she’ll maintain until he gets back. Does he have any idea when that will be? He says, he’ll figure it out as he goes, and she tells him, stay in touch. If he needs help, call her. He’d better be telling the truth about being okay. He says he’s hanging up now. Everything is okay. Britt asks how it’s going in Mob Land, and he says he’s sorry he dragged her into this. She tells him, don’t you dare apologize to me.   

Nina asks Eli how it’s going, and he says he had a great night’s sleep, and already had a productive morning. She asks, how? and he says, actually, it has to do with her. She says he has to tell her now, and he says he contacted a friend of his in real estate, and has a couple of leads on places for her. She says, that’s sweet, but he didn’t have to. He says he knows she wants to wait on the celebration, but she says she thinks she’s changing her tune about that. Why wait to be settled before she has fun? She’d love to have dinner with him. He says he’ll text her later, and they can iron out the details. (Is this dinner, or a business plan? How many details have to be ironed out?) He passes Sonny, and nods, saying, just Mike. He leaves, and Sonny asks, what was that about? He told her to stay away from Eli, and she’s doing the exact opposite.

Carly asks herself how she could be so stupid. Josslyn hears her, and says, mom…?

Sam says, the last she heard, Maxie was supposed to be bedrest, and reevaluating her situation with Peter. Maxie says, it’s not exactly like that, and Sam asks, what is it like exactly? Maxie says, Peter needs to believe stress-free and quiet is what she needs, so that’s what the doctor told him. Sam says, Britt? and Maxie says, right. Britt was running interference with Peter. That’s why she needs Jason to bring Britt home. Sam says, they both know Britt wasn’t kidnapped. If she’s there, it’s for her own reasons. If Maxie needs help with Peter interference, she would be all in.  

Peter says, things are looking up, and Cyrus says, are they? Peter asks why Cyrus is so tense. They put their plan to work, and it’s going their way. Cyrus calls him an idiot, and asks if he didn’t realize they both most likely only have a week to live.

Josslyn asks, what’s wrong? but Carly says, nothing. It was good news; it’s great that Jason is safe. It’s all she needs. Josslyn says, then why is she upset? and Carly says, because it’s all her fault. Everything that happened is on her. Josslyn says, that’s crazy. It’s not Carly’s fault that someone killed Franco, and Jason got blamed. It’s not her fault Sonny died. As much as she loves Sonny and Jason, she knows they chose the business. Jason decided to escape, and that’s on him. Carly says Jason didn’t want to do any of it. She made him.

Britt says when she thanked Jason for saving her life, she wasn’t just being polite. Cyrus’s men were about to shoot her up, and she knows what the drug is; she studied it. So don’t be all noble and chivalrous by apologizing. She knew Cyrus was a pig, and couldn’t stand by and let him do his thing. She investigated him, so don’t act like he brought her in kicking and screaming. She initiated this mess, and makes her own choices and decisions; not him. On top of it, he has zero sense, sitting up when he could pop his stiches. He asks why she’s so mad, and she says she can’t handle it. She had enough going on in her life, and now she’s stuck here with him and his gunshot wound. No offense, but she can’t do this. She says she’s out, and leaves.  

Ned gives Brook a CD, and tells her, it’s filled with songs for the baby. He’s hoping she’ll play it whenever she can. There are a few Eddie Maine classics on there. She thanks him, they hug, and he says he loves her. He guesses he’ll be going, but Olivia says she was just headed to the kitchen to prep lunch. Does he want to join her? He says he’d love nothing more, and Britt asks, is there any sushi? Just kidding. Ned laughs, and he and Olivia head for the kitchen.

Maxie tells Sam that she could use all the help she can get with James, being pregnant, and the new nurse Peter insisted on hiring. She’s interviewing a nurse today. The nurse is supposed to relieve her stress, but it’s just another person for her to handle. Sam says she can help with that, and Maxie says she appreciates it. Sam suggests Dante can help as well, but Maxie doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Sam says, why not? and Maxie says, Dante has a lot on his plate, and he’s reacclimating to being home. Sam says, what better way than to have a purpose? Dante is one of Maxie’s very best friends/ Maxie says, she ran the spectrum with Dante, from refusing to listen, to being openly hostile when he expressed concern about her marrying Peter. In retrospect, he was right; Peter couldn’t be trusted. A lot of people warned her, but Dante had a fresh perspective, being newly home. If she had listened… which she didn’t; she completely shut down. She can’t ask Dante to please help. Sam says Dante is a hero with a heart of gold, and one of Maxie’s best friends. He’d love to help. She’s calling him right now. Maxie says, don’t.

Sonny tells Nina that he understands Lenny and Phyllis have a history with Eli. They’re blinded be the memories of taking Eli in, but her, he doesn’t understand how she can want to go out with Eli. She says she’s trying to tell… He asks if she doesn’t see what’s going on. Eli embezzled from the company in San Francisco, and tried taking over the Tan-O. He’s shady as all hell, and now she wants to go out to dinner with him? She says she does, but not for the reasons Sonny thinks.

Carly says, when she met Jason, she was just a couple years older than Josslyn. She was a ball of jealousy and ambition, lashing out in a million different directions. She was the epitome of selfish. She met Jason, and for the first time in her life, she had a friend. He stuck by her when she didn’t deserve it. She made mess after mess, asked Jason to fix it, and he would. She knew he’d come through, even when she was wrong. She took advantage of the privilege. She knew what she wanted to do, and forced Jason to go along with it. Now, he’s out there hurt, his legal problems are ten million times worse, and he’s all alone. She knows he has Britt to take care of him, but… Josslyn says she doesn’t know who Carly is talking about, because it’s not Jason.

Britt comes back with coffee, and doesn’t see Jason. She hears something, and turns around to see him dressed. She asks what he’s doing, and he says, what? She says she just freaked out about him sitting up. Does he think it’s wise to be up and walking? He says he needed to move, but she says, what he needs is rest. He thinks he’s a tough guy, and has it all figured out. She hands him a coffee, and tells him to have some before he bleeds out. He thanks her, and she says, no problem. She pities every doctor who ever worked on him – ever. The worst part is that he’s going to live. He says, that’s the worst part? and she tells him, he just says he’s going to walk around 12 hours after surgery, and he does it. He says he wasn’t sure if she left, and he’d have to get out on his own, but she says, first of all, he has a phone. One call to Carly, and the National Guard will be there to get him. Besides, he knew she wasn’t going to leave him. Jason says he did know that.

Cyrus tells Peter, Jason is on the loose. He doesn’t know much about Jason, but he knows Jason is an expert killer. Peter says, an expert killer who happens to be injured, but Cyrus says, they don’t know how badly. If Jason survives, he’s going to come after them with both barrels. He hopes Peter has upped his security, like he did. Peter thanks him for the tip, and says he’ll take it under advisement. Cyrus says, think about it. Sonny was in power all that time. It’s not because of some special business savvy, but because Jason is that good. Sonny didn’t do any hard work; he palmed it off on his right hand man. Peter asks if Cyrus is saying that Jason can’t be dealt with, and Cyrus says, anyone can be dealt with, but dropping his guard would be a monumental mistake. Peter asks Cyrus to excuse him; he has business to attend to. Peter walks over to where a woman is waiting, and says, Nurse Jennings? He thanks her for taking the time for a pre-interview. She asks him to call her Chloe, and he tells her, as he said on the phone, his fiancé is pregnant and needs bedrest. He wants to make sure she’s as comfortable as possible. It’s his first child. She tells him, say no more. She’ll put any and all fears at rest. He says, he feels the MetroCourt is too public to discuss a sensitive matter, and asks if they can go somewhere more private.

Sam asks if Maxie is that horrified, but Maxie says, not horrified, just reluctant. The nurse will be there any minute, and she has to focus on that. She’ll think about what Sam can do to help, and let her know. Sam says she can stay, and be an extra set of eyes and ears for Maxie for the nurse, but Maxie says she’s got this. She doesn’t want to be intimidating, and she’s good at judging complete strangers. Sam says, that’s true, but she’s not letting Maxie off the hook. Maxie is putting her to work with this whole Peter thing. Maxie says, absolutely. Love you. Bye. She closes the door in Sam’s face.

Josslyn suggests she and Carly play a game; true or false. Carly laughs and says, all right, and Josslyn tells her, Jason always says and does what he thinks is right. Carly says, true, and Josslyn says, Jason cares about other people’s opinions. Carly laughs and says, false, and Josslyn says, Jason lives by his own code, and doesn’t worry about offending anyone else. Carly says, true, and Josslyn says, when Oscar was dying, she was totally unfair to Jason. She was awful, and he just took it. Not because he couldn’t push back, but because pushing back didn’t feel right. Her point is, no one makes Jason do something he doesn’t want to, but Carly says, except she’s the one person who can. She’s always been that person. It’s like this amazing power she has, and she abused it a lot when she was young. She thought she’d learned not to, but she was wrong. She wipes tears from her eyes, and says, if she’s learned anything, it’s to be clear on why she’s doing what she’s doing. She told herself it was for Jason, but it wasn’t; it was for herself. She lost Sonny, and couldn’t bear to lose someone else, especially her best friend.

Britt asks why Jason isn’t having Carly come get him. It’s not like Carly is her best friend, but it seems like a nice option at this juncture. Jason says, Dante complicates things, and she says she heard him talking about Dante. He says, Dante is Sonny’s son, which could work for them, but he’s an ex-cop, and it sounds like he’s rejoining the force. Dante is a walking conflict of interest. Sonny’s people never know how far they can push. Britt says, so Dante is a decent guy, but a better detective, and Jason says, Dante has different motives than him. Even with the best of intentions, Dante could mess things up. Britt says, it does complicate things, and he says, if Carly tries to help or covers for him, it will implicate her. That’s the worst case scenario. Britt says, so on a scale of not-so-bad to code red, Carly being implicated is a ten, and him bleeding to death is barely a two. He says, he’s not bleeding to death; she did a great job. She says she knows he went to medical school in another life, but she’s not a surgeon. She did the best she could, but what if it’s not enough?

Ned thanks Olivia, who says, he did all the chopping, and thanks him. He says he thinks Olivia is a good influence on Brook. She’s an amazing mother, and it’s clearly rubbed off on Brook. She asks why he’s saying that, and he says, it was a different vibe. Brook’s maternal instincts are kicking in, and she’s taking the baby seriously. Brook listens in, and he says, she’s finally seeing the baby as a person, not just ammunition against Valentin. Olivia says she’s glad he thinks she’s making a difference, but he should take some credit too. The songs he recorded, she can’t think of a more perfect gift. He says he’s excited about being a grandfather, and Olivia says she’s excited about the baby too. She walks him to the door, and he says, it feels like a new chapter. She says, maybe it is, and he leaves. Olivia she goes upstairs, and Brook watches, looking worried.

Maxie answers the door to Nurse Jennings, but she’s not the Nurse Jennings who was at the MetroCourt.   

In an alleyway, Peter looks at Chloe Jennings’s driver’s license, and puts it back in her wallet. He throws her bag into the dumpster, and removes his gloves. Seriously? It’s a wonder Peter hasn’t been caught yet. That’s pretty sloppy. He didn’t even try to hide it in the dumpster, and a whole room of people saw him leave with her. Suspension of disbelief officially suspended.

Nina tells Sonny that she believes something is off with Eli, and she certainly doesn’t trust him. Sonny asks, then why? and she says, obviously, Eli likes her. She can use that to see what he’s up to. She’s going to play good cop, since Sonny has the bad cop role down. She’s taking the sweeter route. She’s going to cozy up to Eli, and get him to let down his guard. Sonny says he doesn’t like it, but she says she’s not asking for his permission. Are they just going to stand around, and let Eli take advantage of Lenny and Phyllis? He says, no; that’s why he gets in Eli’s face. She asks how that’s working for him? She needs to do this before Eli does more damage. Is he in? He asks if he has a choice, and she laughs.   

Josslyn takes Carly’s hands, and says she hears what Carly is saying, but now she wants Carly to hear her. If Jason did this because it’s important to her, then that’s the most important thing to him. If he didn’t think it would work, he wouldn’t have done it. Carly is always telling her that Jason doesn’t pass judgement. Why is she doing that now? Carly asks if she isn’t the one who’s supposed to be imparting wisdom, and Josslyn says it’s supposed to be Carly’s job, but she’s giving Carly a breather just this once. Carly hugs Josslyn, and says she loves her so much. Josslyn says she loves Carly too.  

Jason tells Britt, if he collapses and bleeds to death, she needs to go to the police and say she was kidnapped at gunpoint. She knows nothing. As far as everyone is concerned, they think she’s a hostage. She says she has a better idea. She can drink some coffee while he sleeps. She promises to keep an eye out. The best thing for her is knowing he’s resting and healing. He says, fine, and she thanks him. She helps him down to a blanket on the floor, telling him to take his time. He lies down, and says, if she hears… She says she’ll wake him up. She promises. He says, okay, and closes his eyes. She sits, watching him.

Tomorrow, Sam asks Carly if that’s all she knows or it’s all she’s willing to tell Sam, Peter tells someone they’ll do exactly as they discussed, and Dante asks why Brook is defending Britt so hard.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Or as I like to call it, Summer House on the Water. Is it over yet?

Marina Lav. Alli tells Sydney, she’s tried to be respectful. Her and Gary’s flirtation grew into a connection. Gary says he’s sorry he has feelings for Alli, and Alli says she would never upset Sydney to this level if it didn’t mean anything. She doesn’t want Sydney to cry, but Sydney says she has no tears in her soul for either of them. Why is she being brought into this? They’re effing adults. Alli whines that Sydney is being so cold to her, and Sydney says, leave her alone. She moves to another part of the boat, saying, they’re such a-holes. Alli says she wouldn’t argue if she didn’t like Gary, and he says he likes her too. Alli says she’s overwhelmed, and starts to walk inside. Gary asks if she’s really going to leave him like this. She says she can’t, and he whimpers, what has he done? In Gary’s interview, he says he hooked up with Sydney on the first night when they were both drunk. It was stupid. Gary and I finally agree on something. He asks Alli to come cuddle in his cabin. Sydney says she’s had enough action for tonight, and goes to bed.

Crew day off. JL hunts for his shirt, but Dani asks what she’s going to wear, and walks out wearing his shirt. Gary tells Alli, next time, they go to her cabin. Alli says, great idea. Dani says she should not have drinken [sic] as many drinks, and JL doesn’t even know what he needs right now. Sydney mumbles to Colin about what happened, and he says Gary and Alli shouldn’t have done that; it was pretty obvious she was okay. Alli goes back to her own cabin, and gets in bed. She asks if Sydney is okay, and in Sydney’s interview, she says she doesn’t have to tell Alli how she’s feeling. How many times does she have to say it until it registers – leave her alone.

Glenn says, the weather is picking up, and he wants to get out asap. Gary asks if JL had a bump last night, and JL says he did. In my day, that meant a line of cocaine, but these people have more terms for having sex than I can count. In Dani’s interview, she says, to be honest, she doesn’t remember much about last night. As much as Gary tried, she was the most successful – Alli and JL – and no one is angry at her. Write it down, Gary. Maybe you’ll learn some lessons. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s definitely fought over a guy. When she was at university, her roommate slept with her boyfriend. They were best friends, and she felt like she wasn’t good enough. Maybe that’s not the reality of it, but it’s the way you feel. Dani asks Sydney if she’s okay, and they hug. Colin makes eggs for everyone, telling Natasha that she’s done enough. Gary asks Dani, what happened last night? and she says she slept. In Natasha’s interview, she says she still doesn’t understand what two beautiful women see in that boy. (Me neither, Natasha.) No real man would put a woman in a position to fight over him. He’s more cub than a lion. Roar.

Glenn tells the crew there will be a water taxi meeting them. They drop anchor, and the crew gets ready for their day off. Colin tells Glenn, have a good one, and they leave. The taxi, called One Day Escape, takes them to the Polaris charter yacht, where the tables are turned and they’re met with drinks and a nice spread. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s glad to be there. The boat is gorgeous, there are snacks, and it’s a good vibe. Gary and JL flip backward off the boat, and Colin follows, while the girls dance around on deck. Dani says she feels perfect again. Alli and Gary snuggle, and JL and Dani join them. In Natasha’s interview, she says, could you just stop it? She doesn’t want to see the position they want to screw somebody in. It’s disgusting. F*** off.

JL suggests going paddle-boarding, and Dani says she calls it a double-date. Gary says, he calls it an orgy. Daisy says she hasn’t been around this kind of behavior in fifteen years. Colin asks if Daisy puked in her mouth, and she says, a little. In Alli’s interview, she says, it feels good to be free with how she feels about Gary. In the past, she was in a relationship with someone who was a challenge. They were selling drugs behind her back, and she ended up taking the blame for something she didn’t do. He put drugs in her car, and they were stopped by the police. When the police asked who was going to take responsibility for the drugs in the car, her boyfriend stood there in silence. It affected her ability to trust, but this feels right (I gag), and she’s giving in to it. Dani and JL make out on a towel on the beach, and in Dani’s interview, she says she feels closer to JL. There are a lot of feelings going on. Alli and Gary swim up. Sydney sits on deck, talking to Daisy, Colin, and Natasha. Daisy says Alli can do better, and Sydney tells them that they’re the only ones who can hold a conversation without making it sexual. Daisy agrees, saying, please go; you’re turning me off. Natasha says, what a nice chill day, and the others return.  

Sydney asks if they could change one thing about this charter season, what would it be? and Dani jokes she’d change engineers. Gary says, and he thought he picked the right career. Sydney says she never regrets her decisions, but the one thing her mom told her was, don’t have sex on the boat, and the first chance she had, she blew that one. In Daisy’s interview, she says she thought they <air quote> just kissed <end air quote>. Alli will lose her sh*t when she finds out they had sex. They’re such liars. Colin says, tell Gary that he doesn’t do enough dishes, and Daisy says she’s biting her tongue about that. Sydney says she was literally told not to offer help, and we see a clip of Gary telling her just that. Gary and Alli sit by themselves on a loveseat in the corner. Gary tells her, most women should be treated like queens, and Daisy says, they need to stop talking. Alli comes over and sits in Daisy’s lap, and Daisy says she’s sick of being the bitch of the group, when she’s just trying to pull off a successful charter. On the boat, Glenn is on the phone. He tells someone that he had a dream about turning into a donkey.

Sydney says, everyone on the boat is gorgeous. They’re crazy, but hot as sh*t. Alli says she’s not crazy, but Sydney says she’s friends with them. Alli says she’s just the victim, and Sydney says, when you think you’re not the a-hole of the group, you’re the a-hole. When you say you’re not the crazy one, you’re the crazy one. Alli asks what she’s trying to say, and Sydney says, just what she said. They’re all crazy. Colin says, but it was aimed at her, and they all laugh. This totally pisses Alli off, and she stomps over to sit alone with Gary again. In her interview, Alli says she’s sick of this. She tells Gary that she doesn’t like Sydney’s company anymore. She’s being passive/aggressive like she’s been since day one. It’s so effing lame. Sydney tells the group, she shouldn’t have said anything, but she did. Alli tells Gary that Sydney is degrading her in front of the group, and she’s not having it. She’s so over it. She’s not talking about feelings anymore. She’s reached her peak. She’s had enough. I guess she meant she’s not talking about other people’s feelings, since that’s a lot about her own.

Sydney says she’s going to make herself beautiful, and goes to change. Alli bitches to Daisy that she’s been respectful, but she doesn’t like Sydney at this moment. Daisy tells her, let it go. JL tells Dani that he thinks the master is going to be occupied tonight, and now he can’t stand up. Seriously, it’s like middle school. The crew changes for dinner, and someone comes out to tell them it will be served in a half hour. Gary says Daisy’s boobs look real, and she says her boobs are like his personality. Everyone dies laughing, except for Gary. Dinner is served, and Sydney asks what everyone hopes for the next charter. Alli says, no more arguments, but Colin says, that will never happen, and Daisy says, she’s sorry to break it to them. Alli tells JL, she feels like digs are being thrown at her because she has a connection to Gary. She’s always going to come out sh*t at the end. She can’t win no matter what she does. She hates hearing people talk sh*t about her. Daisy tells Alli, the quicker she doesn’t react to Sydney, the quicker it will be over. Gary starts kissing Alli, and in Natasha’s interview, she says, here we go again. F*** me. Colin tells them, get a cabin.

It’s time to leave, and the crew goes back to the boat in the Port of Split. I guess there could be worse names. Colin tells Gary not to be a puss. The crew wants to hang out together, and he and Alli are getting sloppy. Gary complains about Daisy insulting his personality, and says, it was a dig, although he has to admit, it was pretty funny. Colin and Gary intrude on Daisy and Alli in their cabin, and Colin says, this is where Gary is going to sleep now. Daisy says, if Gary has a problem with his roomy, don’t even try. The four of them made everyone else feel uncomfortable. Colin says Gary is a douche. JL says, if anybody wants to drink and be normal, let’s get out of here. You bunch of pusses, get your asses up here. Glenn comes out, and JL says, oops. Where is everybody? In Glenn’s interview, he says, these guys are party animals. He doesn’t know how they keep going… He doesn’t want to know. Colin tells Sydney that Gary is moving into her cabin, but she’s says she’s not doing that. She’ll go to the captain. Colin says he’s sure they’ll be respectful. Sydney says, why her? Gary tells Alli that he’s sleeping in her cabin. If it happens, it happens. No one will even see them. She says, he’s kidding, and he says he is. Sydney says she’s sleeping on the bridge, and Colin says he’s joking. Sydney says, that’s super effed up.  

Alli tells Gary that she’s sleeping in her own bed, and he’s sleeping in his own bed. Gary says, or they could see how comfortable the guest cabins are. She asks if he doesn’t remember that he already slept there, and he says he doesn’t want to remember. Colin goes to bed, shortly followed by Sydney, who tells the rest not to stay up too late. Dani asks JL how old he is, and he says he’s twenty-five. She says she usually dates older, and he says he never had a relationship when he was heavy. Women didn’t look at him. In JL’s interview, he says he was 310 at his heaviest. He was self-conscious, and didn’t want to be seen without his shirt on at the beach. He decided to switch lifestyles with his food, and lost 90 pounds. He’s very different now, but still sees that person in the mirror. Dani says, so he took advantage of it, but he says he’s not opposed to finding something that could work out. In his interview, JL says he thinks this is something special. Dani is genuine, and experienced. She could teach him things. He’s on top of the world, but afraid to fall in love. They go in to one of the guest cabins.

In the morning, Alli tells Daisy that she’s stressing because of all the drama she’s been involved in. Daisy says Sydney told them that she and Gary had sex, and Alli asks, who was there for the conversation? Daisy says they all were, and Alli says, WTF? Daisy tells her, please don’t say anything, or it will cause more drama. The more Alli reacts, the more drama happens. Her advice is that Alli should end things. In Alli’s interview, she says she thought it was one kiss on the first night, and didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. That’s why she didn’t understand the tears and how upset Sydney was. Now she feels like the biggest a-hole on the planet. Sydney asks if Dani got any rest, and Dani laughs, saying, of course she didn’t.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Glenn meets with Daisy, Gary, and Natasha in the crew mess. He tells them that there are three primaries – Erica Rose, Cindi Rose, and Jess, along with a bunch of friends; eight women altogether. In Natasha’s interview, she says, these women are full-on drama. She’s not even thinking about the food; she’s thinking about the drama. Gary says, the guests want to do paddle-board yoga, and snorkeling, and Glenn says he knows the perfect spot. Daisy reads that they want a mermaid/pirate themed dinner, and Gary says, they want to go to a local beach and have a picnic. Daisy says, on the last night, they want a women’s empowerment celebration dinner, with individual gluten free mini-cakes for dessert. In Daisy’s interview, she says, this charter is awful, and she hasn’t even started. I literally lol. Glenn says they’ll kill it like they did the last charter.  

The wind picks up, and Sydney yells to Gary that they’re leaning too far to starboard. The deckhands start grabbing fenders, and Gary tells Glenn, they need a start-up. Glenn runs to the bridge, and Gary yells that the boat is rubbing on the dock. Fenders are thrown in, and there are a lot of bleeped words. Gary says, the anchor is dragging. It becomes organized chaos, with everyone running around and doing boat stuff. Glenn says he needs the generator online, and Sydney says, this is so effing bad. Glenn yells for everyone to get on board. Gary says, when Glenn says, go, we’re going, and Glenn tells them not to worry about the anchor, but remove the springs. Let them go, and stand back. Boy, he’s not kidding. These things are on spools and crazy flip when they’re brought back in. And they’re very heavy. Glenn asks if they’re off, and Sydney says, all lines are clear. Glenn tells Gary to put on the steering pump. Sydney runs through the interior, and Dani asks if she’s okay. Sydney says, yeah. Gary goes to the engine room, and says they have a dead ship. There’s no generator. Dani tells Alli that she doesn’t think they can help. Glenn radios Colin. In Gary’s interview He says they have no power, and no engineer on board. Glenn tells Colin, drop what he’s doing. They need him back on board asap; they’ve got a problem. Natasha tells Daisy, she doesn’t think Colin is there. In his interview, Gary says, there’s no power on the boat, and the last thing they want is to crash into the dock. He gets the generator going, and runs back upstairs. Glenn tells the deckhands to make sure nothing is under the boat. In Gary’s interview, he says they don’t want to hit the dock, and need to get the boat online. There’s no engineer, so he has to trust his deckhands to pick up the anchor chain, while he gets in the tender and makes sure everything is okay. Natasha suggests someone from interior be on deck in case they need something. The anchor is in the pocket, and in Colin’s interview, he says, of course this happened while he was off the boat. Shore cops bring Colin back, but everything is okay by then. Glenn says, excellent work. Colin notices a dent on the underside, and Sydney says, nobody got hit; they stayed out of their snap-back zones, so that’s good. JL says he’s freaking TF out. In his interview, he says he didn’t know what to do; there were so many different things going on. Someone could lose their life in that kind of situation. Colin says, it had to be while he was gone, and Glenn says, it happened just after he left; the anchor let go, and wasn’t holding the starboard side. He has no idea how bad the dock is, In Colin’s interview, he says, if Gary hadn’t known how to start the generator, Glenn wouldn’t have been able to steer, and it could have been a totally different situation. Gary saved their ass. In Glenn’s interview, he says, there could have been lot more damage, season ending damage. It’s embarrassing, but it could have been a tragedy. He tells the deckhands, it’s not pretty, but it could have been way worse.

Glenn says, they had a bit of excitement, and Sydney says, what a morning. Gary says, it was scary, but he was happy with everyone’s work. They talk about the springs, and Glenn says they did an amazing job. It hurt his ego more than anything else. The damage to the transom wasn’t a big deal. He’s very, very, very impressed. Everyone pats themselves on the back, as they should. Sydney asks Gary if she’s going to be on nights this charter, and he tells her, yes. He needs someone who can be responsible. She tells him that she’s had worse bosses. Dani and Alli clean the cabins, and everyone prepares for the new charter. Glenn tells Colin, get ready to anchor. Daisy asks how Alli’s anxiety level is, and Alli says she didn’t know or understand why Sydney had been so full-on, and now she’s a part of that. Daisy says Sydney isn’t crying about Alli; she’s crying about the situation. Girls are insecure, and she’s wondering what’s wrong with her that Gary chose Alli over her. It’s all Gary’s fault. Alli says she doesn’t know how to navigate the situation, or how to avoid more drama. Daisy says she thinks Alli’s emotions are all over the place, and suggests she take a few days, and see how it comes out. Then make a decision.

Wind picks up yet again. Gary says, they can’t catch a break. They realize something is wrong with the engine, and Glenn says, f*** me. He tries moving out, but they hit the dock. Hard. Glenn says, f*** me. Godammit.

To be continued…

💐 They’re Just Like Us…

How the celebrities celebrated Mother’s Day.

https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/g36375262/celebrity-instagrams-mothers-day-2021/

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/celebrity-moms/celebrity-mothers-day/#1061851

🏃🏽‍♀️ Quick Exit…

Looking forward to RHONY tomorrow, when the women not only go to the Hamptons, but Leah throws a Burning Man party. You read right. I can’t wait to see how that turns out. Until we find out together, stay safe, stay sharp, and stay saying and doing what feels right.

March 25, 2021 – Brando Snitches On Gladys – Yes, I Got You (For the Most Part), Reality Trip, a Tuscan Feast, Representing Their States & One Less

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What I Watched Today

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

⚠️ GH was preempted in most US locales because of a press conference that I didn’t see, since it was on at 2 pm my time, and GH comes on at 3. It took me all of five seconds to say, what the blip? and google it to find out why. I was able to find a video of it, but I’m not positive there isn’t more at the end. I’ll repost this, along with anything extra, tomorrow, so read on if you want to be spoiled.

General Hospital

Taggert wakes to see Jason in the cell across from him, and says he didn’t realize he had a roommate. He asks what Jason did this time.

Britt looks at her phone, and says, what the hell? We see an Invader headline that says, Morgan Arrested for Murder.

Olivia is praying the rosary at the hospital, when Sam brings her coffee. Sam says she’s had worse from the vending machine, but Olivia says the caffeine won’t do her nerves much good. Sam says Olivia has been up all night, and Olivia says, so has she. She guesses she’s just going to be worried about Dante for the rest of her life. Going after Peter with a gun; Dante never would have done it if he was in his right mind. Sam says that’s why she brought Dante to see Doc. Doc will make Dante better, and he can move on. Got it? Olivia says, got it.

Dante tells Anna she should go, but Anna says she’s kind of wired. It’s hard to believe, but she hasn’t pulled an all-nighter in some time. How’s he doing? He says, you tell me.

At Kelly’s, Sasha tells Michael that she’s glad they were able to squeeze in breakfast. She hasn’t seen him in forever. He says he’s had one fire to put out after another. Jason getting arrested last night didn’t make things any better. She asks if there’s anything she can do. Maxie told her Nina took a leave of absence, and she knows it’s technically Jax’s half of the company, but has it impacted Michael? He says, not from a business perspective, but he has to admit, Nina taking a break is the best thing for Wiley.

Sonny is sweeping the floor at the Tan-O when Nina comes in. He says he was wondering if he was going to see her again, or she was going to skip town. She says she couldn’t leave without coming by, especially since Phyllis and Lenny let her stay at their place. He asks if a good night’s sleep helped her decide what she’s going to do next, and she says, it would have, but she didn’t get much sleep last night.

On the phone, Carly says, Jason’s arraignment is coming up. How confident is Diane that she can get him off on bail?… Is she serious?… She knows Diane is going to do everything she can. She just wishes they had the name of the supposed witness. That would make all the difference.

As they walk to Kelly’s, Gladys says she’s glad Brando was able to come to breakfast. Too bad he has plans for lunch and dinner. He says, they’re not plans; they’re called work. He tells her, before they go in, they need to talk, and she asks, about what? and he says, about her being the one who got Jason arrested.

Jason tells Taggert that he’s been arrested for the murder of Franco Baldwin. Tagger asks how long Jason thinks it will take for Jason’s defense lawyer to get him out of this one, and Jason guesses they’ll find out. Taggert says, if history is any indication, Jason will see the light of day before he does.

Martin meets Laura at the MetroCourt, and says she sounded mysterious on the phone. Does she mind telling him what the occasion is? She says she noticed it was his birthday last week. Why didn’t he say something? He says he didn’t know he was supposed to. They are siblings, but the fact is, they barely know each other. She says she was hoping they could use the occasion to change that.

Olivia tells Sam that she knows Peter is bad news, and she truly hopes to God Peter pays for his crimes, especially what he did to Drew. Sam says, her too, and Olivia says she’s just grateful it wasn’t Dante wasn’t the one to handle him. She thanks Sam for showing up when she did, and getting through to her son. She just couldn’t go through this again. Sam says Olivia doesn’t have to thank her. She did what anyone would have done. Olivia says, since Dante has been home, Sam has been a really good friend to him. She tries her best, but it seems that Sam was exactly what was needed, and she’s so grateful for that.

Anna knows it’s been difficult for Dante rehashing all that, but she thinks he and Doc made progress last night. He says he definitely feels lighter. It’s weird though, not having control like that. He just kept hearing in his head, complete the mission; kill Peter. He was going to do it. She says, he didn’t though, and he says, that’s because Sam showed up and talked to him. It was like a fog was lifted. She says, at least he knows where the fog came from now. She’s so sorry for what Dr. Kirk did to him. He says, it’s over now, and she says, yeah, it’s over. Now he can get on with the rest of his life. He wonders what that looks like.

Jason says he wants Taggert to know, whatever is going on with him, Portia and Trina are still protected. Taggert says he didn’t think anything different. A guard comes in to get Taggert for his sentencing hearing, and Taggert tells Jason that Cyrus is still walking around while Jason is behind bars. Whatever he’s doing to get out, do it fast. The guard takes Taggert out.

Gladys tells Brando, what else is there to say? She saw Jason dispose of a gun, and told the police. She still can’t believe he’s responsible for such an awful murder, and Brando says, they don’t know that Jason is. Her coming forward is causing a lot of problems for Carly. She just lost her husband. Does Gladys remember her cousin Sonny? She says, God rest his soul, and he says, there are still a lot of questions regarding Franco’s death. She says, which is why she felt it was necessary that she come forward. Is this an interrogation? He says, no, and she says all she did was give the police the information. Why does he care anyway? The last she heard, Sonny kicked him to the curb. He has a new job now, with the head of the hospital no less. If he really thinks about it, she did him a favor. He asks, how? and she says, her doing her civic duty will only endear Brando more to his employer. Now can they go in? It’s cold out here.

Michael tells Sasha, he was thinking about Wiley, and his confusion about what Nina said to him; and Willow, and how hurt she’s been. She’s just trying to protect Wiley. Sasha says Michael is trying to make everything okay, and he says it should have occurred to him to get Willow’s opinion. She is Wiley’s mother, and absolutely has a say in everything that happens to him, especially something so pivotal as, if he can see one of his grandmothers or not. Gladys and Brando come in, and Gladys says, look at this. They’ve got themselves a family reunion.

Carly tells Diane to let her know what she finds out in discovery. Cyrus walks in, and Carly says she has to call Diane back. Cyrus says, good morning, Mrs. Corinthos, and she asks what he wants. He says, just to offer his sympathies. He saw on the news that Jason was arrested. She says, a misunderstanding. His lawyer will have him out in no time. Cyrus says he certainly hopes that’s the case, for her sake. He can’t imagine how difficult this must be so soon after her husband’s passing.

Sonny says, so what kept Nina up? Thinking about that woman she talked to? He gives her some coffee, and she says, yes. That, and wondering, is it her job or fate to balance the scales? He says he doesn’t believe much in fate, and she says, wasn’t it him who said last night that it was fate that brought them together? He says, that’s just a figure of speech. He thinks we make our own choices in life. Look at him. Lenny and Phyllis took him in, and put their necks on the line, so he wants to pay them back with any job they want. She says he’s done a lot of great things for them, and fate or not, he’s been a blessing. He says he doesn’t know about that, and she asks if he ever wonders about the choices that led him there. Like what kind of person he was. He says he has no way of knowing, and she asks, if there was a way for him to know, would he want to know?

Olivia sees Dante come out, and runs to him. She says, thank God, and hugs him. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s good. She asks, what happened? and he asks if Anna wants to do the honors. Anna says, it turns out a faction of the WSB went rogue. They enlisted Dr. Kirk to manipulate the psychological trauma Dante had experienced to use for their own end. To eliminate Peter. Olivia says, manipulate how? and Anna says, Dr. Kirk instilled triggers in Dante that he was acting on without realizing it. Olivia says, they’re gone now? and Anna says Doc believes he removed them. Dante says they’re going to do a couple of sessions a week, and Anna says, to make sure there aren’t any hidden triggers. Sam says she’s glad he’s okay, and he says he owes her big time. Sam says he doesn’t, but Dante and Olivia say he does. He says if she hadn’t shown up, Peter would be dead. He was going to do it; there was nothing clearer in his mind. The only thing that stopped him was her. Sam says she’s glad she was there, and he says, him too. Sam’s phone dings, and she steps away. Olivia asks Anna if Dante is safe and can go home, and Anna says, absolutely. Sam looks at the Invader headline, along with a text from Molly that says, did you see this?

The guard tells Jason that Dr. Westbourne is there to see him, and she brings her medical bag into Jason’s cell. He asks what she’s doing, and she tells him to shut up. She raises her voice, and says she’s following up on the head injury he suffered last summer; the one that requires him to be seen every month. She takes out a pen light, and tells him, follow it please. He says the guard can’t hear them, and she says, what the hell is going on? He was arrested for Franco’s murder? He says he didn’t kill Franco; Peter did. She says, Peter, as in her brother? and he says, Peter framed him. She says, he’s saying that like he’s telling her what he had for dinner last night. Is he forgetting how good Peter is at that? If he has, just ask her mother about her recent stint in Steinmaur. She’d be happy to give him all the details. He says he remembers, and she asks why he’s so relaxed right now. She makes sure the guard isn’t there, and says she’s been to prison. It’s no joyride. She’s sure he’ll survive, most likely, but it won’t be pleasant, for him or the people he’s leaving behind, like Carly and his kids. He tells her, just take a breath, and she says, no. He says, she doesn’t want to breathe? and she says, he doesn’t get to calm her down. She faked her way in there with this check-up thing. It’s her job to take care of him. He says, okay.

Sonny says, some days finding out who he is, is all he thinks about, and Nina asks, what about the other days? He says, he’s not sure he wants to find out the answer. It’s good there, and who knows? It might be the start of something big. Phyllis comes in, and says she didn’t expect to see Nina this early. Nina says she got a jump on the day, and Phyllis says, so this is goodbye? Nina says, yeah. She thinks it’s time they all got on with their lives.

Gladys hugs Michael, and says, it’s so good to see him again. She was so sorry to hear about his father. Brando made it clear she wasn’t welcome at Dev’s memorial, so she figured it was the same with Sonny’s, and Lord knows, she doesn’t want to upset Michael’s mother. Michael says, it’s very generous of her, and Sasha quietly asks if Brando told his mother not to come to his son’s funeral. He says, long story, and she says, I’ll bet. He asks if Michael has a second, and Michael says, sure. They step away, and Gladys says she and Sasha keep running into each other; first in Brando’s hospital room, and now here. She’s curious. How long have Sasha and Brando been… friendly?

Brando tells Michael, don’t react, just listen, and relay this information to whoever needs to know. His mother is the witness who accused Jason.

Martin tells Laura, he must confess, since his mother’s been in hiding, his birthday felt lonelier than usual this year. She takes it Jason didn’t tell Martin where he moved Florence, and Martin says he wants to keep it that way. The less he knows, the less Cyrus can pressure him into revealing it. She says, smart, but it must be difficult, and he says, right now, he would have been making plans to visit his mother for Easter. Lord, how that woman loves getting dressed up for church. Then she critiques her friends outfits. Did you see what she was wearing? Who does that woman think she is, the queen? Laura laughs, and he says, she’s something. He guesses he can’t risk visiting her this year. Laura suggests he spend the holiday with her and her family. She would have asked him sooner, but she assumed he had other relatives he wanted to spend it with… or children. He shakes his head, and she says, or a significant other? He just looks at her, and she says they really don’t know each other, do they? and he says, not yet.

Carly tells Cyrus, they both know what he can do with his condolences. Now is that all? He says, actually, no. With Jason indisposed, he’s not sure who he should be reaching out to in matters of business. Unless it’s always been her. She says, sorry? and he says, the more he gets to know her, the more he’s thinking she’s not just a passive bystander. Instead of being the grieving widow allowing Jason to run the organization, she’s been the power behind the throne. Maybe she’s the one he’s been dealing with all along. She says he mentioned business, and he says, it’s come to his attention that Jason called a meeting of the Five Families spaghetti sauce, presumably to discuss the power balance now that Sonny is gone. She says, and? and he says, and one has to worry what’s going to happen if Jason can’t make that meeting.

Phyllis says something I can’t understand, and Nina asks what she means. So apparently, I’m not the only one who needs clarity. Phyllis says, just some community issues. Nothing for Nina to worry about. Sonny says, the recession has been affecting local businesses. Add in vandalism and burglary, it’s tough. Nina asks if the repairs Phyllis has been doing aren’t an isolated incident, and Phyllis says, none of it has been serious or violent. Sonny thinks busted windows are violent, but Phyllis says, no one got hurt. It’s scaring people off, and the fewer businesses, the more people jump ship. Sonny says, it’s not good for the foot traffic at the Tan-O, and Nina says, she’s so sorry; that’s terrible. Phyllis says it’s a shame to see what’s happening to their little town, especially since it seems there’s nothing she can do about it. Sonny says, but Nina can.

Cyrus tells Carly, fear not. He plans to attend the meeting, and will be sure to communicate all is well on her end. But the other families can be unpredictable, especially if they smell blood in the water with Jason being indisposed. Carly’s phone rings, and she asks Michael, what’s up? Cyrus says, a son checking in with his mother; what a luxury. Michael says he just ran into Brando. The witness is Gladys. She asks if he’s sure, and he tells her, that’s what Brando said. There must be an angle. She thanks him, and Cyrus says, that was a quick phone call. She says, that’s what happens when people get to the point, and he asks if everything is all right. She says, it will be. It turns out Sonny’s cousin Gladys is the witness testifying against Jason. He asks if she means the nice woman he met at Mike’s funeral, and she says, yeah, and they both know Cyrus put her up to it.

Britt says, it still doesn’t feel like it’s computing, and Jason says, what? She says that he’s been arrested for something he didn’t do. Not just something – murder – and the person who did do it happens to be incredibly skilled at covering his tracks. He says he knows all this, and she says, of course (🍷) he does, because he’s Mr. Mob Guy who knows everything about everything, which is great when it comes to Jason’s territory and killing mobsters, but when it comes to Peter… She doesn’t even know how to say this. She went on the run with her father for a year, looking for any and every way out. When she tells him that Faison is a whole other level of crazy… He says, he should listen? but she says, no. Consider Peter was raised by that monster. He hated Faison’s guts, but that doesn’t change the fact that Peter learned everything Faison had to teach. All the lessons of espionage and manipulation and deceit. Does he see where she’s going with this? He says, tell him, and she says, Faison was a complete and utter psychopath who destroyed people’s lives for fun. And her brother – the person who framed Jason – learned at his knee. Maybe there needs to be a little more panic here, because life as he knows it is about to end.

Olivia tells Dante, if she’d known what that Kirk guy was doing to him in Geneva, she would have busted down the door and dragged Dante out herself. He says, and then what? and she says, none of this would have happened. Anna says, Kirk was conditioning Dante for months, and Dante says he doesn’t think there’s anything Olivia could have done. Olivia says there’s one thing she doesn’t get, and Dante says, just one thing? Olivia says, Kirk is dead. So he’s manipulating Dante from beyond the grave? Anna says, once the triggers are installed, they remain intact, so Kirk wouldn’t have to physically manipulate them. Olivia asks if Anna is sure Kirk wasn’t working with anyone else, and Anna says, there’s no evidence of that. Olivia says, at the end of the day, its done. It’s over with, and it’s all smooth sailing from here. Dante says, that’s the plan.

Martin tells Laura, he never started a family of his own, but don’t get him wrong. It’s not for lack of trying. Laura says, so he’s been there, and he says, several times. He’s paid enough alimony alone to fund a small country. After his third wife, he realized the problem just might be him. Laura says, it seems hard to believe, and he says he has a tendency to smooth talk his way out of… well, everything. He glosses over the underlying issues in the relationship. It’s funny. He just realized, in his effort to make his marriages different from his parents’ marriage, he created his own set of difficulties. She thought he got along with his parents, and he says he did, but there was tension in the house; they were always fighting about something. His father’s past transgressions… She says, or about Cyrus? Martin says he was the good son; the one they didn’t have to worry about. They were so traumatized by everything Cyrus put them through, there wasn’t much left over for him. They counted on him to take care of himself, so he did. She says she thinks she knows how he felt. From the other side, the sister she was raised with, Amy, was just the sweetest thing, but growing up, Laura was a lot. He says, it’s hard to imagine, and Laura says, Amy had to be twice as loud, and twice as gregarious just to get a little of the attention she was getting. Martin asks if she’s calling him gregarious, and she says she’s sure it was hard for Amy to live with her, just like it was hard for Martin to live with Cyrus. He says, they all have their challenges, but having people around who care about you makes those challenges a little easier to live with.

Sasha tells Gladys, Brando helped her through a rough time recently, and Gladys says she heard about Sasha’s rough time with drugs when Jackie interviewed her on GMA3. Sasha says, fortunately, she got the help she needed, in large part because of Gladys’s son. Gladys says, mm-hmm, and Brando and Michael come back in. Brando says he hopes they weren’t too long, and Gladys says they were just catching up. She suggests they grab themselves a table; she’s famished. Michael and Sasha go back to their table, and Sasha asks if everything is okay.

Cyrus says he doesn’t know what Carly is talking about. He barely knows this Gladys woman. She says, it all makes sense. He saw Jason was being brought in for questioning, and saw an opportunity. That’s why he’s there, going on and on about the Five Families salad dressing. He wanted her to know what was going on, so he could make her an offer she can’t refuse.

Britt says she and Jason were supposed to take down Cyrus together. What does he care if he goes to prison, and she’s left holding the bag? Don’t worry about her. She’s just risking her career, and life probably, while he’s safe and sound behind bars. He notices her hand shaking, and she says she knows she said prison is hellish, but if Cyrus finds out she’s been working against him, she’s going to wish she was in Pentenville. He takes her hand, and says she’s not as selfish as she wants people to think. She says, try her, and the guard comes back, saying, time to finish up. Jason has another visitor. It’s Sam.

Sonny says, Nina writes for a magazine, right? and she says she does. He asks why she doesn’t write an article on Nixon Falls. Tell people what’s going on there, and people will come there and spend money; it will tide people over. Phyllis says, it’s a wonderful idea, and asks if Nina thinks it’s possible. Nina says she’d love to help, but Crimson is a fashion magazine. He asks if she only writes about clothes, and not human interest, and she says, sometimes they do. He asks, what’s the problem? and she says she’s on a leave of absence. She has communication with her team, but the second in command is running the day to day business. She doesn’t think it would be appropriate for her to overrule their decisions, unless she was ready to go back to work. Phyllis says, of course (🍷). She completely understands. Nina’s been through a lot, and deserves some time off. She’ll grab Nina some water for her ride. Nina says, no, but Phyllis says, don’t be silly. They have plenty of bottles in the back. She leaves, and Sonny looks at Nina. Nina says, what? and he says he thinks she’s making a mistake.

Brook says Jason seems good; no lingering affects from the trauma. She leaves, and the guard locks the cell. He leaves, and Sam says, Molly told her Jason was arrested. She wanted to make sure everything was all right. He says he appreciates her checking up on him; he’s okay. She asks if he has a plan, and he says they’re working on it. She says she knows Peter killed Franco, and he says, but Peter is framing him, and they all know how good he is at that. Getting out of there isn’t going to be easy. Britt listens in.

Cyrus says, maybe Gladys’s eyesight isn’t what it used to be. She says she saw Jason with the gun used to kill Franco. Carly says, that’s right, and he says, perhaps on further reflection, she’ll realize she couldn’t possibly have seen Jason dispose of the weapon. Wouldn’t it be a relief if she were to suddenly recant her story? Just as it would be a relief if his mother was returned to him. Are they understanding each other? She says she thinks they do, and he says he looks forward to hearing from her.

Gladys says Sasha and Brando seem close, and he says, they’re just friends. She asks if that’s why he keeps stealing looks in Sasha’s direction. She’ll just say this. Does he think it’s wise to get involved with someone else in recovery? She thought that was a big no-no.

On the phone, Michael tells Willow where to find Wiley’s toy. He knows how cranky Wiley gets without Mr. Trunks. Sasha says, Mr. Trunks? and he says, it’s Wiley’s stuffed elephant, like we couldn’t guess that. She says, it doesn’t sound like Willow is holding a grudge about Nina, and he says he thinks she’s more disappointed than angry. She’s upset that he left her out, and he shouldn’t have. She says, if anyone knows he’s looking out for Wiley, it’s Willow, so don’t beat himself up. That said, when it’s time to register Wiley for preschool, consult Willow. He says he will, and she says she does feel sorry for Nina. Does it bother him that she said that? He says, no. He feels bad for her too. That’s why he and Willow brought Wiley to Crimson in the first place. He hopes it does work out someday. She asks if that’s why Nina left town, and he says Nina had to clear her head; she needs help. He hopes she gets it.

Sonny says he’s not a publisher, but Nina is the boss, right? She can pretty much print whatever she wants. She says he’s probably right, but he heard what Phyllis said. She’s been through a lot these past few months. She needs time to heal and recover. She needs time to… He says, balance the scales? She was wondering how to make the world right when she’s been wronged. Maybe she can help some people who’ve been good to her. Phyllis dropped everything to go to New York when Nina needed her. Maybe Nina can do the same.

🤔 Here’s where it got tricky. The video I was watching suddenly changed to today’s rerun. But then I found a different one. It had a janky soundtrack, but…

Olivia tells Dante, she used to think the spy life was romantic, but the WSB seems like a disaster from top to bottom. Anna says she’s no one to talk, but she’d like to point out Robert. He spent his whole career with the WSB, and he’s really a good person. He’s not unique. There really are some good guys in the WSB. Olivia says she’ll take Anna’s word for it. She asks if Dante is ready to go, and he says there’s a nap with his name on it. He thanks Anna, and they leave. She makes a call, saying she needs to see someone, right away.

Phyllis comes back with the water, and Nina says she changed her mind. She thinks she might stay a while. Mike is right. She could probably pull a few strings and get an article written about this place. Phyllis says, really? and Nina says, it might not see print for a while, but she’d like to help out any way she can. Phyllis hugs Nina, and says it means the world to her, but is Nina sure she doesn’t mind putting off her trip? Nina asks, what difference do a few days make? and Sonny says, none.

Michael tells Sasha, he thinks their impulse is to be strong. They tell themselves they can do this, but sometimes they need someone to guide them. Not tell them what to do, but help them figure a way out. Sasha agrees, and says it was nearly impossible for her to show up for her first counseling session. Everyone was telling her to go, but she was so humiliated and locked inside herself, it took everything in her. She knows it’s vastly different circumstances, but maybe Nina isn’t there yet. He hopes Nina gets there, and realizes the best thing for her and Wiley is for her to deal with this. Sasha hopes Nina gets there too.

Brando says Sasha’s recovery is none of Gladys’s business, and Gladys says Sasha told her personally. He says they’re just friends, and she says that’s not what it looks like to her. He tells her, look more closely. Sasha and Michael are clearly trying to work things out. She tells him, if he says so.

The waitress brings a chocolate cake with a candle to the table, and Laura says she wanted to celebrate Martin’s birthday. He thanks her, and says he’s truly touched. She says, have at it, and he blows out the candle. Cyrus comes by, and asks what Martin wished for.

Britt tells Sam, she knows they’re not each other’s biggest fans, but they have a common goal. Jason didn’t kill Franco. Sam says, what about Peter? Britt thinks he did it, and Sam says, he’s more dangerous to Maxie than they thought. Britt asks what they’re going to do about it.

Carly visits Jason, who’s very popular in jail. He asks if everything is okay, and she says, it will be. She’s getting him out of there. No matter what it takes.

🤷🏽 Okay, here’s where I ran out of options. I think there’s a little bit more, but I looked through 47,000 (slight exaggeration) videos, and couldn’t find one that had anything further. This episode is scheduled to be shown tomorrow, so we’ll find out then.

📽 For Real: The Story of Reality TV premiered on E! and its first episode was a trip down Reality Lane. Andy Cohen is the host, and he told us, in the golden age of Hollywood, celebrities were glamorous and unattainable. Once TV came along, they became more accessible, beginning with Lucille Ball. I know. I wouldn’t have thought of her either, but her show I Love Lucy did mirror her life somewhat. We found out that 12 hours before giving birth in reel life, Lucy had given birth in real life. Geez, here’s your hat, what’s your hurry. Get back to work. From there, surprisingly skipping An American Family, they jumped to MTV’s Cribs and The Real World. Then The Osbournes, who were the first celebrity family in reality TV. Andy explained that celebrities found that it was a vehicle for getting new fans, and Anna Nicole Smith followed, along with the Paris Hilton/Nicole Richie effort The Simple Life. The Girls Next Door was originally supposed to be about Hugh Hefner co-parenting with his ex, but Hef thought that was the dumbest idea he’d ever heard, and it morphed into a show about three residents of the Playboy mansion. The girls spun off Kendra on Top, Kendra Wilkinson’s life with husband Hank Baskett, which got kind of messy when Hank cheated with a transgender woman. Then there was Breaking Bonaduce, and the Holy Grail of reality shows, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which launched its cast from unknowns to the biggest stars in the world. They showed a clip from a Barbara Walters interview, where Barbara said they were famous for being famous, and Khloe said, but they were still entertaining people. Although I can’t say I’m a fan – I’ve actually seen very little of those shows – I had to admit she had a point. They agreed that Bruce Jenner’s transition to Caitlyn Jenner was the most difficult thing they’d had to go through on the show, since there was little precedent for the situation. It was fun to see clips from reality shows past, and I think this one’s a winner.

Next time, a reunion of some Real World NYC cast members, and interviews with reality stars.

🍸 Overserved was great! Everything I wanted it to be. LVP explained the premise as being the creation of a one-time only event, with a unique theme, exquisite food, unforgettable moments, and revealing conversation. This week, she prepared a Tuscan feast for guests Joel McHale and Cheryl Hines at Villa Rosa. Schnookie and Puffy were also in attendance, and Lisa had a Lady and the Tramp spaghetti moment with Puffy, as did Cheryl with Schnookie. Joel is one of the funniest human beings on the face of the earth, and did not disappoint, and Cheryl was not so bad herself. Some new factoids for me were that Cheryl is married to Robert Kennedy Jr., and Joel was born in Rome. However, when Lisa asked if he knew Italian, he said spaghetti and lasagna. The whole show just made me want to be there.

Next time, Lisa’s guests are – my favorite drag queen – Trixie Mattel and Iggy Azalea  

🏖 Summer House was the usual not-even-hot, more like lukewarm, mess. The guys got drunk and stupid, with the exception of Carl, while the girls had a spa night. Kyle was so mature that, instead of using one of the many bathrooms in the house like an adult, he got busy watering the plants, announcing it like it was an achievement. In her interview, Danielle gave props to Carl for having his sh*t fully together and his priorities straight. The group had a theme party, where the housemates represented different states, and set up their own pubs. Hannah told us that since they couldn’t go out to the pubs, they’d bring them to the house. This was actually pretty cool until someone wondered who the first one to puke would be, and I remembered what show I was watching. The HUGE topic of the night was, did Luke and Lindsay hook up? Especially since a psychic had confirmed it. Luke didn’t want to talk about his feelings, but It didn’t help any when he and Lindsay left the theme party together. Luke tried talking to Ciara, who wanted to give him boundaries. All she did was confuse him, and she ended up suggesting they not be friends, because it would be easier. Carl said Luke didn’t have the ability to own his truth, and I wondered what they even means anymore? Not to mention, Carl delivered that message while wearing his Amish pub owner’s getup. And who knew there was a rule that you don’t text a female after 9 pm unless you want to hook up? Not me. Kyle put his finger in Luke’s face, and said he exerted his power over women. It ended with Kyle walking out, then stomping back, bringing production with him, and a near brawl between Kyle and Luke, with the others holding them back from each other. Maybe these people just shouldn’t drink. Or go to the Hamptons. Or go anywhere.  

🛴 Time To Scoot…

Well, it’s been an interesting day for TV. Since tomorrow will be relatively open, I’m folding my tent and sneaking off into the night. There will be plenty of time to pour you some tea tomorrow. Wherever you’re sneaking off to, stay safe, stay as festive as possible, and stay not making it your job to balance the scales, and let it be up to fate.

January 4, 2019 – A Killer Connection is Made, a Farewell, Some Bloopers, a Divorce, Back to the Kitchen, Hell, Roll Call, a Half-Dozen Quotes & First Weekend

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What I Watched Today

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

 

General Hospital

Marcus tells Sonny that he has nothing to say to him. Sonny says they both just want what’s best for Yvonne and Mike. They can’t make decisions for themselves anymore.

Mike wants to go to Turning Woods, but Stella warns him things might be different. He asks if she’s referring to the guy who says he’s Yvonne’s husband. He wants to take her away, but Sonny left to stop him. Mike wonders, what if he’s too late?

Curtis meets Jordan at the station. She thanks him for coming. He asks if she has any new leads on the murder, and she says, murders, plural. He’s always been her favorite person to bounce ideas off of. He tells her, they make a good team. She says there are three victims. The only thing they have in common is the killer. She needs a breakthrough.

Maxie and Nina arrive for the self-defense class Chase is teaching. Elizabeth walks in, and wonders if it will be just the three of them. Under her breath, Nina mutters that she hopes not. Willow comes in.

A town hall meeting is being held at Charlie’s. Laura thanks Julian for hosting. He says any exposure is never a bad thing. Maybe he’ll gain new customers. Lulu says maybe they’ll gain new voters. She wonders if the serial killer might deter people from coming, but Laura says, there’s comfort in being together; there’s strength in numbers. Not-Doc arrives, and says, absolutely. The killer doesn’t stand a chance. Lulu tells him if he came to make a scene, turn around now. He tells her, stand down. He was just getting coffee, and then he’ll leave. Laura says, that’s not necessary. He’s a member of the community, and always welcome. Ned tells Laura, bring it on. She says she plans to.

Julian sets up a podium, and introduces himself. He’s proud to host the meeting, and reminds them the election is just one day away. He turns the meeting over to Lulu. Lulu says she’s Laura’s daughter, and also her biggest supporter, but she’s not incapable of being fair and unbiased. She’ll try her hardest to be both. Ned tells everyone that he and Laura agreed. As long as Lulu doesn’t cut him off or mute his mic, they’ll be okay. Laura points out that he doesn’t have a mic. Lulu asks for questions.

A woman named Wendy gets up. She says she lives downtown, and asks what the candidates will do to bring more diversity among the staff appointees. As the current mayor, Ned goes first.

Chase says they’ll be getting started in a few minutes, and tells Willow it’s good to see her. Nina introduces Maxie to her as Charlotte’s teacher. Willow and Maxie talk about leggings. Elizabeth asks if Willow has done this before. She says, no, but thought it was time. Nina pulls Maxie aside, and asks why she’s being nice to Willow. Maxie says, why not? Lulu says she’s great. Nina says, of course she would, and walks away. Maxie wonders what she missed.

Curtis looks at the bulletin board Jordan has set up, and says she’s been busy. Jordan says the first order of business is to squash panic. Curtis says, easier said than done. She says Chase is teaching self-defense classes, the FBI has given them their full resources, and the state police have stepped up their presence. Curtis says she has everything under control, and she says, everything except a suspect. Where to begin? Curtis says, if Doc is right, it begins with them.

Stella tells Mike, whatever his experience with Marcus is, he’s a decent, loving man. Mike would be more inclined to believe that if Marcus wasn’t keeping him and Yvonne apart. They’re not children. They know what they need, and what they need most is each other. Stella says, it’s a blessing to find someone who makes you happy, no matter how late in life. Mike says the real blessing is that he makes her happy. Why can’t Marcus see that?

Marcus says it’s different for Sonny. He brings his father for the day, and takes him home. He sees Yvonne during visiting hours, and might as well be a stranger. Sonny says he’s sorry, but Marcus isn’t asking for pity. In sickness or in health is what they vowed, but he didn’t promise to give her a Christmas present from a man she’s only known a few months. Sonny says Stella calls them coping partners. They help each other in ways the two of them can’t. He didn’t want his father there. He wanted him home, but Mike insisted. Marcus asks, why? Sonny thinks Mike felt it was the next step, and he was afraid to take it until he met Yvonne. Then the place became okay. He believes Mike is helping Yvonne too. Marcus says, for the last few weeks. They’ve been married thirty years. This is just a blip; short term. Sonny says, being honest, short term is all they have.

Sonny tells Marcus, this disease is son of a bitch. He used to hold his breath when he’s see his dad, wondering if Mike would recognize him. Marcus says it’s hard the first time they don’t, and Sonny says he’ll never forget it. He suggests Marcus not have expectations. One day his father knows him, the next day he doesn’t. Marcus asks how Sonny let go. Yvonne walks in, wondering where Mike is. Marcus tells her that Stella is looking out for him. She asks who Marcus is, and he says he’s her husband. She says she doesn’t have one. He tells her it’s okay if she doesn’t remember; he does. Where they met, how they fell in love and married. Sonny slips out, and Yvonne demands Mike.

Mike asks Stella if she’s ever felt really needed by someone. Stella would like to think her nephews needed her, and there are the people she helps with her social work. Mike means someone special who really loves you romantically, and you love them back. Stella thought she did, a long time ago. He asks, what happened? and she says, hasn’t she told him? He says, if she did, it doesn’t a ring bell. Not much does lately. She tells him, life happened. She made a choice, and before she knew it, that part of life passed her by and it was too late.

Willow asks Elizabeth how Aiden is doing. Nina says, Charlotte is doing great; thanks for asking. Elizabeth says, she’s not the one who was being bullied. Nina says, Charlotte apologized, and Elizabeth says they appreciate it. Nina says it could have been nipped in the bud early on, but Elizabeth thinks it’s not the teaching, but the parenting, and she’s not blaming Lulu. Nina says that leaves her and Valentin. Maxie encourages Chase to start the class, and he tells them, time to focus – on the class. Chase says they’re here to defend their safety, and that of their loved ones. He can’t discuss the ongoing case, so the best they can do is put everything aside and get going. Maxie is the only one who’s enthusiastic.

Jordan wonders if someone is trying to impress them. Curtis says, like a cat leaving a dead mouse and expecting a reward. She says they’ve been in attendance at all the events, but Curtis says, not just them. He wants to make a list, but Jordan is ahead of him. He looks at her list, and says one name jumps out. Jordan says, Laura. She was in all three places. Curtis says, clearly, she’s not the murderer. Jordan suggests the killer knows her. Curtis says, or she knows them and doesn’t realize it.

Ned says his staff isn’t the most diverse. They’re mostly white males, but not by design. They’re pivotal economic players he’s worked with for years and trusts implicitly. And his trust isn’t misplaced. They brought the city back, and it’s thriving. Laura says it’s true they did a fabulous job, and stepped up in wake of the earthquake, but it’s a closed circle. The problem is, they only work with the people they know. She wants to widen the circle, and if elected, will bring in people from different backgrounds.

Chase tells the group to always carry flashlight. Nina and Elizabeth bicker. Nina accuses Elizabeth of coddling her son. Chase gets louder, trying to talk over them. Willow tells Nina that she doesn’t think that’s what’s going on, and Nina says it could have been avoided. Chase asks for volunteers, but no one gets up. He asks Willow to help demonstrate the bear hug, and how get out of it. She thanks him, since she was about to tell a mother where to shove her opinion.

Sonny returns, and Mike asks if he told Marcus not to take Yvonne. Stella asks Mike to get their coats. Sonny tells her that he talked to Marcus, but he doesn’t know how much luck he had. Yvonne showed up, and asked for his dad. He’s concerned about taking Mike back, and Yvonne not being there. Stella thinks the sooner he gets there, the sooner he can make new friends.

Jordan says, Alexis, Lulu, Chase, and Curtis says, a lawyer, a journalist, and a cop. Jordan says the killer likes to make a display in the most public manner. Curtis says, the deeper they dig, the less he’s thinking it’s about the two of them. Jordan agrees, and says the only thing in common is the missing driver’s licenses. There’s one other thing though. More specifically, one other person – Ryan Chamberlain.

At the meeting, Daryl gets up. He lives in the Charles Street district. He asks if Ned thinks his background as a businessman is a positive or a negative. Like Ned might say, negative. Ned thinks economics drive everything. New business raises the standard of living and property values. If they don’t have businesses, nothing else works. Lulu asks if Laura wants to add anything. Laura admires Ned as a businessman, but says government can’t be run like a business. It’s not for profit. It should be people coming together to decide how to best serve the public’s needs. Money is a factor, but not everything. Nor should it be. Everyone applauds. Not-Doc raises his hand, saying he has more of a statement than a question. He thinks it’s high time he made his intentions known.

Nina says the class is about owning their power, not worrying about if what might have been said is hurtful. Elizabeth says it is hurtful, and Maxie wonders how they expect their kids to get along if they can’t. Nina says she’s teaching Charlotte not to hold herself back. Elizabeth says she can do what she wants, but not with her son. Chase calls up Nina, who tells him, so far, it’s been very informative.

Not-Doc says it’s no secret his marriage is ending, but he has nothing but boundless respect and admiration for Laura. She gives selflessly to both her family and community. Ned is a fine man, but when it comes to the future of their city, it will be his honor to vote for Laura. He hopes they all do the same. Laura says it’s a lovely gesture, and she’d like to return it. If elected, she’ll become an advocate for mental health. She’s already made a tour of Ferncliff, and will do more. What’s the point of an influential position, if you can’t throw the spotlight on conditions that need it? She wants to be visible, and use her visibility for good.

Jordan tells Curtis the third victim was making a documentary about Ryan. He wonders if it’s a copycat, and she says anything is possible. She reminds him of another case they worked on, where all signs pointed to a mugging, but it turned out to be an insurance situation. Red herrings everywhere. She thinks it might be the same, where it seems to be one thing, but it’s another. She gets a call from forensics, and tells Curtis there hasn’t been a single trace of the documentary found. Curtis says they’re trying to remove any mention of Ryan. They’re not trying to repeat the murders, but top them. The killer is competing with a ghost. Jordan has all the Ryan Chamberlain files, and says, it’s time to bring the ghost back to life.

At Turning Woods, Mike can’t wait see his girl, but Sonny says it might not be possible. Yvonne and Marcus walk in. Mike guesses they should say their goodbyes, but Marcus says, no goodbyes. Mike wonders about the luggage, and Marcus says he was set to take her home, but spoke to Mike’s son. Or rather Mike’s son spoke to him. He said, when you love someone, you do the far better thing. Yvonne isn’t leaving. Sonny smiles. Marcus, not so much.

Mike gives Stella her gift, a big soft scarf. Marcus tells Stella that he wishes she’d known Yvonne before the Alzheimer’s. She would have loved her. Stella knows she would have; Marcus married her. She must have been an incredible woman. He says he used to see glimpses. The doctor warned him that he would lose her, but it’s one thing to hear it, and another to live it. Well-meaning people with well-meaning advice aren’t worth a damn. Mike tells Stella, it’s for cold winter nights, and puts the scarf on her. He tells her, Merry Christmas, and they hug.

Curtis tells Jordan it might be easier to resurrect a ghost than pour through the records. She knows there’s a link. Something in there links to that terrible bastard. She says, wait, and he asks what she found. She says it’s what she didn’t find.

Chase shows Maxie how to shake him, and strike palm to nose. He tells them practice with partners. Maxie tells him she needs to get back to the others before they start pulling hair. Chase laughs, and she tells him, it’s not funny. She might have to consider homeschooling. He shows her another move. He tells the class, it’s one thing be prepared, but if you’re not scared, you’re not paying attention. That doesn’t mean they’re a victim though. Make it nasty. Focus on eyes, ears, knees. Nina says, and the family jewels. Chase asks, who wants go first? This time, it’s everyone.

Lulu thanks everyone, and the meeting breaks up. Ned tells Laura, may the best man or woman win. Lulu says she was awesome; she had them eating out of her hand. She’s proud. Laura thanks not-Doc for the endorsement, and he says he meant every word. She says, so did she. If elected, Ferncliff, and every place like it, is on her list. Lulu has to get back to the office, and Laura needs to meet Sonny at the gym. Not-Doc watches them leave, and follows.

Chase says that’s all the time they have. Maxie asks if they’re seriously ready to kick predator ass, and he tells her that he wouldn’t mess with any of them. He tells the class, same place same time next week. Maxie tells Nina that she needs to keep as far away from Elizabeth as possible. Nina replies that Elizabeth said she has no restraint. Maxie says she doesn’t. Willow tells Chase, it was empowering; she enjoyed it. Chase asks if they could maybe go on real date soon, and she says, how about now? After all that drama, she could use a drink. He says, there was drama?

Marcus tells Stella that he owes her an apology. She asks, what for? and he says when she tried to intercede for Yvonne, he lashed out. He’s said she gave up the right to an opinion on his life a long time ago. She says, it’s true, but he says he wanted her to hurt the way he was hurting. It was unfair. She says, none of this is fair. She knows he was doing what he thought best. He says Stella always does, but part of him will always wonder what would have happened if he’s taken Yvonne home.

Mike introduces Sonny to Yvonne. She loves his dimples, and Mike says, everybody does. Sonny tells Yvonne that his father thinks the world of her. Yvonne says, the world is a big place, but Mike says, not really. If you’re lucky, you can hold her in the palm of your hand.

Jordan asks what’s missing from Ryan’s victim? and Curtis says, no driver’s license. Is it something he did? She says it’s not listed in any files, and he says, it could be a coincidence. They keep looking. Jordan says, no license… no license. Curtis says, nothing here either. Twenty-five years ago, Ryan took a trophy. Jordan asks, how did the killer know if the police didn’t?

Laura goes to the gym looking for Sonny. Not-Doc is in the shadows. He walks up behind her while she’s busy on her phone.

In loving memory of Donna Messina, 1959 – 2018.

On Monday, Julian says he and Kim agree the relationship is over, not-Doc says there’s been something he’s been wanting to say to Laura, and Jason is more interested in Shiloh’s life before he was Shiloh.

🎨 In Case You Didn’t Know Her…

Donna Messina, makeup artist to the GH stars.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-stars-remember-donna-messina-168796

🎢 Something Fun…

Imagine my surprise seeing Jennifer Coolidge from 2 Broke Girls in Ariana Grande‘s blooper reel. I said, whaaat? with a Polish accent. What’s Kris Jenner doing there? Your guess is as good as mine.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1001517/kris-jenner-is-the-real-star-of-ariana-grande-s-thank-u-next-bloopers-video?source=email&medium=emn-content-2&cmpid=morning-a&content=emn-news

💍 But Did She Give Back the Ring?

Finally, after two years, GG is divorced. From a seven-week marriage.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1001775/shahs-of-sunset-s-gg-gharachedaghi-is-officially-divorced-and-she-couldn-t-be-happier?source=email&medium=emn-content-4&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

😪 Still Mourning Z Nation, But…

I love any show that Gordon Ramsay bleepity-bleeps his way through, and I was finally able to catch the latest – eighteenth! – season of Hell’s Kitchen. Keeping it fresh, this time, it was Rookies vs Veterans. Tonight, the restaurant was transformed by Italian décor, and a five-course Italian menu was served in honor of the supporters of St. Jude and the Waterkeeper Alliance. Before the dinner, the red (dudes) and blue (dudettes) teams did a blindfold taste-test. A chef from each team was given a tiny ice cream cone, and had to guess the ice cream flavor – everything from tomato to jalapeno. The ladies won by a landslide, but the best part was, when an incorrect guess was made, a member of that team had to be pelted with spaghetti, doused with sauce, or have cheese grated over them. The reactions went from merriment to horror to anger. There were several actors at the dinner. No one super famous – Chad Lowe was probably the most recognizable name – but I noticed Parker Young from The Imposters, another show I loved and lost. The red team just did not do well overall, and at one point, Gordon had to take over in the kitchen. As one contestant said, When Chef Ramsay has to cook for you, you know you screwed up. At the end of service, he told the red team to piss off. Jose got sent home, with tears in his eyes, and Gordon got to tell the remaining red team members to piss off a second time at elimination.

🐀 If, like me, you can’t get enough Gordon, 24 Hours to Hell and Back will be on Wednesday, January 9th, at 8 pm. In the preview, we saw someone in the kitchen taste the food, and then spit it back into the pot. I don’t know if it gets much nastier.

📣 Roll Call of the Dead…

The celebrities that we lost (how careless of us) in 2018. I’m sure there are more than this, but it’s a good list.

http://extratv.com/photos/stars-we-lost-in-2018/

🎤 Quotes of the Week

If you took a bad James Bond felon, and had him drunk on fireball, and then had him played by an emaciated Muppet, that would be less annoying than James Kennedy. – Stassi Shroeder, Vanderpump Rules

If you know something’s that bad, don’t put it on a plate. – Tom Colicchio, Top Chef

Don’t go into tributaries.Judge Judy, to litigant trying to change the focus

God has mercy. I don’t. – Padre Benito (Cheech Marin), Machete

The purpose of studying economics is… to avoid being deceived by economists. – Joan Robinson

I told him go on and live your life however you want to live it, but don’t bring down somebody’s else’s life.Lena McLin, R. Kelly’s high school music teacher – words to live by. Too bad Kelly couldn’t.

🎯 What Happens When You Google First Weekend 2019…

October 14, 2018 – Rick Builds a Bridge, Dedicated to Scott, a Bit of 90, Double Trouble, Goodbye Joe & This Little Piggy

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

 

The Walking Dead

Rick says it’s been a while since they had a talk. He does most of the talking anyway. He’ll keep it short. We don’t see who he’s talking to, but my guess is Negan.

Today is day 35. Things are taking shape. Not that long ago, they were fighting just to stay alive. It’s not like that anymore. They’re building and growing. They’re ready to deal with world on its own terms, but not letting it define them. They’re getting back a piece of how it used to be; how things were before this. it’s all happening. They’re not just fighting to survive anymore. They’re making a new beginning. Rick looks out from a platform over the new world.

Ezekiel says Henry should be proud. Someday, he’s going to cross the bridge with his grandchildren, and tell them how he built it. Henry thinks that would be a boring story, but Ezekiel says, it’s the lifeblood of civilization. Without it, there would be no trade. The structure connects them all. Be proud. He tells Henry to be ready in an hour; he’s going home. Carol gives Henry his pokey stick. She thinks he’s taller. Ezekiel says he’ll be in college before they know it. He’d stay to drive in the last nail if Henry didn’t have school. Carol says she’ll be heading back after. Ezekiel tells her, fairy tales and heroes live forever, but in this world, it’s about finding small moments. It’s just good-by for now; he’s not giving up on fairy tales.

Eugene tells Rick that with the spring rains, they have six to nine days before the dam overflows, but he thinks they can beat it. Rick says he’ll talk to the foreman. Rosita thinks should push along the blasting. Rick asks Eugene about runoffs, and he says they’ve been down in the last six in past months Zzzz… and that doesn’t stand for zombies.

At the infirmary tent, Siddiq tells Cyndie she’s lucky her wound didn’t get infected. Tara says she’s ready to take on anything. Rick tells Eugene that there’s a bug going around. Eugene tells him that Alexandria is slim on supplies, and it’s getting slimmer by the day.

Michonne rides into Hilltop. She tells Maggie that the Sanctuary didn’t get the supplies. Maybe the delivery guys were taken out or went AWOL. She’s hoping Maggie can tide them over. Jesus thinks they can do it, but Maggie is hesitant. Until they get fuel for the tractor, their yield will be short. Michonne asks what about the plow from museum, but Maggie doesn’t have what she needs to fix it. Michonne asks how long Earl is going to be locked up, but Maggie hasn’t decided. Michonne says that’s why they need to start talking rules, so there isn’t another situation like with Gregory. Maggie asks if Michonne thinks she should have let Earl walk. Michonne says, no. She hates what he did to Maggie and Enid, but if keeping him locked up means crops aren’t planted, it’ a problem. Maggie says they’ll be fine, but until the ethanol shows up, she can’t plant. She offers for Michonne to spend the night. Michonne takes her up on it, and Jesus says he’ll get her set up.

Ricks’ crew works on the bridge. Aaron tells Daryl about an exploding diaper, and Daryl says, good times… Aaron thinks Daryl will be a great dad, and Daryl laughs. Henry gives out water. Savior Justin takes a cup and wants more. When Henry won’t give it to him, Justin pushes Henry down, and takes it. Andy uses the side of his pokey stick to knock Justin down. Another Savior tells Justin that he had his ass handed to him by a kid too – although he was six at the time. Daryl tells Justin, the kid was just doing his job. Get back to work. Justin says, don’t tell him what to do, and Daryl punches him. He throws sand in Daryl’s face, and they start to scuffle.

Eugene is telling Rick about his scheme to turn expired food stuffs into gazpacho, when Rick hears the fighting on the bridge. He runs over, and tells them, break it up. He gets in between Daryl and Justin, and tells them to go back to work. Daryl asks if that a-hole gets a free pass. Rick doesn’t like it either, but the bridge needs to get done. Daryl says some of the Saviors have walked off already. They’re not going to fall in line just because he says so. Carol says they never had to work together; he can’t expect them to just forget. Rick says it’s about moving ahead together. If they keep doing that, they’ll see they’re all on the same side. Daryl says, are they? Rick says, you tell me, and Daryl says he’s trying to, but Rick doesn’t want to hear it. Daryl walks away, and Carol says, it’s complicated. He’s been different since Gregory, maybe before. Rick wants her to talk to him, and she says, and say what? Rick says she gets what he’s trying to do. She says he’s doing the right thing, but for some aren’t ready for it. He tosses A Key to the Future on the table.

Michonne hears talking outside. Jesus is telling Tammy, not today. She asks, when? She deserves an answer. Since her husband has been locked up, no one talks to her. She doesn’t have much, but she still has rights, and they can’t take those away. Jesus says Earl tried to kill Maggie. Give her time to figure it out. Tammy says, tell Maggie that she’s not moving until she’s allowed in there. She has no place else to be.

Michonne tells Jesus that Maggie should talk to Tammy about it. Jesus says she’ll do what she wants. Maggie asks what he thinks, but he says it’s not his call. Michonne asks if he agrees. He doesn’t know if the hanging was for everyone, Maggie, or both. He’s not against Tammy seeing her husband. Michonne tells him to talk to her; Maggie trusts him. He trusts her, but no one is right all the time. Michonne says that’s why they need to build something bigger than all of them.

Anne does a sketch, while Gabriel dictates the features. He says she’s talented, coming from a half-blind art critic. She says she likes doing it; it’s intimate, and makes her feel like one of them. He says she is, and she says, thanks to him, Rick, and Morgan. They reached out. He says the others will come around. No one trusted him at first either. Anne says they had good reason not to trust her, and Gabriel says, him too. Rick reached out; he’s good like that. Anne says, he’s not the only one, and takes his hand. He says that’s his job; being there.

Maggie tells Jesus they can move the school trailer until the heat wave is over. Eww! Imagine all those dead during a Georgia heat wave. No thanks. Jesus says he’s been thinking about how much she’s done for them. He wonders if she’s thinking about joining Oceanside. She doesn’t think they’ll get tired of asking, but she’s busy building a future there. He says Tammy is asking to see Earl; he’s been there over a month. Maggie asks if Jesus thinks she’s unfair. He thinks some decisions are too big for one person. That’s why they have laws. Michonne isn’t wrong. She’s a good person, and good people disagree.

Maggie takes Tammy to Earl’s cell. Tammy tells Earl that she’s been trying to see him every day. He says he’s okay; they’re treating him fair; more than he deserves. He was twenty years sober, and brought shame on himself. She says he made a mistake, and lost himself, but he came back. She forgives him. it’s not her forgiveness he needs though. He misses their son.

Enid blows something up. Decrepit zombies trundle through the woods toward the sound.

Maggie approaches Earl’s cell. She never thought when he helped her build them, he’d be the first person in one. She asks him to tell her about the drinking. How did he get there? He says he started drinking after he quit smoking. He was always a bad drunk. He was drunk the day Ken was born. He can’t remember the first time he saw he saw him. He joined AA when Ken was two. They were barely making ends meet, and the stress got to him. On the way to pick Ken up, he saw the sign for McDuffy’s. The sitter could smell the whiskey on him, and tried to grab his keys. He put his son in the truck, and the next thing he remembers is being pulled off the road. Tammy was there; he guesses the sitter called and told her that he was drunk. She took him home, and he thought she’d be gone, but she stuck around. She said he was sick, and swore they’d stay together no matter what. He never took drink after that. He wasn’t even tempted until… Maggie knows the rest. She thanks him, and starts to go. He asks why she hanged Gregory, but not him. He was drunk and weak, but what he did was in him. Gregory didn’t make him do anything. Maggie asks if he thinks she made a mistake? He says, no, and she says, good, and leaves.

Enid watches from a cherry picker, and radios Rick on the bridge. She tells him they’re on schedule, and Rick says, okay, let’s do this. Enid tells Jerry, crank it up, and he starts up a crank siren. A Savior whose name I don’t remember tells Rick that the Saviors making the supply delivery never got there. The people at the Sanctuary are getting worried. They want guns. Rick says they were disarmed for a reason. The Savior says they’re scared. Rick says he’ll protect them. The Savior says, if they work for him, they’ll protect him; who does that sound like? Jerry can’t get the alarm to work a second time. Enid radios Rick that it’s not going off. If the zombies aren’t diverted, they’re going to run right into his crew.

The horses start to get antsy. Daryl senses trouble. Zombie start coming. Daryl does a ballet move, and spears a couple of them in the head, but a zombie crowd forms quickly. He thinks they should get the hell out, but logs tumble down from a pile, and Aaron gets pinned. Daryl tries moving the log from on top of Aaron, but the zombies are getting closer. Aaron tells him to go. Daryl kills a few more, and gets someone’s attention to help get the log off of Aaron’s arm, which is pretty messed up. He pulls Aaron up from the ground, and they try to jet, but aren’t fast enough. A zombie grabs Daryl’s shoulder, but Rick and his crew arrive, slicing, dicing, and shooting arrows, Carol and Ezekiel join them. Rick shoots the rest of the logs, and they slam into the zombies. I laugh because it’s a little Three Stooges looking.

In the infirmary tent, Enid tells Aaron the bad news. Amputation and cauterization are the only way to stop the bleeding. Aaron is like, wait a minute, as we all would be. Daryl says, sorry, and ties off Aaron’s arm. Enid tells Daryl to hold him, and reads the instructions from a book. Aaron says, do it, and she does. He screams.

In one of the tents, Carol tells Justin that she doesn’t give a sh*t. Daryl says he was supposed to turn the herd. Justin says the walkie wasn’t charged. Daryl says, it’s solar, and he didn’t check? Justin says it’s not his fault the radio is sh*t. Daryl lunges at him, but Carol tells him to stop; he’s out of control. Some of the kids stand there watching. Carol says, don’t deal with him like this, but Daryl says, it’s the only way to deal with these a-holes.

Michonne visits Maggie. She says Maggie has done something amazing with this place. Maggie says she knows what Michonne came to do. She’s thought about it; talking about common law, but she’s not giving up the right to do what she thinks is best. Michonne says, what’s best for everyone? Maggie says, what’s best for Hilltop, and Michonne says, neither will they. Maggie asks Jesus to load up the food like she promised. She tells Michonne that Earl till owes a debt. He can pay it by working under supervision. She’s going to get the plow fixed, and the field planted. Michonne asks, what changed? Maggie says her daddy drank. He was a good man, and if he hadn’t gotten a second chance, a lot of people would have been worse off. Michonne counts herself as one of them. Maggie says, but Gregory had chance after chance, and he wasted them. She doesn’t regret what she did. Some people can be redeemed; others can’t. Michonne asks, who makes that decision? and Maggie guesses it’s one of the things they have to figure out.

Justin tells Rick to keep his dog on a leash, referring to Daryl. He tried to kill him over nothing. Rick says he knows Justin. He used to be a cop. Every Saturday night, he’d pick up a dipsh*t like him, trying to blame someone else for their own damn problems. Justin says he doesn’t have to listen, but Rick says he does. Rick gave him the benefit of the doubt. That’s done. Pack his sh*t, and get out in the morning. If Rick sees his face again, even stitches won’t fix it. Justin says he wouldn’t stay if Rick begged him to, and he’s not waiting until morning.

Rick tells Aaron it’s going to be all right, which is easy for him to say. He would have died if the wound had gotten infected. Rick sits, and says he’s sorry. They were all supposed to be working together, and he thought they were. He knows he was pushing hard, putting the project first, and he paid the price. Aaron says it’s worth it. When the dead started to rise, he thought he was seeing the end of everything. Rick changed all that. It’s not the end of the world anymore. It’s the start of a whole new one. He’ll always be glad he was there to be a part of it.

Gabriel and Anne sit near a pong. Gabriel says those are frog mating calls. There’s a wild frog party going on. Anne says, that’s a strange thing to know, and Gabriel tells her that he grew up playing in the woods. It sounds like home. She asks if he knows the woman he had her draw. He says he doesn’t ask her secrets, and she asks if that’s who she was; a secret lover perhaps. He says it was nothing like that. She was the organist at his church. He cared for her very much, but was afraid and lost her. Anne thought he was supposed to be celibate, but he says he’s Episcopal, not Catholic. His vows don’t prohibit him from… He kisses her, and she kisses back. Wow. I didn’t see that coming. Gabriel says he’s supposed to be on watch. She says, then watch, and kisses him again.

Everyone jokes around the campfire. Carol asks Ezekiel if he’s still carrying the old ring around. She just wants to try it on for a while. He tries to get on one knee, and she tells him, no. He says he wrote a speech, and she says she’s sure he did. He can read it to her later. He puts the ring on her, and they smile at each other. Rick watches.

Rick says, it was a hard day. The hardest in a while. A man lost his arm; the project fell behind schedule; people were at each other’s throats. As bad as it was, when the day was done, they came together. Not all of them, but enough. They chose to be together. See what he’s getting at? No matter what happens, it’s human nature to come together. It’s what they do.

Negan (I was right) says, it’s a real pretty picture Rick is painting. When does he get to see it? Rick says, never. He’s going to die behind bars. He knows that. Negan says, then as a final request, why doesn’t he bring… Rick asks if he ever gets tired of acting still he’s still in charge. Negan asks, does he? Does Rick think because they had a weenie roast he has it locked? When everything goes to sh*t – and it will – make sure to come back and tell him. Rick says they’re thriving without Negan. They’re building a future, like he said. Negan asks, for who? Carl? Rick tells Negan not to speak Carl’s name. Negan says Rick’s family is gone; the same as his. The bridge isn’t the future. It’s a monument to the dead. Rick isn’t saving the world. He’s just getting it ready for Negan.

In the cherry picker, Anne hears something, and looks up. She sees a helicopter flying across the night’s sky.

Justin walks along the road in the dark, alone. He’s drinking, which probably isn’t the brightest idea. He tosses the bottle, so he’s a litterbug too. He hears something, and brings out a sword. Someone comes out of the woods who he recognizes. He says they could have gotten themselves killed… What the hell?

Next time, the future belongs to all of them, rioting starts, and Maggie and Daryl walk a road together.

😔 Tonight’s episode was dedicated to Scott Wilson aka Herschel.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-walking-dead/news/a868328/the-walking-dead-hershel-scott-wilson-tributes-cast-crew/

💍 Tonight was the finale of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. The Couples Tell All is their version of a reunion, where at least one cast member has to SKYPE in because they didn’t get their visa or it didn’t work out. This time, there were several, and it was probably the messiest Tell All ever. Fingers in faces, walkouts, Shaun Robinson the worst host in the world. I read there’s an internet petition to get rid of her. A sad show made even sadder. That’s not to say it wasn’t the best thing since the invention of reality TV. One couple never even made it to meeting each other, and was a no show. Darcey and Jesse went from Jesse claiming he was going to file charges, to hugging it out. Karine announced she was pregnant, and Paul asked for another DNA test. Ricky decided to stay with his ex-wife, making him look like even more of an idiot, and leaving Ximena grateful she didn’t get more involved. Angela broke up with Michael, who was on SKYPE, because he brought up their age difference once again. It was apparently once too many. She ended up taking it out on Rachel when the couples present at the studio were brought together. We also found out that Michael did not steal all of Angela’s money when she gave him her PIN, and it was a bank error, probably the biggest surprise of the season. The only disappointment was that John wasn’t there in person, since I’m sure he would have had a fistfight with someone. After taking copious notes throughout the season, I’ll be submitting my analyzation of these couples in the near future.

👰 Almost Wife Meets Sister Wife…

Because being involved with one bad situation isn’t enough.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2018/10/90-day-fiance-nicole-nafziger-sister-wives-meri-brown-shady-business-lularoe/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

✈ Say It Ain’t So…

Looks like not-so-Juicy Joe might be getting the boot to the boot.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2018/10/joe-giudice-deported-family-house-italy-teresa-giudice-husband-rhonj/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🐷 Best Music Video In a While…