Tag Archives: Below Deck Galley Talk

Jan5

January 4, 2021 – Cyrus Accuses Jason Of Kidnapping, a Drunken Guest Takes a Midnight Swim, Not a Crush, a Hit, Unwelcome Return, She’s Still Here & Good

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jason tells Carly, he had a shot at Cyrus, and she asks why he didn’t take it. He says, because she was there. If there was a witness or things had gone sideways, she could be an accessory and he couldn’t take that chance. He had to let Cyrus live. Cyrus knows why, and now they’ll be vulnerable. Carly’s phone dings, and she looks at it. She tells Jason, they won’t be vulnerable. She solved it. The house phone rings, and Jason answers. He says, send him up, and tells Carly, go upstairs; Cyrus is there. She says, it worked, and he says, what worked? What did she do?

Ava and Nikolas walk into an empty Charlie’s, and Ava says, Julian was so proud of this place. She was proud of him having it. It’s not easy getting out of the business he was in. This place gave him a foundation and a purpose. He poured his heart and soul into it, trying to make a legitimate living, but it wasn’t enough to save his life. Being a Jerome is a hard habit to break. Nikolas asks if she’s expecting trouble, and she says, nothing she can’t handle.

Portia looks for Mac, but finds Jordan in the office. She says she didn’t realize Jordan was back. She needs to speak to Taggert before he’s released. Jordan says she owes Portia an apology. She hopes to fix the damage that’s been done. Portia says it will just be an excuse, and she doesn’t have time for empty promises. They both know Jordan will do the exact same thing again.

Laura meets Martin at the MetroCourt. He says she seems to have something on her mind. In the spirit of their newfound status as siblings, can he do anything to help? She says, actually, yes. He’s guessing it’s about Cyrus, and she says she needs leverage against their brother.

On the phone with Josslyn, Jax says he understands. Let him know if she changes her mind… He’ll talk to her later… He loves her too. Nina asks if everything is okay with Josslyn, and he says, not really. His daughter refuses to come to Australia with him. Nina says she thought it was all set, and she’d agreed, but he says, she comes from a long line of stubborn women on both sides. Nina asks how much danger Josslyn is really in, and he says, that’s just it. As long as Sonny is missing, no one knows what the next move will be on his so-called territory. Seeing a mob war in Port Charles isn’t pretty, and his daughter is refusing to stay out of the line of fire. 

Carly opens the door, and asks how she can help Cyrus. He says she can’t. He walks up to Jason, and says, this bastard took his mother.

Nikolas tells Ava, the Jeromes attract their fair share of trouble, but the Cassadines have been known to cause chaos from time to time. She says they really are a perfect fit. Someone tries the door, and Nikolas opens it to Alexis. She says she saw the light on, and thought… She doesn’t know what she thought. Nikolas says he understands. Ava says she knows what Alexis is looking for. She blamed all of her problems on Julian, and now she’s realized too late that she wanted him back after all.

Portia says, Jordon doesn’t get to validate her feelings to assuage her guilt, and Jordan says, it was the only way. She wishes that wasn’t the case. Portia says, even if Jordan couldn’t tell her at first, why didn’t she say something after Portia started helping her? She falsified medical records for Jordan, and put her career on the line to buy her time. Jordan says, she appreciates the risk, and Portia asks if she didn’t do enough for Jordan to tell her that her ex was alive, and comfort her daughter with the truth. Jordan says she was trying to protect Trina, and Portia says they see how that worked out. Trina is devastated. Jordan took Trina’s father from her twice; once, pretending he was dead, and then destroying her faith in him.

Martin says Laura cuts right to the point, and she says she thinks they have the rest of their lives to get to know one another. Cyrus is dangerous right now, so she figured she’d start there. Please help her. He asks why she assumes he can, and she says she hasn’t known Cyrus that long. She never dreamed she’d have a half-brother who turned out to be an infamous drug lord. He reminds her that it’s alleged infamous drug lord. Cyrus was cleared of his crimes. She asks Martin not to tell her that Cyrus is a poor, misunderstood philanthropist. He sent a team of gunmen to Port Charles last winter, and she was one of the victims. He had a bomb planted in The Floating Rob that put her daughter into a coma. Martin says, something Laura has to understand about him, is that he’s a representative of the court; a servant of the law. He makes decisions based on evidence, not conjecture or hearsay. There’s no credible evidence to overturn Cyrus’s release. In the eyes of the law, he was cleared. That’s all they know, or can be sure of. She says she can’t tell if he’s turning a blind eye, or she read him wrong and he’s working for Cyrus.

Cyrus says his mother is a fragile, elderly woman, in need of constant medical care, and Jason asks what that has to do with him. Cyrus says, don’t BS him. Jason took her. Bring her back or there will be hell to pay. Jason says he doesn’t know where she is, but he can make inquiries. Cyrus tells Jason that he needs to do more than that. If his mother is harmed… Jason says, threats are not helpful. Like he told Cyrus on the pier, don’t try to escalate. If they keep the peace, no one will get hurt. Cyrus says, including his mother?

Jax says that he was counting on Carly to talk sense into Josslyn, and Nina says, maybe it slipped her mind. He says, her child’s safety? and she says, Carly’s husband is missing. He says, all the more reason for Josslyn, and the entire family to get out of town. What kind of a life is it for her? If he pisses someone off in his business, no one has to go into hiding. She asks if Josslyn told him why, and he says, she wanted to stay with her mother. She also mentioned Avery and Donna. She remembered Michael and Morgan being there during difficult periods of her life, and she wanted to do the same for her sisters. Nina says, she’s got a great heart, and he says he knows that, and he’s proud of her, but the agreement has always been, at the first sign of danger, she leaves with him. Nina says, he made the agreement when Josslyn was a kid. She hates to break it to him, but Josslyn isn’t a kid anymore. He asks what she’s saying. He should let Josslyn stay? She says, no. She’s saying maybe he needs a new agreement, but not with Carly – with Josslyn.

Laura asks if that’s how it is. Is Martin in Cyrus’s pocket? He says, no. He doesn’t work for Cyrus, or represent any of Cyrus’s legal affairs. She should be pleased to know they have no business aspirations in common. Laura says, that’s a relief, and he says, no matter how much he disapproves of Cyrus’s alleged misconduct, he owes Cyrus for his significant financial support of their mother. She says she understands family loyalty, and regardless of what Cyrus has become, he and Martin shared a childhood. She doesn’t have that loyalty. She and Cyrus are related, but they’re not family. Martin says, family are the people you come to love, no matter how. The city is an extension of her family, and she does what she can to protect it. Laura says she’d rather go against one brother than two, and he laughs. He says, he’s no crime lord, but he won’t be her enemy or adversary. She asks if he’ll be her ally.

Alexis says she saw the light, and was hoping… Ava says, for what, or who? Nikolas suggests Ava not kick Alexis while she’s down, and Ava asks if she should wait until Alexis sobers up. She was there when her brother did everything he could to win Alexis back, but it was never enough for her. Alexis thought Julian was unworthy. Alexis says, it’s an oversimplification, and Ava says, Julian made a million mistakes. He was a coward in many ways, but he was also heroic. Alexis says, he had his moments, and Ava says, generous of Alexis. She’s not blind. Julian had his faults. He made bad choices, scrambled to cover them, making worse choices, which eventually led to his death. If she wants to be angry at the people who hurt Julian while he was alive, she has the right to be. Alexis broke Julian’s heart. Nikolas says he gets it. It’s complicated. Feelings are complicated, but taking it out on Alexis isn’t helping. The momentary sensation of power Ava gets won’t ease the pain of Julian’s death. Ava says, power is better than grief, but he’s right. She has to consider that Julian never stopped loving Alexis. She doesn’t think he’d want her lashing out. Nikolas says, probably not, and Alexis says, are they kidding her? Is she seeing what she’s seeing, or is she that drunk? Have Nikolas and Ava fallen in love with each other?

Jason says Cyrus told him that he talked in facts not emotions. The fact is, Cyrus’s mother is missing, and making demands gets him no closer to finding her. Cyrus asks, what does? What does Jason want? Jason says he wants Cyrus to leave, and Cyrus says Carly is awfully quiet. She doesn’t seem that upset for a woman whose husband has vanished. Perhaps they arranged this between them. Carly says she can’t speak to his mother’s whereabouts, but she thinks his mother will find her way back to him. He’s lucky Jason is going to make inquiries; he usually finds what he’s looking for. Jason says Cyrus needs to leave before he calls the guards. Cyrus says, he and Sonny had their differences, but Sonny understood honor. He would never kidnap an elderly woman and use her as a hostage to guarantee Cyrus’s good behavior. Jason says, he’s not Sonny, and Cyrus leaves. Jason turns to Carly, and says, she took his mother? Carly says, they needed leverage. Now they have it.

Jason says Carly needs to tell him exactly what happened. How did she figure out where Cyrus mother was in the first place? She says, Laura, and sits down. She tells Jason, Laura’s biological father was Gordon Grey. He was married to Florence, and had two sons, Martin and Cyrus. Jason says, Cyrus is Laura’s half-brother? and Carly says, Laura just found out. She tracked Florence to a long-term care center in Vermont. He asks how she knows this, and she says, Laura stopped by, asking for Sonny. When she said Sonny was gone, Laura said they’d need protection, and Cyrus has a weak spot. Laura was referring to herself, but when she was explaining, she told Carly that Cyrus’s mother was in a facility in Vermont. After she left, Carly called Spinelli. He hacked into the facility’s computer, and arranged a transfer. Carly sent two guards and a nurse to take her to a safe house. Cyrus will never find her.

Alexis says, as absurd as a lecture is from the person who blackmailed her nephew into marriage… Ava says, what she’d like Alexis to understand is that she and Nikolas started out as adversaries, but found a connection deeper and more profound than they expected. Alexis says, that entire field has been fertilized how many times? The scenario is the same, and will play out for Ava and Nikolas, then end up the same way two people who are passionately in love with each other end up – at each other’s throats, fighting to the death.

Jordan tells Portia that she’s truly sorry Trina is hurting, but she was being watched. Because her grief was genuine,  Taggert was able to stay hidden. Portia says they let Trina go on in pain, and Jordan says it provided a cover for her to make sound choices. Portia says Jordan makes it sound easy, but Jordan says she knows how much Taggert loves Trina. They hated this, but genuinely believed it kept Trina safer to be kept in the dark. Portia says while she’s grateful for Trina’s safety, she doesn’t allow decisions for her child to be made in a vacuum. She has a right to know. How would Jordan feel in her place?

Laura tells Martin, even if he won’t side with her, he’s not going to interfere with Cyrus being brought to justice, is he? Martin says he hears what she’s saying… and Laura says, but he won’t help her. He tells her, he didn’t say that. Cyrus runs in, and makes a beeline for their table, saying, she’s gone. Martin says, who? and Cyrus says, their mother is missing. They kidnapped her. Martin asks, who’s they? and Cyrus says, their sister. It can’t be a coincidence that mere days after Laura discovered where their mother was, their mother disappears. He looks at Laura, and says, it’s all her, isn’t it?

Martin says, someone has taken their mother, and Laura knew? Laura says, of course (🍷) not. She swears it’s the first she’s hearing of it. She’d never put their mother in harm’s way. Cyrus asks if he’s supposed to believe that Laura didn’t tell Carly about her new brothers and their ailing mother. Martin says, the Corinthos crime family has their mother? Laura says, before she’s convinced, does Cyrus have proof? Cyrus says, whatever she told Carly, was passed onto Jason. He has a reputation for being lethal. He went there, and tried to guarantee their mother’s safety, but Jason refused. Laura asks if Jason said they have her, but Cyrus says, of course (🍷) not. That self-righteous bastard never incriminates himself, but he knows Jason has her. Laura says, if Jason has her – and that’s a big if – she can’t believe he’d let anything happen to her. Cyrus asks if that’s supposed to be a word comfort. Martin says, their mother needs constant care. If they don’t know where she is, how do they know she’s all right? Laura promises to do everything in her power to bring their mother back safe and sound. Cyrus says she’d better keep her promise. If anything happens to their mother, the fact that she’s his sister won’t help her.

Jason asks who’s taking care of Florence? and Carly says, the best nurse she knows; her mother. He says she brought Bobbie into this? She says, her mother was happy to help. Cyrus had Julian plant a bomb in The Floating Rib that put Lulu in a permanent care facility. She was willing to do anything. Florence is perfectly safe and receiving excellent care, and as long as they have her, Cyrus won’t hurt the people Carly loves. Jason says he has two options. The first, is taking Florence back to Vermont tonight, or play this out – on one condition. He plays it out. If Cyrus finds out Carly set this in motion, he’ll retaliate against her. Let Cyrus think he did it. From now on, Florence is his hostage. She says, everyone who knows him, knows he wouldn’t kidnap an old lady, but he says, that’s the deal; stay completely out, or he takes Florence back tonight. She says, fine, but she’s not sorry. He says he’s not asking for an apology, but it was a line he thought he’d never cross, and she just crossed it for him. He walks out.

Jax says, Josslyn feels that she’s old enough to stay. She knows the truth about Sonny, who Sonny is, and understands the courses that need to be taken, especially after a long, extended lockdown. Nina says, Josslyn sounds like she’s making an informed decision. Given what she’s had to live through, she’s wise beyond her years, and very strong. Jax says, that’s his point. She should just be a kid, and enjoy life, not mourn her friend who’s been killed by a bomb. Nina says she agrees, but that’s not her reality. She thinks taking Josslyn away, if she wants to go or not, will be a terrible mistake.

Nikolas suggest they sober Alexis up, but Ava says, a cautionary tale like this deserves two fingers. He tells her that she’s not helping, and Alexis says, it’s foreplay, isn’t it? Them sniping at each other? Nikolas says he’s not discussing what goes on in his marriage bed with Alexis, especially given her condition. Ava gives Alexis a drink, and Alexis says, he’s right. It’s inappropriate for her to discuss things like that with him. He thanks her, and she turns to Ava, asking, when Nikolas sees Ava – really sees her – does he see all of her? Not just the shiny smother parts, but the shards, the broken pieces that were swept away in the dark corners of her soul. Ava says she believes he does, and Alexis says, to expose yourself in that way to someone you know you’re not supposed to trust, but do it anyway is so intoxicating and forbidden, it makes you devour each other. Ava says now that Alexis’s law career is over, she can start a new one, writing romance novels. Alexis says Ava is wrong about her and Julian. It had nothing to do with him being unworthy. Ava says, Alexis could have fooled her, and Alexis says, he was bad for her, and she loved him because of it. Ava says she knows, and Alexis says, it was crazy love, but it was great. She never felt more angry or passionate. She loved every minute, even the parts she hated, because it was poison, like Ava and Nikolas will be. Nikolas says, that’s enough.

Jordan tells Portia, the situation had no good options. She made the choice that would save the most lives, and she stands by it. Portia says they have no reason to discuss it further. She’ll speak to the desk sergeant. Jordan says, she won’t be able to bail Taggert out; he hasn’t been arraigned yet. Portia asks when the arraignment will be, and Jordan says, tomorrow. Taggert will be charged with fraud for faking his death. Portia says, which Jordan helped with, and Jordan says, keeping Taggert in custody while Cyrus is free is the safest place for him. Portia asks, what about the Feds? and Jordan says, eventually, Taggert will have to answer for perjury and false testimony, but for now, they’ll figure things out one at a time. She can arrange a meeting with Taggert and Trina, and Portia says, Trina will want to tear into him. Jordan says, if Trina wants to tear into her too, her door is always open. Portia says she’s always been honest with Jordan about her conversations with Curtis. She saw Curtis Christmas Eve. She said she understood that Jordan lying to protect Trina made him angry, but she told him to go home and talk to her.

Jax says he thought Nina was with him on this. If it was her daughter, wouldn’t she want to swoop in and take her away from danger? Nina says, of course (🍷) she’d want to, but it would still be wrong. It doesn’t matter what she’d think she’d do. She’s never met her daughter; her child is a blank slate, abstract. He and Josslyn have a great relationship. Josslyn is strong and brave, and knows her own mind. He and Carly raised a great kid, who’s eighteen now. She suggests he respect Josslyn’s wishes, and preserve the bond they have. Josslyn will be safer, thinking she has a wonderful father she can go to when she needs to, rather than him breaking his word, and proving he doesn’t trust her judgement by taking it away.

Nikolas tells Alexis, he’s sorry she’s hurting. He can’t imagine how Julian’s death has affected her. She says he won’t have to if they keep going down this road. He says she can’t take out her grief, rage, and loss on Ava. Alexis tells Ava that she’s sorry, and Ava says, no harm done. Nikolas says Alexis was right about one thing; her relationship with Julian was toxic. Look what it’s done to her. He and Ava are far from perfect, but whatever issues they have, they’re nothing like her and Julian. Alexis hopes he’s right. She doesn’t think he is, but she’s been wrong before. Nikolas says, it’s been a long night. He’ll drive her home. She says, it’s not necessary, but he says he’s not letting her drive. She says, neither would the state of New York. Her law license isn’t the only license she lost. Try saying that three times. (It is kind of hard.) She doesn’t want them to make the same mistake. Nikolas says he’ll get her a car, but Ava says, no. If they can benefit from honest advice, she’d like to hear what Alexis has to say. Alexis says, at some point, the seduction will end, the bond will end. And it will just be lies, deception, and manipulation; looking over their shoulders to see what scheme their partner is scheming, who they’re lying to, and what lies they’re telling for them. Then it constantly replays over and over until it becomes exhausting, and one day they wake up and realize it’s not love, but addiction. She’s an addict, but so are they, just like her. She walks out the door, and Nikolas follows.   

Portia says she’s never seen Curtis happier than with Jordan. She hopes they can fix what’s broken. Jordan says, whatever choices she makes moving forward are her business, and Portia says, if she’s being informed by someone else’s experience, maybe Jordan can learn from their mistakes. Maybe there’s something Portia will say that can help, if Jordan decides to listen. Jordan says, all right, and Portia says she loved Taggert very much when they met and when they marred, even when she realized their marriage would always come in second. It was lonely. Knowing that his communication with his partner was more important than with his wife didn’t help, but they broke up because they couldn’t share a life together; she was shut out of so much of it. Jordan says, and Portia thinks that’s going to happen to her and Curtis? Portia says she knows it can, and it might be already. As angry as she is, she doesn’t wish it on Jordan or Curtis. She leaves, and Jordan sits at her desk, looking really sad.  

Ava asks if Alexis got off all right, and Nikolas says he put her in the car. Whether she goes home or to another bar, she’ll probably end up drinking more either way. Ava says, far be it from her to judge. At least on that account. Nikolas says, Alexis was wrong about their relationship. Her relationship with Julian was twisted, and they made it work, but what she and Julian did to each other isn’t them, and will never be them. Ava says, of course (🍷) it won’t. Their feelings for each other, the way they need each other… He says, it’s totally different, and Ava says Alexis is seeing it through vodka colored glasses.

Martin says he’s never seen Cyrus so… He was going say concerned, but that doesn’t cover it. He’s afraid. Cyrus says, of course (🍷) he is. Their mother is old, sick, and frail. Just moving her… Martin says he knows, but what’s frightening Cyrus most? Her dying or never forgiving him?   

Carly goes to Jax’s house, and he says he takes it there’s no word from Sonny. Carly says, not yet, and Nina says she hopes there is soon. Jax says, in the meantime, he’d like to know, if all hell breaks loose, will their daughter be caught in the crossfire?  

Laura goes to Sonny’s house, and Jason answers the door. She says she needs to speak to Carly right away, but he says, sorry; Carly is out. She walks past him into the house, and says, he’ll do.  

Tomorrow, Nina tells Valentin that she needs to quit kidding herself, Dante wants confirmation from the WSB, Laura tells Jason that he’s turned it into a war, and Franco tells someone to stop it.

Below Deck

Falmouth Harbour, Antigua. Ashling asks what time Elizabeth went to bed, and she says it was late. Ashling asks if she and James were in the hot tub, and Elizabeth admits they kissed. She wonders what James going to say. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, it was amazing last night. She feels excited and giddy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone use the word giddy in real life. Eddie texts his mom about the virus. Francesca asks him if it’s hitting the U.S., and he says they’ve had the first death. It’s everywhere now. James does pull-ups using one of the railings, and Ashling says she feels fresh. Elizabeth is washing dishes, and Francesca notes that she got straight into it. She says Elizabeth seems flustered, and Elizabeth says she isn’t; she started working at 8:30. Francesca meets with the stews, and says, despite what happened with Elizabeth, she doesn’t want animosity. She wants them to work as a team, and no one is better than the other. She asks Ashling to clean the captain’s room, and puts Elizabeth on laundry. In Francesca’s interview, she says she’s still pissed at Elizabeth. It was super immature, and she could have been fired even before that. Elizabeth keeps disrespecting her, and it’s time for a wake-up call.

The captain tells Eddie that the new charter wants to be picked up in Jolly Harbour, two hours away. That’s what  they’re about, making the guests happy. Eddie tells Izzy that Rachel bothered him last night. When she’s working, Rachel is a great master of her art, but when she’s drinking, it’s like an evil switch flipped. Izzy says, she’s like a gremlin on crack. The deckhands get the boat ready, and Rob says they’re living the dream.

The crew congregates in the crew mess, and Elizabeth is all giggly to be around James in close quarters. In James’s interview, he says he’s been in relationships on boats before. The less people who know, the better. He asks Elizabeth if Ashling knows, and Elizabeth says it was written all over her face. In his interview, James says he’s a little peeved, but he can’t let her know. Rachel calls Vincenzo, and tells him that she loves him. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s worried. Vincenzo is traveling between France and Italy, in areas that are quarantined, and it’s scary. Milan has been quarantined, and the grocery stores are empty. Everything becomes overwhelming, and she needs to keep a clear head. Vincenzo is her best friend.

Eddie says he needs more sleep, and we flash back to Francesca telling Eddie and Rob goodnight, and Eddie telling Rob that she’s into him. In Rob’s interview, he says Francesca is giving off steamy vibes, but she’s above his paygrade. She’s like a steamy nut. Hot, but you can’t touch it. Rachel cleans up the galley, and the captain gets ready to dock. He tells the deckhands, they nailed it this time. Elizabeth and Izzy sit in the crew mess, and Izzy asks what Elizabeth did. Elizabeth says, nothing, but Izzy insists she did something. She asks if Elizabeth had kissy kissy with James, and Elizabeth admits she did. Izzy says she knew this would happen. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s pretty sure James just wants a root to boot (new one on me), but Elizabeth wants to love on him and have an emotional connection. There’s no way it’s going to work out. Francesca wants to talk to Elizabeth, and they sit in the Sky Lounge. She tells Elizabeth that the reason she came in when Elizabeth was talking loud with Izzy, wasn’t because she was annoyed that they were talking about her and how Elizabeth felt. It’s how it’s affecting the crew by her screaming it. Trying to provoke Francesca and get attention is immature. Elizabeth says she tried not to talk about it, but Francesca says she doesn’t give a f***. Shut the door. Don’t get anyone else involved. Elizabeth agrees with Francesca, and Francesca says she’s letting Elizabeth know it’s unprofessional. Everyone gossips, but it’s the way she was doing it. Elizabeth says she respects Francesca, and wants to keep rocking the charter. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says Francesca took her stripe; now she’s taking her co-worker’s sympathy. Thank God for James. 

Izzy says she heard James had fun in the hot tub, and he pretends not to know what she’s talking about. She says she’s proud of herself. She called this happening three weeks ago. Did he use protection? Rachel tells Captain Lee that she’s making the space work for her. He says, if she hasn’t been efficient so far, he’d like to see what happens when she is. He’s impressed. It’s time for the preference sheet meeting.

Primaries Tina and Mark are avid boaters, and socialize with their yacht club friends, some of whom will be coming. In Francesca’s interview, she says, these people are bad news. Boat people know everything they do. They want a Great Gatsby party, with a six-course tasting menu, and the water toys and jet skis. They don’t sound too awful, but in this bizarro yachting world where the most-likely-to-be demanding guests turn out to be a delight (and having seen the preview), I have the feeling they will be. Eddie asks James about Elizabeth, and James again feigns ignorance. Eddie asks if James thinks he was born last night. In Ashling’s interview, she says she thinks Izzy has a crush on James, but she doesn’t like to express her feelings. She’s better off, since James is a f***boy. Sorry, Elizabeth. Boy, she couldn’t have been more wrong (see below). Francesca calls for party decorations, feathers, and headpieces.   

James texts Elizabeth, and they meet on deck. Elizabeth asks what James’s mom does, and he says she’s happily retired. Elizabeth says her mom is too. They talk dogs, and we find out James has French bulldogs, and the viewers collectively squee at their photo. In James’s interview, he says he wants to take it slow, and be careful. They discuss their common interests. and first loves. In his interview, James says she cheated on him, but never admitted it. It was five years ago, and why he doesn’t have relationships anymore. They go to bed, separately.

Everyone is up early for charter, and in Izzy’s interview, she says her body aches, and everything she eats tastes like sick. Provisions come in, and the captain calls Francesca for his pants. Elizabeth can’t find the starch, and radios Francesca, who asks Ashling where it is. Ashling says she told Elizabeth, and comes to the laundry room. Francesca says they’re stressing her out for no reason. They need to communicate. In Ashling’s interview, she says she’s always helping Elizabeth, and picking up the slack. She’s 100% team Francesca, and making her look bad in front of her boss is not okay. Francesca tells Elizabeth to listen more. Elizabeth brings Captain Lee his Cheerios. Funny, my dad had Cheerios every morning too, and also gave a bowl to the dog.

Francesca forgets to put on her third stripe, and Eddie asks if she demoted herself too. Elizabeth laaaaughs. The guests arrive, and Captain Lee says, they’ll get the luggage on board, Francesca will give them the tour, and they’ll get out of there. Eddie thinks it’s a good sign that they seem classy. Rachel makes a charcuterie platter. My Seanna moves out. All the lines are in, and Elizabeth pops more champagne. The crew gets in their blues, and the boat heads to Five Islands Harbour. Rachel finds her phone in the freezer where she put it by accident. In her interview, she says, her phone is frozen, and covid is happening. Now she can’t talk to her boyfriend. It’s f***ed up, and she’s going to have a breakdown. Will it be worse than the last one she had? Will she really punch someone in the scrotum this time?

Impatient for a drink, Mark wonders if the stews will be mad if they self-serve. Izzy tells Eddie that she’s run down, and has a head cold. He asks if she wants some vitamin C. Mark says, everyone is sober, but Tina tells him, it’s still early. He’d better pick up the slack for all of them. A couple of the guests wander to the galley, and tell Rachel that they’re looking for champagne. She radios Francesca, who radios Elizabeth, who’s already on her way. The guests tell her that she doesn’t have to ask if they want another. Alrighty then. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s powering through. She doesn’t like to feel like she can’t do her job. One of the female guests tells Eddie that they need the shirt off his back, and he says he has a lot of shirts. Nice save. Rachel marinates some Wagyu beef, and prepares mahi-mahi for lunch. In her interview, she says, locally sourced products are really yummy. Did she go to the Rachel Ray School of Culinary Arts?

Eddie tells the guests that they have big trouble. There’s way too much fun planned. He tells them they have horseback riding on the beach slated for tomorrow, but Tina says she wants to go shopping in town. Another guest says, what about a party on the beach? and guest Karen says, put the slide up. I laugh, since it had to be a Karen. (Sorry, Karens of the world.) Primary Tina asks if Captain Lee can join them for dinner. In Eddie’s interview, he mimics the guests by talking with his hands, and says he hates boat people, making air quotes.   

The guests drink some more. Francesca tells Captain Lee, they’re coming at the crew from all directions. They want to do it all at once. He says they don’t have enough people for that, and she says, they invited him to dinner. It’s a roaring 20s theme. Ashling helps Rachel thaw out her phone, and tells her about James and Elizabeth. Rachel says, shut the front door. James tells Izzy that her body is freaking out. She needs to rest. The guests go on jet skis, and Delores rides sidesaddle. The captain tells Rachel that he’s not wearing a silly ass costume, but Rachel says, a tuxedo is Great Gatsby. The guests move to the hot tub. In Francesca’s interview, she says, the guests are drinking a ton. They just arrived, and they’ve almost cleaned her out of champagne. She doesn’t know if they’re making it to dinner, and she’s scared. Eddie tells Captain Lee to do whatever he’s got to do to get out of this dinner. This group is going to be difficult. Tell them he came down with a cold and needs to sleep.

Rachel’s phone comes back, and she tells Elizabeth, she can’t believe she froze it, but it’s working. Francesca pours a drink, and Delores says, one, two, three, four, now’s the time to stop the pour. Five, six, seven, eight, now your drink is really great. The toys come in, and Francesca and Ashling decorate for dinner. Ashling tells Francesca, romance has begun with James and Elizabeth. In Francesca’s interview, she says she’s not surprised. There’s no work ethic going on. It’s a match made in heaven. Eddie tells Izzy to call it a night. Rob says, the guests have been drinking since 1 o’clock.

Izzy calls her sister Tori, who asks what she’s sick with. Izzy say she doubts it’s the virus. She was on a plane three weeks ago. Now I’m scared. In Izzy’s interview, she says she hasn’t been this sick long time. She’s hoping her immune disorder isn’t acting up again. She doesn’t want to end up paralyzed in a hospital. She wants to end the season, and feel like she accomplished something.

Izzy sleeps, and the guests gaze at the fish in the water. Delores says she wants to get in. Rachel makes waffles out of sweet potato tater tots. In her interview, she says she wonders what Great Gatsby is anyway. Leo DiCaprio waddling around? To her, a roaring 20s dinner is shenanigans. Something different, bigger, more over the top. She loves it, and would sign up for that. Delores wonders if she has champagne eyes. Tina and Mark check out the tablescape – feathers, bowler hats, pearls – and Tina says, it’s beautiful. Rob thanks he and James met in a previous life. In his interview, he says, the chemistry of two lost wandering souls found each other at sea. He loves fun guys. The guests sit, and Captain Lee joins them, wearing his dress uniform. He tells them, this is as Gatsby as he gets. He answers questions from the guests, like how many years he’s been a captain – thirty-five – and does he have any tattoos – no. Delores suggests they bring him downstairs. I have no idea what that means, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to find out. James and Elizbeth wash dishes, and in Rachel’s interview, she says she and Elizabeth are friends, but she was super effing disappointed to find out Elizabeth and James hooked up. James has been hitting on all the girls, and he pushed harder on the weakest link. Rachel plates. At the table, Delores burps. Loudly.

The next course is served. Elizabeth scarfs down a shrimp in the galley. Delores looks like she might get sick, and definitely doesn’t know what Rachel is saying when she presents the shrimp scampi. James pours Prohibition shots. Delores suggests they talk about the elephant n the room, and says they haven’t seen the captain naked in the water. She babbles nonsensically, and Mark says he’s going to put her in time out. Delores asks, how? and says he can put her in the water. In his interview, the captain says, Delores is drunker than a four-peckered goat. I have no idea what that means, and neither does anyone on Reddit. The guests think the waffles are amazing, and Captain Lee says Rachel has quite an imagination. Vincenzo texts Rachel, telling her that he’s home and not to worry. She says, thank God.

An incredible looking chocolate mousse dish is served, and Delores randomly tells Captain Lee that she could fix him up on jet skis he couldn’t imagine. He pretends to answer his radio, saying he thinks he heard an alarm. Mark says they can dress her up, but can’t take her out. The captain takes his leave, and heads for the galley, saying, that was full-on. He tells Rachel that the dinner was great. Francesca realizes she has to watch Delores, who wants to jump in the water. Francesca tells her, it’s not safe, and Tina tells her, there are sharks, and she doesn’t like sharks. The captain leans over the railing above, and says, no; she’s not getting in the water. That’s not happening. If he has to come in after her, she’s not going be happy. In his interview, he says, she’s very drunk, and it’s nighttime. She’s crossing the line, and he’s pissed. He’s not putting up with that; not for a second. Delores asks Francesca for peas, and says, fish like peas. She suddenly dives into the water, and Captain Lee says, son of a bitch, and runs downstairs. James offers to go in, but Francesca says he’s not going into the water either.  

In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, it’s the ultimate f*** you. She’s drunk, it’s dark, and he doesn’t need someone who’s going to jeopardize their own life on his watch. It’s not going to happen. The other guests have heard the splash, and wonder what’s going on. In Francesca’s interview, she says, WTF? It’s total disrespect to the captain, her, all of the crew. It’s about safety. This has reached another level. It’s just mental. Francesca asks the captain if it’s okay for James to jump in. Tina says Delores is a good swimmer, but Captain Lee says he doesn’t care; she’s drunk. He doesn’t need any dead bodies. Delores yells to them, asking if she can have a drink. Or maybe it’s peas she wants. I’m not sure. The captain says she’s not having anything, and tells her, get your goddam ass back to this boat now. He adds for her to go around the other side, since there’s no way up on that one. She wonders if he’s pissed at her, and he says, very pissed. In James’s interview, he says, this woman gives zero f***s. At the table, one of the guests says, now Captain Lee won’t like them anymore, and points the finger at another guest, adding, because Delores is their friend.

The captain says Delores has stepped over the line, and he’s not tolerating this behavior. Delores rambles about how much she paid, and he says he doesn’t give a sh*t. Tina tells Delores not to ruin their time, and the captain says her charter just ended. He’s done. Get her ass out of the water. He’s going back to the dock. Elizabeth tells Rachel about Delores jumping in the water in her white dress, and says, now the captain is screaming at her. The captain stomps over to the table, and tells Mark, their charter is over. There’s a guest in the water, drunk, and she won’t come out. He’s headed back to the dock. He’s not putting up with this. In the captain’s interview, he says he’s so mad he can’t see straight. He doesn’t want to be responsible for someone that reckless with their own life. He doesn’t need the liability. Get your effing sh*t and get off my goddam boat. This is total bullsh*t.

There was no preview. I guess they’re just leaving it up to our imaginations. Will Delores walk the plank? Will she be drawn and quartered? Will another boat pick her up, and give her an eye patch and a parrot? Is the charter really cancelled? No more champagne for you.

🔮 No Discernment Award For Ashling…

I don’t think Izzy had a crush on James.

https://people.com/tv/below-deck-star-izzy-wouters-comes-out-as-lesbian/

⚾️ Hitting It Out Of the Park…

I’m actually half-watching this now, but I know I’ll love it. The only thing better than watching TV is watching other people watch TV. Combine it with the Deck, and you’re bound to have a hit.

‘Below Deck Galley Talk’ Is a Huge ‘Below Deck’ Hit With Fans

🏖 They’re Ba-a-ack…

The awful people from Summer House are back on February 4th, to lead their double-lives as sub-human teens in the Hamptons on the weekends, while working high-level, high-paying jobs in Manhattan during the week. I’ve actually come to like Hannah Berner on Chat Room, but the only redeeming quality of this show is how easy it is to make fun of. Watch the trailer. If you dare.

https://people.com/tv/summer-house-season-5-trailer-premiere-date/

🤷🏻 Is She Or Isn’t She…?

The details are sketchy about her collapse, but apparently, Tanya Roberts is still hanging in there. I’d read this morning in the New York Post that she had died, but I wasn’t sure what I was more upset about, her death, or that they hadn’t mentioned The Beastmaster. I met her once at a convention (remember those?), and she was a very gracious person. As of this post, she still is.

https://abc7.com/tanya-roberts-still-alive-bond-girls-a-view-to-kill/9354423/

🕺🏽 A-Leaping Out Like the Eleventh Lord…

It’s time to reprogram myself away from full-time eating, TV watching, and napping. You’d think I meant after the holidays, but unless the holidays started in April… While I’m readjusting, stay safe, stay maintaining balance, and stay not disobeying the captain by drunkenly jumping in the water after dark to feed peas to the fish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI3au4KM4xM
Dec29

December 28, 2020 – Franco Makes It Home For Christmas, French Night In Antigua, Brave New Deck & My Year

Posted on by
Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In the park, Curtis asks if Jordan doesn’t have Christmas Eve guests, but she says, it’s not Christmas without him; without the two of them. He asks how she found him, and she says she remembered last year, and took a chance on him being there. He says, the sad part is, it feels like so long ago. She says she knows, but it’s Christmas again, and he needs to come home. 

Molly says, what she has to tell TJ is going to hurt him. There’s no way around it, but it doesn’t change the fact that she loves him more than anything in the world. He says, whatever it is, it’s still from her. It can’t be that bad. She says she made a horrible mistake. She slept with someone else.

Michael tells Willow that Wiley is so excited about Santa and getting presents in the morning. Is she sure she doesn’t mind staying? He was hoping his dad would be back in time to celebrate. She says she likes being around his family, and it’s good that Wiley has Avery and Donna to play with. It was truly wonderful for Michael to invite Lucas to spend time with Wiley. He says Lucas couldn’t spend the next 20 years hiding from Wiley at family functions, and she says he knows what she’s talking about. It’s fantastic that he’s keeping Lucas as part of Wiley’s life. He says Lucas will always be part of the family, like her, no matter what happens with them.   

Terry visits Elizabeth, apologizing for getting there late; mass ran long. Elizabeth says she’ll pour Terry some mulled wine, but Terry says, a small pour. Her flight to Denver leaves early. Her parents always ask about Elizabeth’s parents. She knows Elizabeth hasn’t been close with her parents, but maybe it will be different this year. Elizabeth says, probably not. She’s sorry Terry missed Jake and Aiden; they’re in bed already. Terry says Cameron is still there, and Elizabeth says, that’s debatable. He’s had his head buried in a handheld game, like a zombie.

Franco sneaks around the hospital. He motions to Scotty, and Obrecht in a blond wig and lab coat. All three of them sneak into an office. Outside the office, Maxie and Peter come around the corner. Peter tells Maxie reading stories to the elderly and the kids at the hospital is a great tradition. He asks her if everything is okay, and she says she really is excited, but feels guilty about the wedding and the baby. Looking forward to huge life events when so many people are suffering isn’t fair.

Obrecht says she wants to find Franco’s scan before she examines him, and Scotty says, she just got out of prison. Does she think accessing medical records is a good idea? Franco says he’s pretty sure it’s a felony, but explain why she’s on the downlow?

Britt asks if Jason is okay, and says he looks like hell. They’re friends now, so tell her the truth. He looks like he hasn’t slept in 48 hours. He says he has a lot on his mind, and she says, that makes two of them. She heard Sam and Lucas had to identify their father’s body. He needs to be straight with her. Should Julian’s death be on her conscience?

Carly opens the door to Chase and a uniformed officer. She says she knows he wouldn’t be interrupting on Christmas Eve if it wasn’t important. How can she help him? Chase says he’s sorry to bother her on a holiday, but he needs to speak to her husband.  

Cameron say, it’s nice to see Terry before she leaves for her holiday travels, and she says it’s nice to see him too. He makes a beeline for the kitchen table, and puts earplugs in, sitting down to play his game. Elizabeth tells Terry, it’s the most social he’s been in the past few days. Terry says, she gets it. His friend died. That’s hard anytime, let alone close to the holidays. Elizabeth says, Cameron saw Trina for a few minutes, but that was it. He hasn’t picked up his guitar in over a month, and Franco being sick isn’t helping. Terry says it’s the first time they’ve been alone and could talk. She hopes Elizabeth knows how much she hated lying, but Elizabeth says, walk back. She didn’t lie. She’s ethically bound not to tell, and Elizabeth doesn’t blame her. Terry is glad Franco finally let her in, and let her weigh in on the diagnosis, but she’s concerned that he left the country before he started radiation. She can’t imagine what would be more important.

Obrecht says, it’s imperative that she keep a low profile, but Franco says, the charges were dropped. She says, it won’t matter to Anna and her petty vendetta. She sure Anna will make an attempt to slap another charge on her. She needs to stay focused on treating him. He says it’s a huge relief that she wasn’t behind the attack on his life at GH. He doesn’t have a lot of friends, so it’s nice to know he didn’t lose one, but that does make him question who did want him dead.

Peter says he knows how much Maxie misses Lulu, and she says, it doesn’t seem right to have a wedding and a baby and not have her be part of it. He says she doesn’t need to feel guilty. Accepting their gifts isn’t insulting to those who have less; it’s honoring them. She says he’s absolutely right. And he gave her the best idea.

Willow tells Michael, she was hoping to put off talking until after Christmas, but they said the same thing at Thanksgiving, and they’re no closer to figuring out their situation. Michael says, there are unresolved feelings with Chase, Sasha, and the two of them. Willow says, part of her is afraid if they don’t sort that out first, before they figure out what’s going on between them, they’ll end up hurting each other.

TJ tells Molly, it’s not funny, and she says, she’s not joking. He says they’ve been together every night; it’s not even possible. She says, it happened months ago, and he asks, when? She says, it was after they had the enormous fight, when he proposed then disappeared. Of course (🍷) she learned later that he’d been kidnapped, but at the time, all she had were vague texts that he needed time to think. She tried to get his mom to talk to him, but Jordan said she wouldn’t, and even read her the riot act. Jordan said her actions had hurt TJ, and she had to accept the fact it was over. She thought he wanted nothing to do with her. She thought they were done. He says, what exactly did his mother say?

Curtis says he’d like nothing more than to go home, and Jordan says she hopes TJ and Molly are still there. He says they still have things they need to sort out, and she asks if they can’t sort them out under the same roof. He says it might be a new song to her, but to him, it’s the same replay. If they go home, and he forgives her like always, nothing will ever change. She says they love each other and they’re faithful. Nothing else matters. He says, really? How about honesty?

Carly suggests Chase contact Diane if he wants to speak to Sonny. The point is moot anyway, since he’s not home. He asks if she’s expecting him home, and she says, it’s Christmas. Of course (🍷) she’s expecting him. She asks if there’s a reason for his visit, and he says, there was a bridge collapse in Secaucus. A body was recovered that had two bullet holes in it, and was ID’d as Julian Jerome.  

Britt tells Jason, Julian was found shot, and it’s interesting timing, since she just told him about Julian’s involvement with Brad and the baby switch, and that it might be the reason Cyrus tried to kill Brad. If what she told him caused Julian to get killed… He says she didn’t cause Julian’s death. He and Sonny wanted to bring Julian to the cops; he was more valuable to them alive, but Cyrus wanted the opposite. She says she feels like she’s being pulled into the middle of Sonny and Cyrus, and she’d rather watch from a safe distance. If she throws in with them, she needs to know if she’s choosing the right side.  

Franco says, he loves breaking and entering as much as the next guy, but he’d like to wrap it up so he can get home to Elizabeth. Scotty says, it’s not a three man job. Go home, and he’ll swing by later. Franco should be with Elizabeth and the boys. Franco says, thanks, and wishes them, merry Christmas. He slips out, sneaking some more, even though he doesn’t really have to. Obrecht asks why she gets the feeling Scotty wanted Franco to leave, and Scotty says he wanted to see how she’s doing. Franco doesn’t know their secret. She says it’s not her first rodeo. She’s kept low to the ground many times. He says he’s not talking about that. Dr. Kirk tried to kill her. She says, and now Kirk is dead. There’s only thing that matters to either of them.

Maxie tells Peter, she’s never going to give up hope that Lulu will recover and come back. She wants their daughter to carry a piece of her best friend always. What does he think of Louise? Peter says, they can call her Lu, and Maxie says, that’s what she was thinking. He says, it’s a splendid Idea.

Jason says, if Britt wants to watch from a safe distance, resign as Chief of Staff, and go back to Boston. She asks if she told him that she had been living there, and he says he had someone check. She says, Spinelli. What else did he dig up on her? He says, nothing useful, and she says, what a relief. If he wants her to keep helping him, he has to stop running checks on her. He asks if she just admitted she’s helping him, and she says, the alternative is helping Cyrus. He says, and that doesn’t appeal to her? Since when? She asks why she should trust him, and he says he thinks they both want the same thing. They want the hospital and the city free of Cyrus. She nods, and says, okay. She doesn’t want to help Cyrus. He’s developing a new pharmacology drug in the lab there. It will legitimately help people, but he’s going to exploit it for his own profit and benefit. Jason thanks her, and says she made the right choice. He leaves, and she says she sure hopes so.

Jordan says she and Curtis are honest with each other about the things that matter, but he says, sorry. Their relationship has always been one-sided. He tells her the truth, but she can’t lower the walls enough. Trina tore into him again, since she assumed he was in on the lie about Taggert. A teen has a better idea of what marriage means than she does. She says, it was a judgement call; it wasn’t meant to hurt him. He says she’s always been independent, and comfortable making decisions by herself for herself, and she says, he’s the same way. He says, that was before they got together. After they were married, he changed. He grew, and learned to be a team player, but she didn’t. It got worse after Cyrus came to town. Even when she claimed it was the truth, she always left something out. She make calls on how much he’s allowed to know. It’s not the kind of marriage he wants.

Molly tells TJ, his mother was giving her vague texts from someone pretending to be him. She thought he was gone; that she’d broken his heart. His mother said so, but she’s the one who lost faith. What happened is on her. He says, it happened months ago. Why didn’t she tell him? She says she should have. She wanted to. At first, she thought she should be honest, but he was so badly hurt at the hospital, and she knew he had a long recovery ahead, physically and emotionally. It felt selfish to pile on more bad news. She told herself that she would tell him eventually when he got stronger. Eventually got pushed further and further away. He asks, why come clean now? and she says, he saw their mothers tonight, and the pain keeping secrets causes. She didn’t want go through with the commitment ceremony keeping a secret, even if it means losing him. He asks, who was it? and she says, that’s not important. It was a one-time thing. As soon as he was back, and she realized they hadn’t broken up – it was a misunderstanding – she told him it never should have happened, and that she was completely devoted to TJ. TJ says, so she saw him afterward. It wasn’t someone random, but someone she knows. She says, it doesn’t matter. He’s not responsible. He didn’t know TJ when it happened. TJ says, but he does now. Tell him who it is. She says, Brando.

Brando tells Michael, there are squad cars in the driveway. Does he know why the cops are there?

Carly says Sam told her about Julian’s death, but what does it have to do with Sonny? Chase asks when they last spoke, and Carly says, yesterday afternoon. He asks if Sonny said where he was going, and she says, he went on a business trip; he doesn’t discuss them with her. What’s going on? Chase says, there was an anonymous tip that Julian wasn’t alone on the bridge. The security footage showed Sonny pursuing him, so they assume he was the other person on the bridge. Carly says, so they think the bridge collapsed with Sonny on it? What are they doing to find him?

Chase tells Carly, the local PD are doing a search and rescue in the surrounding area. They sent him to confirm if Sonny is missing, and it appears he is. Michael and Brando walk in, and Michael asks, what’s going on? Chase says he’s so sorry, but Michael’s father may have been in a serous accident. They’re not sure if he survived.

TJ tells Molly, it makes sense. He was so stupid. No wonder she was so standoffish with Brando. She says he’s not stupid, but it wasn’t Brando’s fault. He didn’t know. It was her mistake. She was hurt and angry, and lost faith in what they had. She’s so sorry about what happened, and especially sorry for not telling him months ago. None of it changes the fact that she loves him, and wants to spend her life with him. He says he needs time by himself (which I find somewhat ironic, since that’s what started this), and Molly says she understands. She tells him that she loves him, and leaves. He looks steamed, and sits down.

Jordan tells Curtis, don’t say that. They have a good marriage. She admits that she didn’t handle the Taggert situation well, but she promises there will be no more secrets. He has to believe her. Curtis says, the thing is, he wants to believe her, but he doesn’t think he can anymore. She should see TJ. It’s a holiday; she should be with family. She says, he’s her family. If he changes his mind, she’ll save a seat at the table for him.

Elizabeth tells Terry, Franco thought it would be a good idea to see a specialist; a neuropsychologist. Terry says, it makes sense, and Elizabeth thanks her for not saying everything will be fine. She’s been getting a lot of that lately. Terry says she can’t promise certainty, but she can promise faith and not giving up on Franco. Franco walks in, laden with gifts, and Elizabeth she throws herself at him and hugs him.

Cameron comes out, and says his mom told him Franco wasn’t going to be back until after the new year. Franco says he changed his plans. He wanted to spend Christmas with his family. Cameron says, merry Christmas, and Franco says, that’s his welcome? He got Cameron a righteous gift in the duty-free shop. Cameron says he’s super excited and happy to see Franco. He was worried that Franco was spending his last… Jake and Aiden are super psyched for tomorrow morning, and he’s sure Franco and his mom have a lot to catch up on. He jets back to the kitchen, and Terry goes with him. Franco asks how Cameron is doing, and Elizabeth says, better, but it’s been a rough couple of weeks. Dev’s death hit Cameron hard, and he won’t talk about it. She knows he’s happy to have Franco back, like she is. Tell her everything. Did he get the answers to what was up with the voice in his head? He says the specialist he was supposed to see was indisposed, but he’s confident someone is there who can help him out.

Britt’s hand begins to shake, and she hides it. Peter and Maxie come to the desk, and Peter asks if she’s okay.

Jordan gets home, and asks TJ, where’s Molly? He says, she slept with another man, and Jordan says, Molly did what? When? He says, when he was abducted, and he thought she’d turned down his proposal. Jordan says she’s so sorry. She can’t imagine how he’s feeling. He says he thinks she can. The night it happened, Jordan told Molly that he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. He’s been thinking about the last few months. His adduction and recovery, struggling to make sense of the trauma. She showed Molly alleged texts. How could she believe they were from him? How could she not check? He wondered what else she lied about, then it hit him. She knew the whole time that he was abducted, didn’t she?

Brando says, Sonny might be dead? and Michael says, Chase said there was an accident. What kind? Chase says, a bridge collapsed, and they think Sonny was on the bridge at the time. Michael asks what makes him think that, and Chase says, Julian’s body was recovered there. The security footage shows him heading there with Sonny pursuing him. Jason walks in, and asks if everything is okay, which is a really stupid question since two cops are there, obviously in official capacity. Chase says he’s glad Jason is there. He needs to asks him a few questions. Jason says, about? and Chase says, Julian Jerome.   

Terry asks if Cameron minds if she gives it a shot. She used to be a kick ass gamer. He asks if she’s an ancient side-scroller, and she tells him, don’t say he wasn’t warned. She starts to play, and he says she’s pretty decent. She says she told him. How many people have asked if he’s okay? He says, too many, and she says she figured. It sucks losing a friend. He watches her work the game, and says, awesome play, and she thanks him. She says, between them and the game, he doesn’t have to tell everyone what they want to hear. He’s allowed not be okay. He tells her, if she says so, and she says she knows so. She’s been there. When she was first ready to transition, she moved. She made new friends from different backgrounds. Some of them had the means and support systems to back them up. They were fortunate. She was too, but others, not so much. She had one friend, Abby. Abby was targeted by horrible, horrible people… and died. Terry was angry and sad, and stayed in her apartment for weeks because she was scared. He asks, what changed? and she says, not a whole lot. She’s still angry a lot, sad even more, but she realized Abby wouldn’t want her give up living because she lost her. Abby wouldn’t want her staying home, and living vicariously through a video game that was safer than the real world. She doubts Dev would want that for him either. She shows him the game that she’s been playing while talking, and says, she told him.  

Britt tells Peter, it’s Christmas Eve and she’s still working. She asks how Maxie is feeling. Is everything okay with her niece or nephew? Maxie says they’ve gotten clarity on that issue, and asks if Peter would like to do the honors. Peter says, they’re having a baby girl. She’s healthy and they’ve found the perfect name. Maxie says they’re not ready for that announcement, and Britt says, congratulations, especially on the healthy. He asks if she has plans, and if there’s any chance she could join them at Mac and Felicia’s. She says, there’s no rest for the Chief of Staff, but Maxie says she should come. Britt says, she’s not Mac and Felicia’s favorite person, but Maxie says, it’s the perfect opportunity. A chance for everyone to put the past behind them. They’re about to be a family again.   

Scotty arrives at Elizabeth’s and says he was afraid he’d miss Santa. Elizabeth says she’s glad he’s there. Franco said he was going to get answers from someone local. Has he found a neuropsychologist in Port Charles? Scotty says he has some leads, and Franco tells her, what he said. Scotty asks, where’s the mulled wine? There it is! He goes to the kitchen, and Elizabeth asks Franco if his dad seems jumpier than usual. Franco says, nothing is usual for that guy. She says she knows it’s hard. He didn’t get a definitive answer to the voices in his head, but she hopes that hasn’t changed his commitment to fighting the tumor, and fighting for their family.

Chase knows Jason was involved in another incident in the area, and asks if he has any insight. Jason tells Chase, Diane already handled it and he was released on his own recognizance. If he has any questions, Chase can speak to his attorney. Carly says Chase has over stayed his welcome, and can contact Diane if he wants to speak with Sonny. He says he intends to, and for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s truly sorry. He leaves, and Michael asks, what the hell happened to his dad?   

TJ says, Cyrus was behind his kidnapping, wasn’t he? and Jordan says, she suspected he had something to do with it. That’s why she needed Molly to stop asking questions. The more noise she made, the more danger TJ cold be in. There was shootout, and Taggert was murdered. TJ says, Taggert’s death wasn’t real, but she says she was keeping Molly safe. She didn’t know Molly would sleep with someone else, and he can’t blame her for Molly keeping it a secret. He says, supposing that’s true, can she look him in the eye, and promise she’s telling him everything he needs to know about his abduction? Jordan says she wishes she could, but she can’t. She takes his hand, but he shakes her off. He says, merry Christmas, mom, and walks out. She cries alone.

Scotty officially wishes Elizabeth and Franco a merry Christmas, and Franco asks, who wants more mulled wine? Terry says, unfortunately, not her. She has to take off before she turns into a pumpkin. Elizabeth asks if she remembers how they would stay up late and sing carols, and Terry says she loves Elizabeth, but no one wants to hear her belt out Mariah Carey. Elizabeth says she won’t subject them to a sing-along, but Cameron says, it sounds kind of nice, and picks up his guitar.

Britt says if they’re sure it’s not an imposition, but Maxie says, she’s family. She’ll call and have Mac and Felicia set an extra place. She leaves, and Britt says Peter is really getting into the family thing. He says she is his sister, and she says, it’s nice to know, now that Nathan is gone, her mom is in the Hague, and her best friend is going back to prison, she has someone to celebrate with. Obrecht peeks out, and says, even Britt is close to Peter. it’s unacceptable. Enjoy a merry Christmas, Peter, because the new year will bring your downfall.

TJ sees Molly in the park, and she asks how he found her. He reminds her that they downloaded a tracker app after… She says she doesn’t know what else to say except to tell him again, she’s so, so sorry. He says he knows. Just like he knows she’d never cheat under normal circumstances. She thanks him for knowing that, and knowing her. She just wishes she’d trusted him to tell him a lot sooner. He says she wishes that too, but the important thing is, she did. She respected him enough to be honest. It means more than she knows. She asks what it means for them. Where do they go from here? TJ says he honestly doesn’t know. They have so much to sort out. It feels like everything is different. She asks if that means they’re done, but he says he doesn’t want to be done. Does she? She says, absolutely not. She loves him and always will. He says he loves her too, and suggests they take it day by day, and see where they go next.

Jordan looks at the tree, and shakes her head.

Jason says, Sonny was on the bridge when it collapsed. He jumped in after Sonny, and searched, but couldn’t find him. They have a crew searching, and so are the cops. Michael says he’ll call the New Jersey authorities, and coordinate. He’ll throw the family name around, and make sure it’s done right. Willow goes upstairs to check on the kids, and Jason looks stressed. Carly says, when the guard told her the police were there, she thought they were going to tell her that they found Sonny’s… She cries and Jason holds her. He says he’s sorry he doesn’t have more answers, but she says the only answer she wants is that Sonny is alive and coming home.

Tomorrow, a midnight swim in the cold, Laura says Jackie gave her an idea, Cyrus wonders why someone’s family didn’t tell them something, and Carly says she knew Sonny would come back.

Below Deck

Nonsuch Bay, Antigua. Francesca wants to get rid of Elizabeth, but Captain Lee says, sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. She tells the captain that she can’t have Elizabeth as second stew, and he tells her to do what she has to. In Francesca’s interview, she says Elizabeth isn’t doing a good job, but she doesn’t know anyone available that would be up to the standard she needs. There’s pressure on her to make the right decision.

Rachel curses out the food processor. On the beach, Izzy tells Elizabeth about Francesca and Ashling going swimming. She suggests they have a tiki torch swim when they’re alone. As soon as the guests leave, they get into their underwear, and into the water. Elizabeth says, this makes it worth it. In Izzy’s interview, she compares Elizabeth to a prisoner, and says Francesca is the evil sheriff. She tells Elizabeth that she understands.

The guests return for French night, and Eddie asks Rob to help pick up the stuff from the beach. The captain says, viva la France, as he walks by. The guests do a jigsaw puzzle, and Izzy and Eddie curse the slide while they bring it back in, as everyone does. In Rob’s interview, he says, when he was around 17, he went through a period where he was very involved with Dungeons and Dragons, and didn’t have a huge friend circle, but it gave way to other creative things. He shows us his Pegasus tattoo, saying, he’s a big nerd. In Rachel’s interview, she says she has to nail this charter. She’s done well in the past with overcoming sh*tty situations. Pulling off Mardi Gras was a feat in itself, and homemade marshmallows. A ten-course tasting menu – bring it. The stews put on berets.

The guests dress in various supposed French outfits; berets paired with striped shirts, and one dressed like Napoleon. One of the guests says another one looks like the Hamburglar, and I agree. In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s let it go for the most part, but he hasn’t forgotten Rachel left them high and dry before a charter. If he was Captain Lee, he would fire Rachel as soon as he could. Ashling helps Rachel plate, and in the captain’s interview, he says he wants to fire Rachel. He doesn’t know if she’ll get a wild hair up her ass, and take off on them again, but the guests requested a 10-course tasting menu, which means 60 effing plates. He’ll see how she does. She has no room for error.

James asks if the Rob if the guests are still eating dinner, and Rob says, they’re on course 483. In Izzy’s interview, she says, if she was cooking, the courses would be very basic. She can’t even fry an egg. If someone wants a housewife, don’t pick her. Primary Bryan says, the egg course is the perfect consistency. Francesca tells Ashling to do cabins. In Rachel’s interview, she says, it’s an arduous process, the timing and execution of the food. The Chilean sea bass is deemed buttery and delightful, and the guests wonder what planet Rachel is from. James and Rob discuss Keanu Reeves movies, and in James’s interview, he says Rob is everything he wants in a dinner partner. Rachel gets applause, and in her interview, she says, at the risk of sounding like a narcissistic f***, she thinks she nailed it.

Bryan gets in the hot tub with another guest. Something I will never be able to unsee. Everyone heads to bed, and Francesca discusses new deckhand Rob with Rachel. She says she’s finding him more attractive as time goes on. In the crew mess, Elizabeth tells James that she keeps getting thrown in the doghouse, so she’s just rolling with it. James says she’s worked on boats for a while, and asks if she’s ever had a boatmance. She says she has, and it can be cool when people who wouldn’t meet otherwise, find out they really have a connection. In her interview, she says, James is an escape. When you’re working in this type of environment, it’s nice to have someone to connect with. He asks what she wants to do with her day off, and she says, drink

It’s morning, and Francesca serves coffee and croissants outside. Captain Lee heads out to Falmouth Harbour. He tells Eddie, the docking is going to be a procedure; two anchors out, and the stern in. In his interview, the captain says the dock is extremely challenging. During the high season, every spot is spoken for, and there are very expensive boats docked there. Make a mistake, and you can spend a hundred thousand dollars without batting an eye. The guests get omelets, and Bryan says, as demanding as he is, his standards have now grown more. Eddie draws a picture on the whiteboard to show the deckhands how the docking is going to happen. He says, it’s the Super Bowl of docking maneuvers. They’ll be backing in with no lines to help guide them, and he’s nervous.

The crew waves to Laura on another boat, and in Francesca’s interview, she says, the crews end up being like family, but this crew doesn’t see her as a person. They see her as a bitchy, mean chief stew. She cries a little, and while I feel badly, I can’t help thinking, if you’re the common denominator, maybe you should look in the mirror. The captain says he hates this. There’s are so many ways to get in trouble. He tells the crew that he wants radio silence. If you’re not part of the docking team, be quiet. The guests watch, and Bryan says, amazing. Seeing the crowd on shore, James wonders why people want to watch, and Rob says, they hope someone f***s up. Alarms go off, but it ends well, and Bryan goes to the galley to tell Rachel that her food was amazing. She says reading a preference sheet is different from meeting the person, and his enthusiasm and appreciation helped her want to step it up.

It’s time to say goodbye, and Bryan says, it was an absolute pleasure. He tells the captain that he has an amazing crew, and he was overjoyed with Rachel’s talent. She’s one of the best chefs he’s encountered. He’s emotional beyond words. He gives Captain Lee the tip envelope, and Eddie tells the deckhands to cover up. Francesca tells Rachel, well done. No other chef has nailed it like that. The captain tells the crew to come to the crew mess immediately. Eddie says, it’s the only time when the crew actually shows up immediately.

Captain Lee tells the crew, they did a really god job, and he’s proud of all of them. The tip is $25K or $2,250 each. In Rob’s interview, he says, that’s a big number for three days of not working too hard. The captain says, the charter was successful, but they didn’t know if they’d have a chef. In his interview, he says, once you’ve touched something hot and get burned, you approach it cautiously the second time. He tells them that he doesn’t have the luxury of holding their hands, and Rachel says, sorry; she had a moment. He says, everybody has a moment, and she says, she’ll never let it happen again. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says Rachel is possibly the talented chef he’s come across in his 35 years of yachting. He tells the crew that they can visit a donkey sanctuary after this, and he might tag along. It’s not mandatory, but a reward for an outstanding job. They can stay if they want, and scrub their asses off. I just have to mention, for all the wailing about how demanding these guests were going to be, they were more appreciative than anything else. They weren’t obnoxious in the least, and polite to the crew.

Rachel wants to relax, but most of the crew opts to see the donkeys. Eddie says he’d rather take a nap. In the captain’s interview, he says, there are a lot of donkeys in Antigua, and someone has to take care of the donkeys who can’t take care of themselves. He thinks it will be a good experience for the crew. He’s taking his jackasses to see their jackasses, and they’ll see who has top jackass. They take a limo bus to the sanctuary, where the director explains that they have over 150 donkeys that they protect. All of their names have to do with their stories. She introduces them to Stevie, who was hit and became blind, so he was named after Stevie Wonder. In Izzy’s interview, she says she’s in heaven. She loves the smell of horse manure. It reminds her of her youth, before she was old and jaded like she is now. They brush the donkeys, and hold baby goats.   

Back at the boat, party pooper Eddie scrubs, while Francesca meditates. In her interview, she says she doesn’t know what to do about Elizabeth. She doesn’t want to be mean and fire her, but she needs to do something to light a fire under Elizabeth’s ass so there’s an improvement, or she’ll explode. The rest of the crew returns, and the captain says, donkey time’s over; back to work. Francesca radios Elizabeth to meet her in the Sky Lounge. Izzy asks Rob how his first charter was, and he says, the easiest $2,000 he ever made. Francesca says she feels Elizabeth’s priorities are in the wrong spot. James walks past the window, distracting Elizabeth, and proving Francesca’s point. Francesca says Elizabeth takes one step forward, then two steps back. She still has to check on her. Elizabeth asks if she wasn’t happy with this charter, and Francesca says, a little bit, but not enough. Elizabeth says, sometimes she feels Francesca is hard to please. Francesca says she doesn’t have to explain it any further. The bottom line is that she’ll keep Elizabeth on board, but not as third stew. She’s dropping Elizabeth down. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she can’t believe this is happening. She tries her hardest every day, and believes the demotion is personal, not business. Clearly there’s no pleasing her. She’s in shock.

The deckhands clink beer bottles, and Eddie says he loves pre-drink drinks. Elizabeth tells Izzy and Ashling about her demotion. In Ashling’s interview, she says, Elizabeth will have to suck it up, and pull her weight. She leaves, and Izzy tells Elizabeth that the captain probably wanted to keep her, since he can manage a team better. Francesca hears them, and asks if they don’t want to involve her if they’re going to be talking about her. I’d say that’s probably a hard no.

Francesca asks, what’s going on; why is Izzy there? Izzy says, it’s not her department, but she was talking to a friend. Francesca moves on, and Elizabeth tells Izzy she hasn’t said anything offensive. The crew gets ready to go out, and Francesca tells Rachel about hearing Izzy and Elizabeth talking about her. Izzy tells James, in her opinion, the demotion was an ego trip. James asks Elizabeth if she gets paid any less, but Elizabeth says, no. She doesn’t care; maybe it will take some pressure off. He tells her, forget work. Drink and enjoy herself. Izzy tells Eddie and Rob that she had a breakdown last year, after she was sexually assaulted. She was drinking with work friends, and felt she was too drunk to go home, and passed out on the sofa. She wasn’t raped, but woke up with a guy’s hand down her pants. When she realized what was happening, she froze. She didn’t want to make a scene, but thinks she should have fought. Rob says, nobody deserves that sh*t, and in Izzy’s interview, she says she thought something like that would be a fight or flight situation, but she froze. She’s the type that can fend for herself, but felt she had the choice and control taken away from her. Eddie says she bounced back well, and she says she has a coping mechanism and can pull herself out of anything. He says, you got fight in you, kid. Eddie sounds like an old man sometimes.  

The crew goes to a restaurant, and do shots before the mean. Eddie says, let’s finish strong. In Rachel’s interview, she says, in retrospect, they did a good job, and she’s super stoked. Tonight, she wants to celebrate and get wasted. She sticks her tongue out at James, who asks, what’s wrong with her? She starts talking with the people at another table, and this pisses Eddie off. She comes back, and tells him, relax, but he says she’s bothering him a little. In his interview, he says, she’s wasted drunk, being rude, and embarrassing the crew. He has no respect for people like that. Funny. Since I recall a few huge blunders of Eddie’s in earlier seasons. He whines to Francesca that Rachel is acting like nothing happened, and it effing bothers him. Francesca doesn’t seem to care a whole lot, and in his interview, Eddie wonders if he’s the only one still pissed that Rachel abandoned them. Funny too, since it probably has the least to do with him, but a lot more with the interior.  

They head over to a club, and Francesca tells Ashling that she likes Rob. She likes Canadian. In her interview, she says she kind of likes him, but she doesn’t know, and laughs. The crew hits the dancefloor, and in Rob’s interview, he says he doesn’t know what to do with himself in social situations. He’s always been quite… aloof. He thinks Francesca is neat, but he feels awkward. Sometimes it takes a minute for him to expose himself. He realizes his word choice, and says, what am I saying? They go back to the boat, and Elizabeth wants to go in the hot tub. Rob talks to Eddie regarding his social skills, and Eddie tell him, it’s important to be open. Rob says he’s used to being in the woods, and looking at rocks.

Elizabeth and James get in the hot tub, and she asks if they’re the only ones up again. He says, at least they get alone time, and Elizabeth says she keeps getting into trouble. Then they make out. Rachel finds a half bagel in the toaster and eats it, saying it’s the best bagel she’s ever had. Elizabeth tells James she’s been waiting so long, and he says she’s so tasty. I really don’t want to know.

Later this season, turtles; Eddie talks to James about separating work and pleasure; a guest talks about her daughter passing away, causing Captain Lee to need a moment; Elizabeth doesn’t think it’s fair; Rachel gets on stage with a random band; the captain tells some charter guests that their charter is over; Elizabeth says, this is war; Francesca doesn’t want to work with Elizabeth; and Captain Lee tells the crew that they have a situation.

⛴ More Deck…

In keeping with my favorite reality theme, cast members watching episodes of their own shows and making comments, comes Below Deck Galley Talk. The deets:

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/below-deck-galley-talk-cast-premiere-date-trailer

The same thing, said differently:

https://decider.com/2020/12/28/below-deck-galley-talk-bravo/

A little extra from the captain:

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/12/10243794/below-deck-galley-talk-bravo-series-trailer

🥕 Crunch Time…

Running to finish an article for https://mupoentertainment.com/theresa-krakauskas/. All the shows are on at their regular times until Thursday, but I’ll have some tea to pour too. Until we meet again for Temptation Tuesday, stay safe, stay keeping it simple, and stay living la vida loca. While socially distanced of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wu8CLhbHUU