Tag Archives: Below Deck Mediterranean

June 6, 2022 – Willow Makes a Decision, Extra Dead, Postponement & I Know

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly finds Drew at the pool and says she heard he was there. He says she seems to be in a better mood, and she says, things are finally starting to come together. He says, nothing like being released from a dungeon after a couple of years, and she says, it’s not quite that, but he says, it’s her version. It’s been a rough couple of years. She says, it has, and now there are blue skies ahead for Nina and Willow, Nina is finally in the rearview, and she knows Nina finally can’t do harm to this family anymore. Michael and Willow come in, and Drew says, it is such a relief to find out Willow isn’t Nina’s daughter.

At the neatest stables I’ve ever seen – I mean, like you could live in them – Leo looks at a white horse and says he loves him. Olivia tells Ned that Leo loves his new present. She knows getting horses, cars, and stock options for your birthday might be normal for Ned, but this girl knows how lucky they are. He says he’s the lucky one; he has her and Leo. She says, it turns out equestrian therapy is all its cracked up to be, and Leo pets the horse. Ned says he knows it’s supposed to help kids on the autism spectrum develop emotional bonds, and sensory skills like balance, but this looks more like a kid loving getting a horse. She asks if he’s getting all misty on her, and he asks if she’d believe him if he said no. She says, not for a minute, and suggests she and Leo go up to the house and get the horse some food. I wonder if she’s going to make it a sandwich, and Leo says, apples or carrots? She says, dealer’s choice, and they leave. Ned tells the horse, all right, mister. I’m trusting you to look out for my son, and since he clearly already loves you, welcome to the family. He guesses they’ll have to give the horse a name, and Valentin walks in, saying, he’s always been partial to comet. Comes around once a decade. Much like the offer he’s presenting Ned.

Terry gets a text from Chet, saying: Just landed. She sees TJ, and says, she thought he requested the whole week off work. He says he did. He had a family situation, but it’s been handled. She asks if everything is okay, and he says he couldn’t begin to tell her.

Curtis comes in with Marshall and Stella, and Portia says, he’s home. He says, yeah. They’re home.

At Shadybrook, Laura says, Elizabeth looks wonderful, and Elizabeth says, compared to what? Laura says, compared to yesterday. She looks more rested than she has in months. Elizabeth says she thinks it’s the first good night’s sleep she’s had since… It’s been more than months. She thanks Laura for helping her settle in, and Laura says, that’s what family does. Doc is going over some details with Elizabeth’s doctor. Unfortunately, it’s going to take a few days for the sleeping pills to get out of her system. Elizabeth says she figured, and Laura says, so don’t be alarmed if she can’t sleep and goes through… Elizabeth says, withdrawals? Laura says, it will only last for a few days, and Elizabeth says, it’s funny… Not funny, but irritating. She’s been a nurse for how long, and she didn’t see this coming. If she’d been her own patient, she would have caught this a lot sooner, but when it’s you.. Laura says, you’re too close to it. Elizabeth says she sees it now, and if it’s a choice between sleepless nights and hurting the people she loves… Finn walks in with flowers.

Portia hugs Curtis, saying, she was on her way to work, and she was afraid she was going to miss him. She tells Marshall that she’s so glad he’s okay. She heard he went through quite an ordeal. How is he feeling? He says he feels like he’s had a lifetime full of doctors in the last few days, and Stella says, maybe Portia wasn’t asking him as a doctor, but as the woman who loves his son. Marshall says, his bad. He guesses he’s still a bit on edge. He appreciates her concern though. She says, good. Because he’s going to have to get used to it. She made up the spare bedroom for him; make himself at home. Stella suggests Marshall get freshened up. He’s been in those clothes for days. Marshall says, he knows he promised Curtis answers, but Curtis says, they have time for that, and tells him to get settled first. Marshall leaves with Stella, and Portia says she’s so glad Curtis found his father. When he told her about the robbery, even though it had already happened, it’s scary. But all of them are okay, and that’s all that matters. Curtis saved the day. He says he doesn’t feel like much of a hero, and she asks, why not? He says, because if he hadn’t broken his father’s trust, he never would have put Marshall in danger in the first place.

Finn asks how Elizabeth is feeling, and she says, a little better. He says he thought he’d find a florist on the way over, but he only found a little convenient store. She takes the flowers – which are pretty damn nice for being from a deli and even wrapped in a brown paper cone – and he wonders if she hates them, but she says she doesn’t. She is a little confused. She asked him not to visit her. He says he heard her, but didn’t want her thinking he’d abandoned her, and didn’t want to hurt her. She says, but he is hurting her, more than he realizes.

Valentin tells Ned that he heard Leo got a new horse. Mind if he takes a gander? Ned says, sure, and Valentin says, he’s a good looking animal. When he and Charlotte were living here, they very much enjoyed riding in the area. Ned says, Charlotte is always welcome, and Valentin says, unfortunately, Charlotte is still away at boarding school. Ned is surprised she has school in the summer, and Valentin says, apparently. She’s as independent as her father. He holds out a box, and says he wanted to offer Ned this. He opens the box, and Ned says, equestrian gear, taking it from him. Valentin says, some of Charlotte’s helmets, riding crops and the like. Too small for her, but maybe Leo will enjoy them. Ned says, it’s very thoughtful of Valentin, but they both know that’s not why he stopped by. So what does he want? Valentin says, Ned knows what he wants. He wants to work together at ELQ before Drew and Michael push Ned out.

Carly says she didn’t know Michael and Willow were stopping by, and Willow says, Wiley has a swimming lesson at the club, and Michael says, he convinced Willow that they could step away for a little relaxation. She’s graduating next week. Carly says she’s so proud of Willow; she’s been working so hard. Willow says, that must be why she’s so exhausted, and Drew asks if he can steal Michael for a second about some ELQ stuff. Carly asks if this means they’re reconsidering her offer to help, but Michael says, no, it doesn’t, and steps away with Drew. Carly and Willow sit, and Carly says, she knows Willow has been working and studying, but she thinks Wiley’s custody hearing is what has her so exhausted. Willow says, that was so insane, and so unnecessary. They said, no, and Nina should have respected that. Honestly, she’s never been as angry with someone as she is with Nina right now. Carly flashes back to reading the DNA results, and saying, it’s true; Nina is Willow’s mother. Carly tells Willow, what’s important is, she gets to choose who’s in Wiley’s life; Nina doesn’t. Don’t let her live in your mind rent free. Willow tells her, easier said than done, but there is one good thing to come out of this. Dealing with Nina helped her come to a big decision. Carly asks, about what? and Willow says, finding the identity of her biological mother.

Curtis tells Portia, his father was in that hospital, lying unconscious because that street trash slashed him with a knife. He thought he was going to lose his father all over again. She says, but he didn’t, and he says he’s had a lot of time to think. He keeps going over the last few months in his head. Here’s a man who was just trying to make things right with him, his son, and he was so angry, he just pushed Marshall away. He led Marshall to believe that he was letting him in, only to go digging through his closet for whatever skeletons he might find. Marshall left Port Charles because he felt like there was no place for him; like he and Marshall would never have a relationship, because Curtis didn’t trust him. She asks if Marshall gave Curtis reasons to trust him. Trust is earned. You’ve got to be there; be present. For whatever reason, Marshall wasn’t there for him, and Curtis asked for an explanation, and Marshall didn’t give him one. So he has every right to be frustrated. He says this coming from the woman who made the guest bedroom for Marshall, and she says, Marshall is still Curtis’s father, and Curtis is still Marshall’s son, and she cares about the both of them. As far ask Curtis blaming himself, he didn’t send Marshall packing or put him in harm’s way. Nothing. Curtis says he still couldn’t leave well enough alone, even when Marshall asked him to. She says she knows he thinks Marshall is selfish, just as she knows Marshall has his reasons, his regrets. She truly believes once they air it all out, the truth, like most truths, lies somewhere in-between. Curtis looks at the prescription bottle, and says, she’s probably right.

TJ tells Terry, there’s a lot going on with his family; a lot. He could use the distraction, and he’d be happy to go on the rotation if the hospital needs an extra set of hands. Terry says, always, but they need steady one. If he’s going through something heavy, he could be liability to the patients, and they have to come first. He says he can’t argue with that, and she tells him, that being said, there might be a surgery or two he could observe, if he doesn’t mind being hands-off and just learning. He says, it sounds awesome, and thanks her. She tells him, scrub in, and he leaves. She looks at a picture of Chet on her phone and sighs.

Finn asks Elizabeth to forgive him. He just wanted to see her. She says she’s scared. She’s scared she’s going to hurt someone the way she hurt Chase. What if next time it’s one of her boys or Violet? Laura says, everyone knows Elizabeth would never intentionally hurt anyone. It was a side effect of those pills, and she’s not taking them anymore. Elizabeth says, the doctors called it a dissociative fugue, and Finn says he’s heard of it. She says, in her case, it was caused by the pills. That’s how it happened biologically. Psychologically – why she did what she did – they still haven’t figured that out yet. He says, that’s okay. She just got here; there’s time. She says, something is broken in her, and she needs to fix it, and he says, of course (🍷). If there’s anything he can do to help, he’ll do it. She says she thinks she convinced herself that she was ready to move on when she really wasn’t, and he says, if he rushed her in any way… She says, no. That’s not the problem. He asks, what is their problem? and she says, when he’s with her, he convinces her everything’s okay. Like it’s all going to be all right. But if he keeps coming around, she’s going to start believing it, and she’ll never face what’s really wrong.  

Carly asks what it was about the custody hearing with Nina that influenced Willow’s decision, and Willow says, in that courtroom, she saw firsthand that biology doesn’t make a family. Nina, the blood relative, prioritized her own needs over Willow’s son’s. Harmony told Alexis that her birth mother disappeared from a commune and left her behind. Carly asks if she believes that, and Willow says she thinks it’s likely. Her parents spent a lot of time in various communes before Dawn of Day. They met some very damaged people. The chances are good that her birth mother wasn’t concerned about what was right for her child, any more than Nina was concerned about what’s right for Wiley.

Drew tells Michael, things were still pretty tense between him and Ned this morning. He doesn’t think they’re any closer to getting Ned on board with the Aurora/ELQ merger. Michael says he’s not surprised. It’s a matter of pride, because Valentin made a hostile takeover on Ned’s watch. As much as he doesn’t want to ignore Ned’s concerns, now’s not the time to back off. Drew says he doesn’t disagree, but Ned insists he doesn’t want the COO role, but he’s not suggesting another job he’d be okay with. Michael says, because he only wants one job – CEO. And from where Michael stands, it would be a mistake to give it to him.

Valentin says he made Ned an offer a few days ago, and he’s heard nothing; why is that? Ned says he’s been focusing on his family, and Valentin asks, isn’t ELQ one and the same with his family? Ned says, once upon a  time maybe, and Valentin says, but not anymore? Ned says he’s still living with the consequences of putting the company over family, and Valentin says, Ned means his tenure as CEO, but Ned says, no. He means Brook is still dealing with the consequences of her contract with Linc Brown, which Valentin exploited to take over the company. Valentin says he thinks Ned needs to stop looking at him as the problem, and remember he’s the one who got Brook out of that contract. Ned says, for a price, and Valentin says, everything has a price. The question is, what is Ned’s? Ned says, to betray his family? Valentin couldn’t afford it. Valentin says, from where he’s standing, Ned is the one being betrayed.

Elizabeth says, she knows Finn drove all this way, but he says, it’s okay. He should go. Laura says she’ll walk him out, and he tells Elizabeth, he’d do anything for her. So if she wants him to stay away, he’ll do that, but he’s not giving up on them. Someday when she’s ready, he’ll be there. He leaves with Laura, and in the hallway, he says, he’s been there every step of the way with Elizabeth, and now it seems like it’s been all his fault. She says, absolutely not, but he says, his presence made it worse. Laura says, she didn’t say that; she didn’t mean that. He says he knows, but he hates this, and she says, of course (🍷) he does. He asks why Laura thinks Elizabeth allowed her to visit, and Laura says, maybe because she’s been where Elizabeth is. She had issues of her own with mental illness about 20 years ago, and she lashed out at people; Luke, Scotty, even her own mother. She was dealing with a repressed memory, and even though she loved these people very much, just seeing them subconsciously triggered her drama. He says he’s sorry she went through that, but she wasn’t necessarily dealing with grief. She says, it was a lot of things, but not that, and he asks if she thinks the root of Elizabeth’s problem is something other than losing her husband.

Valentin says, Michael and Drew are going to put Ned on the sidelines, giving him a meaningless title and menial responsibilities. What about Leo? Ned asks if Valentin is concerned that they’re going to give Leo an inferior position at ELQ too, but Valentin says, the only shares Leo is in line for are Ned’s. Ned has to be in a position financially to protect Leo and Olivia. Ned says, in case Valentin hasn’t noticed, they’re not exactly paupers. He thinks they’ll be just fine, whoever leads ELQ in the future. Valentin says, of course (🍷), but it’s not just the money. It’s the power, and the respect, and if Ned votes to keep Valentin in place, he’ll guarantee Ned a suitable role at ELQ. Ned says, what role is that? and Valentin says, name it. Ned says, CEO, and Valentin says, no. They both know, however Ned votes, that role is filled. Ned says, then why vote for Valentin? and Valentin says, he maintains they can reach a mutually beneficial arrangement, one where they both win. Ned says, he doesn’t want the COO, and Valentin says, then get creative. Come up with a role where they’re practically equal. Ned says, that would mean Valentin giving up a significant chunk of his power. Why? What’s in for him? Valentin says, in case Ned hasn’t noticed, he’s being squeezed out. And 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. Doesn’t Ned agree? Olivia comes back with Leo, and asks, what’s going on here?

Michael tells Drew, Ned is throwing a tantrum because he’s not getting what he wants. Is that who they want in charge? Drew says, Ned needs to be respected, the same way he’s respecting Michael in regard to Sonny. He wasn’t thrilled that Michael was going to use ELQ to bring Sonny down, but Michael promised to leave ELQ out of it, so he’ll step aside. Michael says he can afford to take things slower now that Wiley’s custody is secured. Drew asks why he doesn’t let it go entirely, and Michael says, why should he, if Sonny’s priority is Nina, protecting her and supporting her? He doesn’t care about the harm she’s done, or what it’s cost his own family. There’s no coming back from that. Drew says, you know who you sound like? and Michael tells him, don’t say Sonny. Drew says, he’s not going to say it, but Michael does. He can practically hear, you’re dead to me. Michael says, Sonny’s not dead to him yet. He has to crush him first. And he wants Sonny to know it was him. After that, he can get around to dying.

Portia asks, what’s that? and Curtis says, the medication that Marshall had with him. Portia asks if he wants her to look at it. She can tell him what it’s for, but he says he thinks he’s violated Marshall’s privacy enough. It’s his father’s job to tell his own story. Stella comes in, and says, Curtis’s father is washing up now. He wouldn’t even let her wait outside the door, so she guesses his pride is still intact. Portia says she better get going, but Stella says, before Portia leaves, she owes Portia an apology. When Marshall first came back in their lives, she wasn’t honest with Portia. In trying to keep her promises to Marshall and her sister, she gave Portia the runaround. She supposes that’s another way of saying she outright lied, and she’s not a person who likes to do that. Portia says, Stella doesn’t owe her an apology. Stella said she had promises to keep, and it wasn’t her story to tell; it was Marshall’s. And she’s not going to blame Stella for making a choice to protect her family. Now why doesn’t she give them some space? Portia tells Curtis to let her know if he needs anything. She loves him. He says he loves her too, and Portia leaves. Stella says, the patience of a saint, that one, and Curtis says, he got lucky, and she really stepped up for the family. Stella says, so when is he going to make Portia an official part of it?

Willow tells Carly, the way Nina weaponized Michael’s past. The extremes she was willing to go to, to win. It was like a warning. Willow shouldn’t go looking for someone who might be indifferent, even harmful, to her needs, as Nina was to Wiley’s. Carly asks if she’s sure, and Willow says she is. Between Wiley and Michael and the Quartermaines, and of course (🍷) Carly, she has all the family she needs. She sees Carly tearing up, and says she didn’t mean to make Carly cry. Carly takes Willow’s hand, and says she just appreciates being appreciated. And for what it’s worth (🍷), she thinks Willow is making the right decision.

Drew says, he just doesn’t want Michael doing something he’s going to end up regretting, but Michael says he won’t regret it. It’s already in the works. Drew says, what is? and Michael tells him, don’t worry; it doesn’t involve ELQ. Drew is in the clear. Drew says, even so… and Michael says, instead of focusing on his differences with his father, why don’t they focus on increasing Aurora’s stocks, so when they merge the companies, they’re on more equal footing? Drew says, Michael is right, and so far, it’s been more difficult than they thought.

Ned tells Olivia that Valentin was dropping off some of Charlotte’s old riding gear for Leo. Olivia says, what a lovely gesture, whatever Valentin’s motives are. Leo asks if he can see, and Ned says, go ahead. Leo runs to the box, and Valentin says, if you ask him, Leo is going to be one heck of a horseman. Olivia asks Leo what he says, and Leo thanks Valentin. Valentin says, you’re welcome; happy trails. He should get going. If there’s anything else Ned needs, let him know. He tells Olivia, arrivederci, and she says, ciao. He leaves, and Olivia tells Leo to have Cook give him some sugar cubes for the horse. Leo runs off, and Ned says, Olivia seems to be getting along with Valentin. She says, he was always great with Bailey, and he’s been exceptionally kind to Leo. Sue her, but it’s kind of hard to stay mad at someone like that. Why? He tells her, just saying. She’s right. It’s some nice stuff Valentin dropped off. She says, good will gestures aside, she’d sleep with one eye open with that guy around. Even on his best day, he’s up to something.

Laura says, Finn knows better than anyone what grief can do to a person, and he says, he does. She says she knows he wants to be there for Elizabeth, and he will be, eventually. He says, just not in the same room, and she says, for now, no. He really has to respect Elizabeth’s request for space from him. He says, okay, and leaves.

Curtis wonders if Stella is really asking if he’s going to propose to Portia now, after everything that’s happened. She says, it’s during troubling times that people prove themselves. And Portia has shown time and time again that she’s a true member of this family. He says he appreciates that she’s grown to care for Portia, and she says, he knows how rare it is for her to think anyone is good enough for him. He says he’s aware. It’s just that he and Portia have only been together a little over a year. She says, long enough to buy this house. Sounds like a commitment to her. He says, this is an investment… to a commitment, and she tells him, all she’s saying is that if you find someone who makes you happier than anything else in this, don’t waste time, because it won’t wait for you. She learned that the hard way; so did his father. Curtis says, it’s just that the divorce between him and Jordan is still fresh, and Stella gets troubled look on her face. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, she’s fine. She guesses the last few days is catching up with her; that’s all. Marshall comes in, and Curtis asks how he’s feeling. Marshall says, better, and thanks Curtis. He says, also a bit terrified, and Curtis says, about what? Marshall says, whatever happens next. It’s time to give Curtis the answers he’s been looking for.

Valentin joins Drew and Michael, and says, lovely day, isn’t it? Drew says, he’s awfully chipper for a man who’s about to be voted out, but Valentin says, nothing’s set in stone. And he’s pretty sure if he doesn’t win the round, he can still win the match.

Marshall says, before they get into all this, he needs to clear Curtis’s mother Irene of any blame. The lie, telling Curtis and his brother that Marshall had passed away, wasn’t something she came up with after he was gone. He made that decision, and pressured her to go along with it. After what happened… he felt it was for the best. Curtis says, after Marshall was arrested, and Marshall says, yeah. Curtis might recall he served in Vietnam before Curtis was born. When he came back to the world, he was disillusioned about a lot of things. He could hardly pick up his clarinet. He needed a purpose, and he found it in protests. First, it was just the war, then civil rights, and then no nukes. Any injustice anywhere, he was there. Not just to make the world a better place, because that was part of it, but he needed to give himself purpose, and in doing that, he found music again, but Curtis’s mother thought he was pushing himself too much, and not getting enough sleep. That’s why he was having these paranoid thoughts. Curtis asks, paranoid how? and Marshall says he was convinced they were being watched.

Finn comes out of the hospital elevator, and Terry asks if he saw Biz. How is she doing? He says he saw Elizabeth. As to how she’s doing, she wouldn’t tell him.

Laura suggests Elizabeth put the flowers in her room to add a little color; it can be so dull in there. Elizabeth says, it’s better than a cell. Part of her is still afraid she’s going to be arrested, or sued, or both, but Laura tells her, Chase made it clear he isn’t pressing charges. Elizabeth says, what about the art studio? She torched a building in her sleep. Laura says, they don’t know that yet. Elizabeth doesn’t remember, and there’s no evidence linking her to it. Elizabeth says, but what if she’s charged? and Laura says, the sleeping pills had been in Elizabeth’s body for almost a year before the incidents starting happening, right? What if there’s something more going on here? Elizabeth says, Laura doesn’t think the sleeping pills were the cause? but Laura says, no. The sleeping pills were definitely the why; they made her sleepwalk and disassociate. It’s the when. Elizabeth had been taking them for almost a year before the sleepwalking incidents started happening. So she was wondering if maybe anything more recently happened to trigger the behavior in Elizabeth. Has she brought up at all in any of her sessions? Elizabeth says she thinks she needs to lie down, and Laura tells her to get the rest she needs. She’ll come back soon. Elizabeth thanks her for coming, and walks out, leaving the flowers.

Terry says, Elizabeth asked Finn to leave? and he says, she implied he was making it worse. That he makes her feel like things are really okay when they’re not, so she can’t do the work she needs to. He wants to respect her wishes, but he cares about her and it’s hard. Terry says she knows he loves Elizabeth, but she also knows what it’s like not to be able to help someone you care about. But trust her, they’ll find their way back to each other, when Elizabeth works through her grief. He says he thinks it might be more than grief. He thinks Elizabeth might be repressing something else. She says, such as? and he says, you tell me. Terry has known her the longest. She says, other than losing Franco? They already discussed Elizabeth’s falling out with her parents. Has anyone reached out to Carolyn and Jeff to let them know what’s going on with Elizabeth? He says he doesn’t know, but does she think it’s time someone did?

Olivia says she knows Ned is upset about this argument with Michael and Drew, but the Quartermaines are always squabbling about ELQ, and they always work it out. He says, that was back when grandfather ruled with an iron fist, or when his mother and AJ served as a common enemy. This time, he’s the one on the outside. She says, if he’s truly worried about being put out to pasture, go to Michael and Drew; make  deal. It’s what he’s best at. This doesn’t have to be a blood feud. He says he guesses she’s right, and she puts her head on his shoulder, saying, she always is.

Drew says, they’ve got no intention of losing the round or the match, and Valentin says, of course (🍷) they don’t. No one intends to lose, but somebody has to. Maybe it will be them. Michael says, back at him, and Valentin says, that’s the spirit. Drew says, let’s go, and Michael and Drew jet.  

Carly asks what that was about, and Drew says, posturing, but Michael says he thinks it’s more than that. His gut says Valentin is planning something before the shareholders vote. Carly says, like what? and Michael says he doesn’t know, but it’s all he can think about, which is probably Valentin’s plan. So much for relaxation. Willow says, same here. All this talk about Nina makes her wish they’d stayed to watch Wiley’s swim class. Michael says, they can probably catch the end of it, and Willow says, sounds perfect. They leave, and Drew sits down. He asks if Willow is okay; she seems off. Carly says, Nina got into her head; that’s all. Drew says, she can kick her right back out, because Nina’s out of Wiley’s life, and she’s not Willow’s mother; she’s nobody to any of you. Carly did the right thing not looping Willow in. Willow is lucky to have Carly as a friend. Carly says she’s not that great of a friend, but Drew says she helped him settle back in. She offered to buy Aurora stock to drive up the price. She says, then let her be his friend. Let her help him save ELQ from Valentin.

At the hospital, Portia says she saw TJ was observing today. She thought he’d be home with Curtis and his grandfather. He says he wanted to more than anything, but the way he sees it, Marshall promised Uncle Curtis answers, and Uncle Curtis has been waiting a lifetime for those answers. She says she hopes he’s right, and he says, and whatever explanation Marshall gives helps heal the emptiness and uncertainty Uncle Curtis has lived with all these years. Still, he has to wonder if there’s anything Marshall can say to help Curtis understand why he disappeared.

Curtis says, Marshall doesn’t sound entirely paranoid to him. They know the government keeps tabs on protestors and people they deem instigators. Stella says, it’s more complicated than that, and Marshall says, when Curtis was three years old, he went to another protest. There, the police were involved. Some people got arrested, and he had an episode. Curtis says, when he was resisting arrest? but Marshall says, that’s just it. He wasn’t resisting arrest; at least not intentionally. Anyway they dropped Marshall off at a psychiatric ward. There, they put him under observation for 72 hours. That’s when he was diagnosed. Curtis says, with what? and Marshall says, schizophrenia.

Tomorrow, Stella says, now is not the time to turn away; Brad tells Britt, welcome to her intervention; Carly says she can help Drew whether he likes it or not; and Sonny thinks he knows who’s behind both.

⚰️ More Dead Stuff…

Mostly about Madison’s return.

https://ew.com/tv/kim-dickens-colman-domingo-fear-the-walking-dead-return/

https://ew.com/tv/fear-the-walking-dead-madison-kim-dickens-return-season-finale/

🚶🏽‍♀️ Sneaking Out Early…

A thousand apologies, but due to circumstances beyond my control, my whole day has been running late, so I’m postponing Below Deck Sailing Yacht until tomorrow. Otherwise, I’ll be seeing the sun come up, and like Captain Glenn, I need my beauty rest. So see you with soap and Deck tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay not quitting when things get tough, and stay not letting anyone you’ve got beef with live in your mind rent free.

April 1, 2022 – Trina Makes Her Plea, Byrne Return, Another Year, Annulled, Sponsoring, Deck Wedding, Maid Chosen, NYC Reaction, Dragon Due Date, In the Grammy Know, Music In the Quotes & My Name

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brick and Sonny bro hug, and Sonny says it’s good to see him. He asks how Brick got there so fast from L.A. Brick says he knows a guy, who knows a guy, who has a jet fueled and ready at LAX. When Sonny calls, he’s here. How can he help? Sonny says, there’s been a void in his life for too long that he’s been trying to fill, and Brick says, someone used to fill that void. Sonny says, yeah, Jason.

The guy from Charlie’s comes to Alexis’s office and says, it’s been a long time, Miss Davis. She says, it’s you, and he says she remembers. She says she never forgets a face, especially when it belongs to the man who blamed her for his brother’s death.

Harmony walks into Charlie’s, and sees Nina, who apparently lives there now. Nina asks how it went with Michael and Willow. She saw them, right? Harmony says she did, and Nina asks if Harmony told them that it’s in Wiley’s best interest to visit her. Harmony tells her, she said all that and more, and Nina says, don’t leave her in suspense; what did they say? Harmony says, not what Nina wanted to hear.

Nikolas walks into Windymere’s living room, and says, there’s nothing to fear. You’re safe. Esme and Spencer follow him in, and Esme says, this place is extraordinary. Even the name sounds grand – Windymere. Spencer says, it’s not like she hasn’t been here before, and Esme says, not for months. It’s good to be back. Nikolas says, more important, she’s safe from Sonny and his goons here, and Spencer says, what about the lady of the house? When is he going to loop Ava in?

Ava slips into the courtroom and sits down, as Judge Young is saying, Trina Robinson, you have two counts against you. How do you plead? Trina hesitates, and Scotty starts to talk, but she says she’s got this. She tells the judge that she pleads not guilty, and I say, yes!

Brick says, it’s the perfect time to raise a glass to their gone, but never forgotten, friend… What happened to the bar? No single malt aged twelve years? Sonny says he’s taking a break from that stuff, but the bar’s loaded if Brick wants to go help himself. Brick says, whither thou goest, I will go, and Sonny laughs. They sit down, and Sonny says he was hoping Brick would say that. Brick asks, how he can help fill that void? Is Sonny up for adventure? San Juan? Hong Kong? Marrakesh? Sonny says, not adventure. Monica has declared Jason legally dead, so they’re all going to be going to the memorial service. Brick says, may he rest in peace, and Sonny says, maybe Jason can, but he can’t. Does Brick remember Selena Wu? Brick says he does. Formidable lady. Is she causing Sonny trouble? Sonny says, she gave him advice, something he’s heard already, and Brick asks, what advice? Sonny says, that he can’t run the business alone anymore. He needs somebody else to step up and fill that hole Jason left behind. Brick says, I accept, and Sonny smiles and nods.

Alexis says, Brendan, isn’t it? and he says, it is. She says, the last time they saw each other, it was at Neil’s funeral. Not a very pleasant occasion for many reasons. Alexis flashes back to the funeral, and Brendan telling her, this is a celebration of Neil’s life. Alexis stripped Neil of everything he considered worth living for. He doesn’t want this service tainted with her presence. She’s not welcome. We see her leaving, and in the present, she says, he made his feelings crystal clear. And if it’s any consolation, that moment was devastating to her, and sent her into her own personal hell. He says he heard she lost her law license, hit the booze pretty hard, and didn’t stop until she attacked a cop and went to prison. She says she’s very flattered that he kept up with her life. What does he want?

Nina says, Willow just told Harmony what she thought Michael wanted to hear. Get her alone. She’ll change her mind and let Nina see Wiley. Harmony says she’s sorry. Willow doesn’t think it’s in Wiley’s best interest to have contact with Nina. Nina says, so Michael and Willow want a fight. They’ll get a fight, especially after her run-in with Carly earlier. Harmony asks, what happened? and Nina says she was reaching out to Carly to compromise about Wiley, but she wasn’t having it. Harmony says, she’s going through a rough patch, right? She just got divorced from Sonny? Nina says, Carly filed for that divorce. She pushed it through practically overnight. She threw away Sonny with both hands. Harmony tells Nina, give it some time; let Carly lick her wounds. Give her time to heal. Nina says, if that ever happens. And then what? Wiley will be in college, asking, who’s Nina? and he’ll never know who his birth mother is. If only she knew Nelle was her daughter before Nelle died. She could have saved Nelle from herself, and she wouldn’t have to be begging for a chance to get to know her grandson, or for him to know her.

Nikolas says, they can let Ava know when she gets home. Right now, she’s at Trina’s hearing. Spencer says, right, that was today, and Esme asks if he wishes he was there. He says he’s the last person Trina wants to see, and she says she didn’t ask what Trina would want. Nikolas asks if Esme wants to drop her bags off in the bedroom. It’s the same one as the last time. Spencer says, Nikolas can’t stop Esme from bringing up Trina; she’s obsessed. Esme asks if she doesn’t have reason to be. It doesn’t matter that there’s evidence Trina posted that video of Joss and Cam. Sonny Corinthos still believes it was her. Nikolas says, which is why she’s at Windymere and Spencer is home. And she’s safe. She asks if any place is really safe from Sonny, and Spencer says, Uncle Sonny will do anything and everything to protect his family. She says he means protect them from her, and he tells her, he didn’t say that. She says he didn’t have to. She’ll take her bags up. She leaves, and Nikolas asks why Spencer is treating Esme this way when he invited her to stay here. Spencer says he’s sorry, but Esme pushes his buttons; the way he’s been known to push other people’s. By the way, is there a bomb shelter on the island? Nikolas asks, why? and Spencer says, because he’d like to be inside it when Nikolas tells Ava that he and Esme moved in.

Scotty tells Trina, stick with me, kid. They’ll be sorry they tried to railroad you. ADA Arden says, this was a premeditated act that required a significant amount of planning. The defendant specifically targeted her friends with the intent to cause harm. The state requests bail be set at $250,000. Scotty jumps up, and says, your honor, my client is a freshman in college. She’s not Lizzie Borden. She has ties to the community. She’s innocent until proven guilty. She should be released without bond. Arden says, if the defendant is released without posting significant bail, and access to a computer, she has the capacity to do significant harm. (Huh?) Who knows who else she’s taped? Scotty tells her to save that for her closing statement, if she even gets that far. Judge Young tells Scotty, that will be enough, and tells Arden, there’s no indication the defendant poses a threat to the community. Therefore, the defendant is released without bond. He bangs his gavel, and Scotty dusts off his hands. The judge tells Trina that she’s free to go, pending a trial date to be determined. The bailiff says, court is adjourned, and Portia runs over to Trina, saying, she’s never been more prouder of her. She hugs Trina, and Curtis says, Trina was great. Ava says, may I? and hugs Trina, who thanks her for coming. Ava says she’s so proud of Trina, proclaiming her innocence. Josslyn says, they’ll prove it, no matter what it takes, and she and Trina hug. Trina says, you too, Webber, and Cameron adds to the hug.

Brendan  says he was in pain, and he wasn’t ready to face his brother’s failings, so he lashed out at Alexis; blamed her for Neil’s death. Alexis asks if that’s an apology, and he says, it is. She says she wishes she’d known about Neil’s addiction. She could have helped. But he hid it from her, and she had no clue. He says, she suffered enough. Look at her now. Brand new career, off the booze, respected, productive member of her community. She thanks him for the compliment, and says, he was really hostile to her at Neil’s funeral, so what is it with the sudden attitude adjustment? He says he’s had some bad luck himself; failed marriage, failed business. It brings humility. She says, and the need to make almonds amends? He says, as two people who loved Neil, he hoped they could come to an understanding.

Harmony tells Nina that she’s sorry. Nothing can bring back Wiley’s birth mother, but she has to know that Willow loves that little boy like he’s her own flesh and blood. If Nina gives it some time, maybe Willow can convince Michael that she should see her grandson. Nina asks, how much time? Because this is the same woman Harmony told her thinks she isn’t good for Wiley. She remembers when Willow was Miss Tate, and taught her former stepdaughter Charlotte. She didn’t like Willow then, and she should have trusted her instincts. Harmony says, Willow is highly principled, and Nina says, oh please. Willow says she’s going to help Nina, and the next moment, she pulls a 180 and sides with Michael. She doesn’t have a backbone. She only pretends that she’s compassionate. That weeping Willow is no oak. Harmony says, just because she’s gentle doesn’t mean she’s weak, and Nina says she’s sorry. She knows Willow is Harmony’s daughter. She’s just frustrated. Look how Willow has treated Harmony. She’s barely spoken to Harmony since she got out of prison. Harmony says things are much better between them now, and Nina says, until Michael shuts her down. Then what’s going to happen? She’s incapable of standing up to the man, or Carly. Nina would be better off to ask a stranger for help. Harmony hisses, Willow is no stranger, and she’s just as strong as her mother, but Nina says she’s never going to be as strong as Harmony. Harmony has overcome a lot, and turned her life around. Willow would be lucky to have even one drop of her courage. Harmony says she forgot; she has an appointment. She has to go. She walks out, and I’m starting to wonder if Nina is delusional.

Sonny asks Brick if that’s a serious offer. He could use Brick’s areas of expertise. Brick says, he can definitely help with the logistics, business support, definitely cyber security, but Sonny will need to bring in somebody else as a facilitator. Sonny says he’d trust Brick with his life, and Brick says, trust goes both ways; Sonny knows that. Sonny nods, and says, Jason used to do the day-to-day, but since he passed, Sonny has to deal with the other families, and try to figure out who targeted his stepdaughter. Brick asks if he’s talking about the tape of Josslyn and her boyfriend, and Sonny says, he saw the tape? Bricks says, hell no, but he saw people seeing it. It took every bit of self-control he could muster, not to take every one of them out. (What? Where are people watching this? And where is Brick hanging out?) Brick asks Sonny to please tell him that he found out who did this, and Sonny says he knows who’s responsible. He doesn’t have proof yet, but he put them on notice.

Ava says, congratulations. Scotty has one courageous client, and he says, tell him about it, but she’s got a big fight ahead… He sees Arden, and says, counselor, get used to the judge seeing things my way. Arden says, cyber crimes are insidious. The law is still catching up. The fact is, whatever goes on the internet, stays their forever. His client taped her friends without their knowledge and put it up for the whole world to see. Scotty says, hey Molly, tell your boss here… and Molly says, he can address her as ADA Lansing-Davis. He rolls his eyes, and says, okay, but she can’t really believe Trina did this. She says she believes DA Scorpio offered a generous plea bargain, and it was his obligation as Trina’s attorney to advise her to take it. Arden says, her associate’s right. She should have taken the deal, but she didn’t, so they’re going to trial. She’s going to take a stand for everyone who’s ever had an intimate picture or video weaponized against them. His client might have thought it was no big deal, but she was mistaken, and she’ll go to prison for the full term. She and Molly leave.

Trina thanks Josslyn and Cameron for being here and standing by her. Josslyn says, that’s what friends do, and Trina says, they took back the narrative when they told their story to The Invader. Their courage made her realize she doesn’t need to give in to cyber bullies, to Esme. The world needs to know she’s not the one who hurt them. Scotty says, they’ve got to talk strategy, and Portia says, now? Is that really necessary? Trina’s already been through so much today. He says, that ADA’s out for blood, and Curtis says, the judge hasn’t even set a trial date yet. Trina says, honestly, she just wants to take a long hot bath, and Scotty says, okay, she can do that. Tomorrow, they have a lot of work to do. Trina thanks him, and Curtis says he noticed there were reporters outside in the corridor. They’re going to want a statement, which he doesn’t think any of them should be making. Ava says she knows her way around this courthouse. They can exit this way. Portia tells Trina, let’s go home, and they follow Ava out. Josslyn tells Cameron, if she were her mom, she’d walk out of this courtroom with her head held high. He says, but she’s not her mom; she has nothing to prove. Josslyn says, only to herself, and Smoltz stumbles in. Cameron says, he’s too late; Trina went out the back. Smoltz says, it’s not Trina he wants. It’s Cameron and his girlfriend.

Josslyn says, they already told their stories to The Invader. Read it himself if he can afford the paywall. Smoltz says, he did read it, and Cameron says, then he would know they have nothing else to say. Smoltz says he knows Alexis Davis stole his scoop, and cut him out of the story, and Cameron says, oh boo-hoo. Life’s unfair. Smoltz says, what about their friend Trina? Their story did some good, but what about their friend? Josslyn says, what about Trina? and Smoltz says, did she do it? Did she film them and post it? Cameron says, hell no, and Smoltz asks, how can he be so sure? Do they know who’s responsible? Cameron and Josslyn look at each other, and he says, they do know. They just can’t prove it? Josslyn asks what he wants, and he says, an exclusive. Tell him stuff they didn’t say in the interview, and he’ll help them get the goods on whoever set up their friend. Sound good? Ava comes back, and says, you. Get the hell away from them.

Portia says, welcome home, and asks what Trina thinks. Trina says she liked it when it belonged to Joss’s dad, but she likes it even better now that it’s Portia’s. A safe harbor. Curtis says, good memories? and Trina says, yeah. Six months ago, their biggest problem was opening a jar of Sonny’s marinara sauce. Now everything’s changed. Curtis says, she heard what the lawyer said. They’re going to fight this. Portia says, they’re going to fight this, and they’re going to win. Trina says she told Joss and Cam that their courage gave her courage, but Portia and Curtis’s support helped her out a lot too. Curtis says, they can do a lot more than offer moral support. He could find evidence to exonerate her. He hasn’t forgotten how to find clues in dumpsters and garbage cans. Portia says, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, and Trina says, Spencer’s right. On one hand, there are tons of people who believe in her. Curtis says, and on the other hand? and she says, there’s evidence that proves she did it. Esme made sure of that.

Nikolas tells Spencer, Ava is well-aware of Sonny’s methods when he feels someone has crossed him or his family. She’ll understand the need to protect Esme. Spencer says, but will she understand why he’s sitting across from her at breakfast? and Nikolas says, it’s not a permanent arrangement. If Trina is found guilty, Sonny will have to accept the verdict and back off. Spencer says, even if Uncle Sonny does, he doesn’t think Ava will. Ava loves Trina like a daughter. She’d happily throw Esme to the wolves if it means Trina goes free. Nikolas says, and if Esme is carrying Spencer’s child? Ava may not like it, but she’ll make peace with it. Spencer says, and if Esme’s not pregnant? and Nikolas says, that’s all the more reason for Spencer to find out.

Brick says, so little Spencer has a girlfriend, and Sonny says, he’s not so little anymore. Brick says, Sonny has always liked this kid, and Sonny says, he still does, but not his company. Brick says, Sonny is convinced this Esme Prince is behind the video. Is he sure Spencer didn’t help? Sonny says, Spencer has done some terrible things, but he’s known Josslyn since they were in kindergarten, and Cameron is part of his extended family. He thinks Spencer’s hands are clean. Brick says, so the girlfriend is operating behind his back, and Sonny says, yep. If they can prove Trina is innocent and Esme is guilty, it won’t be just justice for Josslyn and Cameron. It will be a way for Spencer to dump his girlfriend. Brick says he knows Sonny’s got his own people on it, but as always, if Sonny needs him… Sonny says, yeah, he needs Brick, and Brick says, then he’s on it, but in the meantime… Sonny says, what is on his mind? and Brick says, Sonny is always running around looking out for everybody else. Who’s looking out for him?

Scotty goes into Charlie’s, and asks Nina what she wants. He’s very busy. He has a young woman who needs his help, unlike her. She says she’s sorry. She thought she could avoid going to court, and he says she thought she could get somebody to intercede with Wiley’s parents? Somebody like Sonny? But he threw her to the wolves, didn’t he? She says, no, this has nothing to do with Sonny. Her go-between couldn’t really do anything because Willow is so besotted with Michael, she won’t stand up to him or Carly. He says, why would she? Her mother couldn’t even stand up to that snake oil salesman Shiloh. Nina says, he’s not making this easy on her. Can they sit down? He asks, why should he? He kept her out of prison, and she turned her nose up at his legal expertise. So if she wants his help now, he’ll have to hear her say it.

Alexis says she assumes this understanding comes at a price, but Brendan  says, he wouldn’t put it that way. She asks how he’d put it, and he says, she couldn’t have risen from the ashes without help. Is it wrong of him to want the same thing? She says, that depends on what he means by help. Forgiveness? Friendship? He says his brother lost his life by getting involved with a self-destructive alcoholic, and she says, there it is. She was wondering how long he was going to keep up the Mr. Nice Guy act. There’s the door, move toward it, and don’t look back. He says, his brother was never a rich man, and funerals are expensive. She can deny it all she wants, but she contributed to Neil’s death. She needs to make things right. She says she’ll never stop wondering what happened to Neil, and starts to get her stuff together to leave. How he became an addict, and how that addiction took his life. She’s not at all satisfied that’s the truth, but she won’t be browbeaten into paying for his brother’s mistakes. There’s nothing he can say that will make her change her mind. He asks if she’s sure about that.

Alexis says, he needs to leave, but Brendan  says he’s not leaving until he gets what he wants. Harmony walks in, and asks Alexis if she’s early. Alexis says, actually, she’s right on time. Brendan was just leaving. Harmony introduces herself, and he says, Brendan Byrne, Neil’s brother. Harmony Miller. Where does he know that name? Have they met before? Harmony says she doesn’t think so. He might have seen her on TV, in connection with an organization called Dawn of Day. She was pretty notorious back then. Alexis says she and Harmony were just leaving, so if he doesn’t mind… He says, of course (🍷). He’ll send her his contact information. If she sees an opportunity she thinks he might be right for, let him know. He leaves, and Harmony says, what was all that about? Alexis says she doesn’t know, but it was scary.

Sonny says, Brick doesn’t have to worry. He survived all those months in Nixon Falls; he can survive anything. Brick says, but he wasn’t alone, and Sonny asks if he’s talking about Nina. Brick says, yeah. She must be one helluva lady to come between Sonny and Carly. Sonny asks if Brick still has something for his wife, and Brick asks if he doesn’t mean ex-wife. He just admires Sonny’s taste, but he gave up Carly. Brick just hopes this new lady’s worth it.

Nina and Scotty get a drink, and Nina says, okay. He needs to hear her say it. She clears her throat, and says she made a mistake. He says, what? and she repeats it louder. She says, she shouldn’t have pinned all her hopes on Willow’s compassion. Does he feel better? He suggests she hire Martin Grey, that folksy downhome charm works with a few judges. She says she doesn’t need folksy downhome charm. She needs a fighter, a killer, that will leave his opponents bloody in the field. He says, that’s him. However, he’s busy right now with Trina Robinson. Nina says she needs his help, and she’s willing to put him on retainer immediately. He says, before he takes her money, he needs to know she’s going to fight for Wiley, no matter what. And if that means kicking Sonny to the curb, then she’s going to do that.

Trina comes back downstairs, and Portia asks what she thinks. Trina says, great room, and thanks her. Portia says she made it up like Trina’s old room, but she probably wants to get rid of the stuffed animals now that she’s grown up. Trina says, no, never, as all of us who have them past our teenage years would say, but she’s still looking forward to returning to her dorms when this nightmare ends and she proves her innocence.  Then this place is theirs. Portia says, it’s Trina’s home too. And she doesn’t have to be brave. They’re in this together. Curtis says, all of them, and they have a family group hug.

Josslyn says, what part of no way doesn’t Smoltz understand? and Smoltz says, give it up, man. Ava faces him, and says, a journalist like Mr. Smoltz won’t stop until you slam the door in his face, or better yet, on his writing hand. He asks if she hasn’t heard of the first amendment, and she says, it comes right before the second, and I literally lol. Smoltz says, that sounds like a threat, and Ava says she was hoping it would. Cameron says he and Josslyn can handle this, and Josslyn tells Smoltz, they’re not interested in boosting his career. Cameron says, in other words, get lost. Smoltz says, fine; their loss. He stomps to the door, and says, and their friend Trina’s. He slams out, and Josslyn says, this wasn’t Ava’s fight. Ava says, on the contrary. Avery would never forgive her if she didn’t stand up for her sister. Cameron says, that guy had one thing right. Trina’s in deep trouble until they prove she’s innocent. Josslyn says, and Esme’s guilty.

Spencer looks out the window, and Esme tells him, she just got an alert on her phone; Trina pled not guilty. He says he hopes she can prove it, and she says, even if Trina tries to accuse her instead, when she might be carrying his child? He says, let’s find out. Why hasn’t she taken that home pregnancy test yet? She says she’s scared, and he asks if she’s scared that she’s pregnant, or that she’s not?

Harmony says she assumes Brendan was there talking about his brother, and that’s what caused all the tension when she walked in? Alexis says, it was really weird. He shows up all sympathetic, not at all like the guy who heaped abuse on her at Neil’s funeral. Harmony asks if something changed, and Alexis says, he thought the Mr. Nice Guy act would convince her to help bail him out of his troubles. When she refused, he went from Jekyll to Hyde. He thinks she owes him because she caused the relapse that caused Neil’s death. Harmony flashes back to injecting Neil, and says, it was good thing she walked in when she did. Just stay away from Neil’s brother. The farther the better.

Ava tells Josslyn and Cameron, don’t lose any sleep over Esme. The truth will come out. Trina will be vindicated. Cameron says she sounds confident, and Josslyn says, Esme has skated so far… Ava… Ava says she’s spoken to someone who has an interest in seeing Esme punished for targeting the two of  them. Cameron looks at Josslyn, and says, who’s that? Ava says she knows it’s difficult for them to trust her, but this time they’re going to have to. Esme is going to get what’s coming to her. Ava strides out the back way.

Esme says she wants Spencer with her when she takes the test, but she doesn’t need a test to tell her what she really wants. He says, which is? and she says him; she wants to be with him. Does he want to be with her? Don’t answer that now, but ask himself this. If it were without the baby, does her being here work to his advantage? He asks, how? and she says, by driving a wedge between his father and Ava. Isn’t that what he wanted all along?

Sonny tells Brick, he’s taking it day to day. As far as him and Nina, he can’t read into the future, but he will say this. The connection they had in Nixon Falls was real. Brick says, he knows Sonny, and when he wants something, he goes for it, and he usually gets it. Sonny flashes back to him and Nina dancing at Charlie’s, and Brick says, Sonny is thinking about her right now, and Sonny asks if they can get back to the matter at hand. Brick says, the future… without Jason. That’s something they can work on. The future without love, with all due respect, is not for Sonny.

Nina says, Sonny knows she won’t force him to pick sides, but Scotty says, Carly, Michael, and Willow will. So if Sonny has to choose… She says, Sonny is going to do what’s best for his family, and she’s going to do what’s best for hers. He asks if she’s willing to lose lover boy, but she says she won’t lose him. Not if he’s the man she knew in Nixon Falls, and the man she sees in Port Charles. He asks what makes her think she can have it all? and she says, she’s going to have her grandson in her life, and she’s going to have the man who changed her life for the better. He says, sorry, nobody gets it all, nobody, but she says, there’s always a first time.

Sonny says, he and Brick will regroup after Jason’s memorial service. In the meantime, is Brick willing to take on more managerial responsibilities? Brick says he can search for a facilitator to take on some of Jason’s other skill sets; don’t worry about that. Sonny says, okay. He has one more job for Brick. He wants Brick to find out how Esme Prince engineered that video. Brick says, he’s on that; no problem. Sonny asks if Brick wants a drink to seal the deal. Raising his glass, he says, sparkling water. Brick says, to think he’s always admired Sonny, and Sonny says, not anymore? but Brick says, now more than ever, and they clink glasses.

Scotty tells Nina, Michael is out to win, and Diane Miller is a tough cookie. She will dig up whatever she can. Nina says, she understands, and he gets up, asking if there’s anything he needs to know before he files the petition. She tells him, don’t faint, but she thinks her life is pretty much an open book at this point. He says, no little secrets in her diary? No skeletons in her closet? She says, no. Wiley is the only thing left of her daughter in this world. She owes it to Nelle be in his life, whether Michael or Saint Willow like it or not. He says, then hang her hat with him. She won’t regret it. They shake hands, and she says she hopes not.

Alexis says, Harmony never said what brought her by, and Harmony says, it can wait. She’s going to cook Alexis dinner; she’ll make something soothing. Alexis says she could use something soothing. Neil’s brother being here reminds her how horrible Neil’s death was. She can’t help wonder if that eviction is the thing that caused his death. Alexis turns out the lights, and they go to the hallway, but Alexis says  she forgot her phone, and goes back to her desk in the dark. Harmony stands in the doorway, and looks around.

Brendan  looks through a bunch of folders, and finds one that says Harmony Miller. He says he knew that name was familiar.

Trina says, it’s one thing to plead not guilty, but she has to live with that decision. That ADA is obviously out to get her. She couldn’t believe when she said $250,000 bail. Curtis says he believes she was just grandstanding, and the judge ignored her recommendation. Trina says, this time. The ADA thinks Trina’s guilty, and Scotty said she’s out for blood. What if the ADA convinces the jury she’s guilty? Portia says, that’s not going to happen. And instead of dwelling on it, why doesn’t Trina take that nice hot bath she was talking about earlier? It will make her feel better. Trina says Portia talked her into it, and goes upstairs. Portia tells Curtis, she doesn’t know how long she can keep this up. What if Trina’s right? They have no idea what’s going to happen. Curtis says, Trina has a lot of people by her side, and more courage than anyone he knows. Portia says she doesn’t disagree; she has faith in her daughter, just not in the world. Curtis says, as long as they have faith in each other, they can’t lose.

Cameron asks if Josslyn is  ready to go home, and she says, actually, she’d like to go back to the dorms. He says, Trina’s not the only one being brave, and she says, she’s not being brave. She just wants things to go back to normal, if that’s even possible. He says he’ll try to help make that happen, and she thanks him. They kiss, and he says, let’s go. He starts to head to the back, but she says, actually, she’d like to go out the front. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, if she can face a bunch of people on campus, she can face a couple of reporters outside. It’s hard to believe Trina is going to come back here and fight for her innocence. He says, it doesn’t matter what Ava says; this is going to be tough. She says, this is why they need to help Trina. They need to find a piece of evidence that Esme framed her. He asks how they pull that off, and she says, by proving Esme can be in two places at once. She leads him out of the courtroom.

Ava walks into Windymere, calling for Nikolas, and Esme says, he’s upstairs. Ava walks into the living room, where Esme is sitting. She sees Esme is reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting

On Monday, Violet asks Brook how her baby is; Gregory comes for a visit; Ava asks Nikolas what it’s going to be; and Spencer tells Esme, it’s time to take that pregnancy test.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Forgotten Brother…

I forgot about him anyway.

🍾 Happy Anniversary…

A look at GH over the years.

👰🏼 Never Happened…

I think the rules regarding annulments must have relaxed. I thought it either had to be fraud or that you didn’t consummate the marriage. And being realistic, the latter probably hasn’t been an issue since the 1600s.

👭🏼 Sisters Helping One Another…

It’s hard to think of Leah being anyone’s sponsor, but stranger things have happened.

🛥 Her New Deck…

She certainly looks a lot happier than she did on the Mediterranean.

https://people.com/tv/below-deck-med-hannah-ferrier-marries-fiance-josh-roberts/

👰🏻 But She Seemed Like the Normal One…

Proof that the world has gone mad. Maybe Dina is still grieving over Grandma Wrinkles and not in her right mind. In other news, I had no idea Kim D had a last name.

🗽 Reboot Raspberry…

I don’t think Jill Zarin ever stopped expressing a desire to return from the time she was let go.

🐉 Flying In Soon…

An update on House of the Dragon.

🎶 Can’t Stop the Music…

All you need to know.

https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-grammys-nominations-64th-grammy-awards-looking-ahead-how-to-watch

Who’s performing.

https://pitchfork.com/news/grammys-2022-performers-list-see-the-full-lineup/

How no one wants to be there. That’s how I feel seeing a performer in Atlantic City. They don’t want to be there. I don’t want to be there. Why are we here?

🎷 Quotes of the Week

Smile, breathe, and go slowly…Thich Nhat Hanh

Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife. – Kahlil Gibran

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. – Buddha

Music is the soundtrack of your life. – Dick Clark

Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It’s beyond me. – Zora Neale Hurston

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. – Bob Marley

If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down. – Mary Pickford, 1892-1979, American actress

The only truth is music. – Jack Kerouac

I’d rather see my face aging than a face I don’t recognize at all. – Cameron Diaz

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats.Albert Schweitzer (Hey, what’s wrong with dogs?)

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. – Steve Jobs

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. – Victor Hugo

✍🏽 Don’t Forget To Write…

I’ll return to the keyboard at approximately Dead o’clock. Be there or be an octagon. Until then, stay safe, stay seeking truth, and stay letting the courage of others give you courage.

February 21, 2022 – Maxie Runs To the Wolves, Sailing In Spain On Deck, New Crew, Subbing Chef, Summer Smack Talk & Message

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Maxie looks at a map, and Peter comes back. He asks if she’s planning a hike, and she says she thought they could take a walk together. Talk some more things out. He says, what a lovely idea. He’s afraid they’ll have to wait until tomorrow though. It’s getting dark soon. That’s when the wolves come out. She asks if he means to sound so ominous. What is she saying; of course (🍷) he does. The way she sees it, she has two options. She could ignore the implied threat, wolves after dark, and keep pretending they’re in this romantic refuge together; or she can tell him to his face, she plans to escape the first chance she gets.

Leo and Ned come into the MetroCourt, and Olivia says, what a pleasant surprise. Ned says, Leo suggested they pick her up so they could go for a little swim at the lake this evening. Olivia asks if they think it’s warm enough for that, and Ned says, clearly, she hasn’t been outside. They should take advantage of the unusually warm weather. She says she has a couple things to take care of, then they can go. She leaves, and Leo tells Ned he heard heat waves can drive people insane. Ned says, let’s hope this one doesn’t last.

On the other side of the room, Laura says she admires Ava, and Ava asks why she said that. Laura tells her, even after all of the horrible things Spencer did to her, she still encouraged Nikolas to mend that relationship. Ava says, she wants what’s best for both of them, and Laura says, so does she. She’s also trying to take the high road right now, for Spencer’s sake, but if this girl doesn’t show up soon… Esme comes in and says, she’s here, and she’s famished. She thinks she’ll have the surf and turf tonight.

At Kelly’s, Trina tells Josslyn, it’s so hot out, she almost has to wear shorts. It’s wild, and a little terrifying. Josslyn says, she knows one thing, this weather’s going to give her wardrobe whiplash. Trina tells her, they say it’s a temporary warm front, but if this keeps up, she might have to go home and get her summer clothes. Josslyn says, they might have to share. There’s no way she’s going back to the house, and risk running into Sonny. Not after what he did to her mom. Trina asks, how’s that going? and Josslyn says, horrible. Nina’s a liar, and Sonny’s… just as bad. It would be easy to blame the whole thing on her, but nobody tells Sonny what to do. He could have stopped it at any time. Instead, he chose to protect Nina, and they’ve blown the family apart. Trina says she’s not making excuses, but she’s sure it’s confusing for everyone involved. Sometimes, you can’t help caring for someone you probably shouldn’t. Josslyn says, like Trina with Spencer?

Spencer says, Nikolas’s visit wasn’t in his daily horoscope, and Nikolas says, it’s good to see Spencer hasn’t lost his sense of humor. How is he? Spencer says, great. The food here leaves much to be desired. The magazine selection is a tad pedestrian, but there are fans in the public rooms. What’s going on in the outside world? Did he sleep a few months and skip to June? Nikolas says, the outside world is just as puzzled as Spencer is, but he’s right; the fans do feel good. He can stay there a while, if Spencer doesn’t mind. Spencer says, there’s a table right next to a fan. Would Nikolas like to join him?

WSB Field Office – Switzerland/Austrian Border. Malone says she’s searching for properties around the salt mine. So far, she doesn’t see anything obvious. It would help to have some names to narrow this down. Anna suggests she try the names of Faison’s companies; maybe one of them owns the property. Malone says, ready when Anna is, but Dante says, this is taking too long. Every minute counts. Anna says, try EuroTech, and Drew steps away with Dante. He tells Dante, this is their best option. He needs to try and chill out a little bit. Dante says he gets it, but this guy – he taps the folder in his hand – knows they’re looking for him. They can’t let him slip through their fingers again. Drew says they can use his arrogance against him this time; he’s overconfident. He thinks he’s so well-hidden right now, no one can find him. He’s going to stay too long, and that’s when they finally get the smug son of a bitch.

Trina says, Josslyn knows all relationships are complicated, friendships included. Josslyn asks if they’re good, and Trina says, 100%. Why does she ask? Josslyn says, it seems like they haven’t been connecting. Like they haven’t shared as much after what happened at the cabin. Trina says there’s something she’s been keeping from Josslyn, and Josslyn says, there’s something she hasn’t told Trina either.

Esme says, how nice to see Ava. Is she joining them? Ava says, she can’t this time; she has an art sale to coordinate. Laura says, sounds fun. Good luck with that. Ava thanks her, and tells them to have a wonderful time. She leaves, and Esme sits down, saying, she intends to have a wonderful time. She’s positively famished. Laura says, she’s positively late, and Esme says, is she? Apologies. In France, we say, le quart d’heure de politesse; it’s the quarter hour of politeness. It’s so the host has time to compose himself or herself. Laura says she’s familiar with the phrase. The thing is, they’re not in France, and she’s not giving a party. She was left to wait here in a public place. Esme says when she’s waiting, she checks her favorite fashion pages, and Laura says, that’s not the point. They need to have a serious sit-down, because some things need to change.

Nikolas asks if Spencer needs anything, and Spencer says he wouldn’t mind knowing what’s going on in Port Charles, aside from the weather. Last he heard, Peter August escaped and kidnapped Charlotte, and Uncle Victor rescued her. Have they captured that bastard yet?

Malone says, no hits on EuroTech having properties in the region, and Anna says, try Vogel Industries. Both of them were shell companies for the DVX, and she’s assuming Peter would have access to the holdings, given he’s Faison’s son. Malone says she’s coming up empty; negative on Vogel Industries. Anna says, Modesto Media, and Dante says, they’re wasting time. Anna asks if they can at least try this, and Drew says, Modesto Media was on Peter’s references when he came to Aurora, so definitely try that. Also try properties owned by Victor Cassadine. Lethe Limited; try that. Malone says, no holdings whatsoever with Modesto Media. She’s searching for Lethe Limited. Dante says, no way in hell. Peter’s not going to associate himself with Victor at this point. He puts himself in one of Victor’s properties, he opens himself up to being taken advantage of and sold out by Victor. Drew says he hears Dante and understands. He knows they don’t trust each other, but Peter has some leverage over Victor, and that’s why Victor kept Drew on his compound for over two years. Anna says, that is true, and Victor was instrumental in Peter’s escape, but she’s with Dante. She doesn’t think Peter would include Victor in his hideaway. Malone says she’s got something.

Peter tells Maxie that he’s disappointed. He thought she would have kept up this charade for at least 48 hours; maybe even a week or two. This effort was pathetic. She says he’s right. She’s ashamed of herself. She planned to play that fantasy version of herself that he seems to be so fixated on, the one who sees the best in him, but she just couldn’t do it anymore. Nope. She doesn’t want to, because she got what she wanted. Her children are safe on the other side of the Atlantic, away from him. So no more games. From now on, all he’s going to get from her is the truth. Can he reciprocate? Does he even know what the truth is anymore? He says she just admitted to lying to his face. Now she wants him to be honest with her? She says, it’s the least he can do after the scorched earth he’s made of her life. Why don’t they go back to the beginning? To the death of the man she really loved; Nathan West.

Olivia tells Ned, ready to go, when Ava walks up. She asks if Leo is having a fun night with his folks, and Olivia says, Leo remembers his Aunt Ava, Avery’s mom. They were at her gallery the night they saw the photographs of all the animals. Ava says it’s nice to see him again, and Leo asks if she has any new animal pictures. Ava says, not since the Photo Ark exhibit, but promises to let him know as soon as she does. She quietly tells Olivia, she’s glad he has fond memories of that night, and Olivia says, her too, especially since he practically gave her a coronary running off like that. Leo says, sorry, mom. He wanted to see the octopuses. Ned suggests he and Leo give his mommy and Aunt Ava a chance to talk, and they go to a table. Ava says, little pitchers have big ears, and Olivia says she didn’t know he was listening. Ava says, he must get that from his father. They could never get anything over on Julian. Leo is so special. He reminds her of Julian in many ways. Olivia says, he’s a little bit of both of them, but also very much his own person, and it turns out, even more special than she knew. Ava asks what she means, and Olivia says, she’s his aunt and it’s no secret; Leo was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Ava says she didn’t know, and Olivia asks how she could. She didn’t know, and she’s Leo’s mother.

Esme asks if there’s a problem, and Laura says, the problems is Esme’s complete lack of respect for her and her home. Esme says, if this is about the nail polish and the sofa, she shouldn’t have disregarded Laura’s wishes… but Laura says, it’s not just that. It’s Esme’s sense of entitlement, and the way she pushes back the boundaries. It’s completely unacceptable, especially when it’s in her house. Esme says, if she had someplace else to go, she would, but she understands. When in Rome… Laura says she doesn’t understand. This is not about respecting customs; it’s about respecting people. What Esme did to Ava wouldn’t be acceptable in any country, would it? She gets that, right? Esme says, she regrets helping Spence terrorize Ava, and she promises not to get caught up in anything like that ever again. Laura says, what about getting caught up with Ryan Chamberlain?

Trina asks, who shares first? and Josslyn says, all you. Trina says, Spencer got her a Valentine’s Day gift, and Josslyn says, what? Trina says, she got it on Valentine’s Day, but it was really a just because gift, and Josslyn says, she’d ask just because why, but let’s put a pin in that for now. What did he get her? Trina says, remember that modern artist Richard Molyneux, whose work she was obsessed with? Josslyn says, the guy with the squiggles, and Trina says, Spencer got her a book of those squiggles. No big deal. Josslyn says, super big deal. He remembered Trina’s favorite artist, and somehow got a book delivered to her from inside prison. How’d he manage that, by the way? Trina says, his grandmother, and Josslyn says, he had his grandmother, the mayor, deliver his gift. Wow. All that’s missing is an inscription. Trina looks guilty, and Josslyn says, stop. What was the inscription? Trina says, that’s why she didn’t want to tell Josslyn anything. She’s getting it twisted. Josslyn says, is she? Let’s see. First he defends his snake of a girlfriend for basically setting Trina up, and then he slips her some just because gift on the side. What are they again? Trina says, they’re basically friends, but Josslyn says, just take a minute and think about it. Then open her eyes, because she’s nobody’s sidepiece.

Spencer asks Nikolas why truly disgusting people, like Peter August, keep getting away, while here he sits. After everything he’s done, Spencer was hoping Nikolas would tell him that Peter was dead, not that he escaped again. Nikolas says, all indications are that Peter’s time is running out, and Spencer says, maybe Uncle Victor can help find him. He found Charlotte after she was abducted. Nikolas says, there are limits to what even Victor can do, but Spencer says, not from what he’s seen. Nikolas says, he’s glad Spencer is being protected, but he doesn’t know Victor like Nikolas does. Spencer says, of course (🍷), pile on with the haters. Uncle Victor is one of the few people who has come through for him, so if Nikolas is going to badmouth him, he can leave, and Spencer will go back to his cell.

Maxie says, their flight gave her plenty of time to think about her and Peter’s tortured history. Back to the beginning, when he showed up in Port Charles, took that job at Aurora Media, and didn’t tell anyone he was Faison’s son. He asks if she’s really surprised. It’s not like it was something he was proud of, and if anyone knew the truth, no one would have trusted him. She says, right, and he needed people to trust him; people like Lulu. Peter manipulated her, so she would convince Nathan to go public about the fact he was Faison’s son. In turn, it lured Faison to Port Charles, which is exactly what Peter wanted. He says he kept Jason alive in that clinic all those years because he knew Jason was the one person who could rid him of his father; the one person who wouldn’t fall for the legendary Cesar Faison mind tricks. Someone who would simply point the gun and pull the trigger, which is exactly what he did. She says, not before Faison killed Nathan. Tell her. Did he plan for Nathan to die? Did he set that whole thing up to get rid of the brother that he knew in his heart was a better man than he would ever be?

Malone says she went back to the original title search for properties in the region of the salt mines. Then she cross-referenced properties that have been acquired in the last 15 years. There were 39. Diving deeper, one stands out. It changed hands ten years ago; a cash purchase by an Octavian Stone. Anna says, that’s him, and Dante asks how she knows. She says, Cesar Agustus, the Roman emperor, his original name. He was originally known as Octavian, and the Latin word for stone is petra. Petra, Peter; Augustus, August. Pull up the coordinates. That’s their destination. Kreger says, he’ll notify the Swiss police of potential WSB action near the salt mines, and leaves. Drew says, he has to hand it to the bastard, that place is perfect. It’s isolated in the woods; it’s got plenty of cover. He points to the screen and says, the road runs right past the property, and straight out to the Autobahn. Anna says, that means if Peter gets any advance warning, he’s going to be on that road, on to the Autobahn, and over the border. Malone says, assuming he’s changed vehicles, and has papers to support an alias, the screening at the border won’t stop him. Dante says, and they’re back to square one. They can’t let that happen.

Esme takes it Doc told Laura what happened, and Laura says, of course (🍷). They have no secrets between them. Esme gave him pushback because he tried to restrict her contact with Ryan. Why is that? Esme says, the class at PCU and her internship give her a sense of purpose. She hasn’t felt that way in a long time. Laura says, okay; that is a good thing. It’s okay to be focused, but not to have tunnel-vision at other people’s expense. Esme promises to do better, and Laura says, good. She’s glad to hear that. Now she just has one more concern. Esme says, the bathroom? and Laura says, no. Well, yes, but no. She’s concerned about how Esme’s doing with Spencer being away. Esme says, it’s tough. He’s miserable on the inside, and she’s miserable on the outside. Spence is really the only person who gives a damn about her.

Trina asks if Josslyn thinks she’d ever let herself be a sidepiece. As far as she’s concerned, she and Spencer are just friends. Now let’s change the subject. There was something significant Josslyn wanted to tell her. Josslyn says she’s pretty sure Trina already knows, but she never actually said it. That night at the cabin, she and Cam had sex. Trina says, she figured. When she woke up after Spencer and Esme left, they seemed… different. So how was it, now that they’ve taken things to the next level? It’s major. Josslyn says, it is, but it also feels regular. She and Cam were so close before, getting closer felt natural, and he was so sweet and so romantic. There was no pressure. He made her feel safe and loved, like she was the only person on the planet. Trina says she’s proud of Cam for making Josslyn feel special, and Josslyn says she wants that for Trina too. She deserves to be someone’s one and only, and no matter how things shake out, she doesn’t think Spencer is going to be the one who could ever give that to Trina.

Nikolas tells Spencer, Victor shows up for his family when it suits him, yes. He can personally attest to that, but he can also attest to the fact Victor’s methods are questionable at best. Spencer says, they work, but Nikolas says, that doesn’t make them right. Spencer says he’s impressed with these newfound scruples of his. He pulled strings to get Alexis a pardon, but won’t lift a finger to keep his own son safe from imprisonment. Nikolas tells him, he’s only saying, Victor’s protection comes at a price, and Spencer says, whatever. Uncle Victor takes care of his own. Can Nikolas say the same? Nikolas says, he’s here. They can’t go back in time; they can only go forward, and he wants to do what he can for Spencer. Spencer says, really? Get Ava to drop the restitution. Nikolas says, it’s court ordered; it’s not up to Ava. Spencer says, like Cassadines are so law abiding. There are ways around that, but Nikolas won’t even bother. When he saw Nikolas, he thought something had changed, but now he sees it’s business as usual. Ava is Nikolas’s priority, not him. Nikolas is still putting her ahead of his own child. Show of hands. Who wants to slap Spencer silly?

Ava tells Olivia that she feels terrible. If she’d been more involved, if she’d visited more… Olivia says, life happens; everybody gets busy. Ava says, busy, right, but the fact is, she’s been so involved in Cassadine family drama, she’s neglected her own. She barely knows her nephew. Olivia says, maybe that’s for the best. For a while, when anyone even suggested something might be off with Leo, she practically bit their head off. She just couldn’t see that he needed a little bit more support. Ava says, sometimes the closer they are to something… She appreciates Olivia letting her off the hook about spending or not spending time with Leo, especially considering their past. Olivia says she hasn’t forgotten, but this isn’t about them; it’s about Leo and what’s best for him, and he has her focus. Ava asks how they’re managing, and Olivia says, they’re very lucky. They have a great team at GH, and Leo has an after school program that’s teaching coping skills and calming techniques, and time management. She’s personally found negotiation techniques and patience she never imagined she had. They say, it’s important to keep it consistent each day, and make sure Leo has avenues to express himself. Ava looks over at Leo, and says, however Olivia got here, she got here, and she’s glad Leo has such a supportive family. Olivia says Ava is part of that family, and Ava thanks her. She says she thinks Julian would want her to spend more time with him, especially since Leo doesn’t have his father. Olivia says, obviously, Leo is lucky to have all the love in his life he can have, but as far as a father is concerned, they’ve got that covered. Ned is in the process of adopting Leo.

Peter tells Maxie, Nathan was never his target. He’s quite the planner, but he never could have orchestrated the events that led to his father killing Nathan. She says, so even his plans have limits; that’s why his brother wasn’t a target? He says, she’ll hear no proclamation of brotherly love from him. She’s asking for the truth, right? Here it is. It couldn’t have worked out better for him if he had planned it. She never would have looked in his direction if Nathan had lived. She never would have given him a chance. She says he’s right. In her grief, and desperate need to fill the void Nathan left in her life, she believed Peter’s lies because she wanted to. She convinced herself, after losing the man she loved, that his brother was the next best thing. She never asked the questions that need to be asked. She never looked past his façade to the horror underneath. He played her, but let’s be real. She let him, so that’s on her. He applauds and says, brava. Now that she’s had her reckoning, her moment of self-reflection, what does she intend to do about it? She says, well, she dug this hole. She guesses she’ll have to climb out of it, or die trying.

Laura says, she and Doc care about Esme, and Esme says, that’s kind of her to say, but she knows they only tolerate her because of Spence, and his friends won’t even do that. Laura says, there must be someone in her life she’s really close to, and Esme says, there is one, but she’s not in the picture anymore. Her nanny helped raise her after her adoptive parents died. Laura says, Spencer told her about that. She’s sorry Esme had such an unhappy childhood. Where’s her nanny now? Esme says, kids grow up, and nanny’s move on; it’s not like they had a falling out. Laura says, like she had a falling out with Spencer’s friends, and Esme asks if it’s that obvious. Laura says she’s learned she can either burn bridges or mend fences, and trust her, the second one is so much more rewarding. Maybe right now, instead of working so hard to analyze inmates, perhaps Esme should focus on getting herself a support system that doesn’t consist solely of Spencer. Esme says, in other words, get a life? and Laura says, something like that. Esme says she can see why Laura is Spence’s favorite person, and Laura says she adores him, and anyone who matters to him, matters to her. Is Esme ready to eat? Does she want to hear the specials or does she just want to order? Esme asks if Laura minds if she takes a raincheck on dinner. She has fences to mend. Laura says, good for her. Wonderful. She thinks she knows what Esme likes, so she’ll bring something home. Esme says, home. She likes the sound of that.

Trina says, she doesn’t have any expectations where Spencer is concerned, and Josslyn says, just protect herself, please. Trina is always protecting everybody else. Who’s looking out for her? Trina’s phone dings, and she says, Josslyn won’t believe this. Esme. She wants to talk. Josslyn says, because talking at the cabin went so well? Block her.

Nikolas asks why Spencer insists on making this a competition his affection, and Spencer says, he didn’t; Nikolas did. He lost that competition long ago. Nikolas says, Spencer is his son. There’s going to be a place in Nikolas’s heart for him always. Spencer says, a place, and Ava takes up every other space. Nikolas says, there’s room for both of them. It’s frustrating, because Spencer refuses to accept that, and spends his energy on a vendetta against Nikolas’s wife. Where has it gotten him? Here. Spencer says, he was friendly with Ava once upon a time. It was her betrayal that made him begin to despise her. He was trying to find justice for Nikolas’s supposed murder. He prioritized his loyalty to Nikolas, and their relationship above all others. Nikolas says, repairing their relationship is his priority, and Spencer says, prove it.

Trina says, she’s on her way, and Josslyn says, great. After this, they’ll book Trina a skydiving lesson with faulty parachutes. Trina says she’s curious about what Esme has to say; isn’t Josslyn? Josslyn says, Trina’s not protecting herself, but Trina says, her dad always tells her, the best defense is a good offense. Josslyn says, that’s great advice; take the initiative, seize the momentum. Just make sure Esme gets what she deserves.

Peter asks what Maxie intends to do. Her resources are thin; make that non-existent. She says she’ll figure it out, and he says, the nearest village is 30 kilometers away, and she doesn’t know the area. She steps ten feet into those woods, and she’ll be hopelessly lost. And let’s not forget about… the wolves. Maxie says she’d rather hang with the entire pack than spend one more minute with Peter, and he says, don’t be ridiculous. Let’s relax and have a glass of wine. The Swiss are known for their pinot noir. Come on. They’ve had a long trip, and she said she hasn’t even slept yet. She knees him in the groin, and jets. He yells, dammit, Maxie. You can’t get away. He’s never letting her go.

Maxie wonders why she’s always in the woods. She looks up, and says, there it is, and thanks Spinelli for all his lectures about the night’s sky. The map said, the road is to the north, and according to that star, north is that way. She runs again.

Olivia tells Ava, Leo will always know Julian as his biological father, but Julian is gone, God rest him – she blesses herself – and Ned got to be the day-to-day dad, that stable presence. They’re bond is so great, and she’s so grateful for that. Leo is just becoming so much more socialized. Ned takes Leo to GH for a class every week, and just knows how to encourage his interests. They’re writing a book together right now. It’s a picture book about aquatic animals. They’re bond is really amazing. Ava says, Olivia doesn’t have to sell her. She and Ned are obviously on it. Olivia is a terrific mother, and she can’t imagine a better father for Leo. She’s sure that Julian would agree with her. Olivia thanks her, and says, that means a lot. And as far as getting to know Leo, it’s never too late.

Nikolas asks what more he can do to show Spencer how much he matters, and Spencer says, give him his trust fund. No more scraping for pennies. Don’t renew his vows with Ava; tell her to hop in a handbasket and go straight to Hades. Spring him out of there early. Tap that contact he used for Alexis. Be his father. Nikolas says, he is Spencer’s father, and Spencer says, what about the rest of it? Nikolas says, his job as Spencer’s father is to teach him accountability. He’s willing to do anything but helping Spencer avoid taking responsibility and retaliate against his wife. Spencer says, so that’s it then. He’s to remain an impoverished ex-con, destined for indentured servitude at the mercy of a bitch… Nikolas says, that’s enough. He puts his finger in Spencer’s face, and says, Spencer has no right to refer to any woman that way, and Spencer says, but it’s okay to arrange to have a woman shot? Nikolas says Spencer’s out of his mind, and Spencer laughs and says, what’s the matter? Is Nikolas worried everyone else is going to realize he belongs in here too? Samuel asks if this guy is bothering Spencer.  

Esme walks into Kelly’s, and asks if it’s always this hot in Port Charles at this time of year. She tells Josslyn, hi, and says she didn’t know Josslyn would be here. Can she sit? Trina says, be her guest, and Esme thanks her, and sits down. She says she owes them both an apology, especially Trina, and Josslyn asks, what’s the catch? It’s too hot for hell to have frozen over. Esme says she deserved that. Josslyn is right. She was trying to create drama during that drinking game. Trina asks, why? She hasn’t done anything to Esme. Esme says they both intimidate her. They’re the ones with great families and friends; everything she doesn’t have. They have lots of people to love them, including Spence, but he’s all she’s got. She guesses it made her feel territorial. Trina says, no one is trying to take Spencer from Esme, and Esme says she’s not sure they could if they tried, but point taken. They’re not the enemy, but do they still think she is?

Laura asks if Ned has spoken to Tracy. Does she know about Leo’s diagnosis? He says he has, and she’s planning to visit when she gets a chance. Laura says, can she? and he says, the WSB has cleared her of all charges. They were able to prove that the Ice Princess diamond was swapped without her knowledge, weeks before she made the sale. Laura says she’s sure Tracy is happy to have that behind her, and he says he’s not sure about that. She’s actually contemplating a lawsuit. Laura laughs, saying, that’s just like Tracy, and he says, it’s actually good Luke wasn’t alive to discover the diamond was stolen; there’d be hell to pay. She says, maybe that was the point, and he says, meaning? but before she can answer, Olivia and Ava join them. Olivia tells Leo that his Aunt Ava is thrilled to hear about some of the new stuff he’s learning, and Ava says, she heard he’s working on a book. Would he be willing to show her and Avery sometime? Leo says she can help if she wants. Can she draw? She says she’ll let him in on a little secret. She appreciates art a lot more than she attempts it, but she’d certainly be wiling to try for him. He says, cool.

Spencer says, his father was just leaving. He wouldn’t want to keep that precious wife of his waiting. Nikolas says, as he wishes. He’ll be visiting soon. Spencer says, don’t bother, and turns his back on Nikolas.

Trina says, apology accepted, and Josslyn says, she’s curious. Why the sudden change of heart? Esme says, Spence’s grandmother Laura got her thinking. Spence can’t be her entire world. She needs to be her own person, more open, mend fences, and not burn bridges. Trina says, Mayor Collins is a wise woman, and Esme says, she and Trina are certainly close. Josslyn says, they all are. Don’t forget, she’s Cam’s grandmother too. Esme says, of course (🍷). Next time Trina is visiting Laura, she’ll join her. Trina says, it’s not like she’s there all the time, and Josslyn says, Trina just went over there to get her gift. Esme says, what gift? and Josslyn just looks at her. Esme says, she means the gift her boyfriend got for Trina.

In the woods outside Peter’s house, Drew asks how Anna wants to do this, and Anna says, carefully. She doesn’t want Maxie caught in the crossfire. She says, Drew’s had experience with these types of situations. He understands the rules? He says, all too well, and she tells him to call it, and he says, they’ll move now, while the clouds are broken and they have a little moonlight. The goal is to approach, and access how many are inside. Once they get eyes on Maxie, that’s when they take the house. Obviously no radios, so keep eye contact for communication. He’s one, Anna is two, and Dante is three. He tells Anna, take the perimeter, and Dante, over there. He’s going down the middle, but will need some cover. Got it? Dante says, copy that, and Anna says, ready when he is. Drew says, let’s do this, and they move closer. Drew nods, and they move faster.

Maxie finds the road, and says she did it. Now she just needs to find her way to the village. She sees headlights, and waves, yelling, over here, because apparently, she’s learned nothing.  

Tomorrow, Maxie tells Peter to come and get her; Trina says Josslyn just made it worse for her; and Carly says, the plan was set in motion when Sonny decided to sleep with Nina.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Captain Glenn tells us, the thing with sailing is, you never know the conditions you’ll run into. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Daisy, Gary, and Colin are back, and in Colin’s interview, he admits to enjoying a little drama here and there. It keeps him entertained. We meet the new crew members. Chef Marcos is from Venezuela, and stew Gabriella says she’s like a chihuahua, all bark and all bite. Deckhand Kelsie says she has two brothers, and growing up, it was either fight back or get farted on. Deckhand Tom tells us not to let his baby face fool us, and stew Ashley says she looks innocent, but she’s not. We see a short preview of the season. A lot of people will fall down, and champagne glasses will be broken.

Menorca, Spain, Port Mahon. In Gary’s interview, he says he’s back and ready to rumble. He has a lot to teach, and hopes he has a team that’s willing to learn. In Glenn’s interview, he says the beaches in Menorca are spectacular. He first came there in 1984, and has an apartment there. He offered Gary a full-time job, since he knows the boat and Glenn can depend on him. Daisy arrives, and says she’d rather be on the beach, but a girl’s got to eat. It’s her first charter since last year, and she hopes she remembers how to be a chief stew. In Daisy’s interview, she says, her role as chief stew is to be puppet master. If the team looks good, she looks good, and she hopes they learn quickly that she’s always right. In Marcos’s interview, he says he grew up eating pasta and plantains, and now runs a food truck in L.A. with a business partner.

In Gabriella’s interview, she says she’d be described as funny, loyal, and passionate, but she’s a sh*t talker and likes to bust balls. In Tom’s interview, he says he grew up in Windermere, north of England, where there are more sheep than people. He’s worked in yachting for three years, but this is his first time sailing. Colin is the last to arrive, and in his interview, he says he’s glad to be back on the Parsifal with his boy Gary. He thinks Glenn has an amazing leadership style, and when you sail with him, you know it will be a good time. He gives Daisy a big hug.

Glenn wants to do a quick brief with the crew. Chef Marcos seems mild mannered… for now. The chefs always seem to end up pitching fits at some point. Glenn is excited about the season, and to see both old and new faces. He tells them, no drinking on charter, and communication is of top importance. Last season, they had a communication problem. In Daisy’s interview, she says, everyone else had a communication problem, but she didn’t. We flash back, and I’m like, oh yeah, Chef Natasha and the eggs… Glenn tells them that they can take some time to get to know each other tonight, but it’s a school night.

In Kelsie’s interview, she says, she went on a charter in Croatia with her cousins in 2015, and thought it was the coolest job. She’s gone from being a guest to a skipper, and has her own boat, but she’s never worked  on a superyacht. It’s like a Great Dane versus a chihuahua. Daisy tells Marcus that she’s not strict, but don’t take anything she says personally. In his interview, he says, even though he’s the new guy, he’s not scared. He’s cooked for the likes of Shakira, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys, among others. Gabriella says she’s been in yachting for a year, and Ashley says, it’s her one-year anniversary. In Ashley’s interview, she says, she always wanted to be the best, and got straight A’s in school. She wants to be a chief stew someday. Tom says he thinks Ashley is hot. Glenn calls Gary, Marcos, and Daisy to the saloon for a preference sheet meeting.

Primary Mccordia is a real estate investor, being joined by some other hard working business owner friends to celebrate Black entrepreneurship. They’re looking for beautiful scenery, elevated cocktails, and five-star dining. Gary says, they want a beach picnic, and Daisy says guest Aleah wants a hip-hop PJ party for her birthday. They’ve requested the crew dress up with them. Because I’m sure the crew members always carry their hip-hop wardrobe with them just in case. Provisions come in, and Daisy calls for some hip-hop themed stuff. She asks Gabriella and Ashley to meet her in the crew mess, and makes Gabriella second stew because she has more experience in bartending. Ashley doesn’t seem happy, but says she’s good. She’s put on mornings, and Gabriella on the late shift. The deckhands finish up, and grab a beer. Daisy tells the stews that they can finish up tomorrow, and suggests they get a drink.

Gary, Colin, and Daisy hang out together up top, and the newbies gather on deck. Gary says, Tom likes Ashley, and Daisy says, Ashley likes him, and we’re transported back to middle school. Tom approaches the OGs, and Colin jokes that it’s an official meeting. Gary tells Tom that Ashley thinks he’s hot, and in Tom’s interview, he says, yachting is like Never Never Land. He’s never growing up. (Actually, that’s Neverland, but we’ll let it pass.) Going to their lockers bunks, Gary asks Ashley if she has a type, and she says she thinks they’re both cute, and she’s not picking. She asks their ages, and Tom is a year younger than she is. Gary is in his 30s, and she says, she usually goes for older. In Tom’s interview, he says, just because he’s younger doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what he’s doing. But he needs to get on with Gary, so if Gary likes Ashley, he’s taking a backseat. Tom tells the rest of the crew about Ashley choosing Gary over him because of his age, and in Gary’s interview, he says, he’s in a predicament. He was the cause of a predicament last season, and we flash back to him sleeping with Sydney the first night on deck, and then almost sleeping with Dani until she found out. He admits he’s an idiot, and says he’s not going to make the same mistake twice. He’s turning a new leaf.

At 10 pm, the crew is still clicking bottles and doing shots. Tom is getting pretty sh*tfaced, and in Colin’s interview, he says Tom reminds him of himself at Tom’s age. He wanted to have a good time, and didn’t think about the consequences of going too far. They haven’t even started the season. Gary flirts with Ashley, who wants a kiss. He obliges and then says, no. He’s still an idiot. No new leaves happening here.

Tom is bunking with Glenn, and finally turns in. Gary’s mom sends him a message not to do something stupid. Around midnight, the others are still outside talking and drinking, and Tom says he doesn’t feel well. He gets up, and pukes his guts up in the bathroom. He tells Glenn that he needs to sleep low (he’s in the top bunk), and Glenn tells him to sleep in the mess. Tom leaves, and Glenn gets up and gets dressed. Kelsie has wisely chosen to go to bed, but the others are still partying. Glenn trudges upstairs, and tells Gary, let’s get everybody to bed. They have a charter tomorrow, and they’re already a man down. In Glenn’s interview, he says he doesn’t want to be a buzzkill, but he has to make a point. This is why you don’t do what you did. He says, they’re going to be picking up guests; get their asses to bed. Gabriella tries to clean up, and drops a bunch of bottles. In Gary’s interview, he says, it’s not a good look. It’s an example of what not to do on a school night.

In the morning, it’s not pretty. Tom wakes up confused, and in his interview, he says he just wanted to prove he could fit in and drink like everyone else, and gave the worst impression. Gary tells Colin about Ashley wanting a kiss, but insists he wasn’t even flirting. Ashley tells Gabriella about it, who says, just wear a condom. Tom says he’s never been more embarrassed in his life, and Glenn tells Tom to clean the bathroom he puked all over. In Tom’s interview, he says, he already made himself look like an idiot. He’s got to move forward, and let his work do the talking, In Glenn’s interview, he says he thinks Tom understands the gravity of the situation. It’s strike one, but it’s never going to happen again.

The crew gets last minute stuff done, and Daisy does a walk through. She’s happy with everything, and Glenn tells them to get in their uniforms. The guests arrive, and Glenn welcomes them. The crew stands in line to greet them, Ashley with damp towels, and Gabriella with champagne. Glenn passes them to Daisy for the tour, and their luggage is brought on board. Marcos makes appetizers, and they look fabulous. Even Daisy is impressed, and says, this what a canapé should be; pretty and elegant. I’m betting he can make eggs too. The lines are clear, and they set sail.

Marcus says he’s working fast because he knows sh*t goes sideways. The sails go up, and in Kelsie’s interview, she says, the sails are freaking huge. She’s excited to learn from Gary. The guests are loving the boat’s tilt. One of them falls over, and laughs, saying, it’s only the first day.

In Ashley’s interview, she says, something about Gary makes her think he’d be great in bed. She knows what she’s doing. The sails come down, and Daisy tells Gabriella that the guests want a sparkly dinner with lots of candles. They stop at Cala Blanc, and Glenn eats a gigantic matzo cracker in the mess, while Kelsie uses her hair as dental floss. Possibly one of the grossest things I’ve ever seen someone do. In Marcos’s interview, he says, it’s a little bit of pressure, but he’s not going to show it. Daisy says, with her junior stews, it’s like raising children. The guests are still hungry, so Marcos makes more appetizers, along with some shrimp in whiskey butter sauce. In his interview, he says, they definitely want their money’s worth.

Dessert is served, and I suddenly realize, primary Mccordia is the only dude. A guest falls, but it’s not from the boat tilting this time. Daisy goes to bed, feeling she’s finally working in a team environment again, and Gabriella is left to handle Mccordia, the only guest left standing. He keeps telling Gabriella that she’s sexy, and says, he doesn’t like girls, but she’s cute. For whatever drunk reason, he tells her that he has a little d*ck, and in Gabriella’s interview, she says, there’s no sense in trying to talk a drunk person out of their f***ing f***ery. It’s an exercise is getting someone to respect her. He asks who she’s f***ing tonight, and she tells him that he’s getting inappropriate. He asks who she’s interested in, but she says, no one on the boat. He tells her that she’s full of sh*t, and in her interview, she says, bring it on, mother f***er. Since she’d said she likes both men and women, he asks what two women do together, and she tells him to go to bed.

This season, a wedding, Gary does a striptease, a guest faceplants against the mast, Gary and Ashley get busy; and Glenn says, it’s about as serious as it gets. They might be stuck.

⛵️ The Newbies…

Meet the new Sailing cast.

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

🍳 On the Chef Subject…

I couldn’t remember Natasha’s name, and when I was googling, I came across this. I guess it would have worked as long as a guest didn’t ask for eggs.

‘Below Deck Mediterranean: Chef Natasha From ‘Below Deck Sailing Yacht’ Could Have Stepped in as Chef?

🏖 I skipped Summer House because my hatred for the show finally won out. Not really. I’m a glutton for punishment, but I was busy at the times it was on. I caught the tail end, and Danielle – looking fabulous in some kind of silver and black Mardi Gras-ish outfit – told Ciara and Paige that Kyle had been talking smack about his fiancé Amanda. He’d said the only thing they had in common was their business, Loverboy. The girls took note of how Kyle was chatting up some random babes, and Amanda was dancing around with some dude, and Danielle said, it just wasn’t them. I’ll say it again, these people are their thirties for God’s sake. Get it together. Get something together. Not drinking so much would be a start.

Dream Of You Tonight, See You Tomorrow…

Come set a spell tomorrow for some soap and a look at New Jersey. Until then, stay safe, stay being positive, but not toxically, and stay not leaving people waiting. Le quart d’heure de politesse or not, it’s rude.

December 14, 2021 – Michael Gives His Impact Statement, the Toms Take a Break, Madcap Moment, Sad On Deck, Nominees Of Gold & Her List

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Stella tells Curtis, no more secrets, when Marshall walks in. She says, Marshall Ashford. What are you doing here? and he says, Hello, Stella. Good to see her again after all these years.

Austin comes out of the hospital elevator and sees Britt. He says, just the person he was looking for, and she says, lucky her. Does he remember when he said things could only get better? He says, did something prove him wrong? He’s sorry. Let him make it up to her; he has news on her brother. She asks if it’s his obituary, and Austin says, close. He’s in the ER, and he’s more dead than alive. Austin leaves Britt to ponder this.

Maxie asks Finn, arsenic or strychnine? She hopes whoever poisoned Peter took that into consideration. He says, it’s possible it wasn’t intentional. Inmates get botulism from homemade prison alcohol. She says, in solitary? and he says, just speculating. She asks if he speculated the best case scenario, like, what are the top three deadly toxins in a prison? Which one could be killing Peter August right now? He says, if Peter were poisoned intentionally, getting it to him in solitary would take real effort. Who would go to that kind of trouble? She says, who wouldn’t?

Elizabeth peeks out from the ER, and goes to Peter’s bedside. She looks at the scalpel in her hand, and flashes back to Peter saying he’s being persecuted the same way Franco was, and Finn stopping her from attacking him. She remembers finding Peter at the bottom of the stairs when Finn thought he’d killed him, and saying, Peter doesn’t get to take another life; they won’t let him.

Carly comes home, and tells Sonny, she has so much work at the MetroCourt, she can’t believe she let him convince her to blow it off. He says, they need to take a break. Sasha and Michael are going through hell, Michael’s making a statement at Brad’s parole hearing, and everybody’s climbing the walls because Peter August is back. She says, here’s hoping he dies quickly. Although it seems to be taking forever. Sonny asks if they can just focus on the fact that he’s home with his family, and celebrate, and she asks what he means. He brings her into the living room, where everything is decorated, and says, Christmas.

Sasha tells Brando, if she has to stare at these walls much longer, she’s going to scream. Does he think that’s how their little boy feels in the NICU? Does Liam feel trapped in that incubator? He says, no. Liam feels safe, and cared for, and loved. She asks if he thinks Liam can feel that, how much they love him, and he says, of course (🍷) he can. She says, some people go through their whole lives and never have that. Every challenge they have to face, if their son can feel that they love him, isn’t that enough?

Willow asks if Michael feels nervous about the hearing, when Brad is brought in. Michael says he’s never felt more sure about anything in his life.

Brando says, he and Sasha love their son so much, if he’s aware of nothing else, he’ll at least know that. She says, even if his life isn’t perfect, even if it’s hard, he will at least know love. She knows it’s not going to be easy, and at times it will feel impossible, but with Brando as Liam’s dad, they’ll get through it. She’s not giving up. He says, they’ll do whatever it takes to give their boy a fighting chance.

Elizabeth looks at the scalpel, and moves closer to Peter. Finn comes in, and says her name, startling her.

Britt asks Austin, what happened? Did someone attack Peter in prison? He says he’s not clear on the details. Should he not have told her? She says, is he kidding? it’s the best news she’s heard all day. She had to tell terrible news to anxious parents, and she has a very dear friend who has his parole hearing today, and she can’t be there to support him. And she was just recently told, she was a bad influence. He says he’s sure her friend knows she’d be there if she could. As for her being a bad influence…

Celina comes into the hearing, and goes over to Michael. He says it’s a pleasure to see her again, and introduces Willow as Wiley’s mother. Celina says, it’s an honor, and Willow says, for her as well. Celina says she wants Michael to know that she in no way condones what her nephew did. She also wants to assure him, should fortune fall in Brad’s favor, she will be responsible for him. He will never again disturb Michael’s family. Michael says he appreciates it, but after the board hears his statement, there’s no chance in hell her nephew sees the light of day. I guess Michael thinks he’s in Cool Hand Luke.

Sonny tells Carly that Pilar is bringing the kids down from the nursery, and she asks how he managed this right under her nose. He laughs, and says, it’s a gift; does she like it? She says she loves it; it’s beautiful. Has he checked the calendar? They never decorate this early. He says he missed Christmas with his family last year, and wants to make up for lost time. Family is everything. It’s all that matters.

Curtis leads Stella to a seat, and asks if she’s all right. She says she is, but it’s a shock. It really is him. Marshall says he didn’t mean to startle her, and Curtis says, it comes with showing up in places he’s been asked not to. Marshall says he came there to see Curtis. How would he know Stella would be there? Curtis says, that’s beside the point. His presence is unsettling and unwelcome. His auntie is recovering from a stroke. Marshall says, what? He’s sorry to hear that. How’s her recovery coming? Curtis says he’s sure a lot better before she saw him. She thought he was dead, so seeing him alive after all this time, they’re lucky she didn’t have a relapse. She says, actually, that’s not exactly true.

Sonny tells Donna and Avery, look at all those presents, waiting to be opened on Christmas morning. Avery asks if he’s going to be there Christmas morning, and he says, there’s nowhere he’d rather be. Carly says, and he’s going to be there Christmas Eve to help set out the treats for Santa. He says, then he’s going to read them The Night Before Christmas and tuck them in. Last year, he wasn’t able to be there, but it wasn’t his choice. Avery asks, whose choice was it? and he says, it’s so amazing that he’s able to be with his little girls today. He’s going to make up for lost time and never let them down again. Can he get a hug? The girls hug him.

Michael thanks the parole board for being able to address them today. Three years ago, he laid to rest a child he thought was his newborn son, Jonah. His family mourned with him as they buried his baby boy, and grieved for the life he’d never have. Later, they discovered he was actually alive; now being called Wiley and being raised by Mr. Cooper. It was only when Mr. Cooper was forced to tell the truth, that he intentionally misled Michael, his family, and even Brad’s then husband, Lucas Jones. Worse yet, the day he got his son back was the day Willow Tate realized hers was gone forever.

Brando asks if they’re ready, and Sasha asks if they’re ever. Since the day they met, they’ve always been scrambling. Now with Liam coming earlier than expected, here they are scrambling again. Not on the menu, was it? They don’t prepare you. He asks if she’s up for this, and she says, they’re done scrambling. They need to be ready. She wants to start planning to give Liam his best life. How about him? How does he feel? He says, like it’s time to get some answers.

Austin says, he hasn’t been at GH a long time, but he’s been watching Britt, and sees how she is with her patients and her staff. She has a better bedside manner than she thinks, and she’s always fair with the staff. She was more than fair with him when his career was on the line, and he holds Maxie in high regard, and Maxie holds Britt in high regard. She respects Britt and comes to her for advice; she listens to Britt. He doesn’t know who this individual is who says Britt’s a bad influence, but maybe they just don’t know her. At all. Britt pauses a moment, then says, sorry. He says, why? and she says, the reasons she’s terrible usually don’t sound nice. He says he doesn’t think she’s terrible, and she says it’s her job to bolster the staff, not the other way around. He says he won’t tell if she won’t. Brando interrupts, asking if Britt has a minute to talk, and Austin says he’ll leave her to do what she does really well. She says, if Brando and Sasha are ready, she’ll tell them everything they need to know.

Curtis asks, what isn’t true? and Stella says she’s certainly surprised that Marshall… Marshall says, Curtis is right. This was no way for Stella to find out he was still alive. (I’m guessing she knew he was alive by the way she’s looking at him.) If he’d respected Curtis’s wishes, he wouldn’t have disturbed her health. She says she’s fine. She just needs a moment to process his return… and some water. Curtis goes to get her water, and she says, it really is Marshall. He says, here they are. Look at her, like not a day has passed. She asks how he’s here, now, and Curtis says he asked the same question. Marshall wasn’t very forthcoming, so maybe she’ll have better luck getting to the truth.

Finn says Elizabeth doesn’t need that. He reaches for the scalpel, and says, it’s okay. He’s going to take that from her right now. She says he doesn’t understand, but he says he does; he knows. He takes it. Austen comes in, and Finn hustles Elizabeth out. He tells her that he understands she’ll regret it.

Stella says she’s sure Marshall will share his truth when he’s ready, and Curtis asks if he’s really hearing her say that, because she never had such a liberal view of truth telling when she raised them. If his memory serves him correctly, her stand on honesty was pretty cut and dried. She says, lessons are made simple for children; everyone here is grown. Marshall says he knows he can’t take credit for the man Curtis is today, but he can thank Curtis’s aunt for her part in it. In his absence, she made sacrifices. She took responsibility for his family, and he owes her. She says, they all did their best at the time, and Curtis asks how she can say that. They don’t know what this man did after he abandoned his family. Stella says, Curtis… and Curtis says he’s sorry. Out of respect for her, he allowed Marshall to say his piece, but he’s saying nothing. So, sir, please leave; this time for good.

Austin comes out of the ER, and Maxie asks, what’s the latest? He says, nice to see her too, and she says, is Peter going to die? Austin says, Maxie… and she says, please. Just tell her Peter is going to die.

Michael tells the board that Willow chose Brad and Lucas as her son’s adoptive parents. Unfortunately, the baby succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome within hours after being brought home. Then Brad conspired with Michael’s son’s biological mother, the late Nelle Benson, to switch the babies. She convinced Michael that his son had died, while giving his son to Brad to raise. Complicated, yes, but the consequences are still felt to this day. Should they grant Brad parole, a man who has shown a staggering lack of character and judgement, they’d be opening a wound that has just begun to heal. He and Willow implore them on behalf of their sons – the one who is gone, and the one they’re raising together – to protect this community and deny Brad Cooper parole. He thanks them, and a board member says, before they question Brad, would he like to make a statement? Brad thanks them, and says, first, he wants to apologize again to Michael and Willow. He says again because he’s done so before, but he knows no amount of contrition will ever be enough. Today, he’s asking for a chance to try and redeem himself. They have statements from several CO’s and the warden that he’s been a model prisoner. They also have a letter of support from his dear friend Dr. Britt Westbourne. One line from Dr. Westbourne’s letter has stayed with him. Despite his mistake, Brad Cooper is infinitely more capable of virtue than vice. Brad says he’s more than his mistakes. Please grant him parole, and he promises to live a life of virtue.

Carly looks at a keychain that says Caroline on it. Sonny clears his throat, and she looks up. He says, the girls are decorating cookies with Graciela and Pilar; they’re going to be bouncing off the walls. She says, that’s okay. The sugar crash will make them sleep like babies. Look at him. He’s been sampling the icing himself. She wipes his mouth, and he says he sees she found the ornaments. He was thinking of inviting a bunch of people over to trim the tree, and she says she’d love that. He says they can get a head start with the girls. She says, yeah, and he asks, what’s wrong? She says, last year, they trimmed the tree without him; it wasn’t right. He says he knows his coming home hasn’t been seamless, and she says, but it’s a dream come true. He asks if she can promise him something, and she says, anything. He says he wants her to know it’s all right to share her feelings about Jason.

In Finn’s office, Elizabeth says she can’t believe what she almost did, and he says, that look on her face. He recognized it. When Peter dangled the antidote that would save Chase in his face, and then threw it off the roof, it was that same look of rage that made him want to push Peter down the stairs. She says, if he hadn’t stopped her… and he says he wanted to spare her the regret he had, thinking he’d almost killed someone. She says, spare her? Peter murdered her husband. He’s the reason Jason is dead, and the reason her boys are in a constant state of grief. If he hadn’t spared her, she could have given her sons some semblance of justice. But no, Peter is still alive because she couldn’t rid the world of the monster Finn tried to kill.

Austin says, Maxie knows he can’t discuss Peter’s medical condition with her, and she says, please. She has the right to know if this nightmare she’s living is going to end. He says, all right. Here’s what he can say. Wow. That guy behind the curtain is in really bad shape. She says, and? and he says, and whoever did this to Peter, it was intentional, not an accident. Someone wanted him dead. That doesn’t surprise her?

Carly tells Sonny, Jason gave her the keychain years ago, when she showed up on his doorstep pregnant with Michael. She told him Carly Roberts was really Caroline Benson, Bobbie’s long lost daughter. They spent that Christmas together, and every year she puts it on the tree, and remembers. Sonny puts the keychain on the tree, and she puts her arms around him from behind. She says she he knows things have been hard for him, with how complicated things had gotten with Jason. As much as she misses Jason, there is only one man in her life, and it’s him. She kisses him, and says, they’re going to get through this, as long as they keep being open with each other.

A board member tells Brad that the panel will deliberate, and inform him of their decision at the earliest opportunity. He thanks Michael for his statement, and says, this hearing is adjourned. Michael looks at Celina.

Curtis tells Marshall that he won’t say it again. Get out of his club and stay out of his life. Marshall nods, and tells Stella to take care of herself. He starts to leave, but Stella says, stop. She knows Curtis’s father’s reappearance in his life has thrown him, but Curtis says, Marshall hasn’t been his father for a very long time. Stella says, he’s always been Curtis’s father. Whether he’s been around or not, or whether Curtis likes it or not, Marshall Ashford is the only father Curtis has. And by some miracle, he’s standing here, whole and well. Curtis asks what she’s suggesting; that they pick up where they left off? He’s a little too old for toy lawnmowers. She tells him that she’s not saying that at all, but what has it cost Marshall to show up here? At least hear him out. Curtis tells her that Marshall has nothing to say. He’s a ghost with no public record, who makes sketchy references to a possible danger. Marshall says, just hear him. As much as it killed him to go, every minute he remained in their lives, he put Curtis and Tommy at risk. If he’d stayed, what kind of father would it have made him?

Britt says she’s happy to answer as many questions as Brando and Sasha can think of, but she needs to provide a more thorough explanation of their son’s prognosis. Liam’s brain is severely impaired. Sasha says, they know that, and Brando says, it’s already been explained to them, but Britt says she needs to clarify what that means. Liam will never breathe on his own. He will never open his eyes, never recognize their voices or have any awareness of his surroundings. Life for Liam will entail permanent ventilation, a feeding tube, and around the clock care. Sasha says, they know it’s a lot. If it’s too much for them to care for him at home, they’ll bring him here. Britt says, General Hospital’s not set up to care for what their son needs, and Brando says, then where? Britt says, they’d have to transfer Liam to a long-term care facility, and Sasha says, away from his parents? No. He needs love. There must be a way for Liam to come home. Britt says, she’s sorry to be so blunt, but Liam’s quality of life… Sasha says, he won’t have any quality of life without them. If Britt refuses to help them, they’ll find someone who will.

Curtis says, so it wasn’t safe for Marshall to come back when Tommy died, and it wasn’t safe when his mom died. In all those years, it wasn’t safe when Aunt Stella took on his responsibility, but now it’s safe for him to waltz back in here, and they’re required to do what? Be his captive audience? Stella says Curtis has every right to answers, and someday his father provide them, but can Curtis consider for a moment that Marshall was trying to protect him? Curtis says, from what? and Marshall says, a complex situation that would had repercussions on the entire family, and still could. Curtis says, what situation and what repercussions? Tell him; he can take it. Marshall says, just know he didn’t leave because he wanted to; he left because he had to. Curtis says, this is bull, but Marshall says, it’s all he has to offer Curtis, at least for now. Curtis says, it’s not enough, and Marshall says, it’s enough for TJ. Curtis says he thought he told Marshall to stay away from TJ, and Marshall says, he came here to reconnect with his family. Blood or no blood, TJ is his family. If TJ, Tommy’s son, wants to have a relationship with him, it’s his call. If Curtis wants to have one, Curtis can find him at the Harbor View Inn. He leaves, and Stella says she’s so sorry. Curtis asks what she has to apologize for.

Sonny opens the door to Michael, Willow, and Wiley, and asks how the parole hearing went. Willow says, Michael was very eloquent, and Sonny says he doesn’t doubt that. Michael says he didn’t expect to give his impact statement in front of Celina, and Sonny says, she is Brad’s aunt. Willow asks if Wiley would like to say hello to Grandma Carly, and they leave. Michael says he hopes he didn’t make it awkward for Sonny’s business relationship, and Sonny says he told Celina that Michael had every right to oppose Brad’s release, and she understands. Michael says he’s glad the hearing is over. He just wants to put all this business with Brad behind them.

Carly asks if Wiley wants to go to the kitchen, and have cookies with Donna and Avery, and he says he does. She tells him, go, and he leaves. Willow says, it’s like a wonderland in here; Carly really went all out. Carly says she can’t any credit; Sonny did it all. Willow says, good for him, getting back in the swing of things, and Carly says, he missed last year, and thought the family needed a big dose of Christmas. Any word about Brad? Willow says, not yet, but Michael spoke so passionately, she’s sure he got through to the parole board. Carly says, whatever happens, Wiley has the full protection of the family. Willow says she knows, and she appreciates that, and Carly says, but? Willow says, no buts. She knows Carly always has Wiley’s best interest at heart, even when they don’t see eye to eye. Carly says she may tend to chime in when it comes to her grandson, and appreciates Willow’s grace, and Willow says, Carly’s instincts tend to be spot on.

Elizabeth tells Finn, her boys loved Franco. Not because she loved him, but because he earned it. He reached Jake through art, and helped Aiden be comfortable with who he is. Cameron was a battle and a half, but Franco was willing to give his life for that boy, and Peter ripped Franco away from all of them. She wanted to hurt him like he hurt her. Finn says she knows that’s not how it would have gone. If she’d succeeded, she’d go to prison, and allow Peter to take from Cameron, Jake, and Aiden, allow him to take their mother on top of everything he’s already taken. He doesn’t think Franco or Jason would want that. When he thought he’d killed Peter, he wanted to go to the police and confess, remember that? She stopped him from making a choice that would have taken his daughter from him. He’s returning the favor, like it or not. She can be as angry as she wants, but it’s not going to drive him away from her.

Brando says he and Sasha are frustrated with the situation, not Britt. They appreciate her time. Sasha says she’s so sorry, but Britt tells her, don’t apologize. She can’t possibly imagine what they’re going through. She would help them look into everything they need for home care, if it were feasible. If they want a second opinion, or third, or fourth, or if they want to talk to every specialist on the planet, she’ll reach out for them and make it happen, but they should consider Liam’s likely lifespan and quality of life. Brando says, a lifespan of how long? and Britt says, he could live for years. Sasha says, years, with hope in her eyes, but Britt says, in a permanent vegetative state. Brando says, as to quality of life? and Britt says, he would have none. Liam is being kept alive by machines, and his little body is vulnerable to seizures, pneumonia, sepsis, sepsis shock, fractures, and the high likelihood of bed sores. She’s so sorry to be so direct, but she can’t leave them make this decision without seeing the full picture. Sasha asks how they can make a decision when they don’t know all the options, and Brando says, it sounds like Dr. Westbourne is saying there’s only one option. Sasha says, what’s that? and Britt says, to take their son off life support. Brando says, they let Liam go, and Sasha says, no, and cries in his arms. 

Brando asks what Sasha is thinking, and she says, she’s thinking, even though he’s only been here such a short time, she can’t imagine a world without Liam in it. Brando says, him neither, and she says, then they don’t have to, right? There must be something they can still do. This can’t be the end of the road.

Finn tells Elizabeth, next time she needs to unload, unload on him. If she wants to punch it out, his shoulder’s all hers. Anything she needs to move forward, he’s right here. She kisses him, and jets.

Curtis says he hopes it didn’t rattle Stella, seeing Marshall after thinking he’s long dead. He promises not to allow that man to haunt or guilt her, or TJ. She says, Curtis Ashford gonna do what he’s gonna do, and TJ’s got a good head on his shoulders. And it’s not like Marshall can surprise her again. Curtis says, well, he’s gone, and she says, what he needs to do is give her a tour of his beautiful club. Live his life, and free himself from all the burdens of the past. It’s what his mom would want. Curtis agrees, and Stella says, how about if she makes him a promise? As long as there’s a breath left in her body, she’s not going to allow anything or anyone to upend this family. They hug.

Michael picks up Wiley, who puts an ornament on the tree, and everyone is all, yay! Carly says they have to pick out the next ornament, and goes over to Sonny by the tree. She asks, what’s this? indicating a gift, and he says she’s got to wait until Christmas. His phone rings, and it’s Celina. She said, the parole board has made its decision. Her nephew is being released in a few days. He has her gratitude. He says, a deal’s a deal, and Carly asks if everything is okay. Sonny says, everything is good, and Carly goes back to the kids, saying, they have to put more ornaments on; start looking. Sonny looks grim.

Tomorrow, Kristina says, it’s a disaster waiting to happen; Chase tells Finn, stop looking if something’s not there; Michael says Brad gets no second chances with his family; and Britt tells Celina, she has no idea who she’s messing with.

Vanderpump Rules

In James’s interview, he said he’d been going less to social events, and we flashed back to him drinking through the week. He told Raquel it wasn’t about him questioning his sobriety; he was done with it. He’d been to three events that week, and was tired. Raquel suggested they get together with friends and family, and celebrate their engagement. She thought it would be fun to go somewhere outside L.A. Everyone else was hanging out at TomTom. Sandoval told Lala that Ariana thought he was taking her to a late birthday lunch, but they were really going to Madcap Motel (see below). He took Katie aside, and they sat in a booth. Katie said the situation at her house got out of hand, but he said his goal was to create situations where they were not only hanging out having and having fun, but making money. They were getting to the next level, and he’d worked his ass off to turn his and Schwartz’s friendship into a brand, and bring money into her household. He also had to deal with Schwartz’s insecurities, so he seemed like he was extra and pushing it. Katie said she had a different perspective. She saw it as Sandoval thinking his ideas were better. He said he was protecting Schwartz’s interest, and had his back. She told him that all she was saying was to listen to her husband’s ideas. He took credit for what Schwartz had done, and wanted to dress him up like a Barbie, and put him in a sidecar. We flashed back to Sandoval doing just that, and he told Katie that he built people up and praised them; she just wasn’t there to see it. She told that she wasn’t saying he didn’t support Schwartz, but he had an effing ego problem. He said, so did she, having been reduced to elementary school responses. Katie told Schwartz that Sandoval was an effing a-hole, and in his interview, Schwartz said the mediating was killing him inside. He wanted to throw his hands up and walk away. Go to Florida and open a tiki bar. In Lala’s interview, she said Sandoval was like the other woman in Schwartz’s life; he was like Schwartz’s mistress. They had cocktails and manifested sh*t. In Schwartz’s interview, he said he couldn’t have days where everything was falling apart because Katie and Sandoval were butting heads. He knew he had an issue with riding the fence, but they both had valid points. They needed three-way couples therapy.

Brock and Scheana talked about the photo shoot for Brock’s company, HomeBody. In Brock’s interview, he said he didn’t think he’d been asking for too much. He wasn’t asking for a kidney. Scheana whined about Charli saying she hadn’t been a good friend lately. Sorry; she just had a baby. Brock asked why she was always apologizing, and she said if Charli felt hurt, her feelings were valid. He said, what about Scheana’s  effing feelings? Scheana said she felt she’d been rightfully selfish. It had been a year since her miscarriage. When she was pregnant with Summer, she’d been afraid of getting sick, or being around anyone. All she cared about was the baby.

Katie paid a visit to Villa Rosa – Puffy! – and in her interview, she said she didn’t like asking for Lisa’s time, but she understood the restaurant business, and had officiated at their wedding. Who else would she ask when the business put a strain on her marriage? Katie told Lisa about her conversation with Tom, and how it went bad. He’d taken credit for the TomTom brand. In Lisa’s interview, she said it had been her idea, and she’d surprised them at Schwartz’s wedding. We flashed back to that, and Lisa said Katie had put having a baby on hold, and in one way, this had been her baby. Katie said, now it was just Schwartz and Sandoval’s, and asked if Lisa thought they were ready to open their own place. Lisa said, no, but they were working with someone who had experience. She did think Greg might get frustrated with the Toms chasing their own tails. Katie said Schwartz’s defense of Tom made her upset, and Lisa said she would not let her husband have more loyalty to another man than her.

As Sandoval and Ariana got ready for the fake dinner, Sandoval said he thought Katie was being unfair. Ariana said Lala thought there was more going on between Schwartz and Katie, and they should take a break. Sandoval thought that was terrible advice, and Ariana thought it was extreme, but in her interview, she said there must be something Lala knew that she didn’t. In Sandoval’s interview, he sai,d the Madcap Motel was an awesome art installation with different rooms and actors. He was stoked. He and Ariana went into a pseudo laboratory, then walked through a decontamination chamber, to find all their friends waiting. Sandoval said they were to enter at their own enjoyment, and thanked everyone for coming. He told them to have drinks and explore. They went to the rave room, which Scheana said was a combination of Stranger Things and the Twilight Zone. It would be a fun place to take mushrooms. The Toms went to standard motel room that was slanted, and sat on the bed. Schwartz said he didn’t want to kill the vibe, but Katie told him some crazy sh*t. She’d told him that Sandoval said he was the one making the money, and made it sound like Schwartz was a charity case. Sandoval acted like he never heard of such things, when everything Katie told Schwartz was what he’d said. Sandoval said their friendship was a brand now, but Schwartz said they weren’t creating a brand, just awesome sh*t. Sandoval was like, no, it’s a brand, and Schwartz said he knew Sandoval spearheaded things, and embraced it. But Katie thought Sandoval was taking him away from his wife, and she was going to unravel. Sandoval got all animated, and Schwartz told him, easy. Katie and Lala’s conversation on the subject was much more concise. Katie told Lala what Sandoval had said, and Lala called him a little punk ass bitch.

After Madcap Motel, the group went to a bar called Tramp Stamp Granny’s. Sandoval toasted to Ariana, the love of his life, and said they were all lucky to know her. In Katie’s interview, she said Tramp Stamp Granny’s was a great name for a bar. In James’s interview, he said he didn’t know anything about Brock’s HomeBody app, and told Lala that he wasn’t doing it for free. His Instagram was a whole other thing, and he didn’t want to advertise for Brock. Lala said James was the best roller coaster she knew. James talked about staying sober, and Lala said, even though that was the goal, it wasn’t about not drinking. It was about being a better human. In Lala’s interview, she said James had done a lot of self-work. He still had outbursts, but giving up alcohol was a big deal. I agree, especially in the business he’s in. A ton of pizza arrives, and James gets everyone to chant, pizza! Ariana sat with Charli and Raquel, and ate a miniscule amount of toppings off Raquel’s slice. They talked about Scheana, and Raquel said Scheana had asked her to end friendships. Ariana said she and Scheana went through some f***ed up sh*t as friends. When she started dating Sandoval, Scheana thought he was the devil. We flashed back to Scheana discouraging the pairing, and in Ariana’s interview, she said their friendship almost ended, but they were like family now. Ariana went to the bar, announced she hadn’t eaten anything all day, and promptly fell on her ass. In her interview, she said, when Sandoval told her they were  going to dinner, she didn’t eat. Things were escalating. She yelled, it’s my effing birthday! and tried to have a conversation with Katie. She suggested she and Sandoval, and Katie and Schwartz all go to the dinner the next night, but Katie said she’d rather do anything else. Ariana offered to lick both their buttholes, and cupcakes with candles in them came out. Perfect timing. I thought she was so drunk, she wasn’t even going to remember this. Ariana smashed a cupcake on Sandoval’s face, then proceeded to lick it off. She told him that she hated chocolate (who hates chocolate?), and yet she was still licking it off his face. She effing loved him.

Lala talked to Randall about getting an assistant, and in her interview, she said she’d started off with a lipstick, and now she was a successful brand. Since becoming a mom, she’d been overwhelmingly busy, and she was planning a Give Them Lala beauty party. Randall had suggested she get an assistant so she’d stop harassing his. Randall told one candidate that the company was all Lala. He’d wanted to be a part of it, but she kicked him to the curb. In Lala’s interview, she said she did it all herself. She didn’t want to be dependent on a man. Candidate Jessica worked for American Idol, and was good with social media. She told Lala that she knew what it was like to be a filter. She was the chosen one, and Randall said Lala did great.

In Schwartz’s interview, he said the whole thing had reached a breaking point. Something had to give, and it wasn’t going to be his wife. He wasn’t choosing Sandoval over Katie, ever. Maybe he and Sandoval needed to sort some things out. Ariana told Sandoval that it mattered to her to have Katie in their lives, and Tom whined that women were entitled to yell, but as a straight man, if he raised his voice, he was wrong. Katie told Schwartz to look Sandoval in the eye and say, you can’t talk to my wife that way. Let him know who’s effing number one. He went to Sandoval and Ariana’s house, and I was impressed with how quickly they got a drink in his hand. I didn’t even see anyone pour it. It was like magic. Poof! A drink.

Ariana made herself scarce, and Schwartz said something had been weighing on him since the blow-up at TomTom. Sandoval agreed it had been dark and depressing, and Schwartz said, the bottom line was, he needed Sandoval to respect Katie. Sandoval said he wanted to keep his distance from Katie. He felt like no matter what he said or did, it got twisted. Schwartz said it was partly his fault, and he took responsibility for that, but Sandoval needed to give Katie a higher level of respect, and she’d extend the same courtesy to him. Sandoval thought it was best they stick to being business partners, and keep non work related socialization to a bare minimum. Bar hopping wouldn’t be happening for a while. Schwartz agreed they should take a break, and in his interview, he said it sucked to keep it strictly business, but thought it’s what had to be done. Schwartz told Sandoval that they could still have some fun; 90% business and 10% pleasure.  

Next time, Brock wants to propose to Scheana, James asks Raquel if he’s controlling, and Schwartz becomes self-conscious about the boundaries in his and Sandoval’s friendship.

😵 It’s a Madcap World…

It looks like a really cool place.

🛥 Deck’s Loss…

I’d just watched the first season again not long ago. He seemed like a nice guy, but it sounds like he didn’t exactly live a healthy lifestyle.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1313178/below-deck-mediterranean-star-captain-mark-howards-cause-of-death-revealed

🏆 They’re Golden…

Hard to believe it’s almost 2022.

Winners & Nominees

⚽️ Kicking Back…

Tomorrow, the usual soap, and I’ll see what Fancy Pants is up to in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay not letting the holidays be a big stress ball, and stay being infinitely more capable of virtue than vice.

October 29, 2021 – Gladys Comes Bearing Intel, New Gig, Reboot, Invaded, Not True, More Erika, Denial, Nobody, Ultimate News, Deck Farewell, Sequel, Haunting Quotes & Thrill This

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna sees Finn at the hospital and tells her, welcome back. She thanks him, and he says, still no sign of Peter? She says, no. She was just talking to the agents on the ground in Crete, and nothing. Not yet anyway. He says, as much as he wishes she had Peter in custody, or another freezer, he’s glad she’s okay. She says she wishes they all were.

Elizabeth tells Valentin, he’s doing remarkably well for a man with a gunshot wound who’s been shipped halfway around the world. How is he feeling? He says, like he could wrestle a bear, and Austin comes in, saying, he thinks Valentin would need a note from a doctor. Elizabeth asks if there’s something she can do for Austin, and he says, sure, but right now her tact and discretion are gift enough. She doesn’t need to worry. He’s not there in a medical capacity. He has business with the patient.

Brook tells Charlotte to eat her cereal so they can get going, but Charlotte says she can’t. Papa doesn’t let her eat sugary cereals. Brook says, just this once won’t kill her. Now, hurry up, so they can go to the hospital and see her dad. Brook’s phone rings, and she tells Lucy, this isn’t such a great time… She had Gladys working on that. She told Gladys she’d finish it, but she forgot… No, Brook has no idea where she keeps that calendar… Has Lucy tried calling her phone?… Oh, of course (🍷) she’s not answering. Fortunately, Brook knows exactly where to find her.

At the MetroCourt, Sasha tells Brando that his coffee smells good. It has real caffeine in it, doesn’t it? He says, mm-hm. She misses it, doesn’t she? She says, so much. She doesn’t dream of fitting back in her clothes or riding a roller coaster. She dreams of morning coffee, a double-shot latte with extra foam. Maxie comes in, saying, she’s sorry she’s late. Sasha says, no worries, and Brando says he enjoyed the extra time with Sasha. Maxie says, enjoy it while he can. He won’t have a free minute once the baby is born.

Gladys goes to the bar, wearing a bathrobe and slippers, and asks the bartender, what kind of a spa doesn’t have alcohol? She needs a bottle of Dom, and are strawberries in season? Never mind. If they’re covered in chocolate, it doesn’t matter. (Yes, it does.) She’ll take half a dozen. Brando asks what she’s doing there, and she says, the works. Eyebrow threading, mani-pedi, and some kind of treatment with gold leaf that’s going to take ten years off of her. He asks if she isn’t supposed to be at work, and Maxie says, that’s what she’d like to know.

Ava asks if Spencer would top off her coffee one more time, and Spencer says she’s already had four cups; the fifth one might kill her. Coming right up. Ava asks if that’s any way to talk to a customer, and Spencer says, perhaps Nikolas can spare his wife by taking her somewhere more suitable. Ava says, such as? and Spencer says, somewhere else. Nikolas says Spencer seems to have forgotten, he has no moral high ground here. He stalked Ava for months. He terrorized Ava, him, and Avery. He won’t allow Spencer to be rude to Ava on top of it. Spencer says, that’s rich. The man who let him think he was dead for three years is lecturing him on his tone. Nikolas says he’s Spencer’s father, and Spencer says, that can’t be helped. Next time Nikolas climbs on his high horse, just remember he’s no innocent himself. Shawn comes in, and looks at Nikolas.

Brook sends a text to Maxie that says, 911! AGAIN! Charlotte comes in, and says she gave Bailey a kiss goodbye from both of them, and said she’d tell daddy that Bailey loves him, and she gave the nanny Bailey’s top three favorite toys in case she won’t stop fussing. So they can go now? Brook thanks her, and says she’s so good to Bailey. Charlotte says, of course () she is; Bailey’s her sister. Brook says, off they go, and Charlotte asks if she’s sure they shouldn’t bring Bailey to see Papa. The nanny can get her ready in ten minutes; five if she helps. Brook says she wishes they could, but she thinks it would be too much commotion for Valentin. Charlotte supposes Brook is right. Besides, she might be scared by all the machines. Brook asks if Charlotte is nervous, and says, her Papa is going to be fine. He’s looking forward to seeing her. She’s very brave, and Brook wants her to know that she doesn’t just have Valentin; she has Brook too. Charlotte says she knows, and hugs Brook. Brook says, so Bailey is with the nanny, check; spoonful of sugar, check. Are they forgetting anything? Charlotte says, Yuri, and Brook says, that is one giant oversight. Let’s get Yuri, and let’s go see your dad.

Gladys says she has the day off, and Maxie asks if Brook is aware she’s not at her desk. Gladys puts a credit card in the folder to pay her bar tab, and says, it was Brook who gave her the day off. Maxie snatches the card, and says she supposes Brook also told Gladys that she could use her corporate card? Gladys holds out her hand, and says, it’s hers to use, but Maxie says, this is a corporate credit card. She’s part owner of the corporation, and it’s not for frivolous spa treatments or strawberries and champagne. Gladys says, Brook told her it was okay, and Sasha says she’s sure this is a misunderstanding. What did Brook say exactly? Gladys says, Brook was clear. Brook told her to enjoy her well-deserved reward day for all the hard work she’s done. Maxie laughs, and asks if she’s talking about the bare minimum they practically have to beg her to. Brando says he thinks it’s best if they postpone Gladys’s spa day, and she can reward herself this weekend. Gladys says she’s going to do what she was promised, she’s going to do it today, and she’s going to pay for it with that card, like she was promised.   

Ava says Nikolas has been preoccupied all morning. Is there anything he wants to discuss? He says, what’s to discuss? Despite his job, his kid is nowhere close to doing what’s right. She says, and Alexis? and he says, what about Alexis? She says he told her before that Alexis’s pardon might not work out. That’s got to be weighing on him. He says he does have a lot of family business on his mind, and she if he wants to elaborate. He says, there’s been some trouble with some real estate the Cassadines used to own in Greece. He needs to make some inquiries. She asks how it affects him, if the Cassadines no longer own the property, and he says, maybe it doesn’t, but he’d like to head to GH to make sure.  Valentin was shot on the property.

Finn says he heard Peter shot Valentin, and Anna says, he did. He says when he heard, all he could think about were those two little girls, Valentin’s kids. Because of Peter, they could have lost their father. It never should have come to this. He wishes he’d killed Peter. Anna says, no he doesn’t, and pulls him aside. He says, he does. If Peter would have died, none of them would have to worry about him going on this rampage. She says, at what cost to him though? and he asks if she’s talking about his conscience. He thinks he would have slept just fine knowing Peter was in the ground. She says he would have spent the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, wondering when it was going to catch up with him. And if it had, what would have happened to Violet? He says, at least he would have known that Violet and everyone else was safe from Peter. She says, that day will come because Peter’s starting to get desperate, and along with desperation comes mistakes, so he will get caught. Finn says, if he does, he’s interested to see if Peter will tell the authorities about the whole stairwell/freezer incident. She says, if he does, they’ll probably throw Finn a parade. She knows how much he love crowds and attention. He says he does love a good parade, but seriously, when she’s out there looking out for the world, who’s looking out for her?

Valentin says he hasn’t forgotten his agreement with Austin. If Austin wins his suit against the Quartermaines, he’ll support Valentin’s bid to stay CEO of ELQ, and Valentin will pay him off in any way Austin sees fit. Austin says he’s only there to tell Valentin that he’s going to have to hold on to his job on his own. He’s agreed to stop pursuing his claim against ELQ. Valentin asks, why he would do that? and Austin says, the mother of Valentin’s daughter. Valentin asks what Brook’s done now, and Austin says she manipulated him into making a HIPPA violation. Then she made him an offer. He gives up his rights as Jimmy Lee’s son, or he could give up his medical license. Valentin says he’s sorry to hear that. Brook can be a tenacious little minx when it comes to her family. Austin says, she sure is. He recognizes, as Bailey’s father, Valentin doesn’t have a choice, but he does. He doesn’t want anything to do with the Quartermaines. He’s out. Brook says, works for her, and stands in the doorway with Charlotte and Yuri.

Valentin says, mon petite, and Charlotte runs to him, saying, mon papa. Austin says, it’s suddenly really crowded in here. He thinks he’ll split. Brook tells him not to let the door hit him when he’s leaving. Charlotte asks if Valentin is okay, and he says he’s tougher than he looks. She says, he looks terrible, and Brook says, she should see the other guy. What is this, life number six or seven? He says, at least eight, and Brook says she has some Deception business to tend to, and they have some father/daughter time to make up for, so get on that. Outside the door, she tells Yuri that she has some calls to make, and to stay there with Charlotte. She’s his number one job. As she walks down the hall, Austin says he still hasn’t gotten the official word from the Board about going back to work. Could she prod that along? She says, not now, and he tells her to take her time. It’s just his future, his career, the lives of his patients. No worries.

Maxie says Gladys is an assistant. Nobody owes her a spa day or anything else aside from her weekly salary, provided she actually earns it. And she’s confiscating the card until further notice. Gladys says she doesn’t think Maxie wants to do that, and Brando tells her, stop. She can’t talk to her boss that way. Maxie’s phone dings, and she says, that’s Brook. Gladys says Maxie can ask her herself, but Maxie says she has to meet Brook at GH; Valentin is in the ICU. Gladys says, that poor wonderful man, and Sasha tells Maxie to go; they’ll reschedule. Maxie says, as for Gladys, she expected her back at her desk ten minutes ago. She leaves, and Gladys tells Sasha, before she says anything, she was telling the truth. Sasha says they’ll get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, Gladys has to remember that she reports to Brook. Gladys says, how can she forget? and Sasha says, and Brook reports to Maxie. Gladys says, Maxie was just lording that over her; Sasha doesn’t need to repeat it. Brando says, if they’re constantly reminding her of who her boss is, maybe she needs to hear it. Gladys says she’s sick of it. Nobody talks down to her, least of all some fraud who’s barking out orders at her when she should be getting a paternity test. Brando says, hey! Apologize to Sasha right now, and Sasha says, Brando is this baby’s father, without question, and she doesn’t need a test to prove it. Gladys says, of course (🍷). She didn’t mean that. She’s sorry; she’s overwhelmed. Which is why she needs a spa day. She runs out.

Anna tells Finn, this manhunt for Peter has been exhausting; mentally and physically. And the sheer carnage he’s left in his wake. Now there’s two little girls whose father is in ICU. He says, he took the liberty of looking at Valentin’s chart. Exploratory surgery isn’t without risk, but given Valentin’s age and condition, he hates to say it, but he thinks Valentin is going to make it. She laughs, and thanks him for that. She’s happy they still want what’s best for each other. As far as Peter is concerned, Finn’s peace of mind is more important than having him in custody. His death on Finn’s conscience, she would never want that for him, ever. Or Elizabeth. Finn looks at Elizabeth, standing at the reception desk.

Ava says, Valentin was shot? and tells Nikolas, great. She hopes he was sent out a window and belly-flopped into the Aegean. He says, but she’s not one to hold a grudge, and she tells him to let her enjoy it. She asks, who shot him, and why the hell would Nikolas care? and Nikolas says he’ll explain on the way to the launch, but she says he’ll explain on the way to GH. She’s going with him.    

Shawn walks into Kelly’s, and Spencer wonders why they call it serving when you spend most of the time cleaning up. Shawn says he’ll get the hang of it, and maybe even come to enjoy the work. Spencer says he’ll take Shawn’s word for that, and asks what brings him back so soon? Did he forget something? Shawn says he came back to see Spencer.   

Elizabeth asks if Finn is sure Anna isn’t going to say anything about what they did to Peter, and he says he thinks Anna has their back. She says, okay. She should thank Anna. She guesses she should cut Anna a little slack. She’s doing everything she can to catch Peter, but Elizabeth can’t help thinking how many lives Peter will destroy before he gets stopped. He says, Peter will never harm Elizabeth or her family again; he’ll make sure of it. She asks, how? and he says he just will. She says, sounds like a plan, and thanks him. He says, speaking of families, he feels kind of terrible for prying into hers.

Valentin asks Charlotte how things are at the Quartermaines without him. Is she helping Brook with her baby sister? She says she changed Bailey’s diaper, twice, and he says, he’s proud of her. He knows it’s been an adjustment, and wants her to know how much he appreciates her effort. She says she enjoys taking care of her sister. It happens a lot when Brook’s friend comes to visit. He says, Maxie? but she says, Detective Chase. They’re constantly playing games and watching movies. Valentin says, they’re friends, and she tells him, if he says so. He says he cares very much about Brook because she’s Bailey’s mother, but he’s glad she has friends. She asks if he has friends, and he flashes back to kissing Anna in the tavern. He says he has her and Bailey, and that makes him the luckiest man in the world.

Gladys is carrying a humongous teddy bear, and tells Austin that she’s looking for a room. Valentin Cassadine. He says he’s terribly sorry, but only family is allowed to visit, but she says she is family. Gladys Corbin, and she comes bearing gifts… She whispers, and intel. He says, oh, intel. Intel wouldn’t have anything to do with the Quartermaines, would it? She says, would it ever, and he says, you don’t say. It’s a crying shame hospital policy prevents him from telling her that Valentin is in ICU-1. She says, thanks for nothin’, winking at him. He says, pawsitively my pleasure, slapping the bear’s paw. She leaves, and he says, damn, that was gold. Maxie asks, what’s gold?

Shawn says, when he was there earlier, Spencer made a crack about how he used to be able to get his father to do anything for him. Spencer says, first of all, Nikolas is his father, not his dad. Second of all, those days are long gone; his father has washed his hands of him. Shawn says, Spencer might feel that way, but he’s sure that’s not true. Spencer says, care to put money on that? He could use it. Shawn says he would, and he’d win. Spencer says Shawn thinks this is one of those tough love kind of things, but it’s not. Shawn says he thinks the connection between Spencer and his father runs deeper than both of them realize. He also thinks they’re both incredibly stubborn. Spencer says he can’t disagree on the second part, and Shawn says, behind the stubbornness, they’re both longing to reconnect. He thinks if there’s anyone in the world Nikolas would come clean to, it’s his son, and Spencer says, come clean about what?

Anna sees Nikolas and Ava, and says she wanted to talk to Nikolas. He asks what he can do for her, and she says he saved her a trip to Spoon Island. She wanted to ask him about a Cassadine property in Crete. He says, any properties there were sold off years ago. He might be able to provide her with some more information later, but right now he’s here to see Valentin. Anna says, that’s odd. It wasn’t that long ago that they nearly came to blows at the MetroCourt. Not to mention Valentin shot Nikolas out a window and into the sea, and Nikolas was in hiding for three years. He says, recent events have taught him to  rely on his better angels. Can she tell him where he can find Valentin? She says, ICU, but visitation is limited. Ava suggests they come back another time, and Nikolas asks Anna to let Valentin know they were there. She says she’ll be happy to, but while she’s playing messenger, is there anything he’d like to say to his Uncle Victor? Nikolas says, what about him? and Anna says she thought Nikolas would have heard. Victor’s alive.

Valentin asks if Charlotte has seen Scout, and Charlotte says, Scout and Danny were over. He asks if Scout is still interested in ballet, and Charlotte says she is. He says he’s glad. Yuri stops Gladys from coming in, but she says she’s a friend. Valentin says, Miss Corbin? and she says, Gladys. She told Yuri she was a friend; now let her inside. Yuri says, Charlotte is visiting with her father, and Charlotte asks Valentin, who is this person? Gladys says, isn’t she a delight? And pretty. She bets Charlotte knows it. Valentin introduces them, and Gladys says, now will Yuri let her in? Valentin suggests Charlotte take Yuri to the cafeteria for cocoa or something, and they leave. Gladys comes in, and says, my God, it’s worse than she thought. Don’t worry. His Gladys is here now.  

Brando tells Sasha, he can’t believe his mother. He thought she dropped the whole paternity thing months ago. He’s so sorry. She says, first of all, it’s not his fault. She’s not excusing Gladys, but she’s dealing with a lot. In the past few months, her living situation and employment status changed. He says, both for the better, and Sasha says, and she got shot. He says, which is bad, but she’s wearing it like a badge of honor, and she says, on top of everything, the first man she showed interest in, who showed interest in her, literally got blown up on their first date. He says he gets it, and she says, his mother may be… all of the things she is, but she has been through it. He says, even so, she still has to respect Sasha, not only as the mother of her grandchild, but as her boss. He wouldn’t blame her if she fired Gladys.

Austin tells Maxie, you had to be there. He cracked an unappreciated pun. She says she’s glad sense of humor’s back. Does that mean he’s okay with everything? He says he’ll never be okay with giving up his birthright, but in a weird way, he’s kind of grateful that Brook tried to ruin his career. It reminded him how much he enjoys being a doctor. She says she knows what Brook did was wrong, but she doubts Brook would have gone through with it. He says he’s pretty sure she would have. There’s this thing he’s trying to figure out that he doesn’t understand. Maxie was engaged to an extremely bad dude, and she’s besties with a morally bankrupt woman. Is he the only one who thinks she deserves better?

Brook sees Charlotte with Yuri, and says she thought Charlotte would still be visiting with her father, but Charlotte says he sent her to get hot cocoa. Brook says she’d love to join them, but she has to find Maxie. They move on, and Brook gets in the elevator, and says, and ruin her day.

Finn says, Violet found the picture of Elizabeth and her father… and Elizabeth says, she’s bound to have questions. He says, Violet is a very curious little girl, especially where her family is concerned, and she says, that’s understandable, given all things concerned, and he says, even so, he shouldn’t have pushed her, comparing her relationship with her father to his with Gregory. He shouldn’t have done that. Every family is different. She says, she simply doesn’t have a close relationship with her dad, and Hayden never knew him. She’s sorry he’s not an active grandparent to her boys or Violet, but that’s just who he is.

Nikolas says, his uncle is alive? and Anna says, alive, well, and in custody. He was colluding with Peter. They were holed up in a compound in Crete that Nikolas claims is no longer part of his family’s ownership. Nikolas says, to the best of his knowledge, it isn’t, but he can contact his lawyers. She says she would appreciate that, and he asks if Victor has said anything he should know about, and she says, he hasn’t told them much so far. He’s intimated there are secrets to be shared, but he’s angling for a deal obviously. He says, sounds like his unscrupulous uncle. So what’s going to happen to him? She tells him, it’s difficult to say. Victor didn’t survive, and lay low for six years without someone’s help. Maybe it was Peter; maybe it was someone else. Anyway, she’ll be in touch. She leaves, and Ava asks Nikolas, tell her, what is it he’s hiding?

Shawn says Spencer must know he went to prison for shooting Spencer’s former stepmother Hayden Barnes, but he was falsely accused. Spencer says, he’s out now, so they must have found who shot Hayden. Shawn says, the authorities didn’t, but he did. He needs Spencer’s help to bring them to justice. Spencer asks, what can he…? He puts down the tub of dishes he’s holding, and asks what any of this has to do with his father. Shawn says, everything. Nikolas is responsible for Hayden’s shooting.  

Nikolas asks what Ava means, and she says, it’s clear he knows more about Victor than he’s letting on. If she could see that, so could Anna. So she must ask, is whatever it is going to come back to bite them? He says, if Victor had given him up, he’d be in custody and being formally questioned right now, and she says, given him up for what? He says, Valentin shot him and almost killed him, and she says she remembers very well; she was there. He says Victor found him and nursed him back to health, and she asks what Victor wanted in return. He says, they struck a deal. He kept Victor’s anonymity, and Victor kept his. He promised when he reclaimed the Cassadine estate, he would give Victor a home base, and keep his secret. She asks what this has to do with Peter. How deep is Nikolas in with him? He says he had no clue Victor was up to anything with Peter, and she asks if he can trust his uncle to keep him out of it. He says he thinks so. His uncle is an opportunist, and needs Nikolas where he is. She says, unless he’s found a way to leverage Nikolas for his own freedom. He knows as well as she does, betrayal comes most often from those closest to us.

Spencer asks what Shawn means when he says, Nikolas was involved with Hayden’s shooting? Is Shawn saying he shot her? Shawn says, no. We believe Nikolas hired someone to do the job for him. Spencer goes outside, and Shawn follows. Spencer says, who’s we? and Shawn says, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that Nikolas is the one who hurt Hayden, not him. Spencer says, if what Shawn is saying is true, then his father let Shawn serve six years for something he… What proof does Shawn have? Shawn says, none right now. That’s where Spencer comes in. Spencer says he wants no part of this, and Shawn says, just ask Nikolas about Hayden. That’s all. Spencer asks why he should, and Shawn says, for Violet, Hayden’s daughter. That little girl is without her mother just like Spencer. Doesn’t he want to know if Hayden is staying away because of something his father did to her? Spencer seriously doubts his father is going to confess to him, and Shawn says, then he doesn’t. Spencer says, what if he does? What does he do then, turn Nikolas over to the police? Shawn says, Spencer tells him, and he’ll tell the police. Spencer says he doesn’t want his father to go to prison, and Shawn asks if Spencer isn’t facing prison right now. Nikolas is holding Spencer’s feet to the fire for stalking Ava, while Nikolas arranged for someone to kill Hayden. Who committed the greater crime? Spencer says he’s sorry, but he needs to get back to work, and Shawn says, follow his instincts. Do the right thing. Shawn leaves, and Spencer takes his apron off and jets. Shawn watches from around the corner.

Sasha tells Brando, Gladys is never going to be a perfect fit for Deception, and he says, he appreciates her hiring Gladys. It gave her a sense of purpose. She says, she also wanted Gladys to earn an income so she could move out. He says, that too, and look how Glady’s repaid her; insulting everybody, and helping herself to the corporate card. She says, Gladys honestly thought she had Brook’s blessing somehow, and he says, how? He doesn’t know Brook that well, but she doesn’t seem like the type who would treat his mother to a spa day. Sasha says, she isn’t, which is why she needs to get to the bottom of this. He says, or she could just fire Gladys. It’s obviously not working out. She says, let her talk to Maxie and Brook, and figure out what’s going on. As for Gladys, she still has a job… for now.

Gladys says, that Charmain of his is a real beauty, and Valentin says, Charlotte. She says, like the web? and he says, like the web. Both of his daughters are rare beauties. She asks, where is that precious bundle of Brook’s? and he says, at home. Why is Gladys here? She says he was so good to her and she wants to return the favor. She took a bullet recently too. He says he heard. She seems to have made a remarkable recovery. She says, it’s not all bad; she’s a weathervane now, meaning, she can tell when a storm is coming. He says, that must be useful, and she says, it is. He thanks her for the visit and the gift, and she tells him to remember the bear is for him, not the rug rats, no matter how beautiful they are. He says he will. He doesn’t want to be rude, but he really should rest now. She says, of course (🍷). You poor, poor thing. He must be exhausted. She sits next to the bed, and asks if he knows she works for Brook.

Maxie says she knows Brook isn’t Austin’s favorite person right now, and she can sympathize. There was a time she and Brook hated each other. He asks, what changed? Brook is still superficial, caustic, entitled, and opportunistic. She says, they’ve been though a lot, and she can’t forget the good things, and he says he can’t forget the promise he made to his father. She asks if he’s at least been reinstated, and he says, he got an informal notice that Brook retracted her statement, but he’s still waiting for them to make it official so he can see his patients. She says, that’s good. It means this whole thing is effectively over. He says, it’s not over, when Brook walks up, and he adds, not by a long shot.

Finn says he knows it’s a difficult subject, but he’s only asking for Violet, and Elizabeth says, she wants to see the picture again. He says, she’s asked a couple of times where the picture of her grandpa Jeff is. He looked, but he couldn’t find it. Does she know what happened to it? She flashes back to tearing it up, but says she has no idea.

Sasha tells Brando, she has an idea or two about how to reach Gladys, and he asks if she’s sure. She knows how his mother is. The more someone tries to manage her, the more she doubles down to cause trouble. Sasha says she’s got this. He can leave Gladys to her.

Brook says she’s been calling and texting Maxie since last night. Why hasn’t Maxie gotten back to her? Maxie says, something was wrong with her phone. She wasn’t receiving any texts or calls, and they suddenly came in a few minutes ago. What is going on? Brook grabs her, and says, they need to talk, pulling Maxie away from Austin. Austin says, before they have this little tete-a-tete, he’s done everything Brook asked him to do, yet somehow, miraculously, he hasn’t been officially cleared to see his patients. Brook says, that sounds like a you problem, and he says, the problem is for his patients because he doesn’t get to see them. She says she did her part. She’s sorry if the administrative wheels of this hospital grind slowly. She’s sorry, but she has bigger fish to fry, and Maxie says, like Valentin? Brook says, like her assistant. Something has to be done about Gladys. Maxie says she caught Gladys using Brook’s corporate card, and had to order her to go back to work. Austin asks if they’re talking about Gladys Corbin, and Brook asks how he knows Gladys. He says he doesn’t know her well, they just met, but she was looking for Valentin.

Gladys tells Valentin, she’s Brook’s assistant, but she’s treated more like an indentured servant. She doesn’t understand how a classy guy like Valentin got mixed up with a bossy bridge and tunnel princess like that. He closes his eyes, and asks why Gladys is there, and she says, he was so understanding the few times they kept each other company. He listened, and accepted her for who she is. Does he know what that is? He says, a force of nature? and she tells him, that’s not what she was going to say, but she likes that better. She asks if she can call him Val, and says, if knowledge is power, than anyone who crosses her had better take cover.

Ava calls to Anna, who says she thought Ava left. Ava says she’s on her way out, but she just wanted to reiterate that if Anna needs anything from her or Nikolas, just let them know. Peter’s reign of terror has to end. Anna says she couldn’t agree more. It was nice to see Ava together with Nikolas. She’s so glad that whole stalker nightmare is over. Ava says, Spencer is facing the music, and she and Nikolas are ready for their happily ever after. Anna says she certainly hopes that’s the case, and Ava says it sounds like Anna has doubts. Anna says she’s not sure that’s even possible, happily ever after with a Cassadine.   

On the phone outside Kelly’s, Shawn says, they picked up his tail?… Great. He’s on his way.

Nikolas is at the docks when Spencer joins him. He asks if Spencer isn’t supposed to be finishing his shift at Kelly’s, and Spencer says, something more important came up. It couldn’t wait. Nikolas asks what Spencer’s done now, and Spencer says, it’s not about him. It’s about Nikolas. Tell him about Hayden.

On Monday, Sonny says there’s something Carly should know, Valentin asks if Gladys’s knowledge concerns him, Spencer asks if Nikolas arranged for his stepmother’s murder, and Britt tells Jason, they’re so close, they have to find her.

🕳 What Comes Next…

Glad to see she’s recovered from that fall.

🌲 Pine Valley Legend…

And just think. She can start a new streak of not winning awards.

😧 Yikes…

Not that it’s in any way her fault – she’s totally the victim here – she just got done talking about how pricey her wardrobe was on the RHOBH Reunion.

🚬 Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em…

Josh Flagg? Really?

💎 If You Didn’t Get Enough…

More on the ongoing saga.

📸 Not Me…

She was framed framing Tom.

🥗 Everybody Is Somebody…

I dunno about this. Didn’t she write for fitness and nutrition magazines?

👠 To Be Expected…

What did they think was going to happen?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1307070/why-cynthia-baileys-friendship-with-kenya-moore-changed-after-housewives-girls-trip-fight

https://screenrant.com/real-housewives-ultimate-girls-trip-ramona-room-selection/

You, too, can get in on the fun.

https://www.etonline.com/how-to-watch-the-real-housewives-ultimate-girls-trip-174336

🛥 Final Salute…

He wasn’t on for long, but he seemed like a stand-up guy.

https://people.com/tv/below-deck-mediterranean-captain-mark-howard-dead-at-65/

🐯 Tiger, Tiger…

Because we just can’t stop watching.

https://www.insider.com/tiger-king-2-first-trailer-released-netflix-2021-10

🎃 Quotes of the Week

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

Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.Edgar Allan Poe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🧹 Flying Off On My Broom…

See you post Halloween when the Dead are Feared. No matter what you do, have fun, but trust your instincts. And until the wolf howls, stay extra safe, stay doing what makes you feel comfortable, and stay not doing things that make you desperate. You’ll inevitably make mistakes and get caught.

October 18, 2021 – Victor Is Betrayed By Peter, Last Charter On Deck, What Happened in Split, New House & Haunted

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

It’s nighttime, and Scotty shows up at Britt’s office. She asks how he got there so fast, and he says, as luck has it, he was in the hospital. She asks what ambulance he chased to get there, and it says, it was actually an archery accident. It could have been prevented, but there’s some money in it. He asks, what’s going on? Does she have an idea where Obrecht is? She says, she doesn’t, but he does, looking at Jason standing behind Scotty. Scotty asks what this means, and she says, Jason’s agreed to help them.

Crete, Greece. Drew tells Obrecht, he has to assume Peter knows the shortcut Faison installed inside his head. She says, with his conditioning restored, there’s no telling what Peter’s been forcing him to do, and he says she has to tell him how to stop Peter from taking control again.

Anna tells Robert, there are Crete agents there to rendezvous with them. Now that they found out Peter is working with Victor Cassadine, the objective is to apprehend Victor. Robert says, or kill him. He’s supposed to be dead anyway; no harm done there. She says she’s going to be leading the team to find Peter… and Valentin, and he says, assuming Peter hasn’t killed him already.

Nope. Valentin is playing chess with himself in his room at the compound. Russel stands guarding him, and he asks if Russel can clear something up for him. Why is he still locked up there with Russel standing guard over him, when he’s on Victor’s side? Russel tells him, all he can say is, taking Victor’s side isn’t the smartest move.

Anna tells the agents, she’s going to set up a command post. She wants the compound completely surrounded before they breach. Listening from the side, Sam asks what Dante thinks. He says he thinks they’d better get to Drew before all hell breaks loose. She says, same.

Obrecht tells Drew that she’s sorry, but in their current circumstances, there’s little she can do to help him. But perhaps she can help him to help himself.

Peter tells Victor, let’s focus on what’s important here. He’s discovered how to activate Drew; that’s a good thing. Victor says, it is, but keeping things from him, not so good. Betraying his trust, that’s downright bad, and after everything Victor has done for him. He’s alive because of Victor. Peter says, for that, he’s eternally grateful, and Victor says, eternal is right. I’m done with you, Henrik – forever. He tells the guards to secure Peter.

Curtis leads Portia into The Savoy, and she tells him, go ahead and say it. He knows he wants to. He says they made the right choice. The place isn’t so stuffy at all. It’s perfect for the post museum gala wind-down. Portia thanks him for taking her. The gala is legendary, and she knows the tickets weren’t easy to get. He says, it was beautiful, and so is she. She thanks him, and says she noticed him enjoying the collection. He says, it was nice to look at it with no crowds. He loved that he could look at a Magritte for as long as he wanted to with no one else around. She says, he’s into Magritte? and he says he says he loves the mystery, the shadows, and the sense of foreboding. She says he never fails to surprise her.   

Sam shows Dante her phone, and says, they can go down this road, and sneak in from there. He says, the dirt road? and she says, yeah, the element of surprise. He says, he’ll go, but she says, no, she will. He says, for any particular reason? and she says, he’s probably a better shot than she is. He says she’s a helluva good shot, but he’ll take it. They start to leave, but Robert says, hold it, you two.  

Anna tells the agents, one of their own is being held in this compound. A former WSB agent, Valentin Cassadine. She wants a special detail devoted to finding him.

Valentin says, Russel works for Victor, right? and Russel says, going on three years. Valentin asks why he’s still under watch. Doesn’t Victor trust him? Tell him what he knows. Russel says, Victor isn’t the issue, and Valentin asks, who is? Russel tells him that he’ll know soon enough, and leaves. Valentin listens, and tries the door, but it’s locked.    

Peter says Victor doesn’t want do this, and Victor says, he doesn’t? That’s funny. He’d convinced himself that he did, but he’ll play along. Why not? Peter says Victor will never have the key. He’s the only one who knows it. Victor needs him. Victor says, unless he has other means of controlling Drew. Then he wouldn’t need Peter. Peter says, ordering his men to kill him is the last thing Victor wants to do, and Victor says, let’s find out, shall we? He tells his men to execute Peter, but they don’t move. He asks what they’re waiting for, and they move to either side of Peter. Peter says, surprise.

Obrecht tells Drew that the trigger to activate him is psychological. His mind is his battleground; does he understand what she’s saying? He says, so what does he do? and she says, the next time Peter is there, concentrate on the most important thing to him. He says, that’s his daughter, Scout, and she says, there’s great power in their love for their children; use that.

Scotty says, it’s good to see Jason on the side of the angels this time, and Britt says she’d hardly call her mother an angel. Scotty says, nobody’s perfect, but her mother doesn’t deserve to die at the hands of Peter. Britt suggests they not discuss the fate her mother deserves. The point is, Jason is going to help them. Scotty asks, what’s the plan? Are they going in with Sonny’s henchmen or trained assassins? They’re going in guns blazing, right? They’ve got to get Obrecht out of that dungeon. It’s Peter; they know he must have a dungeon. Jason says he’s not the one who’s going to find Obrecht; Scotty is.  

Curtis asks what surprised Portia the most; that he likes surrealism or he’s into art? She says she was impressed by both, and glad to see another side of him. He says, Curtis Ashford, dilettante, and she says, Curtis Ashford, the man who went above and beyond, not to just make the evening special, but extraordinary. He says he figured he owed her, and she says, for what? He says, one fine day she asked him to be her guest at the Chuck, and he damn near got her killed. After she was nearly asphyxiated at the record keeper’s house, being her escort is the least he can do. She says, there’s something he does need to know, and he says, sounds serious, but she says, not serious as much as important. She heard from his Aunt Stella today.   

Scotty says he doesn’t know diddley about where Obrecht is. If he did, for cryin’ out loud, he wouldn’t have had Britt go to the extreme measure of bringing Jason in. News flash; he’s no big help. Jason asks if Scotty knows Britt has the gene for Huntington’s disease, and Britt says, Jason knows everything. Jason asks if Scotty told anyone else, but Scotty says, no. He was doing what any loving boyfriend would do; searching the internet. He looked for every study, and knows everything about it. So when the day comes that his schnitzel asks him for help, he’s ready. Britt says, that’s very sweet, but Jason says, maybe not the best strategy. Scotty asks if Jason is saying it’s his fault, but Jason says he’s not blaming Scotty. He tried to do the right thing – Scotty says, for once in his life – but unfortunately – Scotty says, here we go – he left the door wide open. He calls Spinelli, and asks how fast Spinelli can get to GH.  

Victor says, Henrik made his employees a better offer, and Peter says he did, and it’s Peter. Victor says, as he wishes. He’s not used to being outmaneuvered like this. He completely underestimated Peter. Peter says Victor is one of so many who’s made that mistake, and Victor says, what next? Russel arrives, and Victor asks if Russel has come to rescue him, or has Peter gotten to him too? Russel says, his apologies for betraying Victor like this, and Peter says, they know what to do. The men take Victor away.

Obrecht tells Drew to think about his daughter, about being reunited with her. Do not allow Peter to distract him. Keep her at the center of his mind. He says he can do that, and she says, feel her in his arms, and see her smile; hear her laughter. He says he can hear it now, and she says, good. That is how to survive Peter. He looks at Scout’s name on the wall.

Anna asks, what’s going on? and Robert says, Sam and Dante think they’re part of this operation. Anna says, okay. They weren’t just privy to the briefing on how to approach the compound, and don’t know the security they’ll be facing. Dante says, they don’t, but they can improvise pretty damn well. Sam says, Anna, of all people, should understand why she wants to do this, but Anna says she thinks Sam’s personal involvement with Drew is going to be more of a liability rather than an asset. Dante says he’s worked with the WSB, but Anna says, he’s not an agent, and Sam is a civilian. Sam says she can take care of herself, and Anna says she’s sure Sam can. She asks to talk to Dante privately, and she tells him that he was held captive, and returned with PTSD. Dante says he was cleared, and he’s allowed to go back to work, but Anna says, in Port Charles, where he’s not going to find the same circumstances he’ll encounter there. This is too similar. It’s a WSB operation where they’re entering an enemy compound. He doesn’t think it will trigger his trauma? She thinks it’s too much of a risk, and tells one of the agents not to allow Dante or Sam to leave the premises. Sam says she can’t do that, but Robert says, actually, she can. The agent tells Sam and Dante to come with him, and Anna tells Robert that she feels bad, but he says, don’t worry. When do they go? She says, they go now, and they leave.   

Valentin continues playing chess, when the door opens. It’s Victor, and Valentin says, he’s been waiting to talk about the agreement they had. Why is he still locked up? Victor says, about that. Funny story. Peter comes in with Russel and says, Victor is no longer Valentin’s captor; he is. Victor says, his men have turned against him, even Russel. Russel says, remember those inside jobs? That’s what this is about. Victor says, don’t tell him Russel is too subtle even for Valentin, and Valentin says, he thinks he knows where this is going, and asks what Peter has in store for him. Peter says, he’s glad Valentin asked, but he doesn’t think Valentin is going to like the answer.   

Curtis says, Aunt Stella reached out to Portia? and Portia says he can’t be more surprised than she is. He says Stella is supposed to be in Baltimore, recovering at a friend’s house from her stroke. He really doesn’t like the idea of her stressing herself out. Portia says she hates to tell him, but Stella definitely put a lot of effort into it; she wrote Portia a letter. She hands it to him, and says, in ink. on paper, in an envelope. She sent it snail mail. He hopes Stella wasn’t going in on Portia again about interfering in his marriage, but she says, not at all. Stella apologized for all of it. What Stella doesn’t know is that Portia already forgave her. But it was such a beautiful gesture, maybe now they can start off on the right foot when Stella comes back. Curtis says, funny. The whole time they were in the museum, he kept thinking about his auntie. She says, what every man’s museum date wants to hear; you look so beautiful, you made me think of my auntie. He says, it’s just that Aunt Stella took him and Thomas to museums – all kinds, science, transit, local history, but more than anything else, art. She’s the reason he knows about art at all. She says, how wonderful, and he says, it was, but as usual, Aunt Stella had a higher purpose. His family was going through a lot of chaos, and she knew it was affecting them. She would put them in the car or drag them on the bus, and the next thing they knew, they were in the marble halls of a museum staring at paintings and statues, traveling through space and time. It really opened his eyes to the beautiful things in the world. She says, he never talks to her about his family. He doesn’t have to answer of course (🍷)… He tells her, go ahead and ask him anything, and she asks, what happened to his parents? What was the chaos?

Curtis says, his childhood… She says, he doesn’t have to tell her, but he asks, how else they can come together if they’re not open and honest about their lives? His childhood isn’t a deep, dark secret. His earliest memories were happy. His beautiful parents loved each other, and he looked up to his big brother. Everything was normal. She asks what his happiest memory is, and he says, it has to be his birthday. He thinks he was 3 or 4, when his dad bought him a lawnmower. When his dad mowed, he would pretend alongside him; he loved that toy. It’s the first birthday he remembers, and the last birthday he had with his dad. She asks, what happened? and he says, one night his dad never came home; a massive heart attack, they said. He just died suddenly. She says she’s so sorry, and he says, it devastated his mom. She did everything she could for them, but she never get over the loss. So when Aunt Stella swooped in to put the family back together, eventually he and Thomas were able to heal, but his mom never fully recovered. Portia takes his hand.

Britt says they need Scotty’s computer, but Scotty says, no. He has confidential business on there. Spinelli tells him, have no fear. He’s going to do a thorough search, and suss (the new word) out whatever information has been ascertained by the unwelcome intruder. Scotty says, all right, but don’t look at anything he’s not supposed to look at.  

Drew says, Scout was only two and a half when he disappeared. She was such an incredible bright light in his life; curious and full of energy. She had the best laugh. Obrecht says, she has the best laugh. Speak about her in the present. Drew says, she’s four now, and will be five in February. He wonders if she remembers him, and Obrecht says she’s certain Scout will remembers him. He says, is she? and she says she doesn’t know Samantha well, but it’s clear she’s not the kind of woman who would let her child forget her father. It helps having a father worth remembering. Britt, on the other hand, if she could burn the memory of Cesar from Britt’s mind, she’d do it in a heartbeat. Maybe that will be her next science project. He says, if you’re going to dream, dream big. A guard wants Obrecht to come with him, but she says, the prisoner has an infection and perhaps a concussion. Tell his superiors that she can’t leave. He says, let’s go, and she tells Drew, Scout his best protection. She leaves with the guard, and Drew looks out the door window.

Peter says, Victor and Valentin are much more trouble than they’re worth. Victor says, Peter should know, and Valentin says, father, don’t antagonize him. Peter says, father? So when Victor said my son a moment ago, that wasn’t a joke? Valentin says, kind of a cosmic joke, and Victor says, he’s right here. Valentin says, they’ve gotten to know each other in the last few hours, days, and Victor says, time flies with family. An alarm sounds, and Victor says, it seems the compound has been breached. Today is full of surprises. Russel runs in and says, the WSB has stormed the gates; they’re heavily armed. Valentin says, looks like Anna found them. If Peter wants a prayer of surviving, Peter had better let him live. Peter tells Russel to keep an eye on them, and if either of them moves, father or son, kill them both. He runs out.

Spinelli says, not to worry. He won’t access confidential files; they aren’t relevant. However, he will need full access to Scotty’s browser history, and Scotty says, hang on, but Spinelli says, far be it for him to shame anyone. They all have their predilections and fetishes. In any event, the word didn’t always denote unusual impulses or unique urges. Au contraire. The original definition of the term is meant to bring good luck. Britt says, they’re going to need a lot of it to find her mother, so everybody, fetish up. Spinelli says, they don’t need luck when they have godlike technical skills. He says, there. They have it. Their answer.

Dante says, he and Sam need to take down the agent, and get out, but she says, he’s big and armed, and they have to do something without  being noticed. Any ideas? He says, maybe. He asks the agent if there’s any way he could let them out of there. His friend has a personal interest in Drew Cain. The agent says, Dante doesn’t remember him, does he? He was with the WSB when Dante was in Angora. He’s always regretted how it turned out. Dante says,  him too, and the agent says he’s glad to see Dante made a full recovery. Since they’re stuck there, how about a drink? He goes behind the bar, and Sam tells Dante, he said something about knocking the agent out? Dante says, and stashing him behind the bar? Yeah.

Drew hears the alarm, and Peter comes into his cell. He says he has a job for Drew, but Drew says, never again, and lunges for Peter’s throat.

Curtis tells Portia that the grief took its toll on his mom’s body, and illness allowed the grief to hit that much harder. It went round and round until eventually, his mom checked out as a parent; not because she meant to, but there just was no choice. Portia says, it was a battle she couldn’t win, and Curtis says, exactly. That’s when Aunt Stella took over, as she does, and cared for him, Thomas, and their mother. To this day, he doesn’t know how Stella managed it, but she did. In the middle of that hurt, chaos, and grief, she would take the time to take them on outings, as she called them. Portia says, to the museums, and he says, and ball games and amusement parks. And not one time did she mention the ultimate price she paid. A man watches them from across the room.

Dante asks if Sam is ready to do this, and she says, she feels terrible, but Dante says he doesn’t, for one reason; he’s in the way. The agent comes over with shots for them, and Sam says, he’s not joining them? but he says, no can do; he’s on duty. She asks if he minds if she goes to the restroom, and he says, no problem. He’ll call for call backup to escort her. She says she knows her way around, but he says, Anna warned him not to leave them alone. Sam laughs, and says, why? and he says, because they’re desperate to get in that compound. Dante already explained to him that she has a personal interest in one of the prisoners. She says, Drew Cain. He’s her daughter’s father. Her daughter is four going on five, and hasn’t seen her father for half her life. She only recognizes him from pictures. Dante says, now they have a chance to reunite her with her father. He knows it’s against procedure, but what’s more important; family or following procedure? Sam says, please, agent. What does he say?

Anna and Robert go down a hall in the compound with a couple of other agents, guns drawn. They get to Drew’s cell, and the door is open. They go in, but it’s empty, and Anna sees Scout written on the wall. She shows Robert, and says, this is Drew’s cell. Robert says, they’re too late.

Valentin says, whatever Peter offered Russel to betray Victor, he’ll double it. Victor says, take the deal; Valentin has the money. Valentin asks if Victor’s been spying on him, but Victor tells him to try and think of it as fatherly interest. Valentin says he doesn’t know how long Russel’s been working for lunatics, but now is his time to cash out. Russel says, if Valentin had the actual cash, he’d be tempted, but he doesn’t, and Peter has already wired it to his account. Drew comes through the door, and as Russel turns, Drew shoots him in the leg. Russel falls, and Valentin says he should have taken the money, grabbing Russel’s gun. He says, nice one, Drew. He likes that; shoots first, then asks questions Valentin says, where’s Victor? and Drew says, who cares? Let’s go. They run out.

Spinelli says he found the malware used to hack into Scotty’s computer, and Jason asks when it happened. Spinelli says, months ago. Every site Scotty visited, even every keystroke he made has been tracked. Scotty says, every keystroke? and Spinelli says he’s afraid so. Whoever installed the spyware on his computer, presumably an operative for Peter, analyzed his search for information on Huntington’s, and planted advertisements and events they knew would entice Scotty. For example, a pop-up window for an underpriced trip to St. Lucia on a private jet. Britt says, he responded to pop-up ads? and Scotty says, who doesn’t like a good deal? They don’t think when he was given the bum’s rush out of the airplane that he didn’t think he was scammed? Jason asks if Spinelli can tell who was spying on Scotty, and Spinelli says it’s going to be tricky, but give him a minute to work his magic, and he’ll see what he can find.  

Curtis tells Portia, his name was Marcus, and he was the love of Aunt Stella’s life. She gave him up to take care of them. Portia asks, why? and he says, she didn’t think she could do both. She says, his Aunt Stella? She didn’t think Stella knew she had limits. He says, she was sure Marcus didn’t want the responsibility of a sick woman and two children, and she says, that’s certainly a sacrifice. She has a whole new level of respect for his aunt. He says, she does sort of command that, and she says, what was it like growing up with her in charge? He says, oh. wow. Aside from the outings, there were rules; many, many rules. As Portia might have noticed, Aunt Stella has a clear sense of right and wrong, at least from her point of view. Portia says, learned that the hard way. Is Stella’s sense of right and wrong what influenced him to be a cop? Is that why he went into law enforcement? He says, sort of, and she says, Stella must have been so proud of him. He says, proud, yes, approving, not so much. She prayed he’d find a new career, something safe; at least safer than police work. She made him call every night to let her know he’d lived through the day. She hated that he was putting his life in danger. The man across the room continues to watch them.

Dante and Sam go through the compound, guns drawn. Dante says, let’s check this one first, and Sam opens a door. Victor is right there, and says, don’t point those things at him. Peter is somewhere around here, and he’s totally deranged. They need get out of here. Dante blocks him, and says, no. They want to talk to Peter, and he’s going to help them find him.

Outside, Anna and Robert walk across a footbridge, holding flashlights. Anna looks over the edge, and says, that is a long drop. It’s a long way from the compound site. Robert says, he’ll be intercepted if he makes a run for it, and she says, he could try the main gate. Robert says, in which case, there will be a nice group of agents waiting to welcome him. It’s not Peter’s M.O. He’s going to wait for darkness, and slither away. Anna says she’s not going to shoot to kill, but Robert says, he is.

Spinelli says, there’s good and bad news. What do they want first? Britt says, bad, and Scotty says, you always give the bad news first. Spinelli says, as they wish. Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, he was unable to ascertain the identity of whoever was receiving Scotty’s information. The good news is that despite their ridiculous efforts to send whoever dared trace them on a wild goose chase across the globe… Britt says, he knows where they are? and Spinelli says he traced the IP address to Greece, specifically the island of Crete. Scotty says, so he’s telling them, all roads lead to Greece? and Spinelli says, and there the Cassadines lie.

Curtis tells Portia, Aunt Stella didn’t know he was using at the time. He damn near destroyed himself. Eventually, she did find out. He’d hidden it from her for a long time, but he thinks she suspected. Portia says, if she did see it, she didn’t want to believe it. A river in Egypt and all that. He says, but Aunt Stella likes to stare the truth square in the face. So soon, she was staring him square in the face, reading him the riot act back to sobriety. She says she can so picture that, and he says she did help him get through it. Something else he owes her for. She says, look at him now, all dressed up, an armchair expert in classical art, with everything he’s been though. He says, his life has been anything but boring, and she says she gets why he likes Magritte, the shadow and the mystery. This might shock him, but she’s looking forward to getting to know his aunt better. He says he is shocked. Is she sure she’s up for it? She says, Stella is a huge part of his life, and he wants to honor that relationship. He says, it’s important to him that they get along. She says, for the record, as exciting as it must have been, she’s glad his detective days are over, private and otherwise. It’s one thing she and Stella have in common; they both like knowing he’s safe and sound. He says he intends to stay that way. He certainly has a lot to live for. They kiss, and the man continues to watch them.   

Spinelli says, the only connection he knows between Obrecht, Peter, and the Cassadines are Helena and Faison, but they’re both dead. Scotty says, there is one more, and Britt says, Victor Cassadine. Her mother was involved with him. Spinelli says, involved as in… She says, involved, and Spinelli says, there’s only one word to describe such… Scotty says, cringeworthy. That’s the way Liesl described it – cringeworthy. Spinelli says, forgive him, but isn’t Victor Cassadine also in the underworld? Jason says, at least now they know where to start looking for Britt’s mother, and for Peter.

Dante says they know Victor is working with Peter, and Victor says, he was, up until – and this may be a shock to them – Peter betrayed him. Dante says, oh no. His heart breaks for Victor. It must be really frustrating, being played like that. Victor says, at least he’s still breathing. Thanks to the WSB’s timely arrival. Peter took off; he’s probably desperate to escape. As he said before, Peter is completely out of his mind. They really need to get going. Sam says, he doesn’t know where Peter is, fine, but what about Drew?

Anna says, he’s coming, and Robert says, here we go. They draw their guns, but Anna says, it’s Drew and Valentin. Drew and Valentin are crouched down, sneaking across the footbridge, and Anna says, Valentin. Valentin stands up, and says, Anna, and Peter shoots him. Drew fires at Peter, who fires back. Drew is hit, and falls over the side of the bridge into the water.

Tomorrow, they showed nothing but Drew floating in the water, and bleeding out.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Ostrica, Croatia. Mathew says, the eggs are going to put him over the edge. He’s going to cry. In Katie’s interview, she says, Mathew’s stress is getting the better of him. We flash back to the guest calling him out on the beets. She doesn’t know what to tell him to do. Just stop spiraling. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s embarrassed to send the dishes to the table. They’re the worst egg dishes in his career. Katie says she needs to finish service, and a guest asks for toasted bagels. Captain Sandy tells Mathew about the bagels, although how she ended up with that task escaped me. The guest who got egg whites isn’t loving them, and in her interview, Katie says, they have two stews and demanding guests. She just has to move forward. She has to drop the sh*t, let it go, and carry on. The jet skis are brought out, and the guests mess around on the water toys. Katie pats Mathew on the back, and says, it’s the last day. He says, everything went backward, and she tells him, lunch is at 2:30. Malia says the tender is loaded for the picnic, and the captain tells her to take someone from interior over with her. Courtney leaves on the tender, and two guests sit in the hot tub wondering where service is, but Katie is finishing up in the laundry.   

Guest Deborah goes to the bar, but there’s no one there, and she calls for somebody . Mathew hears her, and says he’ll grab Katie. Deborah is all, my God, and Mathew radios Katie that drinks are needed in the hot tub. In Katie’s interview, she says, she was complaining that they needed more stews, and she just kept two. What is wrong with her? Courtney helps set up the picnic, and it seems like they always have to climb a bunch of stairs. Katie gets the guests their drinks, and Mathew asks Katie what he should do. She tells him to do what he wants, and in her interview, she says she loves Mathew, but doesn’t have time for him right now. She asks what’s wrong with him, and he says he’s a mess today. Today? Malia tells Mathew to have the food ready in ten minutes, and Mathew says he’s going to lose it. The guests get in the tender, and in Malia’s interview, she says she’d love to reward David, since he’s been busting his ass, and sends him to the picnic. It’s at the lookout tower of a 600 year old fortress, and she tells us, it has dungeons. It’s the perfect place for a picnic – or an execution. The guests are impressed.

Captain Sandy curses the wind, and says, they’re dragging anchor. The sooner they get all the water toys in, the sooner they can move. They’re drifting into shallow water. She tells the deckhands, no neatly packing things away; just get them in. Malia and Lloyd deal with the dreaded slide, and in Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, drifting into shallow water can be disastrous. At the picnic, one of the guests wants a crab cake. The food arrives, Katie and David set things up, and Katie tells the guests to help themselves. Guest Terrence wonders why she’s not bringing it over, but guest Deborah says, she did, on the boat. Back at the yacht, the crew manages to help get the boat out of shallow water, and in Malia’s interview, she says, chaos is the ultimate test, and they passed it. The captain says, they’re headed for the fortress, so when the guests finish, they’ll be there. The guests proclaim the food fabulous. Mathew gets an eggshell in some batter he’s mixing, and Courtney lies on the laundry room floor. In Mathew’s interview, he says, throughout the charter season, he’s been trying to get out of his head and to his happy place. When he messes up, he questions whether or not he’s a good chef. It’s not healthy, but he does it. In Katie’s interview, she says, it’s common to work 19 hour days in yachting. During her very first charter to Ibiza, they went three weeks straight where the guests were going to bed at 6 or 7 am. She tells David that she’s going to be up all night again.

Sandy drops anchor, and in Courtney’s interview, she says, it’s hard with only two, but she doesn’t want to let Katie down. The picnic stuff is packed up, and brought back to the boat. David lets Mzi drive the tender, and in his interview, Mzi says that he’s grateful David and Malia allowed him to do things. He’s stoked to be where is, paving a new path. Mathew asks Katie what to make again, and she says she doesn’t care. In her interview, she says she needs a shower and some water. She tells Mathew to do what he’s going to do. The guests get back, and get in the hot tub. Courtney serves drinks, and Mathew says she wants to do everything. Captain Sandy says she thinks they’re going to make it, and Katie says the guests will be fine. The captain says she’ll help Katie in any way, but in Katie’s interview, she says, it was her decision, and she has to live with it. Mathew says Katie told him not to make too many courses, but won’t tell him what to cut out. Katie explains that with all the courses the night before, she was cleaning up late. In her interview, she says, she can’t deal, and needs him to do his job. She’s trying to be awake for the guests. Just do what you’ve been doing… without asking her.

Mathew says he’s sick of this, and Lloyd sneaks to a computer to make a card from the deckhands to Malia. The guests are seated, and Katie asks Malia for help. Malia asks David where Lloyd is, and if the hold has been rinsed. David says it hasn’t, and Lloyd is on the computer. Malia tracks Lloyd down, but luckily he’s able to change the screen before she sees it. She says, as much as she loves him working on personal stuff… He says, the hold? and she says, yeah. Courtney says it’s less than 24 hours to go, and Matt says he’s stressed. Malia helps serve dinner, and her phone goes off as she’s serving, but she can’t answer since her hands are full of plates. She asks first officer Marten to consider Lloyd for the crossing position, and Mathew tells himself, keep it together. Katie tells Mathew that she’s sorry about cutting him off earlier, but the guests are happy. In his interview, he says, he needed that. He couldn’t focus or think of what to cook, and he freaked out. He thinks coming out of a spiral in itself was a success. I’m thinking he should really consider a new career, or at least not be in yachting. Malia calls Lloyd to the bridge, where Marten tells him that they’re looking for an engineer to go from Sibenik to Barcelona. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he was crapping his pants on the way up. He can’t believe how his outlook on life has changed from the beginning of the season to now. His situation is different, and he’s got a new job going forward. Malia has been the best boss.

In her interview, Katie says, the charter has been hard for all of them, and now they’re going to a house to be together. She hopes it doesn’t backfire. Courtney goes to bed, and the guests play cards. They want constant drinks, and one asks for gummi bears. Then it’s back to the hot tub again, and in Katie’s interview, she says, it was her f*** up. She has to take the punishment. She’s been working 19 hours with no break, and has officially been awake for 24. She wishes she could drug the guests with sleeping pills, and David says, can she? The guests finally go to bed at 4:20, and David says he’ll finish the dishes. In her interview, Katie says she doesn’t know who she is. She wants to sleep for three weeks straight.

Final day. In Mathew’s interview, he says, after yesterday’s breakfast disaster, he wants to  finish as simple as possible. Cook your own effing eggs. Courtney tells the guests that she makes a great bloody Mary, but in reality, doesn’t know how to make one, and doesn’t want to wake Katie. Mathew makes French toast, and anchor is home in Sibenik. The deckhands dance around. In his interview, Mathew says, French toast and strawberry syrup; what can go wrong ? He wants to end the charter on a high note. Captain Sandy says, it’s the smoothest docking she’s ever had, and Katie manages to get five hours sleep. The captain tells everyone, nice work, and in David’s interview, he says, it’s bittersweet, and they’re all exhausted. In Katie’s interview, she says, Courtney started off in laundry, and ended by serving breakfast service by herself. That’s why she deserves her stripes. The captain tells the crew to meet on the dock.

Jenelle says the trip was a magical experience to cap their first year of marriage. It was phenomenal. The guests leave, and Captain Sandy tells everyone to change from their whites to their reds, and meet in the salon to count their final, very large tip. The captain says she knows it was hard for Katie, but she stepped up and worked hard. It was incredible. Mathew continued to be opposite of the person who boarded the vessel, and she thanks him. When she gets to Malia, she says she’s going to cry; she’s so proud. It’s like she said the first time they worked together, Malia is a natural born leader. She brings out the best in her team, and it was a pleasure. They did it, and the tip is $20K or $1818 each in US dollars. They made $132,380 for the entire season. She says she’ll be joining them at dinner, and also invited quarantined chef Luka for a drink to say thanks.

Everyone gets ready to go out, and Captain Sandy texts Luka. He arrives, and meets the crew, except for Mathew, who slinks away. He explains that he was the back-up chef in case something went wrong. In Mathew’s interview, he says, it’s effing uncomfortable. Malia asks if Luka wants a beer, and gets him one. Katie says, Mathew only quit twice, and Luka says that’s why he was there. Mathew mumbles to himself in his cabin, and tells David that he doesn’t want to end the season by attacking. He shuffles into the crew mess, and barely makes small talk with Luka. Luka leaves, and I think Captain Sandy slipped him cash. The crew all has a shot, and goes out.

Courtney says, it’s so emotional, and they go to a restaurant near where Mzi and Courtney had their drunken fall. Captain Sandy tells them that they’re the best crew she’s worked with, and in her interview, she says, they’re the epitome of team work makes the dream work. They had each other’s backs. Katie says she couldn’t have done it without them. Their vibe was what she needed. Malia toasts to Katie, and in Malia’s interview, she says she doesn’t know if she would have made the same decision, but she liked working with Katie. Katie works her ass off, and Malia respects that. Captain Sandy says her low was having to cook, and Mathew says, sorry. The captain says, even worse was having the client tell her how bad it was. Mathew says he knows he’s got a personality, and Katie says he’s weird AF. Captain Sandy says her high was the dinner, watching people who’ve never met each other, pull it off. Mathew says, it was a team building exercise, and everyone laughs. David thanks Mathew for everything he’s done, and there’s a round of applause. Malia says, David was the most overlooked. He doesn’t act for praise. He’s officially a lead deckhand. She toasts to him, saying, cheers to their leader, and in his interview, he wonders if she’ll marry him now. Malia says she never felt as supported, and they all stand up and raise their glasses to the captain. Captain Sandy leaves after the toasts are all given, and Lloyd gives Malia the card that has a group photo on it, and says they appreciate her. She thanks them, and in her interview, she says she loves them. They’re like all her brothers, and she never had this on a boat before. They do a shot to the end of the season.  

Back at the boat, the girls have snacks, and the guys roll around on the couches, while Mathew sleeps. Everyone dances around, some of them on the table. Courtney twerks, and they take turns spinning around on the big lazy Susan. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, the lazy Susan is being ridden hard. David takes a turn and falls off, crashing into the seats. Maybe he shouldn’t get on anything that moves, or get out of anything that doesn’t.   

In the morning, Malia tells everyone that they have to get up and off the boat. Lloyd says, you are a boat. Malia tells Katie, a fairy came and cleaned the crew mess, and we see a clip of Malia doing it. Courtney says goodbye to the captain, and Mathew thanks her for the second chance. In his interview, he says, this finishes his old life. His mom was a chef, and he’s worked with the best. He has some growing up to do. He’s glad he didn’t freak out last night; he feels that’s something. Lloyd says goodbye to Captain Sandy, and thanks her, saying, he couldn’t have picked a better captain. Mzi thanks her, and says, it’s been amazing. He’s grateful for the experience. Katie thanks her as well, and says her support meant the world. The captain says she pushed Katie to make her a better leader, and in Katie’s interview, she says, you can’t always please everyone. That’s something she can learn and take to everyday life. Captain Sandy is a boss lady, and she’s glad for the opportunity to work with her. The captain says Katie is a great leader. She tells Malia, they did it. What an incredible 180 Malia is. Malia says the captain inspired her. In her interview, Malia says she wants to be to the deckhands like the captain was to her. If they’re unsure of where they fit, they’ll figure it out together, and get them where they want to be. She thanks Captain Sandy for the season. In her interview, Katie says, it’s a strange group of people. She doesn’t know how it works, but it works effing well.  

They leave, excited for going to Split. Captain Sandy wonders, what’s next? A producer asks them, what happened in Split? Katie and Malia just laugh, and Courtney says, she can’t say anything that happened. It can’t be spoke. Mathew says, it was like one of those sex parties, and David says, he and Lloyd had a banging kabob. Lloyd says, it was all very PG, and Mzi says, um… Mathew mimes zipping his mouth and throwing away the key, and Courtney says, what happened in Split, stays in Split.

This was the finale, and immediately afterward, they had the…

Below Deck Mediterranean Reunion

The Reunion was virtual on Watch What Happens Live. Andy told us that Lexi very firmly declined the invite. We flashed back to the boatmances, or lack thereof, and went through Mathew’s spirals. A viewer asked if he’d returned to other jobs he’d walked out of, and he said two of them were one-off dinner parties where it was more than he could handle, and he backed out. Andy asked if the crew thought he’d come back after he left, and Mathew said he didn’t think he was coming back. Captain Sandy she wasn’t sure if he would, and another viewer asked why she let him come back again. She said she wasn’t making excuses, but being a chef was hard, and sometimes it’s better to go with who you know. Katie says, his food blew her away. Not one person complained about their food being cold, which is a common complaint. Everyone said they’d work with him again, except Captain Sandy, who said she liked reliability and dependability. Mathew was a great guy, but after watching the show, she saw how he poked the bear. She didn’t see everything throughout the season, and she was mortified, Mathew got mad, saying it was editing, and she said, there’s your answer. Andy asked if Mathew thought they’d made him look worse than he was, and Mathew said he regretted his bad moments, but he was a good employee, and Captain Sandy was one of the worst captains he’d ever worked with. Because he’s seven years old. Courtney told him that was going too far, and the captain said, you could be great at your job, but personality also came into play. You had to be able to diffuse situations. It wasn’t easy, and when you added alcohol, people said and did things they regretted. Some people couldn’t take constructive criticism. Mathew didn’t know when not to talk, and his Achille’s heel was himself.   

We saw clips of the nightmare that was Lexi, and the captain said, the reality was, she didn’t get to see everything. If she’d seen it, she would have fired Lexi immediately. Malia said, if anything, Lexi had been edited nicely, and Courtney said she understood grief, but that didn’t mean you could be aggressive to another person. It wasn’t an excuse. Her dad was now in a home, and doesn’t remember who she is. This made me feel pretty sad, and Courtney seemed to really be slugging back the wine, so I wondered if that was why. Viewer Kelly from North Carolina wondered if, watching the show, Mathew realized he was as much at fault as Lexi. Mathew said alcohol was a factor, and Andy said, on social media, Lexi blamed production and unfair editing. Malia said that was classic when people didn’t like seeing the way they behaved when they were drunk. It’s not the edit; it’s you. Ha-ha! That should be on a bumper sticker. Mzi said, one of the things Lexi said about him through social media was that he wanted to be white, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. A lightbulb came on over my head, since I’d been thinking maybe Lexi was racist when they’d flashed back to her blatantly not fake apologizing to Mzi, when she’d fake apologized to everyone else. It was even pointed out later that she’d skipped over him. We already know she’s classist, but I have the funny feeling she’s the one who wants to be white. Just saying, and often people accuse you of things they’re doing.

Delaney came on for a hot minute, and Mathew said his only problem with her was that he’d just wanted his bed back. Lloyd also left the party, because he was losing his connection on the boat. We flashed back to Captain Sandy getting pissed at Malia about the jet ski plug, and then later, David’s bruise. Malia pointed out that, although some viewers thought so, it wasn’t the end of the world when she and the captain argued. They worked things out.

A viewer wanted details on the trip to Split, and Katie said they just partied a lot, and enjoyed each other’s company. Andy asked if Mzi and Courtney hooked up, but it was a no, and Andy and the viewers were collectively disappointed. Mathew said he saw everyone naked, but wasn’t specific, so I’m not sure if he was just being a pervert and had peeped all of them. Courtney was pretty drunk, and said they always saw each other naked. Andy asked Malia about hooking up with engineer Jake, and if he went on the trip. She said, obviously they needed an engineer there. We also found out they did a group chat every day, called Let’s Get Effed Up in Split. In her final thoughts, Captain Sandy said she was proud of her crew. They followed protocol, no one got sick, and they made it through. Andy wrapped it up, and Malia said she had to go anyway. The boat she was on was dropping anchor.

🏡 There was a preview of Winter House afterward. Right now I’m saying, I don’t know if I can, but I probably will.

🦋 Dreaming On…

This was one long Deck, so see you tomorrow when Vanderpump Rules. Until then, stay safe, stay taking the road less traveled, and stay not being your own Achille’s heel.

October 11, 2021 – Ava Makes Spencer Face the Consequences, a Talent Show On Deck & London

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Nikolas walks into the Spring Ridge visitor room on the phone. He says, just find a way to keep eyes on his son, and keep him updated. Alexis asks how he’s doing, but he asks if that shouldn’t be his line. She says, Ava stopped by on her way out of town. Sorry. He’s probably heartbroken, huh? He says, Ava didn’t leave town, and she says, that’s good, isn’t it? He says he got his wife back, but he lost his son in the process.

Josslyn asks Esme, what’s wrong? Something happen with Spencer? Esme says, Spencer is as okay as he can be, considering he just lost his father and his best friends.

Spencer asks what Trina is doing at Windymere, and she says, visiting her friend. Ava says, a better question is, what is he doing there? and he says he’s looking for his father. Ava says, he isn’t home, and he says, his mistake. She says so he admits he makes them, and he says, when it comes to his father, yeah. She says, but not when it comes to her, and he says, no. Trina asks how he can say that to Ava after everything he’s done to her, and he says, it’s more complicated than that. Trina says, it’s probably not, but forget it. She’s out of there. He asks her to wait.

Brando hugs Sonny, and says it’s good to see him. Sonny says, it’s good to be back, and Brando says, when he heard the news… and Sonny says, it was something else, right? Brando says Sonny was definitely missed, and Sonny says Jason told him about the situation with Renault. Brando says, just another day at the office. But in all seriousness, he was glad to help the family. Sonny says, family’s everything, and Brando says, it’s about to get bigger. He’s going to be a father.

Sasha goes to Nina’s office, and tells her, good news. The cross promotion not only boosted Deception’s sales, but increased Crimson’s circulation. She hands Nina a folder, and Nina flips through it, saying, that’s great news. Sasha didn’t have to deliver this herself in person, so what’s up? Sasha says she has something to say to Nina.

Carly asks if Britt is ready for some radical honesty, and Britt says, she is if Carly is. What is it Carly wants to be so honest about? Carly says, Jason.

At the MetroCourt bar, Shawn thanks Jax for meeting him, and Jax says, absolutely. He assumes it’s about Hayden. How’s the investigation going? Shawn says he’s hit some roadblocks, and Jax says he heard Hayden’s mother was murdered. Right after Shawn and Sam spoke to her, right? Shawn says, it can’t be a coincidence, and Jax asks how it circles back to him.

Sonny hands Brando a drink, saying, he wants to congratulate Brando and Sasha. They clink glasses, and Sonny says, starting a family is a big deal. Brando says he’s getting that sense, and Sonny says he’s going to need a good job, a big salary. He can work out something at the warehouse if Brando wants. Brando thanks him, but says he’s out of the business. He and Sasha just want a quiet life with their baby. Sonny is surprised, since Brando seemed so intent on being part of the organization. Is Sasha pressuring him to leave?

Sasha says she was surprised when she heard Nina knew Sonny was alive for months, and Nina says she’s sure Sasha was. Sasha says, watching that family grieve, especially Michael… Nina says she knows what she did was unforgiveable. Sasha can tell her what she thinks of her; she can take it. Let her get Sasha started. She thinks Nina was cruel, unfeeling… Sasha says she thinks Nina was in pain, and thinks Nina made a mistake, one she’ll regret for the rest of her life. She wishes she didn’t, but she knows what that feels like.

Cameron tells Josslyn, Spencer’s dad cut him off, and Esme says, emotionally and financially. Josslyn guesses that’s not too surprising, but still… Esme says, it’s awful, and Josslyn asks where they’re staying. Esme says, nowhere at the moment, and Josslyn says she’s sure they’ll figure it out. Esme and Spencer are nothing if not resourceful. Cameron says, Joss… but Esme says she deserved that. Josslyn asks Esme why she’s there. She’d made it pretty clear that she blamed them for Sonny confronting Nikolas, which she thinks is pretty funny considering Esme was the one who told Sonny that Nikolas was taking off with Avery. Esme says she’s sorry, and Josslyn asks, for what part? Esme says, for all of it, but try putting herself in Esme’s position. Seeing her boyfriend in pain was torture, so she lashed out at Josslyn and she shouldn’t have. It’s been great talking to Cameron. Josslyn says, that’s Cameron, and Esme says, he’s pretty great. He said he could forgive her and Spence. What about Josslyn?

Alexis asks Nikolas, what’s wrong with Spencer? It’s not the stalker, is it? Nikolas says, Spencer is the stalker, and Alexis says, no. He says, yes, and she asks if he’s sure. Nikolas says, he admitted it, and she says, wow. She thought he was wrong. She guesses it was her that was wrong. He says he still can’t believe Spencer was capable of such cruelty, and she says she wonders why. Maybe it’s because of Nikolas.

Spencer suggests he and Trina go somewhere to talk, but she says she has no interest in going anywhere with him. He asks if Ava would mind giving them some privacy, and Ava says, that depends. She asks if Trina would like some privacy, and Trina says she guesses she’ll hear Spencer out. Ava says she has a call to make, and tells Trina to call if she needs her. She leaves, and Spencer asks if Trina would like to sit, but she says, no. He asks what Ava said to make her so angry, and she tells him, Ava didn’t say anything. He’s the one who makes her angry. He says he thought they’d be on better terms after his apology, and she says, he calls that an apology? Nuh-uh. He’s going to have to up his game.

Shawn says he’s not implying Jax had anything to do with Naomie’s murder, and Jax says he’s glad he’s not on the suspect list. Shawn says he just found himself stuck trying to figure out who it is, so he’ll tell Jax everything he knows so far… Jax says, hoping he gets unstuck. He’s at Shawn’s disposal. Shawn says when he and Sam spoke to Jax last, he told them to talk to Nikolas. Jax asks if Nikolas was no help, and Shawn says Nikolas had nothing to add. Jax says, Shawn thinks he’s lying? and Shawn flashes back to Alexis saying, if there’s a connection between Drew’s disappearance and Naomie’s murder, Sam’s investigation just got more dangerous. This somehow leads back to the Cassadines. It always does. They need to figure out how, before even more people get killed. Shawn tells Jax, let’s just say someone reminded him of what the Cassadines are capable of.

Carly says, everything she told Britt at the hospital that day was a bunch of crap. She just wanted Britt to let go. For her own sake. She knew Jason wouldn’t do it, so she had to. Britt says, so Carly lied, and Carly says, yeah. Britt says, so Carly and Jason don’t love each other? but Carly says, of course (🍷) they love each other, but that’s not why they got married; it was a business situation. Britt asks if Carly thinks she’s stupid, and Carly says, no. Britt says, Jason was on the run. There was some meeting and Carly filled in for him, then he went back and saved her life. She was there in the room, taking a bullet out of his side. Of course (🍷) it was about business, and then it  became about more. Carly says, she and Jason thought Sonny was dead, obviously. If they were going to be married, they wanted it to be real. All the bells and whistles; a true husband and wife. They were happy. Britt says, this is going to sound snarky, but she means it. It must have been hard when Sonny came home. Carly says, Sonny is home; that’s all that matters. She and Jason are processing, but they know what they want. Britt says, which is? and Carly says, things going back the way they were. Britt says, if part of going back means trying to make things okay with her and Jason, sorry. That’s not going to happen.

Brando tells Sonny, of course Sasha was concerned about the danger, but they’re a team. He couldn’t just ignore it. Let’s be real; it’s not like she was wrong. Sonny says he gets it, and Brando says he and Sasha came to the decision together. Now he wants to focus on making the garage a success. Sonny says he’s going to be great, and Brando says, life is crazy, isn’t it? All the twists and turns. If someone had asked him a few months ago what his life would be like… Sonny says, it wouldn’t be this, and they laugh. Brando says, no. Now the idea of putting in an honest day’s work and coming home to the people he loves just feels right. Sonny says, there are perks to the simple life, and Brando says, but it’s not for everyone. Take Sonny. His life is anything but simple.

Nina thanks Sasha for being so kind, and says she doesn’t deserve it, but it means the world. Sasha says, now that she’s about to be a mom, it’s really sunk in how horribly wrong she was to pretend to be Nina’s daughter. If her child was taken somehow, she can’t imagine it, but Nina can because of her. She’s so sorry. Nina says Sasha will be a fantastic mother, and Sasha says she hopes so. Nina says she knows so, and Sasha says, if that’s true, in large part it’s because of Nina. It may not have been real, but Nina showed her what it looks like to be a kind, loving mother. Even after Nina knew what she’d done, and Nina should have despised her, Nina still showed compassion. She means it. If not for Nina and Carly, she’d still be on drugs. Nina doesn’t know about that, but Sasha says, Carly sat her down, and gave it to her straight, then Nina reached out and really cared. That changed everything for her. Maybe Nina and Carly aren’t as far apart as Nina thinks. Nina says, maybe they weren’t then, but they certainly are now.

Jax says he wasn’t living in Port Charles when Hayden was shot, but Shawn says he’s more interested in Jax’s impression of Hayden and Nikolas when they were working together. Before Hayden disappeared. Jax says Hayden and Nikolas’s relationship was contentious to say the least. But Nikolas was in a bad place then. He was unpredictable, and scared Hayden so badly, she left town. Shawn says, Nikolas was the reason Hayden left?

Nikolas says it’s his fault, and Alexis says, of course (🍷) it is. That’s why he came to talk to his Aunt Alexis, so she’ll tell him how it is. He asks, how is it? and she says, he let his son believe he was dead. She gets that he wanted the Cassadine fortune, but that can’t trump his relationship with his own son. He hurt Spencer. He says, and Spencer hurt him right back, and Alexis says, Spencer was always good at pranks, but this one is at a whole new level. She wonders if Spencer knows the gravity of what he’s done, and Nikolas says, Ava said something that stuck with him. She said she wasn’t sure if Spencer was sorry for his actions, or sorry they didn’t work. Alexis says she knows the pain of feeling like you failed, but he hasn’t failed. He and Spencer will work it out. Nikolas says, Spencer is gone from his life because he threw Spencer out. She says, that’s the worst thing he could have done.

Josslyn says she, Cameron, and Spencer have been friends their whole lives, and Esme says, that’s really beautiful. Josslyn says, if Spencer is truly sorry, then yes, she’ll find a way to forgive him. Life’s too short. Esme says, that’s all she asks, and Cameron asks if Josslyn is okay after talking to Nina. Josslyn says, it was intense, and she’ll fill him in later. Esme tells them, talk now. She’s headed inside to get coffee. She thanks Cameron, putting her hand on his shoulder. She goes into Kelly’s, and Josslyn says, wow. That girl will say or do anything, won’t she? Her whole contrite act, crying on Cameron’s shoulder. Did she really think they’d buy it? Cameron says, she doesn’t?

Spencer says he’s bad at apologizing; he hasn’t done it much in his life. Trina says, it’s a start, but you can’t just say you’re bad at something. You actually have to get better. He says he told her that he deserves anything she throws at him, but she says, that’s not the same as actually saying he’s sorry. He says he is sorry, and she says, for what? He says, that he took it this far, and that he let her get caught up in it. She says, he could have stopped when he saw her at the gallery, but he says, the sprinklers were already set to go off. She says, then he could have taken off his stupid mask. Does he know how scared she was? She thought he was going to hurt her or worse. It’s pretty obvious that at no point in his plan did he think of anyone else. There are so many ways he could played it. He didn’t want her to see his face, fine. He could have told her that she wasn’t in any danger, but he didn’t care. She was nobody to him. He says, she’s not nobody.

Nikolas tells Alexis, his son is only 18, and came up with an elaborate plan to terrorize Ava. First hiding, not telling Nikolas that he was back in Port Charles. Then, face-to-face unrelenting, even when he saw all the pain he was causing. He’s a true Cassadine. Alexis says, which is exactly why Spencer needs his father right now, and Nikolas says, what Spencer did was unconscionable. She asks what Nikolas calls what he did. Spencer is just acting like Nikolas. Slamming the door in his face isn’t a solution. Spencer needs guidance, not abandonment. This is no time for Nikolas to turn his back.

Spencer takes Trina’s hands, and says she’s the opposite of nobody. He knew it the moment he laid eyes on her. She asks if he means right before he covered her in fake blood, and pulls away from him. He says, the way she stood up to him. She got in his face and whipped out that pepper spray without flinching, even though she knew it was empty. She says she’s so glad her terror is a fond memory for him, and he says, and the way she bounced back. She refused to let him ruin her night, and he thought she was so cool. It proved she was someone worth knowing. She says, or someone to cover up for him when she figured out who he really was, and he says he’s sorry he lied. She says, about everything? and he says, no, not everything. He wasn’t lying when he told her the guy at the gallery was a jerk. And he wasn’t lying when he said it never should have happened to her. Tell him she believes him. She says, believes what? That he’s even capable of telling the truth?

Cameron tells Josslyn, all he’s saying is Esme seemed genuinely upset, and she says, Esme can seem like a lot of things. He asks if she doesn’t think Esme cares for Spencer, and she Josslyn says, if she did, why would she try to turn Spencer against them and put Spencer’s father in danger by lying to Sonny? He says, she apologized for that, and by the way, she didn’t lie. She thought Avery was going with Nikolas and Ava, and why wouldn’t she? Avery is Ava’s daughter. She says, he really believes Esme? and he says, why bother coming up with a cover story? Spencer is obviously crazy for her (boy, is that the right word). She doesn’t need their seal of approval. Josslyn says she’s gets a vibe from Esme, and doesn’t like it. She thinks Esme is using Spencer. He says, for what? and she says, Spencer is richer than God. He says, so is Esme, and she asks how they know that. Because she said so? Think about it. What do they actually know about her? He tells Josslyn, say she’s right; Esme’s after the money. After Spencer’s money was cut off, shouldn’t she be dumping him? Why is she still in Port Charles?

Inside Kelly’s, Esme answers her phone, and says, this is she… Really? She got the internship at Spring Ridge?… Thank you so much. She can’t wait to get started.

Jax tells Shawn, Hayden ran because she thought Valentin was after her, but it was Nikolas who wanted her gone. He’s surprised Elizabeth never mentioned it. Hayden disappeared years after she got shot, but who knows if the two things are connected? Shawn says, if they are, this will be complicated, and Jax asks, how? Shawn asks if Jax thinks Alexis will think it’s okay that he’s investigating her nephew. Alexis is the reason he’s out of prison. He owes her everything. Jax says, Alexis, of all people, would want to know the truth. Shawn thanks Jax for his time. Jax says, no problem, and Shawn leaves.   

Britt says, Jason is an amazing guy, and Carly says, he’s the best. Britt says, the time she spent with him was wonderful, and Carly says, Britt doesn’t want it back? Britt says, no. She’s sorry for what happened to Carly, and sorry for Jason and what happened with them almost marrying, then Sonny… It’s super complicated, but for her it was a blessing. Carly says, losing Jason was a blessing? and Britt says, because if she’d let herself fall for Jason, and then realized Carly would always come first – and she does mean always – she would have lost her mind.

Nina tells Sasha, Carly thinks it was only about revenge, but it wasn’t. During the initial phone call, when she tried to tell Carly, she gave in to a bad impulse, but had intended to call back the next day, and tell Carly about him. Sasha asks why she didn’t, and Nina says, it quickly became less about Carly, and more about Nixon Falls and how happy Sonny was. She created this whole world that she got swept up in. It had nothing to do with Carly. She felt bad about keeping the secret, but she wasn’t doing it to get back at Carly. It’s really hard to explain. Sasha thinks she understands. Nina was really happy there, wasn’t she? Nina flashes back to dancing with Sonny, and says she was. Sasha laughs, and says, it’s hard to imagine Sonny as a bartender. Nina says, he was just different without the weight of the mob being on his shoulders. Sasha says, in what way? and Nina says, way lighter, more joyful, more at peace. Sasha says, she thinks Brando feels the same way.

Sonny says he respects Brando’s determination to make it on his own, and Brando says, that’s a stretch. He only has the garage because of Sonny. Sonny says Brando definitely earned it, and Brando says he may not need a job, but he could use some pointers in the dad department. He always knew Sonny was a good one, but seeing Sonny’s family try to move on, and seeing how big a hole Sonny left in their lives, drove it home for him. Sonny is irreplaceable. Sonny thanks him, and says, parenting isn’t something you can prepare for. You can read all the books, but the only way to do it, is to do it. Brando already knows what the most important thing is. Brando asks, what’s that? and Sonny says, nothing is more important than family.   

Cameron and Josslyn sit down outside Kelly’s, and he asks how it was talking to Nina. She says, it was awful, but she said what she wanted to say, so there’s that. He says he’s proud of her, and she says she knows he wants to get off the subject of Spencer and Esme – so does she – but Esme is seriously sounding off alarm bells for her. She knows Spencer is capable of some ridiculous crap, but sending that bear to Avery and torching Ava’s car was next level. He says, Spencer’s dad made him believe he was dead. Maybe Spencer was just that angry. She says, or Esme took it upon herself to raise the stakes, and now Spencer is being forced to cover for her.

Spencer says he is capable of telling the truth, and truly wants Trina to forgive him. She asks why he cares, and he says, because he cares about what she thinks. He cares about her. She says, convenient timing, now that everyone hates him. He says, the timing may be suspect, but it’s still the truth. He was hoping, and still is, to be her friend… because she’s his. She’s the only friend who didn’t know him as Spencer the Cassadine heir. Or Spencer the orphan, or Spencer the ATM… She says, or Spencer the jerk? and he says, that too. He’s sorry he manipulated her, and even more sorry he hurt her. Please believe him. She asks how she can believe anything he has to say ever, and Ava asks if everything is all right. Trina says she has to go, and Spencer says he’ll take her to the launch, but she says she’d rather go alone. She leaves, and Ava says, now she has Spencer all to herself. It’s so much more civil to look your enemy straight in the eye. Doesn’t he agree? He nods, sort of.  

Nina tells Sasha that she’s glad to hear Brando is out of the family business, now they’re about to become parents. Sasha is going to have a baby; can she believe it? Sasha says, no, and Nina asks how she’s feeling. Sasha says, she’s okay. Her blood pressure had been high, and she was put on bedrest, but she’s better now. She can finally leave the house. It turns out that she’s not meant for lounging around all day. Nina asks how things are going on the Brando front, and Sasha says, everything is great. Brando walks in, and Sasha says, look who it is. Nina asks if his ears were burning, and Sasha says they were just talking about him. He says, good things he hopes, and Sasha says, only the best. He gives her a smoothie, and tells her, from Perks, extra spinach, no ginger. Nina says she remembers Sasha liking ginger, and Sasha says, she does, but the baby doesn’t. Nina says, of course (🍷), and Sasha asks what Brando’s been up to. He says he went to see Sonny.

Britt says, look at the number Jason did on Sam, and Elizabeth, and Carly says, there are two sides to that story. Britt says, sure, Elizabeth moved on, but she’s heard enough hospital gossip and seen it for herself that Elizabeth still carries a torch for Jason. Not that it’s ever going to happen for her, because Carly is his top priority. Carly says, if Britt thinks she’s selling her on the fact that she doesn’t want him… and Britt says, if Carly thinks she’s selling her on the fact that she’s being magnanimous in gifting him back to her, please. What that tells her is that Carly still thinks she’s in control of Jason’s life, and Carly says, in control, no, but she is part of his life and won’t step aside. Accepting her is the price of admission. Isn’t Jason worth the price of admission? Britt says, no. Coming in second doesn’t work for her. She starts to leave, and Carly says, she gets it; she really does. It’s Britt’s life and Britt’s choice, but Jason is a hard habit to break. Britt says, not for her, and the elevator opens. Sonny gets out and Britt passes him, saying, Mr. Corinthos, hello! very animatedly. Carly asks how Sonny’s talk with Phyllis went, and he says, good. They’re lucky to have her as a friend. He hopes Carly doesn’t mind, but he told her that she could stay at the MetroCourt. Carly says, of course (🍷). But sadly, their bartender can’t compare to the Tan-O’s.  

Alexis tells Nikolas, do better and be better for his son. Nikolas says if he’s such a terrible role model, maybe his son is better off without him. She tells him, stop whining, and he says, Spencer said himself that he’d done all these terrible things because he loves Nikolas. Alexis asks if that isn’t what he said when he played dead all those years? He did it for Spencer? He says, it’s the Cassadine way, but she says, no. The Cassadine way is to discard those who don’t fall in line. Fight for his kid. He made some horrible decisions, but he’s a good man. Stay in there and teach his son to be a good man too. No lying down.

Spencer tells Ava that he never said she was his enemy, and she says he didn’t have to say it. She’s sure he’s heard the expression, actions speak louder than words, and his actions were deafening. They ultimately failed, and she’s still here. He doesn’t have to like her, but he does have to hear her when she says, this is over. There will be no more attacks or scare tactics ever again. He says, it’s not like anyone got hurt. He was just trying to teach her a lesson. She says, he doesn’t think being separated from her child hurt? He doesn’t think her planning to leave Avery behind hurt? He says she fired the first shot, when she refused to testify against Valentin. She chose her face over his father. She says, as they discussed, she was wrong, but that didn’t give him the right to terrorize her. He says he’s sorry he took it this far, but he’s not sorry he went after her. She’s bad for his father; that’s just a fact. She says his father disagrees with him. She’s his wife, and she’s not going anywhere. If Spencer ever comes after her or Avery again, there will be hell to pay – a hell unlike anything he’s ever witnessed. Does he get her?

Cameron tells Josslyn that he has to get back to work, but he just wants to add one thing. She said herself that she’s known Spencer since forever. Is it possible that she wants to push the blame on Esme because she doesn’t want to blame a friend? She says, possible, but highly doubtful, and he says he’ll see her later. Esme watches, and goes over to Josslyn. She says Josslyn is really lucky to have Cameron; he’s an amazing guy. Josslyn agrees he is, and asks what Esme wants. She says she just wants Spence to be happy, and Josslyn says, that’s it? Esme says, that’s it, but to be happy, he needs his friends. Cameron seems ready to put all this behind them. Can’t Josslyn do the same? Josslyn says she told Esme that she’s not giving up on Spencer, so… Esme says, just on her. She might not be Josslyn’s favorite person, but she and Spence are a package deal. Cameron accepts that, and Josslyn would be wise to do that too. Josslyn asks, what is that supposed to mean? and Esme says, just this; she’d hate for Josslyn to be left behind. Esme passes Trina on her way out, and says hi. Trina asks Josslyn, what was that? and Josslyn says, nothing good.

Spencer says he’s not intimidated by Ava. He won’t let her poison his father against him. She says his father’s relationship with him is up to his father. Nikolas knows she’ll deal directly with him. He asks how she’s going to do that, when two cops walk in, and tell Ava that the housekeeper let them in. Spencer says they can’t just waltz in there, but Ava says she called them. He says, she called the police to have him thrown out? but she says, don’t be silly. She called the police to have him arrested – for harassment, criminal mischief, and breaking and entering. He’s about to face the consequences of what he’s done.   

Shawn comes into the visitor room, and asks if he’s interrupting, but Nikolas says he has to get going. Alexis tells Nikolas to think about what she said. She believes in him. Nikolas leaves, stopping to exchange looks with Shawn on his way out the door.

Brando asks Sasha if it was weird of him, bringing up Sonny in front of Nina. She says, it was bound to happen. She just hopes her friendship with Nina doesn’t cause problems for him and his family, but he says he can handle his family. She says, good answer, and they get in the elevator.

Nina flashes back to kissing Sonny.

Sonny says Brando asked his advice on fatherhood, and Carly says she’s not surprised. He is one of the best. He says, one of the? and she says, yes. Of course (🍷) she has to include Michael in that. Her phone beeps, and she says she has a meeting she forgot about. It won’t take long. Will he wait here for her? He says he’d wait anywhere for her, and she leaves. He goes over to Jax at the bar, and Jax says, welcome home. Sonny asks if Jax missed him, and Jax says, Josslyn did. Sonny says, since he’s here, they have a lot to chat about.

Tomorrow, Shawn tells Alexis that she might have the wrong Cassadine, Nina tells Phyllis that she has to find a way to forget Mike, Jax says Sonny is an obstacle, and Carly tells Jason that she wants Nina to know what it’s like to lose something she loves. And I hate Carly, but you knew that already.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Two hours before charter. Captain Sandy radios the crew to meet in the main salon. She says, some of them, or maybe all of them, know that she sent Lloyd to shore for an EKG. She wants them to send him positive thoughts. Even if he can’t come back, they have to make sure to keep up the momentum. In Malia’s interview, she says her first concern is Lloyd, but being down a crew member, and interior having chosen to be down a crew member, they have zero room for error. The captain says, the guests are boarding on anchor, and it’s the first time they’ll be doing it this season. Let’s do it. In Katie’s interview, she says when she chose to go down to two stews, she didn’t know they’d be down a deckhand as well. The plan now is just to survive. Malia tells David that she’ll take Lloyd’s watch, and he’ll be on deck in the morning by himself. In David’s interview, he says he’ll be there to help wherever he can. He wants to be there to help push them through. Captain Sandy radios for the crew to proceed to the aft deck.

The guests are ferried out to the boat. Primaries Ian and Janelle introduce themselves, along with the rest of the guests. Captain Sandy says she’s hoping the weather holds for them. Katie will show them around, and they’ll be on their way. The guests clink champagne glasses, and Katie gives them the tour, including the galley. Ian asks where Mathew’s hairnet is, which is a joke, since Mathew is bald. In Mathew’s interview, he says, game on. Anchor is pulled up, and the captain says they’re good to go. Mzi and Courtney dance around, chanting, we got this. Guest Michael doesn’t take long to knock over his wine glass, and in Courtney’s interview, she says, they seem rowdy. Malia makes the same statement to her deckhands, and thinks the interior will need help. In Mathew’s interview, he says he gets insecure when he gets criticism. Now, all he can think of is the fish he served Captain Sandy. Hopefully, he can get his head out of only thinking about brown fish. Katie serves lunch, and Courtney steams clothes. One of the guests thinks the fish is bland, and another asks for hot sauce. In Katie’s interview, she says, f***. She knows she’s not going to get a good reaction from Mathew. At the end of the day, she’s just doing her job, and he needs to do his. The doctor calls with an update on Lloyd, and tells the captain that they did an EKG. Everything is in order, but she wants to observe him for another hour, and see where it goes. Captain Sandy asks if she knows what caused it, and the doctor says, it was a panic attack, but Lloyd is fine now. I can understand this, since I’ve had panic attacks. They’re really no joke, and it does feel like you’re having a heart attack. In the captain’s interview, she says she’s so relieved. She knows they’re shorthanded, but she’d like Lloyd to get a good night’s sleep, and join them in the morning. She doesn’t want to rush him.

Katie tells Mathew that the guests like everything, but the fish needs more flavor. Mathew says he just wants to cry, and Katie says he can cry in three days. In his interview, Mathew says he thought every piece was perfect, and tells Katie that he’s sorry he ruined the charter, not exaggerating too much. Anchor is dropped, and Mathew tells Courtney, it’s going to be sh*t this trip. Guest Ronnie gets in a wetsuit and on a jet ski, along with another guest. In David’s interview, he says he gives these guests a ten out ten for effort with the water toys, but a one out of ten for natural ability. They’re an accident waiting to happen. Captain Sandy tells Malia, so crazy, huh? Thank God it’s the last charter. Courtney asks Katie about the anniversary dinner, and Katie says she got a really cool balloon heart. Courtney says she’s been thinking about a rap for the talent show. The balloons come, and they’re shaped like a heart, half red, half white. The guests all dress in white for dinner, and Katie asks Malia to turn on the hot tub for later. Mathew tells Katie not to be mad if the guests hate the filet mignon and lobster. I’m not sure what there is to hate there, but I guess Mathew is on a roll. Ian’s wife and co-primary Janelle tells Katie, it’s what they had at their wedding, and Captain Sandy comes by, asking how the dinner is.  

Janelle tells the captain that it’s what they had at their wedding, even though Mathew couldn’t have known. Everyone thinks the food is delicious, and in her interview, Captain Sandy says, they love Mathew’s food again. He’s been riding a roller coaster the entire season. We flash back to Mathew leaving, Mathew coming back, and Mathew’s multiple freak outs. The captain says she wants to end on a high note, considering everything they’ve been through. She thinks they’re headed in the right direction. Mathew tells Katie, thank God he’s back in the guests’ good graces. David helps clean up the galley, and in Malia’s interview, she says they’ve been working around the clock; doing their deck responsibilities even though they’re down one, and helping everywhere else. It’s been a lot. Janelle tells Katie that they’re going to be up a while. The guests go to the lounge, and order drinks. Katie tells Courtney to go bed. Save herself. The guests play cards and drink. Katie cleans when she’s not busy serving, and Mzi says, crazy wind; crazy guests. David helps dry dishes.

Lloyd calls Mzi, and tells him that he’d had a panic attack. Mzi says, the cabin is lonely. In Mzi’s interview, he says, Lloyd is the purest guy he’s ever met. It’s hard to find people like that. Guest Deborah calls for Katie, singing her name. In Katie’s interview, she says she chose to have only two stews. She’s in an impossible situation, but she still stands by her decision. Now she needs to prove herself right, and she’s got her work cut out for her. The guests finally go to bed, and so does Katie, at 4:32 am.   

Ostrica, Croatia, Day Two of Charter. Mathew asks Malia if Lloyd is coming back, and Malia says he texted that he’s feeling better. They need him for the talent show. The crew has rented an Airbnb for after the season, and in Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t wait for this charter to end, so she can be with her friends off the boat. She doesn’t know how they’ll be after this charter, and hopes they still like each other. The wind kicks up, and in Malia’s interview, she says, bad weather is the crew’s worst nightmare, since the guests will be inside 24/7. Breakfast is served, and Lloyd returns. In her interview, Malia says she’s relieved. Not just because she needs Lloyd, but she’s worried about him. The captain radios the crew that Lloyd made it back on board.

A putting green is set up, and Mzi offers to play with the guests. Malia makes beds, and the captain catches Lloyd having a cigarette in the rain. She kindly offers for him to come where it’s dry to smoke. Mzi’s golf skills amaze the guests, and in his interview, he says that he may be a green deckhand, but he’s effing good at golf. His mom is a professional, and he’s been playing since he was seven. Captain Sandy tells Lloyd that she knows the panic attack didn’t happen over nothing, and he says he’s having anxiety over the season ending, but she tells him that he’ll be okay. She’ll give him her number, and if he ever runs into anything, he can call her. The guests play more cards and drink. In Katie’s interview, she says, they’re trying to break her, but it’s giving her enough energy to push through. She doesn’t step down from a challenge. Lloyd goes around, and says hi to everyone.

David says he has to work on his emcee skills, and in his interview, he says, if he’s drunk enough, he’s quite a good karaoke singer, but only Aladdin or The Lion King. In Mathew’s interview, he says, after a rocky start, the train is back on the tracks. Captain Sandy is going to be at dinner, and last time, it wasn’t perfect. It puts him in that headspace again. Courtney practices her rap, and in Malia’s interview, she says, it’s a weird thing to ask them to do. They’re not there to be the guests’ entertainment; they’re there to do their jobs. If any of them had a good talent, they wouldn’t be in yachting.

Lloyd passes out scorecards to the guests, and does a bit on English slang. He introduces Mzi, who does tricks with a golf ball and iron. Malia does a handstand, and walks a few steps. David explains that he’s not talented with audience stuff, but does this thing where he hops on one leg while holding the other, somehow jumping over the held leg. I know I’m not explaining it very well, but the guests were impressed. Katie comes out with Courtney, and says, they’re Katie and Coco. They do a rap that includes something about everyone, guests and crew. In Katie’s interview, she says, she’s cringing, but she’s just happy that the guests are happy. She’ll leave the rapping to the OGs. Dr. Dre can have this one. Regardless, they get the most points, and are the winners. The guests sit for dinner.

The captain joins the guests, and Janelle remarks on Katie’s beautiful table setting. I agree Katie decorates a table beautifully – this one in silver, blue, and white – but she’s got a more formal style than Kate, who’s more Bohemian with her tablescapes. Ian asks what’s the worst dinner the captain has been at, and Captain Sandy says, it wasn’t the worst, but the wildest was Johnny Damon. We flash back to that, and one of the guests says, Johnny is a great dude, but starts drinking like the old baseball players. I’m not quite sure what that means, but I guess they drank themselves stupid. Lloyd and David get out the beach picnic stuff. Captain Sandy tells the guests, if she drank with them, they wouldn’t get back to the dock. Guest Crystal wonders if the microgreens are beet related, since she’s tasting all kinds of beets going on. The captain goes to the galley, and tells Mathew that a guest has questions. He comes up to the table, and tells Crystal that the microgreens were called blood something, and she says they remind her of beets. He offers her a different plate, and when he gets back to the galley, googles it. He tells Katie, they’re bull’s blood beets. He f***ed up, and basically lied unintentionally. They quickly look on the preference sheet, and Crystal is only allergic to alfalfa sprouts. Captain Sandy thanks the guests, and thanks Mathew. He asks if the guests are upset, but she says, she loved it; it was delicious. In her interview, the captain says she wants to make sure Mathew knows they’re happy with his performance. No matter how great it is in every other area, he goes to the criticism. She wants to make sure he stays focused.

In David’s interview, he says he knows he took a lot of pressure off Malia. He knows she appreciates his efforts on deck, and he appreciates her as a bosun, workmate, and friend. The guests have more drinks, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s going to be up again until four, isn’t she? Mathew feels bad that the guests didn’t look happy, and Katie says, there’s nothing he can do. He says he can complain to her, and she says she’s working 19 hour days. It doesn’t matter. It amazes me how much stuff they have on the boat in the way of provisions, since the guests are asking for all kinds of odd combinations, and they have everything. Ian asks Katie if Mathew can whip up some snacks, and she says he’s gone to bed, but she’ll make something. She sees Mathew is still in the galley, but tells him that she’ll make some crisps and sh*t. In her interview, she says, the last day of the charter season is tomorrow. She’s so exhausted. The whole crew is exhausted. She f***ed up. She made a mistake.

In the morning, Mathew says he needs to change his vibe. Courtney sets the table for breakfast, and Malia says, it’s the last day, and they know what’s coming – the beach picnic. Katie tells Mathew that they’re seeing how far the picnic area is, so they can make a plan. It’s the last day; come on. She asks if Mathew is good, but he says, no. In his interview, he says he’s still upset about dinner, and hasn’t fully planned what’s on his menu. It sucks. One guest wants toast and coffee, but everyone else’s breakfast order is complicated. I can say with confidence, if I was paying the equivalent of a year’s salary to rent a boat, I’d be having more than toast and coffee. As a matter-of-fact, I’d be eating and/or in that blue, blue water the entire time. Mathew says, what a difficult day it’s going to be. I feel his pain in making the sunny side up eggs. He says, WTF? and makes a mess out of several eggs and an omelet. In his interview, he says, when he was in his 20s, he had the worst breakfast service in his life. He cracked 40 yolks while plating hollandaise. That’s what happens when he’s spiraling. He tells Katie that he’s broken 10 eggs, and it’s going to put him over the edge. Katie says, it’s the last day, and he says he’s going to cry. she says, no, and in her interview, she says, he needs to figure it out, and they need to do their jobs. He says he hates his life right now, and Katie says he’s fine; they’ve got this. Katie tells Courtney that Mathew could lose it, and Courtney tells her not to say that. Mathew says, you effing suck, is repeating in his head, and it’s overwhelming. He asks if Katie will do him a favor and shoot him in the head.

Next time – the finale – no one shows up to serve the guests in the hot tub, and they have to go hunting for staff (the worst possible mistake next to bad food); Katie admits she effed up; Mathew hates the kitchen, and is going to lose it; Malia says they have the perfect place for a picnic – or an execution; and we meet the chef who was in quarantine.

📇 Knocking Off Early…

The week has only just begun, so see you tomorrow for soap and pickleball. Until then, stay safe, stay choosing friends who make you a better person, and stay knowing, nothing is more important than family, even if it’s the family you create for yourself.

October 4, 2021 – Nikolas Says Spencer Is Dead To Him, Heart Problems On Deck & Symphony

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Monte Carlo, Monaco. Dante plays with a pair of dice at a casino, when Sam comes in wearing a cocktail dress. She says he’s smiling. Does that mean he approves? Does she look like a jet setter? He says she looks dressed to kill, an she says, hopefully it doesn’t come to that. Unless they find Drew.

Curtis tells Nika that he thinks a coin toss seems fair. Heads, he wins; tails, she wins. They toss, and Curtis says, she’s all yours. Have fun. Esme sits at the bar leaving a message for Spencer. She asks why he hasn’t picked up, and tells him to join her at this hot new club called The Savoy. They have so much to celebrate. Ava’s finally leaving his life, and this time, it’s for good. Nika asks how she can help Esme, and Esme says, it’s been quite the day, but she’s celebrating now. She’ll have a Cosmo with a twist, and make it with their best top-shelf vodka. Wow. 1999 called, and wants its drink back.

Nikolas says Spencer hated him because he left, and now he’s caused Ava to have to do the same thing to her little girl, and for what? There was no threat. They were happy. They were building a life, a family together. He would have welcomed Spencer into all of that. So why would Spencer do this? Does he hate Nikolas that much? Spencer says, no, he doesn’t hate Nikolas, and Nikolas says, then please tell him this is some horrible mistake; that none of it’s true. Ava walks in, and says, what isn’t true? Nikolas asks what she’s doing there, and she says she just had a very odd, very confusing encounter with Esme. She seemed to think they were heading to Bora Bora together. Then she spoke with Trina, who told her to get there as soon as possible. Obviously, she walked in on something. Would either one of them like to tell her what’s going on?

Nina walks into The Savoy, and Curtis says he was starting to think she took up permanent residence in that small town in paradise. She hugs him tight, and says he has no idea how good it is to see a friendly face. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says she messed up, big time. Maybe the biggest of her life, and the worst part is, she doesn’t know how to make it right.

Willow and Michael have French fries at Kelly’s and Willow says, there’s no way in the world she’d consider that movie a romantic comedy. He says he saw her laughing, and she says, wait. Does he realize this is their very first date night since they got back together? He promises it’s the first of many. Next time, he’ll even let her pick the movie. She says, deal, and now that Nina’s back in town, Wiley has one more option as a babysitter. He wonders if everything is okay with Nina; she seemed a little off. Josslyn comes by and says, mom didn’t tell them? Michael says, about what? and Josslyn sits down, saying, about Nina? About what she did to all of them?

Carly asks how Sonny’s appointment was with Dr. Sullivan, and Sonny says the doctor put him back on his old prescription, and said he was good. Carly says, that’s great, and Sonny asks if there’s something on her mind. She says, not something, someone – Nina. He says, what about Nina? and she says, Maxie came by earlier, and she knew the name of the town he’s been in this whole time, because Nina knew he was alive for almost a year, and didn’t tell anyone. And she knows why.

Sam says Dante is really pulling off the formalwear, and he says, thanks, he thinks. She says, it’s a compliment. It’s nice to see him out of his regular wardrobe. He thanks her, and says she looks absolutely incredible in that dress. She bites an olive off of the skewer from her martini, and thanks him. He says, it’s a good thing Sonny made it back to Port Charles; everything is back to normal. Whatever that means. They were able to hop on a flight to the French Riviera and follow up on that lead Harmony got them. She says, Shiloh’s fixer is somewhere in this casino, and he says, short of finding Peter, this Dallas Kirby guy is the best chance they have of finding Drew. She says, Harmony never said he’d tell them, so they have to be subtle about who they talk to. He suggests they win big, and a man and woman walk by and sit at a nearby table. Sam says she has an idea; follow her lead.

Nina tells Curtis, there you have it. She kept Sonny from his family for months, and made an even bigger enemy of Carly, and she may never see her grandson again. He says he has to admit it’s an incredible story, but it does seem a bit short-sighted to think she acted merely as revenge against Carly. She says, so he hasn’t lost all respect for her? and he says, they’ve all done things they’re not proud of. Their motivations are the blind side, but he doesn’t buy that she set out to hurt anyone. She says she didn’t want to hurt anyone, but people got hurt, and Sonny’s not the forgiving type. He takes her hand, and says, she’s a courageous woman, but he hopes she knows, whatever happens, she’s not alone. She thanks him for being so kind. She so appreciates it. Nika comes to the table, and tells Curtis that she needs his input on this ID. They have a problem.

At the bar, Esme says she can’t believe she has to leave Spencer a second message. Where is he? They did it. The wicked witch is dead. Come celebrate with her.

Spencer tells Ava that he was her stalker. The cockroach, the plastic hand, the vandalism to the gallery; it was all him. Nikolas says he’s leaving out a part of the story. It wasn’t all him. He had help, like with the burning of Ava’s car. He says, whatever Esme did, she did because he told her too. It was his idea; his agenda. Ava says, she doesn’t understand. The cockroach was last February, so he would have been in school in France. He says, the truth is, he returned to Port Charles long before he announced it to his family and friends. He stayed in short term rentals, and didn’t even use his real name. He told people that he was Victor. He lied to keep his plan going, which was to get Ava out of his father’s life forever. She says, that isn’t all he did. He used her little girl as part of his plan, and Spencer says he’d never hurt Avery, but Ava says she had no way of knowing that. He got in Windymere undetected, the same at the MetroCourt and the gallery. What’s worse, he knew Kiki was murdered. How could he make Ava fear for Avery’s safety? Spencer says he didn’t consider all the possible ramifications. He doesn’t blame her if she hates him. Nikolas says, and he did all of this so he could have Nikolas to himself? Spencer says he never knew his mother, and when Valentin shot Nikolas, he thought Nikolas was dead for three years, which made him an orphan. Then Ava went back on her word to testify against Valentin. He was angry and hurt and alone. Ava says what she doesn’t understand is why he didn’t stop. She was leaving. All his wishes were about to come true. So why this 11th hour confession?

Curtis tells Nina, duty calls, and tells Nika to make sure Nina gets whatever she wants. On the house. He goes over to Esme, and says, congratulations. She asks if she’s the thousandth customer, and drinks are on the house, but he says, nothing like that. Congratulations on the best fake ID he’s ever seen. She says she’s flattered he thinks she’s that young. Her secret: use a great French moisturizer. He says perhaps he’s wrong, but if it comes down to keeping his liquor license, or keeping her money, he’s going to keep his business. He’s going to keep her fake ID too. So here’s where he gets to ask her to leave. She says he can’t blame a girl for trying. The legal drinking age in France is eighteen. It’s so strange being treated like a child here. She leaves, and he goes back to sit with Nina. He says, the old fake ID. He supposes they all tried it once at that age. Now where were they? She says they were talking about what a mess she made of her life, but she’s been talking about it for days, and she’s all talked out. She thanks him for listening and being a good friend. Now it’s time she’s his friend.

Willow asks if Josslyn is sure there hasn’t been a mistake, and Josslyn says she’s always liked Nina. She was hoping Nina would get back together with her dad, but there’s no mistaking what Nina did. Michael says they spent months grieving their dad, thinking he was dead and they’d never be able to see him again. How could Nina ignore that? Then she had the audacity to show up at their house and play with Wiley like nothing was wrong? Willow says she knows Michael is upset – he has every right to be – but maybe this explains what was going on with Nina today. She’s probably afraid it was her last visit with Wiley. He says, there’s a simple way to avoid that. Tell dad’s wife and kids that he’s still alive and lost his memory. That’s the right thing to do. Willow says, of course (🍷) it is, but the situation is anything but simple. There’s the Nelle factor. His mom and Jax figured out that Nelle was Nina’s daughter and kept that a secret. Does he think that’s why Nina did it? Did she really risk everything to get back at Carly?

Sonny asks Carly, what else did Maxie say? and Carly says, Maxie didn’t go into Nina’s motives. She didn’t have to; it’s obvious. Nina blames her for what happened to Nelle. And Nina blames her for Michael and Willow not letting her see Wiley. She retaliated by letting them all believe Sonny was dead. It’s no mystery as to why Nina lied, but why did he let her hear the truth from Maxie? Why didn’t he tell her that Nina knew he was in Nixon falls all this time?

Dante wonders if that guy is Dallas Kirby, is the woman with him his informant, or his date. Sam says, could be both, and he says they’ve got to separate the two of them. She tells him to kiss her; just do it. He says, if that’s what it takes, and kisses her. She throws her drink in his face, and says, how dare you? 

Nina says, the last time she and Curtis spoke, he and Jordan were talking about divorce. Any chance they worked it out? He says she has missed a lot being out of town, and she asks what he means. He says, he and Jordan signed the papers, but before the ink dried, Jordan was injured in the line of duty. She says she’s so sorry; is Jordan okay? He says, eventually, but because she has one kidney, it’s going to make the recovery complicated. She left town to seek treatment from a specialist in Albany. Nina asks what the prognosis is, and he says, good overall. Jordan has made it clear to him that nothing’s changed, and she’s got it handled. She says, sounds like Jordan. What about him? Does it change things for him?

Nikolas says, there’s been a lot to process over the last few days. Sonny turned up alive after all this time when they thought he was dead. Then Sonny had the mistaken notion that they were leaving town, and taking Avery with them. Ava says he asked her to do that weeks ago and she refused. Where would he get the idea they were leaving with her? Nikolas says, apparently Esme told him. He thinks Spencer’s girlfriend likes to stir the pot. Spencer says, that’s not true. Esme only did what she thought he wanted, but when he saw that Uncle Sonny was going to have Nikolas beaten up by his bodyguards, he realized he might lose the one thing he wanted most, but now he’s lost Nikolas anyway. Nikolas says, all he can think about is how far Spencer was willing to go to terrorize Ava and keep them apart. Spencer says he knows there’s nothing he can say to excuse what he’d done. All he can say is that he’s truly sorry. He hopes they believe him. Ava says she believes he’s sorry. The question is, is he sorry for trying to destroy their happiness, or simply sorry his plan failed?

Michael says, when he thinks about how much he and Willow went to bat for Nina with mom, insisting it was in Wiley’s best interest to spend time with her… Outside on the phone, Esme says she doesn’t know whether to be annoyed or worried that Spencer’s not calling her back. The plans have changed. The Savoy is out, and Kelly’s is in. She’s waiting. She goes inside, and Josslyn says she was always nice to Nina. Nina was always sweet friendly… Esme comes to the table, and asks why they’re so serious. Who died? Josslyn says, fortunately, nobody, and Esme says, that’s right. Her stepdad turned up alive. She had the pleasure of meeting Spence’s uncle today. Mr. Corinthos is everything  they say he is, and then some. Michael tells Willow, they should get home to Wiley. If Nina’s still there… Esme says, Nina Reeves? Editor-in-chief of Crimson? Esme just ran into her at The Savoy. She was wearing the most amazing outfit… Michael and Willow leave while Esme is still talking, and she asks Josslyn if it’s something she said. Trina and Cameron join them, and Trina says, no. It’s something she did.

Carly says when Sonny came back, after he got his memory back, he never told her the name of the town, or that Nina knew he was there. Sonny says, after everything that happened, it didn’t seem that important, and she says, Nina lied to their faces; she kept them apart. He says, when he walked through the door, it was non-stop. He was focused on her and the kids, and getting his life back. He doesn’t even want to think about what happened in Nixon Falls when he didn’t know who he was. She says, nine months Nina stole from them. When she saw Nina today, she was remorseful for a minute. Then she was justifying her actions, blaming everything on Carly. Sonny says, wait. She talked to Nina?  

Dante wipes his face, and asks what’s wrong with Sam. She says, what’s wrong with him? He asked her here for a drink, then all of a sudden, he treats her like a pretty play thing. The woman from the nearby table comes over and asks if there’s a problem. Sam says, who wants to know? and the woman says her name’s Dallas Kirby. She’s the owner of the casino.

Curtis says, seeing Jordan in a hospital bed, all helpless, brought him back to when she was rushed into the hospital to have her kidney removed. He thought he was going to lose her. Nina asks if it made him reconsider things. She’s not lobbying for an outcome, just asking. He wishes it was that simple, but they had history that led them to signing those divorce papers. She asks, what about Portia? Have things progressed with her? He says he’s not sure. They were exploring… something, then the Jordan thing happened. He doesn’t even know. Maybe Portia is having second thoughts. She made it clear – and he doesn’t blame her – that she’s not interested in a rebound romance. Nina says, that could be it, or she could be waiting for the timing to be better. Nobody likes a rebound. Michael and Willow come in, and Willow says, it won’t do anyone any good if he makes a scene. He says, it won’t take long, and goes over to the table. He says he wants to hear Nina explain how she knew his father was alive for months, but didn’t find it necessary to tell his family.

Esme asks just what is it she’s supposed to have done? and Trina says, just what we thought you’d do. Cameron says, by we, Trina means herself. This was all her brilliant idea, and it worked. Sounds like Esme really stepped in it with both feet. Esme says, maybe Josslyn can translate what they’re saying, and Josslyn says she thinks Trina can speak for herself. Trina asks if the words Bora Bora mean ring any bells, and Esme says, that’s where Trina told her Nikolas and Ava were flying off to so they could be together. Cameron says, is that what she heard? and Josslyn says, that’s when Esme went up to her stepdad. Sonny Corinthos? Trina says, it wasn’t enough for Esme to repeat exactly what she heard. She added the juicy detail that they were taking Avery with them, knowing it would set Sonny off, and put the final nail in Ava’s marriage. It was a very sneaky plan, but she’s happy to say it didn’t work.

Spencer says he knows if he told Ava that he’s changed his mind, and thinks she’s a great fit for his father, no one would believe it, so he’s just going to be honest. He still hasn’t gotten over how Ava hurt his family by not testifying against Valentin. However, it’s a lot easier to hate her from overseas. When he got back and saw how badly she was hurting, he wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. He only hopes in time… She says, that will be for her to decide. If he’d only just targeted her, but he didn’t. He brought her little girl into it. He used her love for Avery to come between her and the father he claims to love. Nikolas says, he knows he has his share of blame in this too. He caused the dominos to start falling when he pretended to be dead. Spencer says, that’s how they show love in this screwed up family. They say they’re helping each other when they’re really hurting each other over and over. He convinced himself that this was for Nikolas, just like Nikolas convinced himself his actions were for Spencer. Can Nikolas see that? Can he understand that? Can Nikolas forgive him for just following tradition? Nikolas says he can’t forgive Spencer. Not after what he did to the woman Nikolas loves, and her daughter. He can’t have Spencer in his house or in his life. Get out – now.

Carly tells Sonny, yes, she saw Nina. She knew Nina would try to squeeze in a last visit with Wiley before all hell broke loose, and she was right. Nina was there, playing the doting grandmother, like she didn’t steal a year Wiley could have spent with his grandfather. Sonny is sure it wasn’t pleasant, and Carly says, it wasn’t. She gave Nina hell for what she did, but Nina got off easy. He asks her to define easy, and she says she was about to kill Nina when Jason showed up. He asks, how did Jason show up?

Dallas tells Dante and Sam, the casino isn’t her main focus; it’s more of a hobby. But she does take interest in her guests. What’s their game of choice; roulette, baccarat? She calls to Laurent, the man she was sitting with, and says she heard Dante and Sam arguing. Maybe a cooling off period would be good for them. She asks if she can buy Dante another drink… in the interest of keeping the peace. Laurent holds out his hand to Sam, and says, may I? she tells Dallas that Dante’s all hers, and walks off with Laurent. Dante says it looks like Dallas was right on time. He and his date were having a bit of a misunderstanding.

Curtis tells Michael, it’s not the time or place, but Michael ignores him, asking how Nina could show up at the house  and make a big show of how much she cares for her grandson. She’d been lying to all of them, making them believe their grandfather was dead. He gets that she hates his mom. She doesn’t deserve it, but she can defend herself. He thinks Wiley and Donna are too young to understand, but for him, Josslyn, Dante, and Kristina, it was pure hell. Avery is just a little girl, and Nina robbed her of almost a year with her father. Willow says, keeping Sonny away from his family all that time, she just can’t justify it. They start to leave, but Curtis says, hold on. They both had their say. Now he’s going to have his.

Esme says she’s the new girl in town. They claim to be Spencer’s friends. When Cameron told her that Ava and Nikolas were running away, it didn’t occur to her that he was lying. She assumed Ava wasn’t leaving without her daughter. The whole time the three of them were conspiring to set her up. Trina says, right, because they’re the ones who helped Spencer stalk Ava. Josslyn asks what happened when Sonny found Nikolas and Ava? and Trina says, Spencer showed up, and so did his conscience. He was finally tired of lying, and confessed everything. Esme says, he must have been out of his mind, when Spencer walks in. He says, no, he wasn’t out of his mind. He just told the truth. Trina asks what his father said, and Spencer says his father kicked him out and never wants to see him again.

Ava gives Nikolas a drink, and asks if he’s sure this is what he wants. He says she’s what he wants. He knows that. He almost lost her because of Spencer. She says, Spencer is a very hurt and angry young man, and he says, don’t tell him that she’s thinking of forgiving Spencer after everything he did to her. She says she just wishes there was another explanation than knowing it was his son all alone. Nikolas says, Spencer is dead to him, but she tells him, don’t ever say that.

Carly tells Sonny that Josslyn was with her when Maxie told her everything. She took off, and guesses Josslyn freaked out and called Jason, who had Spinelli track her phone. Sonny says he’s grateful Jason was there to take care of her. They talked a little in the cemetery. She asks what Jason said, and flashes back to telling Josslyn how excited she was to marry Jason. Sonny says, looking at a grave with your name on it is surreal. It also reminded him of how lucky he was to be able to come back to the woman he loves. She says she thought she’d lost him forever, and he says, forget the past. Let’s just concentrate on something else. She says, what? and he says, us. That’s all that matters. They hug.

Laurent asks if he can take Sam up to the terrace. The view is amazing. She says, sure. When in Monte Carlo… Dallas tells Dante that Sam is in good hands. Laurent has perfect manners and very old money. She hopes she’s in good hands too, and Dante says he doesn’t have old money, but his very Italian mother taught him some old school manners. He asks where the name Dallas came from, and she says, Austin was taken by Roger Howarth. She asks what brings him to her casino, and he says, she does. He just didn’t know Dallas Kirby was a beautiful woman. She asks why he was looking for her, and he says he had a bit of a score to settle with the owner there; he wasn’t a big fan. He found out there was a new owner, and wanted to see if it was an improvement. She definitely is. She says, flattery will get him everywhere, but she hopes he knows, Rudge is history, and he says, good. Maybe they can make some history of their own. She says, why don’t they move this conversation upstairs to her room? and he says she read his mind. After her. They leave, and Sam comes back just in time to see them go.

Curtis says, Nina knew Michael could cut Wiley out of her life, and Michael says, they agree on that much. Curtis asks if he’s thought about what’s best for Wiley. Have neither of them ever messed up? He knows he has; they all have. He’s not asking Michael to give Nina a pass, but he is asking for a second chance for her to make up for the hurt she’s caused, and  to make that little boy’s life better with having two grandmothers in his life. If all Michael wants to do is punish Nina, he needs to think about the fact that he’s in danger of punishing his son too.

Esme tells Spencer, she’s sure that’s not true. Once she explains everything… Trina asks if Esme hasn’t done enough of that, and Josslyn says, after everything she’s done? Spencer says, lay off of Esme. Everything she’s done, she’s done for him. He wanted Ava gone, and Esme tried to help him make that happen. Esme says, nice work, Joss. Thanks to Josslyn and her minions (a word Esme clearly doesn’t understand the definition of), Spencer has been banished from the castle. Josslyn says, that’s all Esme cares about, right? Esme says she cared enough to help Spence try to win his father back, and Josslyn asks how that worked out for her. They’re Spencer’s real friends, which is why they had to do something, before he dug himself into a deeper into the hole. Cameron asks why Esme didn’t do that, and Spencer says he can’t take this anymore. He walks out, and Trina follows, saying, wait. He tells her, go on, let him have it. He deserves every insult she can throw at him. She says he doesn’t get it. Yes, she’s furious, and he scared the hell out of her with the fake blood, but she doesn’t enjoy seeing him like this. Maybe Esme does. Maybe it makes Esme feel needed, but that’s not her. She wishes they could turn back the clock to when they met. If she’d known he was Spencer, not Victor, and knew what he was planning, maybe she could have talked him out of it before he hurt Ava and his dad. Before he hurt himself, more than anyone.

Ava says she understands Nikolas is angry at Spencer, and disappointed. He should be, but he’s lucky. Unlike hers, his child is still alive. With enough time, everything can be forgiven. He says he doesn’t want to talk about Spencer anymore; not after everything they’ve gone through on tonight. He suggests they talk about their new reality, and Ava says, like there was never an actual stalker, and they were never in danger. More important, Avery’s life was never in danger. He says they have no reason for a divorce, or for her to leave – ever.  

Carly says it feels good being in Sonny’s arms, as if the nightmare of the past nine months never happened. He says he missed her so much. He didn’t know how much. Does she hear that? She says, Avery and Donna are asleep, and Josslyn’s back at her dorm. She doesn’t hear anything. He says, exactly, and kisses her. He asks if he’s rushing it, but she says, no. They’ve lost too much time as it is. He kisses her some more. I hope he’s thinking about Nina.

Dallas asks what Dante drinks, and he says, scotch. She says, a man after her own heart. She saves this blend for special occasions, and thinks this is one. She pours both of them drinks, and hands him one. She says, to new friends, and he says he’ll drink to that.

Spencer wants to tell Trina something, but Cameron and Josslyn come out. Cameron asks if she’s ready to go, and, reading the room, Josslyn says, or they can go alone. Esme comes out, and goes to Spencer’s side. She says she’ll never underestimate Trina again, and Trina says, let’s go. The three of them leave, and Spencer says he doesn’t even know where to go from here. He wonders if his father is going to cut him off again, and if he’ll have to go crawling back to his grandmother. Esme says, don’t worry. No matter what happens, he has her. They can fix this. She hugs him, but neither one of them looks happy.

Nikolas shows Ava the copy of their divorce papers, and asks what he should do with it. She supposes they have to keep the fire going. They wouldn’t want the house to get cold. He says he likes the way she thinks, and throws it into the fireplace. She says, it’s warmer already, and we watch it burn. I assume they’re getting busy immediately.

Curtis says he’ll take Nina home, but she says he’s taken enough fire for her already. She can’t afford to lose the only friend she has left. She kisses his cheek, and leaves.

Willow tells Michael, what Nina did was cruel, maybe even criminal. But is it in Wiley’s best interest to try and cut her out of his life?  

Nina goes outside, and thinks about kissing Mike/Sonny.

Sonny leads Carly upstairs, and we see the photo of him, Carly, and Jason.

Tomorrow, Portia says surprise her, Dante says it would be in Dallas’s best interest to tell them what they want to know, Peter tells Victor that he’ll make it happen if Victor gets the key, and Drew says, welcome to hell.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Backtracking, in Mzi’s interview, he says, they’re about hit the groundlines and it’s his fault.

Captain Sandy says they need to hustle. The port dolphin is in front of her, and she’s going to hit it. Malia tells Mzi that he needs to hurry, and to throw the line the shortest distance. She tells David to hurry too, and in her interview, she says she’s at her wit’s end with how many mistakes are being made. They keep dropping the ball and making rookie mistakes. Courtney tells Katie that it’s effing hard with just the two of them, and Katie says, be careful what you wish for. The guests pack, and Katie asks Courtney to meet her in the main salon. The captain tells everyone, nice work, and asks Mathew if he’s looking forward to going out. Is he going to rumble? He laughs, and says, no rumbles, and she says, no ultimatums? He says, never again. Courtney meets Katie, and Courtney says, it’s very formal. Is she getting fired? Katie says, no. She’s been thinking about this for a while. She reaches into her pocket, and brings out an epaulet. She tells Courtney not to think she’s doing this right now to be nice. She honestly thinks Courtney deserves it. Courtney is always on it; Katie doesn’t even have to ask. Without Courtney, she’d be f***ed. Katie gives Courtney her stripes, and in Courtney’s interview, she says, holy sh*t. Katie is saying she actually knows how hard Courtney is trying. She tells Katie that she’s so happy, and goes to show Mathew. Mathew says, congratulations; I salute you, and tells her that she has more stripes than he’ll ever have. The guests’ luggage is taken out.

Malia says, it’s been a rough morning. She thinks Mzi is afraid of her right now. In Mzi’s interview, he says, actions have a ripple effect, and he knows he can do better. And he will. Guest Ben, who was flirting with Katie, gives her one of his hats, and in her interview, she says, it’s a nice gesture, but it feels wrong because he was flirting with her. It is a vibey hat though, and she’s here for it. Courtney shows Mzi her stripes, and in his interview, he says he feels glad for her, but everything is awkward because of the flowers. The crew gathers on the dock, and primary Anthony says Mathew’s food was nuts. Everything they offered was with a smile, and it felt genuine. He appreciates their attitude, and thanks them. He gives Captain Sandy the tip envelope, and the guests leave. The captain says, nice work. Now out of their whites, and into their reds for the tip meeting.

The captain says she allowed Katie the space not to bring in another stew, and Katie showed that she could do it. Well done. In Malia’s interview, she says, interior is busting their asses, but it’s the last charter. She doesn’t think they’ll get the work done without the deck crew. Everyone is exhausted, and making stupid mistakes. Captain Sandy compliments Courtney on her positive energy, and tells Mathew that not one client has complained. She’s blown away. The deck crew has to work it out. They were challenged by logistics, but could be more focused. They did take the beach picnic to the next level though. The tip is $15K or $1362 each. She tells the crew that they’ll be going to a winery, and they clean up.  

Malia thinks the deckhands’ mistakes are piggybacking on her own. She wants to be more on guard. She’s Captain Sandy’s disciple, and wants to be the best she can be. She wants to impress Captain Sandy, but also doesn’t want to be a sh*t bosun. Malia has a deckhand meeting, and asks if they noticed tension this morning. Do they know why? It’s an actual question. Mzi says, his f*ck ups? and David says, the anchor ball? Malia says, what all the mistakes have in common is that they’re rookie mistakes. She knows everyone is learning, but it gets under her skin. Mzi is green, but it’s time for him to tell himself that he shouldn’t be making mistakes. At this point, he should always know what to do next. If they see her hustling, she expects them to hustle too. She found David talking to Mathew when he should have been working, and he’s usually the guy she can count on to set an example. In David’s interview, he says, he took a step back because of his leg, and now he’s supposed to suddenly switch. Malia says their boss might not be as nice at their next job. She wants them to nail the next charter, and knows they can do better.  

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Malia is excited. The captain says, the primaries are Ian and Crystal, who are celebrating their one year anniversary, and bringing along some friends. They’re all high-profile clients. Katie reads that on the first night, the primaries want to celebrate their anniversary, and on the next night, they want Captain Sandy to join them for dinner. They also want the crew to put on a talent show. In Katie’s interview, she says she has no hidden talents. She was a dancer growing up, but her talent is doing stewy things on big white floaty things. The guests have also requested a picnic off the boat. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s excited that he has a perfect record; no guest complaints, except for Captain Sandy’s fish. She really just gave him feedback, but it’s still in his head. The captain says she knows they’re going to kill it. Afterwards, Malia says David seems upset and sad. She didn’t mean to come across the way she did; it’s just the end of the season. Katie goes to get the hat Ben gave her, and tells them that he left her a quote inside. She reads: How quickly I become jealous of the wind when it, and not I, gets the privilege of properly messing up your hair. In her interview, she wonders if it’s just a poetic way of saying he wants to f*** her. She puts it on, and Malia says, whatever works. Katie did what she had to do 

Lloyd says, last night, he was thinking about the season coming to an end, and wants to take advantage of it. The crew gets ready to go out, and heads to the taxis, this time, the girls in one and the guys in the other. Courtney says she wishes there was sexual chemistry with one of the guys, and Katie says she’s always wanted to have sex on the bridge. In the other taxi, the guys talk about their best pickup lines, but none of them is very good. Katie says she’s more into the guys in the engine room. They get to the winery, and take pictures. To go with the wine, the waiter brings a ton of grilled clams in the shell. Malia can’t believe it’s the last charter, and Mathew says they should all go somewhere and chill for a few days before they go home. In Katie’s interview, she thinks it would be really cool to get away from the environment of the boat. They’re a weird little mixed up family. Might as well spend a few more days together. They go inside, and through the building to another outside area where there’s a table set for them. Courtney gets excited, saying, it’s like a secret area.  

They sit down, and Malia asks if the deckhands understand why she has to be hard on them. She can’t always be their friend. If she didn’t have faith in Mzi, she wouldn’t have put him on in the morning. In her interview, she says Mzi still has a lot to learn, but he’s doing a great job. She wants to push him a little more, and wants him to gain confidence on deck. He won’t be coddled on the next boat. Courtney toasts, to Katie, the best boss bitch. She appreciates everyone’s help, and she’s so happy. She loves them. They all clink glasses, and Courtney says, good vibes all over. Malia says, even though Courtney is exhausted, she still lightens the mood. They toast, to Coco, and Mzi says he feels like he should apologize to Courtney. He feels like an idiot, but Courtney asks if he’s joking, and tells him to shut up. She appreciates him so much, and feels bad for joking. She hugs him, and in her interview, she says she hopes this helps get them back to where they were in their friendship. Mathew says this is his favorite night out. Lexi’s not there. Katie says she was waiting for that, and we flash back to one of Lexi’s tirades. Malia says Mathew was out of line too, but Katie says he didn’t take it to the next level. We flash back to Lexi telling Malia that she’s just a bosun, and to stand down. Malia says she and Lexi grew up in similar situations. Lexi grew up in a strict, religious household that she was trying to get away from. Maliah can identify, and says, they both still want love from their moms, but it’s not an excuse. Courtney tells Mzi that they just missed a full conversation about Lexi, and David wonders why they’re talking about Lexi; she’s gone. In Katie’s interview, she says, Mathew got his wish, and he’s lucky to be there. He isn’t authorized to speak badly about Lexi; he’s just as bad. Just drink your wine and eat your dinner. Katie says, everyone has a reason to feel the way they do, but Lexi is human and f***ed up. Courtney says, Lexi is sh*t, and Mathew says he’s still angry about her standing in his dirt pile. Courtney starts crying, and Mathew says, Coco is going through a rough time too. Malia says she doesn’t think Lexi is a terrible person, and Courtney weeps that everyone is having a rough time, but no one else is taking it out on other people. She and Lexi had shared a moment about their dads in a restaurant. We flashed back to that, and Courtney says, she knows everyone does things differently, no matter what they’re going through In her interview, she says, everyone is going through sh*t, and she’s dealing with her dad’s illness. She cries, and says, someone having Alzheimer’s is hard because you basically lose the person. Malia says Courtney was a champ. She never knew Courtney was going through things. She’s a legend, but some people don’t have that. David hugs Courtney, and Mathew says, stop calling Lexi a nice person; she’s the worst. Lloyd says, just because it’s yachting, doesn’t mean it’s allowed, and Katie says, with a normal job, you go to work from 8 to 5, and go home. Yachting will always be different. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he took the time and effort to change careers, but his experiences in yachting have made him wary about his next job, and if it will be a safe, understanding environment. David tells Mathew to take a moment to appreciate that Lexi is a human being and has feelings. In David’s interview, he says, in the worst case, Lexi will be in a dark place after this. He’s been there. In his head, he was convinced that if he took everything he had, he’d just go to sleep for a few weeks, but he woke up in the hospital and he was empty. It was a dark time. Even though Lexi wasn’t nice to him, she’s still a human being. David says, that’s all he’s got, and Mathew tells Courtney that he’ll always be there for her. In the taxi, Malia asks David, what’s wrong? and he says, everyone is tired, and it’s difficult. He’s spent four and a half years on boats. Malia says she’s harder on him because he works at a bosun’s pace. She doesn’t hold the others on the same pedestal. David gets less direction, and she expects more. David says he gets the point, but sometimes feels condescended and under-appreciated. Malia says she completely gets it, and appreciates him. Lloyd tells Mathew that he’s lucky to be there. His food is good, but he’s a bit of an ass. He’s lucky they put up with him. Mathew says he doesn’t care because he’s holding a bottle of tequila and two beers.   

Back at the boat, they drink some more, and David goes to bed. Everyone dances around, while Mathew, Courtney, and Mzi sit on a low wall near the dock. Mzi falls backward into the shrubs, but they’re all laughing so hard, he can barely get back up. He says he’s the drunkest human being on this planet. Everyone goes to bed.

Five hours before charter. Everyone tries to get it together, and Malia checks the route. Katie says, it’s going to be a sh*t show, and Malia says, it will be a lot with two people. The deck crew can help, but… Katie says, it’s not on them, and in Malia’s interview, she says, the last guests weren’t very demanding. If yachting has taught her anything, it’s that it won’t happen again. She thinks it’s going to be a hectic last trip. The crew gets everything ready, but Lloyd can’t find his radio. He hugs Courtney, who tells him not to be stressed. In his interview, he says he’s looking at the long game. It’s in his head now; wondering how he’ll find a new crew, and if it will be a nice job. He asks Malia about courses she thinks he should take, and she asks if he wants to stick with the deck, or get into engineering. He says he just wants to do a good job. The captain calls Malia to the bridge, and says, unfortunately, the wind is coming in early. They’ll have to take off earlier. She’s going to anchor off of Sibenik, and pick up the guests from there. In Katie’s interview, a producer asks if she has any regrets that she’s a stew down, but she says she doesn’t. She made the right decision in going with her gut, and did what needed to be done and what was best for the boat. The provisions arrive.  

Lloyd has trouble with the bow line, and starts breathing heavy. Anchor is dropped, and Malia tells Lloyd to slow down. In her interview, she says, something is off. Lloyd is making rookie mistakes that he almost never makes. She tells him that he didn’t call out the colors like he was supposed to, and needs to pick up his game. She doesn’t know what’s going on, but she needs the real Lloyd back. Lloyd gets sick and throws up in the water off of the swim platform. Malia asks, what’s going on? and he says he’s anxious, and feels tightness in his chest and stomach. She tells him to get off deck, and he goes to his cabin.  

Malia relays Lloyd’s symptoms to the captain, and says, it started this morning. She could tell something was up. Captain Sandy says she’ll take his blood pressure; there are heart problems in his family. Malia brings Lloyd to the bridge. He doesn’t look good, and the captain asks if it’s worse. He says he’s all right, and she tells him that he’ll be okay. He says he feels stupid, but she says, don’t. He gets sick again, and she says he needs to go to shore. She calls a water taxi, and tells the doctor that Lloyd’s blood pressure is high, he has chest pains, and he’s nauseous. She’s concerned. Lloyd leaves in the water taxi…

To be continued…

🤷🏽‍♀️ That’s All I’ve Got…

I’m cutting class early, but join me tomorrow, when I check in on those crazy, nearly forty-year-old kids, who used to work at SUR. And of course (🍷) the usual soap. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping your word, and stay remembering, just because you’re having a rough time, you don’t get to take it out on other people.

September 27, 2021 – Maxie Has Something To Tell Carly, New Old Deck, Another House, the Show Went On & Champs

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yuri brings Brook to Charlie’s, along with Bailey/Louise, and says he’ll be sitting at another table, looking – how you say? – discreet. She says, that’s him; straight with a capital T. Maxie comes in, and Brook tells her, Yuri is here, so no worries. Maxie says there are also two plainclothes cops outside. As far as worrying goes, it seems like that’s all she’s doing lately. First, she was worried that Peter was going to go after the baby; now she’s worried she’s his target.

Valentin sits on Chloe’s bed, where she’s unconscious and hooked up to machines. He wonders, did Peter do this to her? Or was it someone else? Either way, she’s safe now. Anna comes in and asks how Chloe is, and he says, the doctors say she’s still unconscious. Any luck? She says, no. She didn’t find out much beyond Chloe’s name.

Obrecht tells Victor, she can’t lose her Britta; not after losing her Nathan. She has no choice but to trust he’ll keep his word. He stands behind her, puts his hands on her shoulders, and says, don’t worry, darling. The worst is over now. She whips around and puts a knife to his throat, and says, wrong again, darling. She shot him once and left him for dead, and he survived. This time, he won’t be so lucky. He asks if she’s sure this is how she wants to play this.

Elizabeth looks at a flyer that says GH Trivia Night, when Finn comes out of the elevator. They say, hi, and he says he saw one of the flyers for Trivia Night upstairs. Is she interested? She says she hasn’t given it much thought, and he says, him neither. She presses the elevator button, and says she has to get these files upstairs. He says he’ll see her around, and she gets in. Chase comes by and asks Finn, what’s up with him and Elizabeth?

Sonny tells Nina, she needs to stop fooling herself. Mike’s gone. She needs to forget he ever existed. She says she’ll never forget what she and Mike shared together, and he says she had nothing with him. She was in love with some guy she thought he was. Let’s start with that. Tending bar in Nixon Falls, mopping the floors; if he wanted to do that, he would have stayed in Brooklyn. That wasn’t his life plan, and it still isn’t. She says, this is? Is he happy with this life here in Port Charles? He says, yeah, with his wife, his kids, and his business, even though she wishes he wasn’t.

Jason tells Carly that he has to go and talk to Diane about this Buscema/Novak thing. He knows the cops are going to call him down. She says there’s something they need to talk about. What are they going to tell Sonny? How are they going to make this okay for him? He asks what she means by okay. Sonny doesn’t know their marriage was almost real, and it doesn’t matter because it’s over. (First World made-up problems.) She says she knows that, but Sonny’s been gone for nine months. Unless he said something to Jason, they have no idea how he’s been dealing with his bi-polar disorder, or if he’s been dealing with it at all.

Terry sees Elizabeth, and thanks her for the assist in keeping Britt’s mind off her mother. Elizabeth says, she totally saw right through it, but it was pretty fun nonetheless. Terry wonders if she dare say Britt’s growing on her, and Elizabeth says, stranger things have happened. Terry says Elizabeth seems distracted. Is everything okay?

Maxie tells Brook, she’s being as safe as she physically can be, so she knows she’s being irrational. Brook says, those are the same instincts that kept her away from Peter. She should listen to them. There’s no harm in a little extra caution. Maxie thanks Brook for arranging this, and Brook says, of course (🍷), but if anyone asks, they’re here on Deception business. Josslyn comes over to their table, and says hello to Maxie and Brook, and remarks that Bailey is getting big. Brook says, champion eater, this one, and Maxie says she’s surprised to see Josslyn there. She thought Josslyn would be home celebrating. Brook says, celebrating what? Carly and Jason’s wedding? Maxie says, Brook hasn’t heard? Brook says, obviously not, and Josslyn says, Sonny’s alive.

Nina asks if Sonny was happy as Mike, but he doesn’t know how to answer that. She asks again, and he says, yeah, he was happy, but he didn’t know what he was missing. She says, doesn’t that tell him something? That there was this happy, non-violent, better guy living inside of him, just waiting to come out. He says, no. You know what that  tells him? The guy had amnesia, but the real him was still in there. Remember when there was trouble, he’d take care of the situation? She says, true. They went to Corinth, and there was that guy. She was terrified that Sonny would come out, but there was Mike. He was kind to the guy. Sonny says, because he made the smart move. He may not always be right, but he doesn’t like to think he’s stupid. Why would he beat the hell out of the guy when he could make the guy his ally? You have to look at the situation and turn it to your advantage. She says she thinks that’s part of it, but she doesn’t believe that’s all of it. He says she has to listen to him, okay? He’s sorry that she fell in love with Mike. She says, and Mike fell in love with her, but he says, that was an illusion, plain and simple.

Carly says, she and Jason don’t know anything that’s been going on with Sonny the whole time he’s been gone. He seems okay, which makes her think he got his hands on some kind of medication, but if he hasn’t, maybe he thinks he doesn’t need it anymore. He says she’s right; Sonny seems pretty level. She says, although there were times before when he wasn’t on medication and seemed level, and then he crashed. Jason says, and if anything is going to make him crash, it’s this. She says, us.

Finn sees Chase at the hospital, and asks how he is. Chase says he got the all-clear from his physical therapist, and Finn says, back to work? Chase says, back to work; back to everything. Finn says, that’s really great, but cautions him to go easy in the gym. Chase says he’s been warned, and Finn says, but will he listen? Chase asks how Finn and Elizabeth are. From what he saw on the camping trip, things seemed to be progressing between them. Finn says he guesses they were, and Chase asks, what happened? Finn says, it’s more like what didn’t happen. They almost kissed.

Anna tells Valentin, Chloe abandoned her car after the accident, and made her way into this little village. She said she was an American, and gave them her name. Then she collapsed, so the local authorities were alerted, and the American consul ran her name and identity. He says, she was listed as a missing person, and Anna says, exactly. He says, and that alerted the WSB because she was already in their register, and Anna says, because the fake Chloe used her ID when she kidnapped Maxie and the baby. But how the real Chloe ended up here is anyone’s guess. He says, it has to be Peter, right? and she says, but she doesn’t remember Faison having a base of operations there in Greece. He says, other than the work he did for Helena? and she says, of course (🍷). Cassadine Island is very close, isn’t it?

Victor says, one of the things he’s always found sexy about Obrecht, was her intelligence. But let’s review the situation. Obviously, she’s on his compound, with a full staff keeping watch, so does she really think pulling a knife on him is her best strategy? She says, it’s the only strategy. She’s not available to be his prisoner. She’s getting out of there, and going home to her daughter. He says she didn’t used to be this sentimental, and she says, losing her son changed her. It made her understand what is important and what is not. What is worth it, and what is not. Clearly a lesson he hasn’t learned. So in case there is any doubt, she will kill him to get back to her only remaining child in a heartbeat.

Chase tells Finn, last he heard, almost kissing was a good thing. Finn says, it was just a moment. He’s not sure Elizabeth wanted it to happen. Chase asks why he’d say that, and Finn says, it’s awkward now between them. Chase saw them just now. Chase says, he did. The vibes were coming from both of them. Did Finn want the kiss to happen? Finn says he got lost looking into her eyes. If Scotty hadn’t fallen from the sky, who knows? Chase says, Finn would still be kissing her right now, but Finn says he doesn’t want to push anything. If she’s not into it, or she’s having second thoughts, he understands that. Chase says, okay, but what if she’s neither of those things?  

Elizabeth tells Terry, things were going really well. The kids were off with Chase, and she and Finn had a moment alone. Terry says, and…? and Elizabeth says, and they were close to kissing, when Scotty showed up. Terry says, so they were interrupted. Big deal. Just pick up where they left off. Elizabeth says, that’s the thing. She’s not sure Finn wants to.

Victor says he’s sorry he and Obrecht rekindling their relationship isn’t in the cards, but he still doesn’t think their time together was a waste. She says, nein, but he says, it’s given him a chance to see her in a whole new light, and appreciate her even more. He sees how much she loved her son, and regrets Nathan wasn’t his. He also regrets that they have to do this the hard way. She tells him, don’t worry. She won’t kill him unless she absolutely has to, but he says he doesn’t think she’ll see it the same way he does. Obrecht feels a gun in her back, and Peter says, hello, Liesl.

Josslyn sits down, and tells Maxie and Brook, it was so surreal to walk into that room and see Sonny. Not only alive, but smiling. She didn’t know what to feel first. It was a roller coaster of emotion; shock, to joy, to confusion, to relief. Maxie says she can’t imagine it. When she heard, she was blown away. Josslyn says, that’s an understatement, and asks how Maxie found out. Maxie says, she hears things from people who know stuff, and Josslyn says, that’s just so weird. Sonny only came home to her mom and Jason… Brook says, on their wedding night. Josslyn says, that’s a whole other story, but then Dante showed up, and she and Michael got the text to come over. She asks if Dante was the one who shared the news with Maxie.

Sonny tells Nina, forget the fact that he’s married. He had an entire life. What did she think she was going to do, go on indefinitely? Even if his memory never came back, that humble bartender is so far from who he is. She says he’s right. She was in denial, 100% complete in denial, but she wants to make something really clear. There wasn’t one morning, not one, she didn’t wake up and say to herself, today is the day she tells him the truth, and makes things right. He says, but she didn’t, and she says, because she’d see him smile, and see how peaceful he was, how happy. Then her willpower would just evaporate. It was like Nixon Falls was a parallel world where only good things happened; there was no pain and he wasn’t in danger. She never meant to hurt him. He says she didn’t think it would hurt him being away from his family, leaving Carly and Jason to pick up the pieces? She was great. They were great together, but it wasn’t real. She nods.

Jason tells Carly, the vows they said, the life they thought they were going to have, that’s not going to happen. The feelings will go away in time, and they’ll get back to normal. She says, what if Sonny finds out they were planning a real marriage? Jason knows how Sonny operates. His paranoia is huge when he has a manic episode. Jason says, and if Sonny is having a manic episode, they don’t know. She says, the worst thing that could happen would be Sonny being paranoid against them. The two people who can help him.

Finn says, it’s complicated, but Chase doesn’t get why. Finn and Elizabeth are both adults, who work in the same field, who for weeks and weeks worked to try and save his life –thanks for that, by the way – it makes sense they would have grown closer together. Finn says, it was a heightened situation, and Chase says, so? Finn says, so Chase is better, thank God. Now things are going back to normal. Chase says, exactly. Finn and Elizabeth have a chance to explore things between them in a regular setting. Finn says, that’s what worries him.

Elizabeth tells Terry, when Chase was sick, it was a distraction. Terry says, she means from losing Franco? and Elizabeth says, yeah. And working with Finn to save his brother was all consuming, and exactly what she needed. Not to mention, they made a pretty good team. Spending all that time together… Terry says, they got closer, and Elizabeth says, it felt that way. Terry says, it looked that way too, but Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. Now that things have calmed down, they’ve taken a step back. Maybe she mistook their teamwork for something else.

Valentin says, Anna is right. Cassadine Island isn’t far; it’s about twenty minutes by boat. She asks if he’s okay with that. How does it feel being so close? He says he has mixed emotions. He left the island when he was six, so he doesn’t have any fond memories there. What really bothers him is Nikolas got the entire inheritance. Anna says, in such a dramatic way. Typical of Helena to set things up that way. He says, absolutely, but the fact of the matter is, the money wasn’t his to inherit; he’s not a Cassadine. He’s not beholden to Mikkos or Helena. He is the man that he made himself to be. She says, he’s his own person, and he says, and you know what? He thinks he’s starting to like him. Anna says she thinks she is too. Yes! I love them together.

Victor moves the knife away from his throat, and says Peter certainly took his time. Peter says he was busy launching himself off a cliff to escape Anna and Valentin. Victor says, and he was busy arranging Peter’s retrieval. And he’s welcome. Obrecht says, they’re working together, and Peter says, that’s not any of her concern. She tried to kill him. She says she tried to kill him because he deserves it. She only regrets it didn’t work. He’s a despicable excuse for a human being. Victor says, perhaps, but he has his uses. He asks if Peter took care of that mess in Pennsylvania, and Peter says he burned that hole-in-the-wall bar to the ground. Oh, and Obrecht’s niece was inside. He doubts anyone survived. Now that he’s taken care of one loose end, time to tie off another. He aims his gun at her.

Brook tells Josslyn, she’s learned to never ask Maxie about her sources. Maxie knows things, and they get to benefit from that. Let’s backtrack. Sonny is alive? This is incredible. What happened? Josslyn says, when Sonny fell in the river, he didn’t drown. He washed ashore in a small town in Pennsylvania, but had no memory of who he was. Some nice people took him in, and he’s been living for the past nine months with no idea he had an entire other life waiting for him. Brook asks if he’s okay, and Josslyn says he is. Brook says she can’t wait to see him, but doesn’t want to push herself on him if he’s overwhelmed. Is he really doing okay?

Nina tells Sonny, he keeps saying it’s not real, and she understands; she really does. But at the same time, it happened. We fell in love. Sonny says, don’t say we, and she says, she and Mike fell in love, but he was Mike. He says, but he wasn’t. She had feelings for someone, but it wasn’t him, and he gets the feeling she doesn’t like Sonny Corinthos very much. She says, she just didn’t know him very well. She believed he had every reason to hate her, and she’s read stories and articles that put him in a negative light. But Mike didn’t happen in a vacuum. Mike’s kindness, that love, patience, and willingness to listen came from him. He has those qualities, but she didn’t know that. So her saying Mike is a better version of him, is her judging him. She didn’t know him really, and obviously, now she never will.

Carly tells Jason, everyone was there, and saw them at their wedding, including Michael. Michael knows it was more than just politics for them, or at least it was going to be. If Sonny gets suspicious and asks questions, what do they tell him? Jason says, if he asks, they tell Sonny the truth. They wanted a real marriage, but it didn’t get that far, because Sonny came back, and everything changed. What he needs her to hold on to is that they didn’t do anything wrong. I’m finding it difficult to see what the big deal is.

Terry says, the first thing she’s going to caution Elizabeth against, is putting herself in Finn’s head. She has no idea what he’s thinking. Elizabeth says, doesn’t she? Last night they were talking about the camping trip, but all Finn brought up was the kids. Nothing about the almost kiss. Terry asks if Elizabeth brought it up, but Elizabeth says, there was a reason she didn’t. Terry says, like what? and Elizabeth says, like maybe it’s just too soon. For Finn and her too. Terry says she doesn’t believe that for one second.  

Finn tells Chase, Elizabeth lost her husband not that long ago, and he’s fresh off a bad breakup. Chase says, fresh might be a little bit of a stretch, and Finn says, the timing’s not right. Chase says, the timing is perfect, and Finn says, not to mention Violet. Chase says, who adores Elizabeth. She thinks Elizabeth walks on water. Finn says Chase saw how hard Violet took it when he and Anna ended things. Say he and Elizabeth get close, and then it doesn’t work out? He’s not putting Violet through that again. Chase says he’s right, and Finn says, he is? Chase says he doesn’t think Finn should get involved with anyone ever again on the off-chance it doesn’t work out. Finn tells Chase, he’s not saying that, but Chase says, yes, he is.

The doctor tells Anna and Valentin, brains do heal. They’re hoping for the best with Miss Jennings. Valentin asks if he has any idea when she’ll come out of it, but he says he’s sorry; there’s no timetable for this. Anna asks what he can tell them about her condition, and he says, she has a concussion, most likely from the car accident. She was also dehydrated, disoriented. She’d clearly come from some stressful situation. Valentin says, she’s probably not a person who ran off the road because she was drunk on vacation, and the doctor says, no. Anna says, it’s sounding more and more like Chloe was being held against her will.    

Victor steps in between Obrecht and Peter, and asks what Peter is doing. Obrecht is his guest. Peter’s not calling the shots; he is. Put the gun down. Obrecht tells Victor to take what he wants, the knife or her life, just let her kill Peter first. Victor says, that’s the trade? and Peter says, stupid woman, but Victor says, hold on. Let him think about this.

Josslyn tells Brook and Maxie that Sonny seems great, but she doesn’t know. She has no scale to judge it on. Last night was amazing and wonderful. Sonny was so happy to see them, and they were just as happy to see him. He seemed to be the Sonny she’s always known. Brook asks if Sonny told them what he’s been up to, but Josslyn tells her, he didn’t say much. She’s sure he will once he settles in. Brook says, that makes sense, and Josslyn tells them, Sonny said he knew where he was and what he was doing, but nine months is a long time. She’s sure there are holes. She doesn’t want to put Maxie on the spot, and gets her not revealing her sources, but if she does know something, it would be great if Maxie would tell her mom. Maxie says, she thinks Josslyn is right. She definitely needs to talk to Carly. Why, Maxie, why? Why aren’t you letting Nina do that?

Jason says he and Carly would have never let themselves go down that road if Sonny hadn’t disappeared. Carly says, of course(🍷) not, but she doesn’t want Sonny to think he’s in their way, or that they’re still together, because they’re not. Jason says, they’re not, but there’s nothing to hide, and Sonny will pick up on that. So let’s just take this step by step. Carly says she’ll talk to Sonny about his bipolar disorder, and they’ll take it one day at a time, and if he asks any questions, they’ll tell him the truth. Jason agrees, and she says she hopes he doesn’t ask.

Nina says her reckoning day has come, hasn’t it? All the lies she told to the people left to grieve for him. They’re going to feel betrayed, and they should. Because that’s what she did; she betrayed so many people. She betrayed their trust, and the trust she and Mike/Sonny had with each other. She betrayed Michael and their grandson. Sonny says she didn’t lose the connection, did she? When she was video chatting with Wiley, that call wasn’t dropped; she ended it because she didn’t want him to see his family. She says, yes. Of all the choices she could have made, she chose the one that alienated everybody. Now she has to live with the anger and resentment; theirs and his.  

Preface: These are two separate conversations going on at the same time. Elizabeth says, then there’s the whole Violet angle, and Terry says she’s shutting it down before it’s begun. Finn says, no, he’s not, but Chase says he’s way overthinking this. Elizabeth says, no, she’s trying to be an adult, and Terry says, and does she want to be a happy adult? Finn tells Chase, of course (🍷) he does, and Chase asks if Elizabeth makes Finn happy. Elizabeth tells Terry, yes. She loves spending time with Finn. Chase tells Finn, then get out of his own way already, and see where he and Elizabeth are with each other. Then he can find out if they’re on the same page. Terry and Elizabeth get in the elevator, and Terry says, if they’re not, no harm, no foul, but Elizabeth will never know if she doesn’t try. Finn tells Chase, okay. When he puts it like that… Chase says Finn didn’t think his little brother was so wise, and Finn says he didn’t, but let’s not go overboard. Chase says, he’s there for advice anytime Finn needs it, and Finn says he’s created a monster. He tells Chase to show himself out, and turns, running into Elizabeth and Terry coming out of the elevator.

Peter says Victor can’t be serious, and Victor says, as tempting as he finds Obrecht’s offer, the truth is, he can’t trust her. Obrecht says, but he trusts Peter? and he says he and Peter have their own arrangement. She says Victor is a bigger imbecile than she thought. Peter will double-cross him as soon as he sees an opening. Victor says, that’s just a chance he’ll have to take.

Carly tells Jason that she loved their wedding and their reception, and she’ll treasure those memories for the rest of her life. But that’s private, for them. She’s not trying to shut Sonny out, but he wasn’t there; he wasn’t a part of it. Trying to explain it to him will only cause tension. Jason says, first of all, It’s Sonny. The three of them have been through way worse than this. It’s a good thing Sonny’s back. She says, it’s a miracle. She prayed for this every moment he was gone, but at the same time, it’s disorienting. He says, there’s always going to be bumps, but they have Sonny and he has them. It’s going to be okay. She laughs, and says she loves that about him. When he says it’s going to be okay, he means it. He laughs, and tells her, now you say it, and she says, it’s gonna be okay. They hug.

Sonny says, let him tell Nina something, and it’s coming from experience. It’s never a good thing to play God with someone’s life, and that’s what she did. Now there’s going to be a fallout. She says she knows, and he says he’s sorry about that. Being honest, aside from her first initial impulse to get back at Carly, he doesn’t think she did anything with malice. He thinks she made a mistake, and just kept going on. She says, that pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? For what it’s worth (🍷), she truly is really sorry. She hopes he doesn’t suffer from her mistakes. She leaves, and he ponders this.

Yuri tells Brook, he ordered avocado on toast for Monica, and Brook says, that’s so sweet of him. She’s sure Monica will appreciate that, but they have bigger fish to fry. He says, Peter August, and she says, he’s still out there. The guy’s got a screw loose, and for all they know, Peter could be planning a full-blown assault on the house. Yuri says, if he tries, it will be the last thing he ever does. He won’t get near her or that baby.

Anna thinks she and Valentin should head to the village, and conduct some interviews. See if someone saw Chloe, the car, or both. You never know what sort of details you can turn up. He says, let’s go, and Anna tells the doctor to notify him if she wakes up. He says, will do, and they leave. I have a bad feeling about this.

Finn smiles, Elizabeth smiles, Terry smiles, and Chase moves over by Terry. Finn says, hi again, and Elizabeth says, hi. Chase says he thinks they should make themselves scarce, and Terry says that’s their best bet. They walk to the reception desk, and Elizabeth laughs. Finn says, so how is she at trivia? and she says, not great, but it’s more about fun than skill, right? He says, right, and it’s for a really good cause. She says, exactly, and he says, so maybe next Wednesday? She says, sure, okay. She’ll be there. She grabs Terry by her lab coat, and they leave. Chase smiles at Finn, and Finn shakes his head.   

A lackey grabs Obrecht, and she asks where he’s taking her. Victor says he’s saving her soul, and the lackey takes her away. Peter says Victor is making a mistake keeping Obrecht alive; she’s dangerous. Take it from someone who knows. Victor says he’s well aware that she’s dangerous – to Peter. That’s why he locked her up. Peter asks, why take the risk when he can get rid of her? and Victor says, that’s for him to know, and Peter not to. Peter says Victor isn’t nearly as smart as he thinks he is, and Victor says, they’re done here. Peter walks out, and Victor’s phone rings. He asks what they have for him. The doctor with Chloe says, Miss Jennings just had two visitors from the WSB.

Josslyn brings Maxie to the former home of the moss bowl, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Josslyn says Maxie has something she wants to tell her.

Sonny goes to Mike’s grave, and says, hey, dad. He’s home. It took him a while, but he finally made it. It wouldn’t have happened if Mike hadn’t come to him in the woods. Mike saved his life. Sonny threw his watch away… It’s a long story, but… Jason joins him, and Sonny says he’s glad Jason is there, but first things first. Can they get rid of that thing? He points to his own gravestone.  

Tomorrow, Willow thinks something is going on with Nina, Valentin says he’s staying with Anna, Carly wants to know what Nina knew and when she knew it, and Sonny tells Jason that it’s Nina’s fault.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy tells Malia, the reality is, during the first meeting, she’d asked Malia to come to her if there was an injury, so do it from now on. Any injury is a liability, even if it’s a bruise, and David has a massive effing bruise. She says she can’t trust Malia. Malia goes back on deck, and says, f*** that; she’s over this. Courtney and Katie put the finishing touches on the boat, and Malia tells David that he has to make a report to the First Officer. David tells Mzi that he could hear the captain screaming at Malia. Mathew wonders if it’s going to be an early morning/early night crowd. In Katie’s interview, she says she had seven girls under her in the past, and now she has one. If it blows up in her face, that’s on her, and she’ll take responsibility. Malia tells Mzi and Lloyd that she should have reported David’s injury, but it hadn’t been during working hours. She’s obviously upset, and Lloyd and Mzi hug her.

Mathew asks David what the vibe is on deck, and David says, limping tea. Mathew says, since it’s a religious group, they should get with the prayers. In his interview, he says he’s like Matt the Cat, and feels that he’s escaped the fire many times. As usual, Mathew is a nervous wreck, but David says he’s done five charters, and the guests have loved everything he’s done. The captain calls Malia to the bridge, which I always think must be like being called to the principal’s office. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she didn’t know severity of David’s injury. He might feel fine now, but God forbid it gets worse, and he gets a blood clot or something. If an injury isn’t reported, those liable are the owner of the vessel and her.  

Lloyd and Mzi discuss what superpowers they’d like to have, and Mzi says he’d like to read minds. Lloyd says he’d like to speak to animals, but what if they’re thick, and all they’re saying is what they’re saying. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, it’s worrying leaving there. He’ll have to be concerned about people’s impressions of his lifestyle. The captain tells Malia that she made it clear from day one, if someone is injured, she doesn’t care what it is; she wants to know about it. Malia says, if it had happened when David was working, she would have filled an incident report out, but it happened after hours. Captain Sandy says she sees where Malia is going with this technically, but David is limping. Malia says she sees what the captain is saying; it could become more serious. She’s sorry. In Malia’s interview, she says, the captain has the right to know what’s going on with the crew at all times, especially an injury. She should have reported it, and at the end, it’s her fault. The captain says she trusts Malia 1000%, and it was a blow when she found out. Malia says the captain saying that she didn’t trust her, hurt her to the core. She’ll make sure it happens from now on.

Doctor Tea calls the captain, and says three of the guests were delayed in travel, and now they need to wait for negative covid test results. In Malia’s interview, she says she’s putting David on the night shift, since there’s not as much physical labor. She tells him, as long as he can stand and wash dishes. She says, Lloyd and Mzi are going to need to step up their game during the day. Hopefully, the captain will see that she’s trying to remedy the situation. Captain Sandy radios the crew to get ready, and tells them there will be three latecomers. The crew gets in their whites, and Katie quickly goes over everything with Courtney. The guests come up the dock, and the captain says, Katie will show them around the vessel. They board, and Captain Sandy finds out the other guests’ tests are negative. Katie gives the tour, and Mathew makes charcuterie boards. In Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t believe they’re doing the trip with only two stews. The anxiety is real.

In Mzi’s interview, he says he hasn’t manned the bow before, but it seems straightforward. Malia tells him that he’s got this. Primary Anthony tells Katie that his go-to drink is Sprite, and he laughs about it. In Katie’s interview, she says, he doesn’t drink, and it’s what she and Courtney needed right now. Malia says, all straight lines are on board, and tells Captain Sandy that she’s awfully close to a dolphin. In the captain’s interview, she says, the Lady Michelle is a heavy vessel. 909 gross tons, two different currents, and the wind going with one, makes it difficult to get out of a hole. She’s coming out heavy on the stern, and could hit a dolphin. She makes it, and tells the crew, nice work. Malia tells Mzi, good job, and Katie asks the deck crew to clean the crew mess. Anthony says when they’re in a restaurant, they order like children. Everyone gets a Shirley Temple. Malia tells the captain that she’s put David on nights, and the captain thanks her. She tells Katie that Malia is scouting picnic areas, and Malia says, they’ll set up using two of the deck crew. In Malia’s interview, she says, this is where Delaney would help. Sometimes extra hands are just extra hands. It’s unnecessary stress on the deck crew. Malia says they’re going to a national park, and Katie tells Courtney, they’ll be fine.

They drop anchor in Borovnik, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s better at her job when she’s running around like a headless chicken. She’ll take physical stress over emotional stress any day. The delayed guests arrive, and Katie pops champagne. Guest Holly says, that is the song of my people, so I guess the late group drinks alcohol. In David’s interview, he says he feels useless, although he’s helping in the laundry. Katie tells Mathew, it’s going to be a bitch to carry everything, and In Mathew’s interview, he says, the vibe is better and more chill without Lexi. His spiral has subsided. In Malia’s interview, she says the picnic site is on top of a mountain over the water, and contains the remnants of an old movie set. The sites in the Med are usually castles or old ruins, as opposed to sandy beaches. Anthony asks if Captain Sandy will join them for dinner, and she accepts. In Malia’s interview, she says she doesn’t want to be a d*ck, but they need an extra person. In Mathew’s interview, he says he’s worked for billionaires and celebrities, but none of them have seen him have a meltdown and kept him employed. He wants to prove himself more to Captain Sandy than the guests. Malia and Mzi set up the picnic, and it’s quite a hike up the mountain. These jobs are a workout unto themselves.

Malia tells Mzi that they need to double-time it. Back on the boat, Katie is impressed with Courtney’s laundry skills. Mzi and Malia set up lunch on the mountain, and the late guests have a shot. Mathew asks Katie, how does it feel to be the world’s best chief stew? and she responds with an unenthusiastic, yeah. Mathew just keeps cooking. I imagine if the guests don’t drink, they’re going to want to eat. The guests arrive for the long trek up the mountain, and Anthony is impressed that the crew hauled everything up there. The food looks so good, I can almost taste it. It’s a build your own poke bowl buffet, with tons of stuff. David almost falls over the railing of the boat, leaning to unhook the tender, and I almost have a heart attack. Wait until Captain Sandy watches this. The guests talk about what they’re doing next, and one says he wants to get on the jet board. I’m assuming the mixed up jet ski with paddleboard, unless there’s some hybrid I don’t know about. In Courtney’s interview, she says, no matter what, Mzi is a friend for life, but she knows she doesn’t want anything more than friendship. Her last boyfriend dumped her during lockdown. To make it worse, they were watching Ozark together, and she never finished. He ruined it for her. I could totally understand this.

The guests return to the boat, and tell Captain Sandy that her team pulled it off. It’s the best charter ever. On shore, Katie and Lloyd take pictures, posing like they got married, It does not look like fun hauling this stuff around. In Courtney’s interview, she says she feels… exhaust? and a producer says, exhausted. Yep, she’s that tired, since she’s been working 9 hours without a break. Katie tells Mathew, the guests loved it, and Anthony says he wants to jet ski for a second. Malia tells him that they have to stay 300 meters off shore, and another guest goes with him. One bounces on the trampoline, and another paddleboards. David tells Malia that he thinks they took the jet skis to town, and Malia says she’ll go to the bridge and get eyes on them. She sees them go under a bridge, and tells the captain that they went into town. Captain Sandy tells her, go get them, and in Malia’s interview, she says they’re going to get a ticket. Lloyd says, they are in big trouble.

Malia takes the tender out, and yells, hey! at the guests, reminding them of being 300 meters from shore. Courtney takes a break, and the captain says, bad boys. Malia shows them the way back, and radios the captain, telling her the capture of the guests was a success. When they get back to the boat, David tells them not to go under the bridge. They use the slide, and a few of them jump off the boat into the water. I would love to go down that slide, but jumping off the boat, not so much. It’s awfully high. Mathew asks Katie about dinner, and in her interview, she says she enjoys working with Mathew. It’s nice that he asks her opinion, but at the same time, she needs him to do his job and make his own decisions. He asks if he should put the parmesan on the table or on the dish. The guests get in the hot tub, and Lloyd brings up the slide. Katie brings out snacks, and the guests chant her name. Courtney yawns, and Katie tells Mathew that dinner is at 8:30. He asks her to say a prayer that the captain likes everything. In his interview, Mathew says, it’s generational. His dad is an actor, and his mom is a chef. He works better off positive reinforcement. I wonder, doesn’t everyone? Guest Ben chats with Katie as she works, telling her about taking a camper van through Europe. In her interview, she says she’ll take whatever she can get right now. She has nothing else going on.

Courtney hangs tiny lights about the dinner table. In Katie’s interview, she says Courtney rocks the laundry and can smash a cabin out, but wasn’t confident in service. She’s definitely improved since she’s had the opportunity. It does look beautiful. Lloyd calls his dad for help with his CV, and in his interview, he says David recommended him for a job. The guests sit for dinner, and in Mathew’s interview, he says he always wants to make the guests happy, but Captain Sandy gave him a third chance, and he wants to impress her. His stress levels are up. He tells no one in particular that he’s freaking out. The captain joins the guests, and says, it’s her first dinner; she’s excited. The captain asks what their favorite part of the cruise has been, and guest Holly tells her, the hike and the picnic site. It was like being in a movie. Captain Sandy says, everywhere they anchor in the Med is pretty spectacular. Katie brings a pasta course, and the captain asks where her Italian accent is. She tells them again, sounding like someone from Saturday Night Fever. Katie tells Mathew, the guests are loving it. Malia goes over the morning responsibilities with Mzi, and Mathew asks Katie, who’s the happiest? Please say Captain Sandy. Katie says the captain is telling a story right now. We see her talking to the guests, and I think it’s the pirate story. The captain excuses herself from the table, and stops by the galley. She tells Mathew, dinner was excellent, but her plate had a lot of dark fish, and she doesn’t like that. He apologizes, and she says, now he knows. In his interview, he says, that sucks. He looks really sheepish and sad, and Captain Sandy tells him, it was still delicious. In Mathew’s interview, he says, she’s 100% right. If he ordered bass in a restaurant, and had more dark than white pieces, he’d be disappointed too. He tells Katie all about it, and in her interview, she says, she’s not his mother.  

Lloyd’s dad tells him that his CV looks good, and the guests go to bed. For Courtney and Katie, it’s been 16 hours with no break. David goes on anchor watch, and the crew starts getting up at 5:30 am. It’s Mzi’s first morning shift. Holly is up at the crack of dawn, wanting to paddleboard, and in his interview, Mzi says, it’s a lot of responsibility in the morning. Captain Sandy tells Malia that no one was there first thing, and Malia says it’s Mzi’s first time on mornings. She’ll tell him for next time. She explains to Mzi that the boards should always be out, and Mathew makes all kinds of baked goods. In Lloyd’s interview, he says he’ll be leaving the supportive bubble he has there, and he’s concerned about what happens going forward and trying to get the same level of acceptance with new people. I’m not sure why he feels this way, since it’s not like he acts in some bizarre way. Mathew asks Katie what the vibe is, and she says, they love him. In his interview, he says he feels insecure when he gets any criticism. All he hears is that he f***ed up, and that’s not healthy.

It’s time to haul anchor. The anchor is home, but as they get to port, Malia says a fender is in the wrong spot. The captain tells them to take the anchor ball down. They don’t look like pros. In Malia’s interview, she says she thinks people are getting tired and not doing a thorough check of their work, but she’s not letting it slide. The crew has six minutes to get in their whites, and the captain tells them to hustle. The lines are thrown, and Malia says there’s a dolphin in front of the boat. Mzi says, they’re about to hit some ground lines and it’s his fault.

Next time, a crew night out without Lexi, Malia says they’re making rookie mistakes, Katie says everyone is anxious, Malia thinks something is off with Lloyd, and Lloyd ends up at the doctor with high blood pressure.  

🛥 Delayed Captain…

The new season of Below Deck, my favorite of the Deck franchise, will return October 25th. Captain Lee will be arriving a little late though.

https://screenrant.com/below-deck-meet-new-season-9-cast-members/

It’s Not Possible…

And I thought Summer House was bad. Winter House, premiering October 20th, looks like a real nightmare. The gents from Southern Charm share a Vermont rental with the Summer House cast. No surprise, there will be some peeing in the snow. And not by a dog.

https://www.bravotv.com/winter-house

🎭 Curtain Up, Light the Lights…

The winners.

https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/

You know.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1303336/74th-annual-tony-awards-red-carpet-fashion-see-every-look-as-the-stars-arrive

🧸 Rockabye and Goodnight…

Tune in tomorrow for soap and a VanderReturn. Until then, stay safe, stay spicy, and stay never playing God with someone’s life. Because there will be a fallout.

September 21, 2021 – Sonny Gets Home Just In Time, Lexi Off Deck & Glass

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny goes home. He looks around, and checks out his new scruffiness in the mirror. Upstairs, Jason puts his and Carly’s champagne glasses on the mantel. Carly says she trusts Jason more than anyone. She can’t believe how nervous she is. He says, there’s no rush. They have the rest of their lives. Sonny looks around the living room, glad to be back. He looks at framed family photos and smiles. Carly says she told Jason this morning, if they got married, she’d fall in love with him. She flashes back to telling Jason that she was in love with him back then, and realized if she married him, she might fall in love with him again. In the present, she says, she was wrong. She was in love with him then, and she’s in love with him now. He says he loves her too, and they kiss. Sonny goes out on the terrace, looks at the stars, and comes back in.

On the phone outside, Peter says he’s at the rendezvous; where’s the ride?… He doesn’t have ten minutes to wait. They said they’d get him out of there. Make it happen. Anna says, scheduling problems? and Peter turns to see her with her gun aimed at him. She says she woudn’t worry. He’s not going anywhere. She tells him to put his hands where she can see them. He asks what brings her to Nixon Falls, and she says, catching a killer and bringing him to justice. She tells him to throw his phone, and lie face down on the ground. We see there’s a gun in the back of his waistband, and he says, let’s talk first.

Maxie tells Austin that she’s sorry, but she has to go. Peter’s been spotted. He says, her ex? and she says, yeah. She needs to get to the Quartermaines. He asks why she has to go there, and she says, because of the baby.

Brook thanks Chase for staying. She could really use his help. He says, with what? and she says she’s been struggling with something, and thinks he might have the answer.

At the hospital, Britt tells Elizabeth that Terry has nearly perfect recall, and Elizabeth says. Always. She was jealous of Terry when they were kids in school. Finn says he thought Elizabeth and Terry were heading out to some dance place, and Elizabeth says they were, but she deleted some shared documents, and they had to stay late to reconstruct them. Britt was nice enough to help them out. Britt says, can they stop please? They both know what tonight was really about.

Jason asks if Carly is still nervous, but she says, no. He looks great in the tux. He guesses it’s all right, and she says, a little formal. She undoes his tie, gazing into his eyes. Sonny walks in, and everyone is all, wtf? She says, Sonny? and Sonny says, it’s him. She faints, and Jason catches her.

Jason puts Carly on the bed, and Sonny asks if she’s all right. Jason says, she’s in shock. He’s in shock. How is Sonny even here? Sonny says, it’s a long story, and sits on the bed. He tells Carly to wake up, and she opens her eyes, startled, and asks if she’s dreaming. He says, no, he’s there, and she sits up. She says, Sonny? He’s real? He says he missed her, and he hugs her. She says, he’s here. Oh my God, Sonny, totally forgetting about Jason, who is now the third wheel in the room.

Peter says he was hoping he’d never have to lay his eyes on Anna again. But since they’re both here, why don’t they make the most of their time together? Clear the air, once and for all. She says, if he reaches for the gun in his waistband, she’ll put a bullet in his gut. It will be horrifically painful, and his chances of survival will be pretty slim. He says, she’d really do it, wouldn’t she? and she says she wants to; he doesn’t need to give her an excuse. He says, suppose he lets her take him into custody? What then? Does she really want him to give his statement to the police? Where he tells them how he fled for his life from the upstanding Dr. Finn, who was trying to kill him?   

Britt asks if she can trouble Elizabeth for a minute in private, and Elizabeth says, sure. They walk down the hall, and Britt says she knows Elizabeth deleted the notes on purpose. Elizabeth asks, what gave her that idea? and Britt says she was headed to her room at the MetroCourt, to stare at the wall and worry about her mother, and Elizabeth and Terry wanted her to focus on something else. It was four hours of pointless busywork, and it worked. Britt thanks her, and Elizabeth asks how she knew. Britt says, Elizabeth doesn’t make mistakes like that. In fact, Elizabeth rarely makes mistakes. It’s one of her more annoying qualities. Elizabeth kind of smiles.

Maxie says she’s sorry to put Austin on the spot, but they came in his car, and she doesn’t have time to wait for a Ride Share. He asks if it had something to do with the phone call she got, and she says, yes. It was from her sister-in-law Nina. Austin met her at Kelly’s. Nina’s been staying in this small town in Pennsylvania, and they spotted Peter there. They think he might be coming to Port Charles. He asks what it has to do with the Quartermaines or Bailey, and she says, it has to do with Bailey’s father, Valentin Cassadine. Peter and Valentin have a history together, most of it bad. Since Peter just lost his own daughter, it would make sense that he’d go after Valentin’s out of spite. He says she thinks Peter would go after a baby? and she says she does, and thinks they need to warn them. Austin says, let’s go.

Chase says, this is a real mess, and Brook says, clearly. He says she should have come to him sooner, and she says her first instinct is to always handle things on her own, but this is beyond her. We see a jigsaw puzzle on the table, and he asks what she’s tried so far. She says she started with sorting by color, and he can see how well that turned out. Maybe sorted by shape? He says, that’s a good call. Why didn’t she mention she was into puzzling? She says, it’s a recent hobby, since Bailey was born. It helps her focus, but this one is stressing her out. He says, that’s because it’s bigger than she’s used to, and she say she likes hundreds of pieces. She finds a piece that fits, and he says she’s getting the hang of it.

Scotty comes into the hospital, and asks Finn if Britt is in. Finn says he just saw her, and Scotty says, any word on her mother?

At the reception, Willow and Michael slow dance, and he says, it looks like they’re the last ones there. Willow wonders if they’ll get kicked out, but he says his mom’s the co-owner. They can stay until sunrise if they want. Maxie put so much work into the decorations, they owe it to her to take full advantage. Willow says, oh, well, if they’re doing it for Maxie’s sake, and he says, besides, it’s their first outing as an official couple. No secrets to keep; just her and him together. She says she likes the sound of that, and they kiss.

Carly asks Sonny, what happened? When the bridge collapsed they searched for him for weeks. Jason says he saw Sonny fall in; he jumped in after him. Carly says they thought he’d drowned, and Sonny says, he almost did. She says, it was months ago. Where was he? He says he’s sorry. He couldn’t find his way home. Carly hugs him again.

Britt tells Elizabeth that she’s going to rearrange her schedule, so she can show up at the staff meeting tomorrow, and Elizabeth laughs. Her phone dings, and she says, Cameron just sent her some pictures of him and Josslyn. She shows Britt, who says, Jason and Carly’s wedding reception. Did everyone have fun? Elizabeth says she doesn’t know, and Britt wonders if anyone found a hair in their soup. Elizabeth says, excuse me? and Britt tells her, it’s something her mother said when Maxie told her that she was planning the wedding. Mutter didn’t think Jason and Carly should have such a perfect day. She wanted Maxie to build in a minor hiccup. Elizabeth says, a hair in the soup kind of seems kind of tame for Obrecht, and Britt says, don’t tell anyone, but she thinks her mother is mellowing… or she was. Scotty and Finn come along, and Scotty says he’ll take it from here. Finn says just make sure he’s recovered from his involuntary skydiving. Scotty says he doesn’t remember anything. He certainly didn’t wake up on a beach; he woke up on the ground. Britt says she wishes he remembered something about her mother. Scotty says, so does he. He’s been climbing the walls. That’s why he came to the hospital. He thought he and Britt could work together.

Michael and Willow sit at a table with champagne, and Michael asks, if they got married again, would she want a reception like this? He knows it’s a silly superstition, but she did catch the bouquet. She says, it’s a nice fantasy. Them, surrounded by flowers, Wiley in a cute little suit, their friends and family wishing them well. But she’s too happy where are right now to think about planning a wedding. He sees her point. They’ve barely had time to be reunited. They should take the time to savor where they are right now, before they start finding new ways to complicate it. She says, as long as he knows that he is who she wants. Him, her, and Wiley, and the life they make together. She’s not worried about the future because she knows he’ll be there. Like she’ll be there for him. He says, that’s all he needs to hear.

Brook has a puzzle section completed, and Chase says, impressive. She says, don’t be so amazed, and he says he meant it as a compliment. She says because he didn’t think she’d be any good, and he says, puzzling is a little quiet for her. She says she’s a huge fan of quiet moments; she thinks they’re very valuable. That proves how little he knows her. He says he can’t argue with her there. He’s already proved he can’t see what’s right in front of him. She tells him not to go all negative on her. He didn’t deserve what Michael and Willow did to him, but the good news is, it’s behind him. It’s over, and he gets to focus on what’s next. He says, whatever that is, and she tells him, uncertainty about your future can be a good thing. Look at her. She never thought she’d be living in this house – Monica’s house – with a brand new baby. Over half the time, she doesn’t even know what she’s doing. He says, Bailey doesn’t seem to mind. Why would she? Brook is a great mom. She says that means a lot coming from him. She just loves this little girl so much. She’s completely changed Brook’s world. The doorbell rings, and Brook says, Yuri will get it. Motherhood is completely different from what she expected. It’s much bigger, scarier, and more amazing than she imagined. Sometimes, Bailey will look at her and smile, or grab something and look at it like, oh my gosh, look what I picked up. It takes her breath away; it’s unbelievable. Maxie bursts in, and says, where is she? and Brook says, Bailey’s right there; what’s wrong? Maxie goes to the bassinette, and touches Bailey, saying, she’s okay. Chase asks if something happened, and Maxie says, Peter’s back

Peter asks how long Anna thinks Finn will last in prison. She’ll have to kill him or let him go, because as soon as he’s in custody, he’s going to explain how Finn pushed him down a flight of stairs, and dumped his unconscious body in a freezer, and left him there to die. Since his story is true, forensics will back him up. She says he dropped some blood in the hospital basement that could easily have been placed there. He’s got nothing. He says, assuming Finn doesn’t feel morally obligated to confess. He does strike Peter as that kind of guy. She asks why Finn would confess to something that never happened. He’s got more important things to do with his life. He says he sees; she’s going to convince Finn to lie. What happened to the pursuit of justice? She says she lost interest in justice right around the time he hired a psychopath to kidnap Maxie. That psycho snapped, took Maxie’s baby, and gave her to God knows who. Maxie’s daughter could be anywhere. He says, his daughter. Louise is his, and he will find her. He pulls the gun from his waistband. While Valentin is grilling the guy Peter was going to meet, he hears a gunshot, and runs toward it.

Carly asks why Sonny smells like smoke; was he in a fire? He says he was physically under a beam, and there was a fire, and he thought he was going to die. That’s when it all came to him. Her, the kids, his whole life. She says he couldn’t remember them? and he says, he called himself Mike because it was on his watch. Actually, he threw his dad’s watch away. Jason says Sonny has to tell him what happened in order, because last December, they were in Secaucus. Sonny chased Julian out on the footbridge and it collapsed. He jumped in after them, and they searched for weeks, and there was no sign of him. Sonny says, all he remembers is, he wound up on the river bank. A hiker found him and took him to a clinic. People helped him out. He didn’t know who he was. What about them? What happened while he was gone? Jason says, there’s so much to explain and figure out, but the most important thing is that Sonny is right here. He can’t believe Sonny is alive. He thought he’d never see Sonny again. They hug.   

Chase says he’ll need Maxie to take a deep breath, and tell him everything that happened, step by step. Maxie says, Nina called her while she was at the wedding reception. She said Peter was in Nixon Falls, Pennsylvania, but he left. She thinks he’s on his way to Port Charles, which of course (🍷) he is. Chase asks if Nina called the police in Nixon Falls, but Maxie doesn’t know. He says he’s going to make a few calls, and make sure the authorities in Nixon Falls know to be on the lookout for Peter. He asks if she’s talked to Mac, and she says, not yet. He says he’ll call Mac too, and get the PCPD on high alert. Brook asks if he’ll let Yuri know that Peter’s been sighted. He says he will, and jets. Brook looks on her phone for updates in Nixon Falls, and says, it looks like there was a fire in a bar. Three people were injured and they think it’s arson. Maxie says, it has to be Peter.

Scotty asks Britt to walk with him to Kelly’s, and she says she could use the fresh air. Scotty asks if anyone wants donuts, but has no takers. He leaves with Britt, and Elizabeth says she’s worried about him. It’s not like Scotty to show up and offer to get people coffee. She knows he’s a nice guy and all, but he’s generally a little more… Finn says, disheveled? No, self-absorbed. Elizabeth thinks he’s lonely. It was hard on him losing Franco; he was blindsided. Then he hooked up with Obrecht. Not that Obrecht is her first choice… Finn says, would she be anyone’s? Austin comes in, and says he’s looking for Britt. Elizabeth says she’s on a coffee run, but she thinks Britt is coming back. Finn tells him to try Kelly’s, and Austin says if they see her before he does, Maxie is trying to give her a message. Peter August is in Pennsylvania.

Anna kicks Peter’s gun away, and he says she actually shot him. He has a wound in his shoulder, and she says, it went clean through. She doubts he’ll need more than a few stitches. He asks if she shot to kill, and missed, but she says she didn’t miss. Where’s Drew Cain? He says, what? and she says, that plane crash over the Gulf of Adan was just a cover for his abduction. Where did Peter put him? He says, make him an offer, and maybe he’ll decide to tell her. She says he’s such a son of a bitch, and he asks if that’s any way to talk about her sister. She says, Alex is to blame for a lot of things, but this is all him, every step of the way. Valentin runs up, gun drawn, and asks if everything is under control. He says, hello, Peter. His guide can’t make the rendezvous; he’s handcuffed to a telephone pole, waiting for the authorities. Peter laughs, and says, look at him, suddenly a man of law and order. Anna picks up Peter’s phone, and Valentin tells her to call and tell the authorities they have Peter in custody; he’s going to tell them everything. Peter says, think again, and jumps into the river. Anna says, no!   

Carly says, the local people who helped Sonny, who were they? Where has he been? He says, a little place in Pennsylvania, but he doesn’t want to get into it now. How are the kids? She says, the kids are fine. Avery and Donna are asleep. They’re going to be so excited to see him; Donna missed him so much. He says, nine months is a long time for a little kid. How’s Michael, Dante, Josslyn, and Kristina? Carly says, Josslyn’s at PCU. She can’t believe this. She can’t believe she’s talking to him about the kids. They missed him so much. They grieved for him every single day. She gave up praying and hoping for a miracle. Sonny says, she had to; both of them. They thought he was dead, and he’s so happy they had each other to lean on. Jason says, they did more than lean on each other. They got married.

Elizabeth tells Finn, they were in a hurry. They were traumatized. They must have made a mistake. Finn says, how? and she says, Peter must have regained consciousness in the freezer, opened it up, and climbed out. He says, how? and she says, what about Maxie?  

Scotty sees Austin, and says, if it’s about the Quartermaine lawsuit, they’ll strategize another time; office hours. Austin says, thank you, but he’s there to talk to Britt. Maxie’s asked that he warn her. Peter August has resurfaced, and she’s fearful that he’s on his way back to Port Charles. Britt says, that’s sweet of Maxie to warn her, but Maxie is the one at risk. Peter’s obsessed with her.

Maxie tells Brook, thank God they did this. Thank God Peter has no idea Louise is here. Brook says she doesn’t blame Maxie for seeing for herself that Louise is okay. Maxie knows she took a risk in coming there, but she told Austin that Peter might lash out at Valentin by going after his baby. So if anyone asks… Brook says she’ll tell them the same thing. She’s sure Yuri gave Valentin a call to update him on Peter, but she should call Valentin herself. Maxie says Brook promised Valentin could handle Peter, and Brook says, Valentin understands how Peter thinks. He’s the best person to protect Bailey. Valentin lives there; maybe Maxie should too.

Willow says, it’s a beautiful night, and Michael agrees, but when she’s across from him, he can’t look anywhere else. She says, as long as she has his undivided attention, there’s something important they have to discuss. At one point, they talked about living together in the gatehouse, but he’s still in the main house, and she was wondering if he feels like it’s a better arrangement. He says, absolutely not, but he didn’t want to crowd her. The situation with Chase was tough on her… She says, it was tough on all of them, including Chase. He says, which is why he didn’t want to just move in the next day, like ready or not, the Chase part of her life is over, and a new one is about to begin. She says he’d never do that, and he says, exactly. That’s why he stayed in the main house. Willow says, the thing is, she’ll always be sorry Chase got hurt, but she’ll never regret falling in love with Michael. They hug.  

On the phone, Anna says, it’s not search and rescue; it’s hunt for a fugitive. She wants roadblocks, and teams on both sides of the river. Yes?… Keep her posted. She says, anything? but Valentin says he doesn’t see any sign of Peter. It took guts to make a jump like that. She says, the fall will probably kill him, and Valentin says, given his father’s knack for survival, they’d be fools to assume he’s dead. She says he doesn’t strike her as a fool, and he says he’s not. Neither is she.

Sonny says, married, when? and Carly says, today, a couple hours ago. He asks if those are her wedding clothes, and she says, yeah. He says she looks beautiful, and she says, thanks. It was complicated. It was really crazy. Sonny says, just tell him, and Jason says, as soon as Sonny disappeared, there was pressure from the Five Families bruschetta,  and from Cyrus. They had to secure their position, so they declared Sonny legally dead and held a funeral. Sonny says, that makes sense. They had to let people think the business was stable. Was he running things? Jason says he was, until Peter framed him for Franco’s murder. Sonny says, Franco’s dead? No big loss. Jason was being blamed? Carly says, thanks to Gladys. Jason tells Sonny, Gladys said she saw him ditch the murder weapon. He was remanded for trial, and held at Pentenville. Sonny asks, so who was running the business? and Carly says, her. 

Maxie says, Brook wants her to live with the Quartermaines? and Brook says, absolutely. She could bring Georgie and James with her. They have so much room, two housekeepers, a cook, a live-in nanny, and they have Yuri. Maxie says, this is Monica’s house, and Brook says, she’s already letting Valentin and Charlotte stay here. She’s sure it would be no problem with Maxie. Maxie says, except Monica thinks she has an unnatural attachment to Bailey, and needs therapy. Brook says, that was before. The situation is radically different now. Peter is alive. He’s an active threat, and this house has fantastic security. She’s sure Monica would have no problem with Maxie moving in. Maxie says, she would, but she can’t live in a house with her daughter, and not take care of her like she’s her own. She doesn’t care how big this house is. Brook asks, then how do they make sure Maxie is protected from Peter?

Willow appreciates Michael wanting to give her time, but she doesn’t need it. Just the opposite. She can’t wait to start their life together. He asks if she’s sure. As much as he loves her, she has the habit of doing what she thinks other people would want. She says, person in a glass house, please don’t throw stones, and he says he does do that a lot, doesn’t he? She tells him, this time, she’s saying what she wants; everything they talked about. She wants to wake up every morning in bed with him, eat breakfast in the kitchen, hang out on couch and read stories to Wiley, or watch The Emperor’s New Groove for the hundred-thousandth time. He says he loves how much she laughs at it, and she says she loves how he laughs at it with her. She actually thinks they enjoy it more than Wiley. She knows their life won’t always be easy and perfect. He has a stressful job, and an even more stressful family. She’s navigating nursing school, and if they wait for the perfect time, it will never come. He completely disagrees. The perfect time is now. They kiss, and he says, let’s get home. She picks up the bouquet on their way out.

Sonny says, Carly was running the business? and she says, Jason couldn’t do it. He was in Pentenville, and Cyrus was being relentless. He was trying to have Jason killed. Sonny says, clearly, he failed, and Jason says, Diane was sure she could get him exonerated at trial, but it would have taken months, and they didn’t have that kind of time, so he escaped. Sonny says, with everyone depending on Jason, he made himself a fugitive. That’s not something Jason would do. Carly says, it was her. She forced Jason to escape.

Chase tells Maxie, here’s the deal. He and Yuri went through whole house. They checked all the entry points, and it’s clear. There’s a patrol car sitting at the front gate, and there’s one in front of Maxie’s apartment. Mac is sending a car there to take Maxie home, and Mac and her mom will meet her there with Georgie and James. Maxie says, there are some advantages to having a stepdad who’s acting Police Commissioner. Brook asks if he has any news from Nixon Falls, and he says, the PCPD is coordinating with the Pennsylvania state police. He doesn’t have any specifics, but they’re searching for Peter, and roadblocks are going up. Brook says, hopefully, they find him before he gets anywhere near Port Charles. She thinks this tension isn’t good for Bailey. There’s a ton of literature on how babies pick up on energy. Chase asks if she wants him to take Bailey to the nursery, and she asks if he’s volunteering. He says he and Bailey are like old friends, and Brook takes Bailey from the bassinette. She asks if Bailey wants Uncle Chase to take her to the nursery, and says she thinks Bailey does. She hands the baby to Chase, and he says he’s not going to tell Maxie not to worry, but the PCPD is on this. They’re going to do everything in their power to make sure Peter doesn’t get near her. He takes Bailey upstairs.

Britt asks where Maxie is now, and Austin says, he dropped her at the Quartermaines. Scotty wonders why she’d go there, and Austin says, apparently Peter August is obsessed with Valentin, and Maxie was worried Peter would go after his daughter. Scotty says, that’s a bit of a stretch, but Britt says, not for Peter. He has no idea how vindictive Peter can be.

Elizabeth tells Finn, let’s talk about something else for a moment. How’s Violet? He says, Violet is wonderful and amazing, and she wants a do-over of the camping trip. She’s disappointed she didn’t get to sleep in the tent. Apparently, setting one up in the living room isn’t the same. She says, let’s do it; let’s plan another trip. Before Scotty’s unexpected arrival, she thought things were going well. Doesn’t he think?

Carly tells Sonny that she had Jason stabbed in Pentenville. Just bad enough that he’d be taken to the hospital, where Britt could break him out. The plan would have worked, except Cyrus tried to kill Britt, and Jason went back in to save her, and got shot. Sonny says, so basically, everything went completely sideways, but Jason says, not completely. He got away and Britt patched him up. Sonny asks, what turned, so they got married? and Jason says, Carly broke him out that night because there was a meeting with the Five Families grissini. Cyrus was pushing to take Sonny’s place at the table, and open the territory to anybody who wanted to move product through the harbor. He was hurt too bad to go, so Carly went. Sonny says, she met with the Five Families crostini? and she says she didn’t have a choice.

Anna tells someone on the phone that she wants them to continue the search on the first mile downstream of the overlook… Where are they with the guide?… Okay, let her know. She tells Valentin, the guide’s local, retired military. He was contacted on the dark web, so they can pull a warrant and search his phone, but she doubts they’ll find anything. Valentin says, they can search Peter’s phone, and she says, but it’s blocked. Even if the techs crack it, she imagines his accomplice covered his tracks. He says, if the accomplice is able to evade a trace by the WSB, they have a remarkable level of expertise. She says, it’s just speculation on her part, but from what she overheard in the tone of Peter’s voice, he was urgent and impatient,  but he wasn’t giving orders. Really? Make it happen isn’t an order? Valentin says, so she doesn’t think the accomplice was working for Peter? She says, no. Whoever Peter’s ally may be, she got the sense that they, not Peter, were the one with the power.

Finn tells Elizabeth, he thought the camping was going very well. The kids were having fun. She says, but not him? and he says he’d sit in front of a campfire with her anytime. Scotty comes by, and says, sorry to interrupt; they look a little intense. Elizabeth says, they were just talking about going camping, as a family.

On the phone, Maxie tells Britt, she’s fine; she promises. Britt says she can come stay with Maxie, but Maxie says, it’s okay. Mac and her mom have that covered. They’re meeting her at her place, and they’re going to stay there. Mac is sending a car for her. Britt tells Maxie to text her a selfie when she gets home, so she can be sure. Maxie says, deal, and tells Britt to be careful too. She’s not Peter’s favorite person. Britt says she’s not afraid of Peter. It’s actually kind of a relief to know he’s out there. She doesn’t have to wonder anymore. She just has to be ready to defend herself. Maxie tells her again to be careful, and Britt says, Maxie too. Brook tells Maxie that her car is here. It’s definitely the PCPD; Chase knows them. Maxie hands Brook the binky she stole, and says, take care of her, okay? Brook says she will, and Maxie thanks her, adding, she means that, and leaves.

Jason says, Sonny can ask Brando; he was there as Cyrus’s bodyguard. Carly rallied the rest of the families against Cyrus, and shut him down. She had Brick blow up one of his shipments, and it was the right message, perfectly timed. Sonny says, nice work, and Carly says, thanks, but it may have worked too well. She had to reassure the families that she was in charge. Her, by herself, sitting in his chair, making all the decisions, and they accepted her. Until Jason came back. Sonny says, the Five Families polpette don’t believe in shared power. They expected one of them to eliminate the other. Jason says, exactly right. So they had to send a message that he was in charge, and Carly backed him, so Carly wasn’t a liability. Sonny shrugs and says, so they got married. Great strategy.

Tomorrow, Brook says it’s an offer she can’t refuse, Spencer wonders if there’s a chance, Ava has to sign the divorce papers, and Jason needs to tell Dante something.

Below Deck Mediterranean

We backtrack a little on the crew dinner out, where Lexi told Mathew that his parents should have aborted him, and if there weren’t any cameras, she’d smack his ass. She says, the real bitch is out now, and stomps off. Courtney tells Mathew, they love him, and not to let it ruin the night. Lloyd says, it was a disgusting thing to say, and Delaney tries to blend into the woodwork. Lexi comes back, and Mathew says, welcome back, worst person in the world. Courtney tells Lexi that no one cares about how much money anyone has. It’s disgusting the way Lexi talks, and everybody has been gobsmacked be the things that come out of her mouth. Lexi tells her, everybody has said rude things, and Courtney reminds her that she just said Mathew should have been aborted. Lexi says, Mathew is rude AF, yet they give him a pass and let it slide. Courtney says they both should have been fired, and Mzi says Lexi is rude to all of them. Lexi calls someone that r-word, but it’s unclear if she means Mathew again, Mzi, or both. Katie asks what’s wrong with her, and Lloyd tells her, sit back down and shut up. Courtney asks if Lexi wants to be there, and Lexi says it’s not Courtney’s question to ask. She’s not Lexi’s superior, and she’s shady AF. Lloyd leaves the table, and the waiters watch from the doorway as Lexi and Courtney have it out, and Courtney calls Lexi the c-word. Katie tells them to stop it, and joins Lloyd, telling him that stress makes her want to vomit. They head for the taxis, and Malia thanks the waitstaff for a beautiful evening.

In the taxi, Courtney says she doesn’t like using the c-word, but if it applies to anyone, it’s Lexi. There’s a lot of bleeped stuff, and Courtney says, it was Mathew’s fault as well. Mathew says he knows. In the other taxi, Malia says she doesn’t disagree that when Mathew is drunk he says offensive things, but then Lexi stoops low. She doesn’t remember the night in the hot tub. But we do, and we flash back to that. Malia says, if that night hadn’t happened, some of the crew might have backed her. In Lexi’s interview, she says, Malia didn’t have to explain. She knew that. She didn’t come into yachting to hold hands and be friends. In the first taxi, Mzi and the others make fun of Lexi calling everyone poor. Mzi says, your poorness makes me angry. Malia tells Lexi that she should drop the money thing. Some people aren’t as fortunate as she is. The taxis arrive back at the boat.

In her cabin, Lexi says she’s so confused, and calls her mom. In the crew mess, Delaney is like, get me out of here, and David says he couldn’t be part of that conversation. Delaney says, it wasn’t Mathew’s fault, but he didn’t help, and Katie says, Lexi just isolated herself. Malia says, both Lexi and Mathew were throwing insults, but Katie says Lexi’s were more repulsive. She doesn’t think Lexi gets it. Katie says she’s going to talk to Captain Sandy, and make a decision. Malia says, as captain, she’d know a chef isn’t easily replaceable, and Mathew and Lexi aren’t going to work well together. Lexi tells her mother that every time she has a friend who’s not rich, they try to ruin her. Okay…  Not sure where that’s coming from, since she has no friends on this boat.

Delaney takes a shower, and comes back to the crew mess, saying she’s feeling fresh. Malia thanks her for her help, and Katie says she was amazing. Delaney says she learned some new things about laundry. Everyone toddles off to bed, and Lexi tells her mom, how she’s feeling is none of their business. Katie asks if Lexi is good, and she says she is. She has nothing to say, and suggests they don’t talk about everything. In Katie’s interview, she says, there’s no point; the damage has been done. Lexi talks smack about Mathew, and her mother says she’s a preacher’s kid; she’s better than this. They want her fired, but everyone should be fired at this point for insubordination. In her interview, Lexi says, there’s going to be no apology. She’s had it with Mathew, and isn’t apologizing in any way, shape, or form.  

In the morning, Delaney packs. In his interview, David says between a cramp in his calf and the bruise on his thigh, it’s the worst combination. When he’s been injured before, he’s told himself he’s fine, and tried to push through it, and it is usually fine. Delaney tells Lexi that she’s leaving, and Lexi deigns to give her a hug. In Delaney’s interview, she says she doesn’t think Lexi is a bad person, but they don’t agree on some things. She doesn’t think they can be friends, since they don’t have the same values. Katie hugs Delaney, who says, it was fun, and she definitely has a new appreciation for interior. In Delaney’s interview, she says, working in yachting, you’ve just got to keep going no matter what happens. You find your next boat and your next captain, and improve yourself.

Katie asks if she can talk to Captain Sandy, and Mathew tells Malia, it was awkward last night. Malia says, it started with something little and grew from there, and in Mathew’s interview, he says, he feels bad that his behavior ruined everyone’s time, but he’s not apologizing. He meant what he said. Lexi comes in, and Malia asks how she is. Lexi says, much better, but just grabs something to eat without looking at anyone, and jets. Malia asks the deckhands if everyone is okay. If anyone has any concerns, they should bring them to her, since she’s the head of their department. She doesn’t want anyone to feel like their voice or complaint isn’t being heard. Lloyd says, this time Lexi can’t say she doesn’t remember, and in his interview, he says he doesn’t like aggressive situations. Everyone shouting at each other is his worst nightmare. Malia says they should never be okay with an insult, and tells them, let’s get the boat washed.

Captain Sandy calls Katie and Malia to meet her, and Malia tells Katie that the captain picks up on sh*t even if she’s not around. They join the captain, and Malia says, it was a sh*t show last night. Mathew and Lexi don’t like each other, and it started at lunch. Captain Sandy asks, who started it? but Malia doesn’t actually know. In the galley, Mathew sings True Colors. Katie tells the captain that one of them gets mad, and the other feeds the fire, and Malia says, but Lexi takes her comments to a whole new level. Katie says Lexi told Mathew that he should been aborted, and called him the r-word. The captain says, this is ridiculous. Do they know who started it? Katie says, Mathew told Lexi that no one likes her (truth!), and Courtney stood up, and said they were both wrong both and should have both been fired. Then Lexi called Courtney lazy, when that’s not the case. It’s become a problem. The captain tells Katie to get Lexi in the main salon to talk, and in the captain’s interview, she says, even when the crew is out, they represent the vessel. They should emulate the behavior of what it should be on board. They must maintain that behavior within the crew, but sometimes that doesn’t happen, and that’s when she has to fire people.

Lexi and Mathew are called to the bridge salon, and Captain Sandy says, they had an incredible day planned yesterday; water sports, Krka Falls, and a beautiful dinner. How did it turn into fighting? Lexi says, Matt’s been attacking her from the second charter, and she was trying to avoid him like the plague, but he started drinking in the morning. The captain asks if that’s true, and Mathew says, everyone did. She asks who started it, and no surprise, Lexi points the finger at Mathew. She tells the captain that he’d been saying things to her all day, and Mathew says, during the first charter, he and Lexi had issues in the galley. Mathew says, Lexi said his mother should have aborted him, and that he was a r****d. Lexi admits she shouldn’t have said that, but Mathew says wild stuff and gets a pass. Katie says, none of them are innocent, but when Mathew gets aggressive, Lexi takes her reaction to another level. Lexi whines that Mathew is harboring old feelings, and Captain Sandy says, if she feels attacked, go to her chief officer, and if it’s not addressed, come to her. They’re there for guests, and what she’s hearing is that Lexi is difficult to work with. Lexi says, Mathew said that he was going to give the captain an ultimatum; him or her? The captain asks if he said that, and he says, it was in the heat of the moment. She says, she doesn’t ever want to be given an ultimatum – ever. Whoever gives her one can pack their f***ing sh*t and walk off the boat. She never wants to be given an ultimatum. She says, Mathew can go, and calls in Courtney.

The captain speaks with Malia and Courtney, and asks if Courtney called Lexi a see you next Tuesday. Courtney says, it just came out, but as soon as it did, she said she was sorry. Captain Sandy wonders how such a beautiful day could turn into a disaster, and Courtney says, Lexi told Mathew that he should have been aborted, and she said things back. Captain Sandy says, everyone started stuff, but Lexi is the one they’ve got the problem with. No one person is starting it all the time. Malia says that Lexi stooped low, and literally picked a fight the first night out with everyone. We flash back to that, and Malia says, Lexi pushed her, and threatened to slap Mathew. She gets super nasty, and when people step in, she gets mad. Lexi is called to the bridge, which sounds so Star Trek.   

Lexi sits down, and the captain says, from what she sees, Lexi is a terrific human being , but she doesn’t go out drinking with them, and have their experiences, and Lexi’s been threatening people. Lexi says she didn’t mean it, but Captain Sandy says, it’s permeated the entire boat, and some of the crew can’t get around it. The many outweigh the one. She has to make a hard decision, and it’s not easy for her. She’s going to have to let Lexi go. When Lexi gets in the crew members’ faces, and threatens them physically, especially in the workplace, it will never work. She needs to look hard at that. Lexi says she’s sorry, and the captain says, when she came into this season, she wanted to finish with the crew she started with, but that’s not happening. They hug, and Captain Sandy says Lexi just has things to learn. Lexi says, she knows, but Mathew… In her interview, Captain Sandy says, Lexi crossing the line made her come to her decision. If you’re poking the bear when you’re off the boat, you have to figure it out; she’s not getting involved. But if one person is disturbing the whole crew, she has to deal with that person. She tells Katie to help get Lexi’s luggage, and be graceful about it. She says, Delaney is still there. She’s not a stew, but she is another person. Think about it. Katie goes the cabin she shares shared with Lexi, who refuses to say goodbye, and goes in the bathroom, shutting the door. Katie tells Malia that Lexi doesn’t want to talk, and Malia says, then we were two.

In Mzi’s interview, he says he’s not embarrassed about getting Courtney the flowers, but he wishes he hadn’t gotten so trashed. He’s going to respect the other person’s space. Malia tells Lexi that she knows it seems unfair that she and Mathew both said things, but only one of them is leaving. Captain Sandy calls Mathew to the galley, and tells him that she let Lexi go, but his behavior wasn’t the best either. Obviously he and Lexi had an issue that he couldn’t reset from, and he needs to own that. He is replaceable, and she has someone in quarantine to take his job, so don’t ever do an ultimatum. She was especially disturbed by their rocky start. He’s a head chef, and has to rise above it. She needs him to act that part. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, the chef in quarantine doesn’t have the same record as Mathew. There have been no complaints, and she doesn’t want to screw that up. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t.   

Lexi leaves, bringing her suitcase through the galley, with her back to everyone. In her interview, she says, why say goodbye to a crew that were evil? They weren’t being nice to her, so they don’t exist. She’s not acknowledging them. She allows Malia to help her to bring her luggage to the dock, and in Lexi’s interview, she says, she hates that she got on Mathew’s level. She feels like in a way he won. She was wallowing in the mud with him, so he won. She leaves, and I think, good riddance. Mathew says, bye forever.

The captain has a crew meeting, and says, obviously, she let Lexi go. They have two more charters, and she was hoping to have a third stew and finish with the same crew she started with. That didn’t happen, but there will be no name calling from now on. They’re all adults. And no threatening. The ultimate goal is to provide for the clients. It’s going to be a challenge, but when it’s done, they’ll never have to do it again. She thinks they’re amazing. Let’s get ready to do our best. At least she didn’t say, team work makes the dream work. Delaney sends a message to David, saying, meeting him was epic and she wishes him an amazing end to the season. He’s all happy about it, until he finds out Mzi and Lloyd got the exact same message. Malia says, Delaney copied and pasted them. They clean the boat, and Malia tells them to enjoy their evening. In Lloyd’s interview, he says, nothing personal, but he’s glad David is moving back to his old cabin. Three guys in one room is not ideal.  

The captain has a preference sheet meeting with Mathew, Katie, and Malia. She says, they’re three-quarters of the way through the season. The new primary is gospel artist Anthony, and his wife Chris, who he met in church. Captain Sandy loves that he’s a gospel singer, and Katie says she’s always wanted to go to a church like that. The captain reads that the guests want a mixture of adventure, and time to stop and smell the roses, and the primary doesn’t drink. Malia says, they’re an active group, and want to use all the water toys, and Katie adds that they want a beach picnic. She has the feeling these guests will be heavy on the deck crew. Mathew notes one allergy and guest who’s lactose intolerant. They want an Italian feast decorated with roses. Katie says she’s getting a nice vibe.

Lloyd tells David that he’d forgotten about Lexi’s commenting when David gave his speech, and we flash back to that. He says he told her to shut up. They’ll see what happens tomorrow; it should be interesting. Malia asks if Katie is getting someone, and Katie says, either way, they’re f***ed. Mzi calls his brother, and Malia tries to convince Katie to keep Delaney on. She thinks having only two people is crazy. In her interview, she says, she’s happy to help out, but only after the deck is taken care of. She’s not going to be the one who looks like sh*t if the guests come out, and the water toys aren’t there. In Katie’s interview, she says she’d rather work harder for longer than have the emotional stress of bringing in someone new or bringing Delaney back.  

Sibenik, Croatia. Katie tells Courtney that she’s made up her mind. What does she think of it being just them? In Courtney’s interview, she wonders if this makes her second stew, since there’s only two of them. She says, we’ve got this, sister. Malia can’t believe there are only two charters left, and tells the deckhands that the second to the last is always hardest. Captain Sandy says she doesn’t want to pressure Katie in to taking on another stew, but she doesn’t want the clients to feel any lack of service.  Katie says, the last trip was actually more work. She’s going to trust her gut since she didn’t last time. The captain says Katie made a decision, and she trusts her. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, it’s going to be harder on Katie, but she trusts her. She’s going to allow Katie to have this journey and support her.

Provisions come in, and Malia says they haven’t gotten flowers yet. Courtney says she gets them all the time, and we flash back to Mzi’s flower delivery at dinner. Captain Sandy sees David limping, and says, not cool. Malia tells David that she knows he’s injured, and doesn’t want him in the harness, but David insists he’s good to go. She says she’s trusting him. Katie tells Courtney, we’ve got this, and David gets into the harness. The captain goes to where David is on deck, and radios Malia to meet them. She asks why David is limping, and David says he fell. She wants to see it, and he lifts his pant leg to show her a massive bruise. She says, that’s a major injury, and asks how he did it. He tells her he fell coming out of the hot tub, and she asks why it wasn’t reported. She’s disappointed in Malia 1000%. It’s a f***ing incident. She tells David, do not get in the harness, and tells Malia to make a report. It’s something you don’t keep from the captain – at all. Malia says, understood. It was… Captain Sandy says, was what? David fell and injured himself, and she has no idea why Malia didn’t report it. Malia says, it’s a bruise, and the captain says she can minimize it if she wants. Malia says she asked if he wanted to see a doctor, and he said, no. Captain Sandy says she doesn’t want him in a harness, and in her interview, she says, learning David was injured pisses her off. To not report a safety issue causes a liability to the crew and the owner. The fact that Malia knew is not okay. Malia broke her trust. The provisions are put away.

Captain Sandy says Malia should come to her when someone is injured, but Malia says she did her part. She asked if he wanted to see a doctor, and if it was serious. She’s not a chief officer. The captain says she doesn’t give a f***. Malia should have told her. David was hurt pretty bad. Why take the risk? She made it clear to call her when someone is hurt. We flash back, and yep, she did. She tells Malia to stop trying to make excuses and get back to her job.

Next time, Captain Sandy promises the guests pure perfection, guests on jet skis go rogue, Katie flirts with a guest, and Malia is pissed off at the deck crew.

🍸 Is That All There Is…?

Tune in tomorrow for soap and the next chapter in the Erika saga. Will her son have rolled the car 7 times? Will Tom have had another accident? Or maybe one less accident? Until then, stay safe, stay driven to succeed, and stay not throwing stones if you’re a person in a glass house.