Tag Archives: Below Deck Mediterranean

October 10, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Anna Focuses On a New Suspect, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Watches For Later, Costumes For the Famous Or Not, Halloween Pet Safety, Not 8 Or 10 Quotes & Somebody

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…                                                                        

Monday:

Portia asked Elizabeth about processing time and if it was Britt’s first day. Elizabeth said, more like first half day.

Coming back from the shower, Britt found Jason in her room.

At Bobbie’s, Carly told Jack that she was sorry to cancel plans with him. She would have rather spent time with him than Anna. Anna asked her questions about the night Drew got shot and she couldn’t shake the feeling she said something wrong. Jack said she had an unimpeachable alibi with him, and she said, except she wasn’t, but he said it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t let it happen.

Curtis went to see Alexis and said he’d gotten her message. She said she thought the police were close to making an arrest and thought he should know. He asked if she thought they were going to arrest him.

Isaiah told Drew that he had no adverse effects from his ill-advised trip to the church, and Drew said it was his mother’s memorial. Isaiah said, sorry for his loss, and Drew said Isaiah was being short and curt. What did he do to him?

Tracy met Martin outside Bobbie’s and told him to make it snappy. She was going to the reading of Monica’s will. He showed her some paperwork and said, read it and weep.

Olivia told Michael that since he’d be the official owner of the property, they needed to get a pizza oven. Brook asked, why? and Olivia said Thanksgiving was always a full throttle disaster and they ended up ordering pizza. Why didn’t they skip the drama and make their own? Michael said it was fine by him, when the doorbell rang. Ned answered it and it was Ronnie. She said she was there for the reading of Monica’s will, and he said, she must be from Miller and Davis, but she said she was a member of the family.

Britt asked what Jason was doing in his room, and he said, technically, it was his room. She said that didn’t give him the right to come in and he needed to go. She shoved him out the door and closed it.

Carly wondered why Jack hadn’t asked her if she shot Drew, and he said it didn’t matter. He’d cover for her anyway. She said she didn’t do it. There was a time in her life when she would have gone after Drew, but now she had too much to lose – her kids, her grandkids, Jason, him. She cared about him. He said he cared about her too, very much, and she said she thought he was the last thing she needed, but it turned out that he was exactly when she needed. She could trust and rely on him, no matter what. He said he hoped she always felt that way, when Josslyn walked in. She and Carly hugged.

Alexis said she didn’t know if Curtis was a suspect, but knew there was a long line of them. Anna called her for a meeting, but it was canceled and not rescheduled. That led her to believe there was new evidence that made her less suspicious. Curtis said she didn’t ask if he did it, and she said, whoever did it was driven to and if he felt like they were closing in, he needed to get his ducks in a row and protect himself.

Isaiah said Drew had done nothing to him, but Stella was a friend, and he’d jeopardized her career, health, and freedom. Drew said he didn’t get Stella arrested, but got the charges dropped, and Isaiah asked, why? Drew said, maybe he wasn’t the heartless bastard people thought, despite Curtis’s spin in the media. The good guy they knew Curtis to be was gone and had been replaced by a volatile, vindictive, controlling jerk. Isaiah worked with Curtis’s wife and saw how he treated her.

Tracy laughed, and Martin said there was nothing funny about her throwing someone out who was recovering from injuries. She said she escorted Drew out from a service he wasn’t invited to, and Martin said they were going for assault. She’d jeopardized the life of a sitting US congressman. She said it would be thrown out as quickly as she’d thrown Drew out, and he said so she admitted attacking Drew. She could make it go away for a price, maybe a simple apology. She said, nope. If they wanted to sue, she’d see them court. He said she couldn’t admit when she was w and couldn’t spare any kindness to anyone, but she said, just him and Drew.

Ned introduced Ronnie to the family, and Ned said Monica had never mentioned her. Ronnie said they’d been estranged for many years, and Olivia said, yet here she was, late for the memorial, but on time for the reading of the will. Ronnie said she was there. She’d read the memorial was private, so she went to the crypt to pay her respects. She guessed Tracy didn’t tell them. Brook said, Ronnie met her grandmother? and Ronnie said she certainly did. It didn’t go well. Tracy kicked her off the property. Olivia said she bought that part, and Ronnie said she came back because she’d been contacted by Miller and Davis about the will. She’d wait outside until they got here. Michael told her to stay and tell them more about herself, and Ronnie said her life was an open book. Questions?

Josslyn told Carly that she’d caught an early flight and had come in for a caffeine fix. Jack told her, welcome home. Her mother missed her. Josslyn said she missed her mom too, and Carly said she wanted to hear every detail after she put Josslyn’s order in, then went in the back.

Isaiah said he didn’t think Drew should speak for Dr. Robinson, and Drew said he and Curtis used to be best friends. He’d brought Curtis into Aurora, and they’d had a business disagreement. Curtis had been trying to tear him down ever since. Isaiah said Drew didn’t strike him as a fragile flower, and Drew said he gave as good as he got, but Curtis’s accusations were baseless. Don’t get sucked in. Isaiah said he’d make sure Drew’s PT knew he was clear for therapy, and left.

Ned said, so after their parents died, she and Monica went to an orphanage? and Ronnie said they were separated in foster care. Her sister was placed with Dr. Gail Adamson and after a falling out later, they lost touch. Olivia said, it must have been major, and Ronnie said, it was and it wasn’t. She thought the main thing that kept them apart was that they were both stubborn and convinced they were right. Ned said that tracks, and Ronnie said Monica went on to live her life in Port Charles and she lived in Durham. When Monica wrote to her last year, it had been decades since she’d heard from her. She’d written that she’d been ill, but Ronnie didn’t know to what extent. They wrote back and forth until Monica passed. Brook said Monica never mentioned Ronnie to any of them, and Ronnie said Monica told her about them. Olivia was Ned’s wife and Monica said she was a marvelous cook and a wonderful mother to her grandnephew Leo. She surmised Brook was Ned’s daughter and was more beautiful than Monica described. And of course (🍷), there was Michael. She could see his grandmother in him. There was steel in him, but also fire. She saw Monica’s kindness in his eyes. Monica was so proud of all of them and wrote about them in such glowing terms, she thought they weren’t real. Now here she was, meeting them in person. She just wished Monica was there as well.  

Jason knocked at his room door and Britt said, give her the key. He couldn’t come in whenever he wanted. She could have been naked. He said, for the record, he’d knocked. He came to pack the rest of his things, which she’d asked him to do. She said she needed to get ready for work, which was his cue to leave, and he said he would, but he wanted to see how she was doing now that her brother was back in town. He’d spoken to Spinelli and wondered why she tried to stop James from seeing his dad.

Curtis met Marshall outside of Bobbie’s for coffee, and he said he’d just come from Alexis’s. The PCPD had new evidence and was closing in on a suspect. He had no idea who it was, but he was betting the police did a thorough sweep of Drew’s house, which meant they possibly found the blackmail material Drew was using on Portia. Marshall said it would give them a motive, and Curtis said, which meant they could be in big trouble.

Isaiah went to Portia’s office and said he wanted to follow up on their last conversation about them.

Britt said Spinelli probably thought she was spiteful and jealous, but Jason said Spinelli was grateful for her input. Britt said her mother wasn’t speaking to her and fawning over Nathan. She was worried Nathan wasn’t ready and thought it would be overwhelming. She didn’t think it was fair to suddenly throw James into a relationship with a man he’d never met and thought was dead. It was like when she ran into Ben… Rocco. She wanted to reconnect, but knew it would be too overwhelming. Nathan and James hit it off right away. Everyone was right. She was wrong. Jason said he didn’t think she was wrong to put James’s needs first. She was a good person, and he didn’t know why she sold herself short.  

Josslyn said it took longer than she thought it would, but she found a caregiver for Mrs. Walker, and Carly said Lady Jane would be proud of her. She was proud of her. Josslyn said she managed to squeeze in some fun and spent a week at the family beach house. It was magical. Jack said he was glad she had a good time, when Carly’s phone rang. She said it was the MetroCourt, and stepped away. Josslyn said Jack was alive and Carly wasn’t screaming at her, so she assumed Carly knew nothing about Croatia. Jack said, no, and she never would.

Tracy walked in as Ronnie was telling stories and making everyone laugh. She asked what Ronnie was doing there. She’d made it perfectly clear Ronnie wasn’t welcome. She shouted for Yuri to come with the taser, but Michael said, cancel the taser. This was Monica’s sister, which made her his great aunt. Tracy said, first Cody brought in a stray dog. Now they’ve brought in this… Ronnie got up and suggested she not finish, and Olivia said Ronnie had been contacted by Miller and Davis, but Tracy said they’d see about that. Alexis came in, and Tracy asked if Alexis had asked Ronnie to be there. Alexis said it depended. Was she Veronica Bard? Ronnie said she was and to call her Ronnie, and Alexis said she did ask her. Should they get started? Tracy said, by all means.

Jack said Croatia would be kept secret, and Josslyn said she had it. She’d maintain her cover at PCU. She could use a degree if the spy thing didn’t work out. He said their only lead was the research in Port Charles, and she asked if he’d questioned Britt. He said he would when the time was right, and she said she was relieved Britt hadn’t outed her. Then there was Jason. Jack said he thought she assured him that he wouldn’t tell, and she said, Jason was usually good with that, but given how close he and Carly were, she didn’t know if he could keep the secret forever. Jack said he’d handle Jason, and she asked what he meant, when Carly came back. Jack said he had to run to a meeting, and left.

Britt said she forgot to ask how the memorial service was, and Jason said, it was nice, until Drew showed up. She asked what he did, and Jason said, nothing. Tracy grabbed his wheelchair and wheeled him out of the chapel. She said, how Quartermainesque, and he said today was the reading of the will. He’d considered not going. She said he should go, and he said, okay. He’d come back to get his stuff. She asked him to call first if he could, and he said he’d be happy to. He’d see her later.

Portia said she was glad Isaiah was willing to give them a chance. Was he sure? Isaiah said he had reservations and they weren’t all gone, but he had no illusions. She asked, why? and he said when they first got together, there were issues in her marriage, but he wasn’t wrong in thinking there were feelings, was he? She said, no, but he was concerned she was using him as a crash pad while she worked things out with Curtis. It was never that and her marriage was over, but… He said, here it comes, and she said, they had no official plans to divorce. She wasn’t looking for a serious relationship, and he had to decide if he could be okay with that.

Marshall said when he asked if Curtis thought Portia was guilty, he didn’t answer, and Curtis said all he knew was that he didn’t shoot Drew. Portia had no alibi, but it hadn’t been a problem because they had no reason to suspect her. Marshal said, but if they found something that Drew was holding over her, they might call her in for questioning, and Curtis said, no. Unless they questioned Drew first. Marshall said, or maybe they didn’t find any proof, and Curtis wondered why. Maybe Drew was keeping it somewhere other than his house or didn’t have it anymore.  

Martin told Drew that he met with Tracy. As expected, she refused to make a settlement or apologize. Drew said he wanted to make her pay, and Martin asked if they should move forward with the suit. Drew asked if she showed no remorse, and Martin said, none. The reading of the will was today. Drew said he had to get down there. He wasn’t notified. He’d told Martin that they’d try to cut him out of the will. Martin said, stop. He was sorry to be the one to tell Drew, but he wasn’t in Monica’s will.

Alexis started to read the will, but Tracy suggested she skip the legalese. Alexis said she’d skip over the provisions for Yuri and the staff and read: To my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, you’ve all brought me such joy and comfort. She wished she could be around to watch them blossom into wonderful adults, but she left trust funds to all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren there at the time of her death. Olivia said Daisy would get a trust fund, and Alexis said, to Brook, Monica left her pearl necklace; to Ned, she left her classic vinyl collection; and to Ned’s spicy wife Olivia, she left her entire collection of gourmet cookware. To her sister, she bequeathed her oldest and most cherished possession. Alexis handed Ronnie a small envelope, and Ronnie slid out a locket. She said, oh my God, and started to cry. She said it was a photo of them when they were kids, before they were separated. She couldn’t believe Monica kept it. Tracy mumbled, so much for the gold-digger’s wish for a windfall, and Alexis said, to my dearest sister-in-law and long-term sparring partner, Tracy Quartermaine, I leave a special gift. She handed Tracy a box, and Tracy looked inside and said, what the hell is this?  

Josslyn said Carly and Jack were still going strong, and Carly said she was glad to have Jack to lean on. Michael told her that Carly threatened to kill Drew. Carly said she did, but she didn’t do it. She was with Jack. Josslyn said she was guessing Michael was the main suspect, and Carly said, don’t worry. If the police didn’t believe him, Jason promised that he wouldn’t let Michael go to prison. Josslyn said Jason would do anything for Carly, when Britt came downstairs. She said, how lovely to see Josslyn again.

Portia said her life was a mess, and Isaiah said he needed to see where this went. He still wanted to keep it a secret – for now.  Portia agreed, and he said, for her, he’d take the risk. Portia said she’d never want him to be hurt by her, but he said he’d take the chance. How about dinner at his cabin? It was a work in progress… She said it sounded perfect.

Marshall wondered if Drew had a come to Jesus meeting, since it sounded like he’d gotten close to meeting Jesus, and Curtis said, if they could only be so lucky, but he needed to know for sure. He was going to see Drew. Marshall asked if he thought Drew was going to admit that he’d lost his power over Curtis and his wife, and Curtis said, not directly. But if he gave Drew a reason to blackmail him, and he didn’t take the bait, it could be telling.

Tracy asked if this was a joke, but Alexis said there was no further explanation. Ned asked what Monica left her, and Tracy said, a jar of her mother’s relish. When her father died, he cut her out of the will. The only thing he gave ger was a jar of PickleLila relish. Monica knew how much it hurt her. Jason walked in and apologized for being late, but Alexis said he was right on time. To her beloved son Jason, Monica left his father Alan’s watch, left to him by Edward Quartermaine. They’d always said they missed out on so much together, it would be a reminder that she cherished every second they spent together. (I thought this looked like my first Timex and wondered why they couldn’t spring for a halfway decent designer knock-off.)

At the hospital, Curtis asked Elizabeth what room number Drew was in, and she asked if he thought it was a good idea. He promised not to cause a scene, and she gave him the number. Isaiah came by and said he and Curtis needed to get a few things straight.

Josslyn said, oh my God. You’re dead. You died saving my life. Carly said she forgot to tell Josslyn, and Josslyn said she just got back from Australia. Britt said, no kidding. Good for her. It must be a shock. She thought the word Josslyn was looking for was thank you. Josslyn thanked Britt for saving her life, and Britt said maybe Josslyn’s mom could thank her by fixing the non-existent water pressure. Carly said it was the first of the month and the rent was due, and Britt said, tell Jason. Carly said she was telling Britt. Her building, her rules. Britt had until midnight. Britt said, perhaps they could talk about what Carly owed her.

Portia said Britt did a decent job before she took off, and Elizabeth said she’d talk to Britt today, but Portia said it was her bright idea to rehire Britt. She’d take care of it. She’d give Terry a heads up. She went to the door, but then leaned against the wall. Elizabeth asked if she was okay, and Portia said she was feeling dizzy. Elizabeth wondered if she’d eaten and led her to a chair. (Rut-roh. I wonder if she’s pregnant.)

Martin said he was sure it hurt, and Drew said part of him hoped that he and Monica could get some of their old relationship back, but that was never going to happen. He just didn’t know. But now he knows he has nothing to gain from the family – and nothing to lose.

Alexis said, to Michael Corinthos III, Monica left all of her horses, cars, and the family yacht. Tracy said, and? and Alexis said, and for the remainder of her estate, including the house that Alan gave her at 66 Harborview Drive, she leaves them to the cherished sister of her heart – Tracy got all excited – Ms. Veronica Bard. Ronnie said, whaaat?

Tuesday:

We revisited the end of the will reading, and not believing what she heard, Tracy said, do it again. She grabbed the will, said it was ridiculous, and asked Ronnie what she did. Ronnie said she was just as surprised, and Tracy said, Monica made it clear that she was leaving the estate to Michael. When was it changed? Alexis said, relatively recently. Monica went to Edward’s lawyer, Howard Wentworth, and amended it in January. Tracy told Ned to get Howard on the phone.

Anna told Chase that they had to find the gun. It could lead to the shooter. He thought it was still in the display, which Tracy turned into a shrine to her father. Anna said if the gun wasn’t there, that was significant, and asked Chase to find out what was holding up the warrant. He opened the door, letting Emma in, and left. Emma told Anna that she ruined everything. She kissed Gio.

In the ring with Gio, Sonny wore punch mitts because he didn’t want Gio’s hands to get hurt. He began to teach Gio an easy combination, then said, hold on. Gio wasn’t mentally there, which meant he could get hurt. What was on his mind? Gio said he couldn’t stop thinking about Emma.

At Bobbie’s, Josslyn said Carly needed to back off Britt. She was out of line.

Isaiah said before Curtis barged into Drew’s room, Curtis needed to hear him out. Show some consideration for his wife.

Portia said she didn’t know why she was dizzy, and Elizabeth asked when she last ate. Portia said she’d had no time for lunch and skipped breakfast. She felt queasy. Elizabeth said she had no fever and her pulse was normal. Was there any chance she was pregnant?

Josslyn said Heather would have killed her if not for Britt. They owed her. Carly said, of course (🍷) she was grateful, and Josslyn said they’d always be aware of their debt to Britt. Britt asked if Carly’s daughter’s life was worth more than the rent on that crappy little room, and left. Josslyn said she was sorry, but she didn’t want the situation to escalate. She wasn’t choosing sides… Carly said she knew Josslyn was right and she was out of line, but Britt drove her crazy because of Jason.

Alexis said Howard Wentworth retired in May and Monica asked her to handle it, and Tracy asked, where was the original? Alexis said the will was legal and binding and replaced the original, and Tracy said Ronnie would get the property over her dead body. Ronnie said the terms sounded fine to her, and as Tracy retorted, Michael said, stop. The will was clear. Monica had reconnected with her sister and wanted to provide for her. It’s what his grandmother wanted, so he was happy for Ronnie. Ronnie said that was so generous and thanked him. She was having a terrible time wrapping her brain around it. Tracy said the will was fake and would never hold up in court.

Emma said she didn’t get a chance to explain or apologize and it was a mess, and Anna asked if Gio pulled back. Emma said, no, because he was too nice. He’d kissed back. Anna said, so the kiss wasn’t good? but Emma said, it was amazing. She’d wanted to kiss him for months and now it was awkward. Anna said, so they were both acting like it never happened? and Emma said they hadn’t talked about it. She never had a friend like Gio. He got her and understood her passion for animal rights. He was talented, funny, and a really good person. Anna said he was lovely, and Emma said he didn’t want to hurt her feelings by telling her that he wasn’t interested. What should she do?

Gio said he thought Emma was just happy they’d found Outback, and Sonny asked if he regretted the kiss. Gio said, no. It was great. He was so happy, but things were weird between them now. She was avoiding him and he hated that. Turner came in, and Gio said he was taking a minute to get his head right. He left, and Sonny approached Turner. He asked if she boxed, and she said she kickboxed. She’d heard the class at the gym was great. He said he thought she’d be spending every second on the Drew Cain case. He wasn’t asking for information, but thought she might be pressured to make an arrest. She said it was always a pleasure to see him, but he always had an agenda. He told her that he was just saying hello and to have a fun class.

Curtis said he didn’t see how his wife was Isaiah’s business, and Isaiah said the hospital was busy saving lives and Portia was the Co-Chief of Staff. Why was Curtis taking advantage of her position to continue his personal drama with Drew? Curtis said he was visiting a patient. It had nothing to do with Isaiah. Isaiah said Curtis’s enmity for Drew was no secret, but Drew was a patient, and no one would accost him while he was recovering. Curtis asked if Drew asked for no visitors, but Isaiah said the nurses wouldn’t tell Curtis no. If Curtis wanted to pick a fight with Drew, he was good with it, but don’t do it here and put Dr. Robinson in an impossible situation. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Portia laughed and said, can Elizabeth imagine? Elizabeth asked if it was a bad thing, and Portia said with her hectic work schedule, stress made more sense. Elizabeth asked if she could get Portia something to eat, and Portia asked her to get some coconut water. She promised, no more skipped meals, and Elizabeht said, for a second, she thought Portia might actually be pregnant.

Tracy said Ronnie orchestrated the whole thing. What were the odds that Monica never mentioned her once, then she showed up suddenly out of thin air and inherited the estate? She knew a con woman when she saw one. Ronnie said she was a law-abiding citizen who had never been arrested, and Tracy said, good criminals never were. Ned said, it takes one to know one, and Tracy said Michael was the apple of Monica’s eye and the only biological descendant of Alan and Monica. There was no way Monica would disinherit him in favor of a waitress she hadn’t seen in half a century. Brook said, Monica amended the will after she threw Drew out. She probably decided to take Drew out and put Ronnie in. Olivia said, maybe Monica thought Michael was rich enough, and Tracy laughed.

Curtis said, clearly, Isaiah didn’t know him and had a problem with him, when Britt came over and said, nice flexing, gentlemen. Save it for the gym. She gave Isaiah some scans, and Isaiah left. She asked if Curtis was visiting his wife, but he said he was there to see Drew. She said Drew was a high-profile patient who was extra litigious. If Curtis caused a setback, he could put the hospital in a bad position.

Portia thanked Elizabeth for taking care of her, and Elizabeth told Portia to promise she’d let her know if she needed anything. She left, and Portia flashed back to getting busy with Curtis and then getting busy with Isaiah.  

Turner’s phone rang and she said, finally… Confirm the warrant covered the house and all the outbuildings on the property. All structures at 65 Harborview Drive. Then get it to Anna immediately.

Gio said he hated to ask, but thought he needed a favor, and Sonny said, whatever he needed. Gio said he didn’t think he could live with Emma. He’d realized how much he liked her and thought she felt the same way. He was wrong and they could be friends, but he couldn’t be around her all the time. Sonny said it was good thing Gio was getting out, and Gio asked if it would be okay if he stayed with Sonny.

Anna said Emma didn’t know how Gio felt, and Emma said she was sure he was mortified. She should have stayed in the friendzone. Why did she always push things? Anna said Emma knew what she wanted and didn’t settle for less. She got it from her mom. Emma said, and her mom got it from Anna, and Anna said Emma should stop assuming she knew what Gio was feeling. Talk to him. At least she would know the real truth instead of what was going on in her head. She knew it wasn’t easy. There were so many times she would have liked to return to things she did and be completely honest and direct. Learn from her mistakes. Tell Gio how she felt. They hugged, and Anna said, whether Emma and Gio were friends or something more, he was lucky to have her. Chase came back and said he got the warrant.

Carly said she wasn’t a fan of Jason and Britt back in the day, and Josslyn said she thought there had been a truce when they thought Britt died. Carly said, that was then, this was now. Britt let Jason believe she was dead this whole time and if he hadn’t gone to Cassadine Island for her, the FBI wouldn’t have gotten its hooks in him. Meanwhile, Britt was sitting in some spa in Europe and now she was jumping on the Jason bandwagon again. She let Jason buy her an airplane ticket and set her up here. He was a good guy and didn’t deserve to be used. He was one of the few to give Britt a second chance and she was spitting in his face. Josslyn said Jason wasn’t a pushover and didn’t need Carly’s protection, and Carly said Jason knew Britt was using him, but didn’t care. So she was going to care for both of them. Josslyn asked if she was jealous of Britt.

Elizabeth said Britt shouldn’t be in the ER. Why wasn’t she on 10? Britt said she was delivering scans and breaking up fights. Elizabeth could take it from here. Britt left, and Curtis told Elizabeth, maybe Britt was exaggerating, but he and Dr. Gannon kind of got into it and he got a little closer to taking the doctor out than he liked.

Sonny said he’d love for Gio to stay, but his first concern was Gio’s safety. Some guy was making trouble for him… He didn’t want Gio to be uncomfortable at Anna’s. He wanted Gio to stay with him. Donna would be over the moon. Gio said he couldn’t tell Sonny how much he appreciated it – Emma walked in – and Sonny said Gio had someone to talk to first.

Sonny went over to Turner, and she said she wasn’t telling him anything. He said Emma and Gio were going through something, so he was pretending he wanted to talk to her. Anything for love. She asked if that’s what they were looking at. It looked awkward. Sonny said, they were young and hadn’t figured it out. Gio deserved happiness. Turner said, what happened at the Nurses Ball was awful, and he said, Emma was with Gio. They were good together. She said, are you playing Cupid, Mr. Corinthos? At that age, love feels like the answer to everything. He said, isn’t it?

Michael said, Olivia was right. He had more than enough. Tracy said that was beside the point, and Brook said, maybe Monica didn’t talk about it because it was too painful. Maybe she felt guilty about them being estranged. Tracy said the only proof they had was Ronnie showing up the minute Monica wasn’t around to dispute her claim. Frankly, she found it all convenient. Ronnie said there was nothing convenient about her missing the chance to see her sister one more time. As for proof, she brought Monica’s letters. Tracy said letters could be forged, and Ronnie said Monica wrote that she’d saved her letters. Hadn’t they found them? Olivia said they hadn’t gone through Monica’s belongings yet, and Tracy asked Brook to find them. Brook left, and Jason asked if Ronnie would mind telling them why she and Monica had a falling out. Ronnie said, not at all. When she was 16, she was able to leave her awful foster family. She turned up on Monica’s doorstep hoping she could live there, but she quickly saw that Monica didn’t want her there and was embarrassed by the reminder of her past. She was an intern and Mrs. Jeff Webber. She wanted Ronnie to disappear, so she did. Ned said, Monica never talked about her past, and it wasn’t just Ronnie who she failed to mention. Tracy said she wasn’t falling for Ronnie’s sob story and told Alexis that she was officially contesting the will. Alexis said she thought Tracy might, but she wasn’t Tracy’s attorney, when the doorbell rang. Michael opened the door to Chase and Anna, who said they were there on official business. Michael said they were reading Monica’s will and asked if it could wait, but Anna said it couldn’t. Tracy asked what was going on, and Anna said they had a warrant to search the premises.

Carly told Josslyn that she wasn’t jealous, but Britt was no dummy. Jason was rich, loyal to a fault, and could protect Britt from her enemies. She couldn’t be jealous because what she and Jason had was a bond beyond friendship. Their trust went very deep. Josslyn said, if it wasn’t that, what was bothering her? but Carly said she didn’t know. She’d thought Jason accepted her relationship with Jack. Now she wasn’t so sure. He left country to find Britt and didn’t tell her. Something happened while he was away – she could feel it – and he wouldn’t tell her about that either.

Isaiah went to Portia’s office and said he was sorry to add to her already busy day, but he got into it with Curtis, and she said, about what? He said he’d never let Curtis know about them, and she said she didn’t mind Curtis knowing, but didn’t want Trina to know. It could ruin their relationship, but that was a conversation for another day. What happened? He said Curtis was heading to Drew’s room and he told Curtis to keep his issues with Drew outside the workplace. Curtis didn’t think his actions reflected on her. She said she wished he hadn’t done that. She didn’t need his protection. He said Curtis was taking advantage of her position at the hospital for his own purposes all the time, but that was a conversation for her and Curtis to have. He was sorry. She suggested, in the future, avoid interacting with Curtis as much as possible. She thanked him for letting her know and said she had to get back to work. He said he’d see her later and left. She took a pregnancy test out of her pocket.

Ned asked what they were looking for, and Anna said they were authorized to search for a revolver registered to Edward Quartermaine from the collection. Alexis said this seemed like a good time to leave and wished them good luck. Brook asked what was going on, and Chase said they had a search warrant, but Tracy said nobody was going to search until her lawyer got there. Anna said that wasn’t how it worked and asked Michael to take a look at the warrant before they started. Ronnie said she believed she was the one who should be looking at the warrant.

Outside, Alexis called Sonny. She said she needed to see him and Carly as soon as possible, and asked if they could meet at Bobbie’s. Sonny said, give him 15 minutes, and told Turner that he had to go.

Carly told Josslyn that Jason would tell her what he was keeping from her. He always did. Josslyn said she was sure he would. She had to go, she and Carly hugged, and Josslyn left.  

Emma asked Gio how Monica’s memorial was. They hadn’t talked. Gio said the memorial was weird, but good. He liked hearing the stories and everyone seemed to have one, stuff he knew nothing about. She said she didn’t think they’d ever know how much Monica did behind the scenes, and he said he went to the Quartermaines. She asked if he talked to Brook and Dante, and he said, a little bit. She asked, how was it? and he said, not as hard as on a normal day. She said she would have gone if she’d been asked. He knew that, right? He said he’d never ask her to do something like that. It was something he needed to handle alone.

Anna asked who Ronnie was, and Ronnie said, Veronica Bard, Monica’s sister. Anna said, since when? and Ronnie said she’d been getting that question a lot since she got there. She seemed to have just inherited the whole property, so she thought Anna should serve her. Tracy mumbled that someone had been watching Law and Order, and Anna said, welcome to Port Charles. She gave Ronnie the warrant, and Ronnie said this was new to her, but she thought she’d better read the warrant before they began.

Elizabeth said she heard something about Isaiah confronting Curtis on Portia’s behalf, and Isaiah said it wasn’t his finest moment, but he was sick of watching Curtis throw his weight around to get what he wanted. She said, if it was her, she wouldn’t get too involved in Portia’s personal life. It was one line he shouldn’t cross.

Portia came out of the bathroom, and said, it’s gonna be all right. There’s no way… Her phone alarm went off, and she looked at the test, seeing the double line meaning she was pregnant. Curtis knocked at the door.  

Emma said she got that Gio had his own life to live, and he said he’d been clinging on her too much, but she said he hadn’t. Because friends leaned on each other. He said she’d been so great to him. She gave him a home when he really needed it most. He was grateful, but she’d be going to school again and he needed to find full time work and figure out what he was going to do with his life. It was time for him to move out.

At the hospital, Josslyn told Britt, don’t worry. She got the message. Britt said she thought she was too subtle, but it went over Carly’s head. She couldn’t imagine Josslyn lying to her. Josslyn said her mom couldn’t know she was in the WSB, and Britt said, okay, but it was going to cost her. Josslyn said she was shocked. What did Britt want? Britt said she was tired of living in a room above Bobbie’s. She wanted an all-expense paid suite at the MetroCourt.

Alexis met Carly and Sonny at Bobbie’s and said she was at the Quartermaines for the reading of Monica’s will, when Anna came with a warrant. She was looking for a gun registered to Edward Quartermaine. Sonny asked if it was the gun that shot Drew, and Alexis said she thought so. She was supposed to meet Anna for more questioning, and it was canceled. This led her to believe there might be new evidence, and they were moving in another direction. She wasn’t here as a lawyer, but as a parent. She thought they might be closing in on Michael. They know he had motive and if they found the gun, he’d have the means. If they had anything that could exonerate him, now was the time to produce it.

Tracy said, if they couldn’t stop this, there was no way Ronnie could, but Ned said she was doing more than they were. She was buying them time. Tracy suggested she was a slow reader. Find out what was taking the lawyer so long. Ned left, and Anna said Ronnie could see it was in order. Start the search. But Ronnie said, this is wrong. She used her GPS to get there twice, and if she remembered right, the address was 66 Harborview Drive. This warrant was for 65 Harborview Drive, so they wouldn’t be searching there today. They want the house across the street.

Wednesday:

Gio told Emma that he found another place already, and she asked if he was leaving Port Charles, but he said, no. He’d be staying with his grandfather. Emma wondered if it wasn’t dangerous.

Britt said she wasn’t asking for the penthouse, and Josslyn said Britt might as well take out an ad that she’s blackmailing her. Britt said everyone would assume it was Josslyn’s way of thanking her, but Josslyn said her mom would be suspicious, and Britt didn’t want that. Britt said, no, Josslyn didn’t want it, and Josslyn said Britt had a lot more to hide than she did.

Carly went to see Elizabeth and said she needed to know what Elizabeth told the police about her threatening to kill Drew.

Curtis told Portia that he had a hunch Drew lost the blackmail material against her. If he was right, Drew no longer had any power over them.

Drew told Willow that the doctor thought he could be released as early as next week, but he was pushing for tomorrow. She said she was amazed at how well he got and how quickly, and he said he had good reason to want to get home. When he did, he wanted her and Scout to move in.

Anna was about to start the search, when Ronnie pointed out the address was for the house across the street. Anna looked at it and said the DA must have submitted the wrong address. Jason said the warrant was invalid, but Chase said it was a minor detail. Olivia said, not to her. The devil was in the details. Chase told Ronnie that they were trying to solve the attempted murder of a sitting US congressman. All they wanted was to uncover the truth. Let them search the premises.

Britt said she had nothing to hide, and Josslyn said Britt knew the WSB was sending a team to the Five Poppies. She’d been involved in whatever shady organization they were running out of the resort and should help bring them down since they tried to kill her too. Britt said she wanted to forget the Five Poppies existed and just wanted to rebuild her life. She was busy enough without taking on something from Josslyn’s to-do list. The MetroCourt had the best security, so help a girl out. Josslyn said it would be suspicious, and Britt said then she had no choice but to out Josslyn. Josslyn said, that would be a very big mistake, and Britt asked if that was a threat. Jack joined them and said it sounded like one to him. Britt asked if she knew him, and he said he didn’t think so. He was Jack Brennan of the WSB.

Gio said he didn’t plan on staying at Sonny’s forever, but needed to get out of Emma’s grandmother’s apartment. Emma asked, why? when Trina came in. She asked Emma to keep her company while she stretched, and they could catch up.

Portia asked why Curtis thought Drew lost the evidence, and he said Alexis told him the PCPD had uncovered new evidence. He thought they found the blackmail material. They would have been questioned immediately, but they weren’t. That led him to believe they didn’t find it, so where was it? She said, it could be anywhere, and he said he thought the same thing, then realized Drew had made no demands lately. Portia said Drew had backed off, but she’d assumed he was focused on his recovery, and Curtis said he believed Drew had lost his leverage over them, but needed to know for sure.

Drew said Willow seemed hesitant, and she said it was hard being without her children in the last place they’d lived, and Drew was shot in there. She wasn’t sure it was safe. He said he’d amped up the security and changed the locks. He’d never let his daughter live where it wasn’t safe. She said Scout was comfortable with her and Elizabeth. Maybe he should settle in. Then they’d talk about her moving in. He said he missed his daughter and her. He’d thought they were in a better place and working toward the future. She said she hadn’t been completely honest.

Anna said they’d return with the warrant in proper order. She strongly urged them not to take any actions that would constitute obstruction of justice or result in them being an accessory after the fact. They left and Jason thanked Ronnie. Ronnie asked if anyone would care to tell her what was going on. Which one of them was suspected of trying to assassinate the congressman?

Elizabeth asked what was going on, and Carly said she went to Anna and told her about threatening Drew. She figured if she didn’t, Drew would. Elizabeth said that was probably true, but why was Carly concerned about what she’d say? Carly said she was curious to know how serious they took it and if they followed up, and Elizabeth said she wasn’t sure they should be having this conversation. Carly said she had it from a reliable source that there was going to be an arrest and she needed to know if was her. She needed Elizabeth’s help.

Jason told Ronnie that he didn’t know his brother existed, but Drew knew about him, and she said she remembered Drew had a daughter named Scout. Her mama died. Monica wrote about her. She loved that little girl. Her daddy, not so much. Olivia said Drew was estranged from the family, and Tracy said he was a malignant weasel. Brook said Drew was pretty bad, and Ronnie said that explained why Drew was shot, but didn’t explain why the police came to the house to look for the weapon. Unless they thought the shooter lived there. Tracy said they didn’t discuss family matters with outsiders, but Olivia said Ronnie deserved to know. Michael said he was considered a suspect because he and his uncle were at odds. Drew had seduced his ex-wife and had been trying to help win custody of his kids. Brook said, most of the time, Michael had been out of the country recovering from serious burns, when Michael’s phone rang and he stepped away. Brook said Michael wasn’t the only suspect. There was a long list of them. Jason said Drew caused problems for the family, but he also made life miserable for a lot of people in Port Charles.

Curtis said he planned to test his theory, but needed to press enough of Drew’s buttons for him to react, and Portia said Drew’s response would tell them everything. Curtis said he’d been on his way to try it, when he ran into Dr. Gannon. He thought Curtis was taking advantage of Portia’s position as Co-Chief by throwing his weight around the hospital. Portia said she never felt that way, and he said he’d never do anything to make her look bad. She said she thought Dr. Gannon was just looking out for his boss in a misguided way. Did he still plan on confronting Drew? He said, the sooner, the better, and she said, since it was her medical career on the line, she’d like to take part.

Drew said he knew he’d promised Willow that he’d help er win custody, but he’d also thought she’d rediscovered her feelings for him. She said he wasn’t wrong. She still cared about him and wanted to be with him, but she’d been making excuses for not moving back in. The truth was, she was worried it would hurt er custody case. He asked, how, when they’d be seen as a family? and she said, Michael twisted things. Ric was out of town, and she couldn’t get him on the phone. He said they’d reach out to Martin, when Willow got a text. She said it was from the court. She scrolled and said, no. They couldn’t do this. They assigned a new judge, but wouldn’t review it until mid-January. The next time she saw her kids would be next year.

Trina said Emma insisted she and Gio were just friends, but it looked tense. Had something changed? Emma said, yeah, and not in a good way.

As they passed a medicine ball back and forth, Gio told Kai about Tracy wheeling Drew out of the memorial service, and Kai said, good for her. She’s small, but mighty. Gio said he thought Kai and Drew were tight, but Kai said, just because he worked for the guy, didn’t mean he thought Drew was in the right. He was definitely in the wrong.

Willow said she couldn’t wait that long, but Drew said it would be okay. They’d talk to Martin, and he’d make sure she had custody way before January. Curtis and Portia walked in, and Curtis asked if they were interrupting. Portia said Willow was assigned to the ER. Why was she there? Because Willow can’t speak for herself, Drew said she was visiting the man she loved, and Portia said, she could do that after hours. She was on duty in the ER. Willow apologized and left, and Drew said Portia had to lose the attitude and apologize to Willow. Portia said she was Co-Chief of Staff and called the shots, and Curtis said, unless Drew had something to say about that.

Jack said he was glad to finally meet Britt, who said she needed to get back to work. She left, and Jack said he thought things seemed tense. Josslyn said Britt threatened to tell that she’s WSB unless she upgraded Britt’s living situation, and Jack said he’d take care of Britt. Right now, he had an important assignment for her.

Carly said if the police were going to charge her, she needed to make arrangements for her daughter, but Elizabeth said no one had contacted her. No one from the PCPD asked her anything. If they did, she’d just tell them what happened. Drew clearly antagonized Carly and she responded in anger. Carly said she told Anna that Elizabeth was a witness. Why didn’t they talk to her? Elizabeth said, maybe they had a stronger suspect, and Carly was off the hook. She should be glad… unless that wasn’t what she wanted. Maybe she’d rather have the PCPD come after her than come after her son.

On the phone, Anna said, this time double-check everything. She needed the warrant processed immediately. She told Chase that Turner was always so on top of things. She didn’t know why Turner made a mistake like this when she knew how important it was. Chase said now they’d lost the element of surprise, and she said, the worst part was that Jason was there. If anyone knew how to clean up evidence or make it disappear, it was him. And he’d do anything to protect Michael.

Brook asked if the PCPD thought the gun had been used to shoot Drew, but Tracy said, they made a mistake and were trying to grasp at straws. They didn’t even have the address right. Brook said, that was the DA’s office, and Ronnie said it wouldn’t take the Commissioner long to be back with a new warrant. Tracy said, then they’d handle it like family. Ronnie didn’t need to stay. Ronnie said she’d appreciate it if someone let her know how it turned out. She’d be at her motel. Jason said, hold on. According to Monica’s will, this was her house.

Jack said he’d like a word with Britt, but she said she was in the middle of work. He said it wouldn’t take long. He had questions about her time at the Five Poppies. They could schedule time for her to come to his office. Britt asked, why? She was just a guest at the resort. He said, if that was the case, he supposed they could hold off on bringing her in, for now. As long as she stopped making trouble for him or any of his agents. She promised she wouldn’t be a problem, and he said he hoped she was telling the truth. If she was lying and was involved in the research there in any capacity, it was a violation of a number of international laws and subject to life imprisonment in Steinmaur. It’s not a place she wanted to be. Just ask her mother.

Carly told Elizabeth that Willow was rooting for Michael’s arrest. If he was in prison, she’d get her kids back. But Michael didn’t do it. Elizabeth said she hoped Carly was right, and Carly said she assumed Elizabeth would take Willow’s side. Elizabeth said she’d known Scout her entire life and had compassion for Willow, but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel for Michael. Carly needed to have faith that Anna and the police would find the culprit. Carly said Drew was determined that Michael take the fall. He’d taken so much from Michael, she’d be damned if he was going to take Michael’s freedom too. Elizabeth’s plumber called, and she stepped away to talk.

Drew said, if they had a problem with him, take it up with him. Don’t pick on Willow. Portia said, for asking her to do her job? She could look for work elsewhere. Drew said he thought she was forgetting that he had information that could destroy her career, and she said, then do it. She was tired of living in fear. Curtis said, give it his best shot, and Drew said he was currently recovering from two gunshot wounds. He didn’t have the energy for this. Get out and leave him the hell alone. They left, and in the hallway, Curtis said they were right. He’s got nothing.

Chase told Anna that he should have stayed to make sure no one tampered with the evidence. He had every right be there. She said, as a detective or as a husband and in-law? It’s better he didn’t since it was a grey area. They had to play by the book or the Quartermaines would bury them. He said, or the woman who inherited the estate, and she said she didn’t know about her. She thought he was in a tough spot and didn’t want to make it worse. He said, as much as he loved the Quartermaines, if someone shot Drew, they needed to be brought to justice.

Tracy said it wasn’t Ronnie’s house, but Jason told her, the will said it was. She said it was a bogus will. The estate wasn’t going to a backwater waitress. Olivia asked why she said waitress like it was a shameful insult, and Jason said Ronnie was Monica’s sister and part of the family. Tracy said, you don’t vet someone with a handshake. She could be anybody. Jason told Ronnie, nice to meet her. Despite what Tracy said, try to make herself at home. Ronnie thanked him, and he thanked her for her help with the police. Tracy said Jason didn’t speak for all of them, but Michael said he agreed. Before the reading of the will, they assumed he’d inherit the house. If anyone had the right to contest it, it was him, and he would like to abide by his grandmother’s wishes. As far as he was concerned, the matter was settled.

Britt said she heard Deanna was covering for Willow because of a family emergency. Was everything okay? Willow said she felt like nothing ever was, and Britt said they were technically family, but Willow said there was nothing anyone could do. Britt said, if Willow needed an ally… She heard Willow had been visiting Drew. Now she was bolting for a family emergency. If it was about Drew, maybe she should talk to Britt’s mom. Willow said, the person she needed to talk to, was her lawyer. If Britt found him, that would be great. Don’t take it the wrong way, but she didn’t think Britt could afford to take on her problems. She saws Britt with Agent Brennan, and she seemed to have her own mess to deal with. Willow left.

Carly told Elizabeth that she had to meet Jason, and it was probably best for her not to run into Willow. Elizabeth said Carly’s issues with Willow were valid, but so were Willow’s. It was tragic all around. Carly said, Willow made the decisions that ruined her life, and Elizabeth said, sometimes when you only had yourself to blame, it was worse. They’d both been there. Carly said Willow was lucky to have a friend like Elizabeth, but she doubted Willow deserved it, and she left.

Trina asked if Emma thought Gio was moving out because of the kiss, and Emma said she obviously ruined the friendship. Kai joined them and said Trina’s form was all wrong, but Trina said she knew what she was doing. Emma said that was her cue, and left. Kai said Trina’s form was perfect. He just needed and excuse to get away from Gio. Trina asked, why? and Kai said he let his real feelings for Drew slip out. Trina said it was safer to play the loyal employee, especially since his fingerprints were on the bat. He said that put him in the living room the night Drew was shot, and she said, continue playing the part. He said he was trying, but didn’t know how much longer he could stand working for Drew, and she said he had to. At least until the shooter was caught.

Martin went to Drew’s room and said he assumed it was about the custody case. Drew said they’d get to that, but what did Martin know about the PCPD inventory of his safe? Martin said he did warn Drew that their request for an injunction might be overturned. The police basically searched and logged the contents. Drew asked if they sent a list of the contents to Martin, and Martin said they did. Drew said, send him a digital copy to his phone. He needed to see it. He looked at the list and said he knew it. It wasn’t there. The evidence that Portia tampered with Heather Webber’s test results. Martin asked if it was there the night Drew was shot, and Drew said he saw it. Martin asked if he closed the safe, but Drew said he didn’t know. Martin said, whoever put the bullets in his back probably took it, and Drew said the only people who knew were Curtis and Portia. Martin said, then one of them shot him.

Alone in the living room, Tracy looked up and said she wished Monica was there. She’d wring her scrawny little neck. Ronnie came in with Brook and Olivia and said, the house and grounds were magnificent. Everything was so big. Olivia said there was always room for improvement. How did Ronnie feel about a brick pizza oven? Ronnie said it sounded like a wonderful idea, and Tracy said, yippie. Ronnie said she wasn’t surprised Monica had a stable of horses. As a little girl, she dreamed of having one and ended up with a dozen. Tracy said Hades was hers and Comet belonged to Leo, and Ronnie said she kept losing track of how many people were there. (Me too.) Brook said she’d make a chart. When Chase came back, she’d introduce them. Ronnie said, that handsome detective was her husband? when the doorbell rang. Tracy said, door, and Olivia said she’d get it. Tracy looked at Ronnie and said, her house, her door, wen Anna and Chase came in. Anna showed Ronnie the amended warrant, and Ronnie said it looked fine. Anna’s team began the search.

Emma said she had to go, and Trina said, first talk to Gio. Do it now. Emma went over to Gio and said she didn’t want him to move out, but he said he had to. She said, was it because of the kiss? and he said, yeah. She said she knew it. She ruined everything. He asked what she was talking about, and she said she shouldn’t have kissed him. It was awkward and it was her fault. She was into him, and he wasn’t into her. He said she had the wrong idea. He was moving out because he was into her. He thought she wasn’t into him. Because it would be torture to live with her and not do this. He kissed her.  

Jason stood at Pier 54, when Jack arrived. Jack said Carly couldn’t make it, so Jason had him instead.

In Sonny’s old kitchen, Carly said she’d got Josslyn’s text and asked why Josslyn was crying. Josslyn said she’d never believe this. Vaughn had been lying to her the entire time. She just found out he’s a WSB agent.

Portia was staring at the pregnancy test, when Curtis knocked at the door. She stashed it, and he came in. He said he was on his way out and it just hit him. It’s over. Part of the reason they stayed together was for him to protect her. Portia said it wasn’t really the issue anymore, and he said he guessed not. They’d stayed together to avoid suspicion. As soon as someone was arrested for Drew’s shooting, he guessed they could file for divorce. He guessed there was no reason to stay married anymore.

Drew told Martin, no wonder they were just in there with their power play. They knew he had nothing to hold over their head. Martin said he was calling the police. They had to know who shot him. Drew said he couldn’t. They couldn’t know about the blackmail and neither of them could go down for shooting him. For Willow’s sake, it had to be Michael.

Brook said they’d send someone to the motel for Ronnie’s things, and Ronnie wondered where she’d stay. Brook said they had plenty of rooms, when Anna and Chase came back. Anna asked, where were Jason and Michael? and Olivia said there was no reason they needed to stay. Anna said she was just curious, and Chase said, they checked the study and the gun was missing. There were soap looks all around.

Michael knocked at Elizabeth’s door and asked if Willow was there. Elizabeth said she was at work, and he asked if he could come in. She said, sure, and after looking around, he went inside and closed the door.

Thursday:  

Anna told Dante about confirming the gun was registered to Edward Quartermaine and what happened with the warrant and how the firearm was missing by the time they came back with the amended one. Dante said, find the gun, find the shooter, and she said they needed to find out who took it. Since he lived at the Quartermaine’s, he might be the perfect person to help figure it out.

Willow asked Michael what he was doing at Elizabeth’s house.

Britt went into Nathan’s room to find him getting dressed, and she asked if he had a hot date. He said he was about to be discharged, and she asked if he was sure that it was the best idea. He said there was nothing wrong with him physically and he had to face up to his new reality at some point.

Josslyn told Carly that Vaughn was a WSB agent. How could she be so stupid? Everything had been a complete lie and he was conning her the entire time. How could she be so blind? Carly hugged her.

Jack told Jason that Carly had been held up, but Jason said they had nothing to discuss. Jack asked, who was more important, Carly or Britt Westbourne? and Jason said he was going to tell Carly that Josslyn was WSB. Jack said it would make it difficult if her mother found out and he was there to ensure Jason didn’t tell her. Jason said he was there to protect Josslyn and her mother. Hurt her and see what happens. Jack said Jason needed to ask himself if Carly knowing the truth about her daughter was more important than Britt’s freedom.

Britt said it was Nathan’s decision, but she would love one minute with just them before he went out in the world and discovered what it was like to be Nathan West, circa 2025. He said he’d love that and asked if it could wait until he was out, and she asked if he was sticking around. He said that was the plan. It was time to reclaim his life like she was doing. Spinelli came in and said, gracious greetings to them both. Nathan asked if Spinelli brought his son.

Michael said he’d been waiting for Willow to get home. Elizabeth had let him in. She said she was hoping they could talk. She was so sorry about Monica. She knew it was hard on the kids and him. When she heard Monica passed, she wanted to reach, but wasn’t sure if she should. She’d been really worried about all of them. Michael thanked her.

Anna said, Monica’s sister, Ronnie… and Dante said, a sister that crawled out of the woodwork. He had no idea Monica had a sister. She said, join the club. When they went in the second time… He said, the gun wasn’t there, and she said, interesting timing. He said, either the shooter didn’t put it back… and she said, or they disposed of it. He said they should look at anyone who had access to the Quartermaine property, and she said, starting with Carly Spencer.

Carly said tell her everything, and Josslyn said Vaughn ghosted her. She tried to forget him and move on, but then she saw him at the WSB offices. She went to see Jack to invite him to dinner with them and Donna, an olive branch sort of thing. She wanted to surprise Carly. She saw Vaughn all decked out in a power suit and was completely shocked. Carly asked if they talked, and Josslyn said she confronted Vaughn about the way he ended things. He stood there, cool, calm, and collected like she’d never meant anything to him. Carly called him an ass and said she was so sorry, and Josslyn said she finally got him to admit he was a WSB agent. She just found out, but apparently, he’d been with the WSB for a while. Carly said that meant Jack knew all along.

Spinelli said James wasn’t with him. The reason he was there was because he wanted to discuss Nathan’s current standing. Britt said it wasn’t the time. Nathan was about to be released. He was waiting for his discharge paperwork. Spinelli said, understood. Perhaps later. Nathan said they’d definitely talk soon, and Spinelli said he looked forward to it. He left and Britt said she didn’t want to get in trouble and had to check in, but she’d like to talk. Nathan said, go. He didn’t want to cause trouble with the people who were calling the shots.

Carly said Jack knew Vaughn was WSB and Josslyn could have been in danger, but he said nothing. Josslyn said she was sorry, but she was never in any danger, and Carly said she didn’t know that. It was one thing to keep a secret from her about work, but it was another to keep a secret about her daughter.  

At the hospital, Spinelli found Britt and said, apologies, but he was consumed with several unresolved curiosities. Britt told him, try again and give English a whirl, and he said he was concerned. How come Britt wanted to delay James meeting Nathan? Britt said she’d thought a lot about if her nephew could handle it, and he said, the only reason he didn’t bring James was the resurrection of both of Faison’s children in a matter of weeks. It was a statistical marvel. Britt wondered if he was implying something about her brother, and he said Nathan recalled nothing, the circumstances gave them no answer, and he was virtually untraceable, and Britt said, Spinelli didn’t believe her? He said she offered no information as to where she’d disappeared. If he was suspicious of anyone, it fell on her.  

Jason asked if Jack was going to go after Britt if he told Carly, but Jack said Britt brought her troubles on herself. She’d committed several violations of international law, enough to put her away in Steinmaur for the rest of her life. Jason could be what put her there or kept her out. It seemed like a no-brainer. If he didn’t tell Carly what she didn’t know, it would be status quo. Tell Carly, and Britt would be put away for what little time she had left. Did he want Britt to spend her final days wasting away in a jail cell? Jason said he didn’t want any of this, and Jack said, if you committed a crime, you paid for it. Jason said, so the best move for everyone was to say nothing, and Jack said Jason had the option to protect Carly and Britt. Jason said, and Jack. The next time, don’t trick him. Be a man and reach out directly. He left and Jack’s phone rang. Carly told Jack to get over to her house.

Willow asked what brought Michael by, and he said he got the notification about the judge postponing the visitation case. Willow started to cry and said she couldn’t believe the next time she saw Wiley and Amelia would be next year. He said that was too long for them to be apart, and she said she never thought he’d agree with her. He said he did and that was why he was there. He wanted her to see their kids.

Anna said Carly needed a second look, and Dante said Carly was at the Quartermaines’ all the time. Anna said Carly had a bit of a history with violence, especially when protecting her children. She shot Tony Jones in open court because he’d hurt Michael. Dante said, Drew was hurting Michael. Who was Carly’s alibi? Anna said, Jack Brennan, who lied for a living. He’d definitely cover for Carly. She thought Carly’s alibi was worthless. Which brought them to their second suspect. Dante said, his brother.

Willow told Michael that she was so happy to hear this. She’d been begging to see them, and he hadn’t budged. So why now, especially when she was sure he’d heard she and Drew were back together. He said he did hear and didn’t want Drew anywhere near their children. She said she hadn’t heard him call them their children for a while, and he said, they were, and the ultimate goal was to spend time with them. She got to see the kids, and Wiley and Amelia got to have their mother back in their lives. Willow said it was all she’d wanted. How did they make it happen? He said the offer only extended to her, not Drew, and she said that was fine. He said he’d make arrangements for visitation in a safe and controlled environment, and she asked what he meant. He said the visitation would be supervised by a family therapist.

Britt said there was no big story, but Spinelli said that was hard to believe. Britt said she had a job working a spa and was trying to live a quiet life. She’d still be there if not for Jason’s meddling. He said Jason was a lot of things, but a meddler wasn’t one of them, and Britt said he destroyed her peace, her anonymity, and her job. It was all gone. It was her life and her business. Jason was her problem, and she needed to deal with him. She walked off.

Jack found Carly in Sonny’s old kitchen, and seeing Josslyn and the moss bowl🎍, he said he didn’t realize they had an audience. Carly said she didn’t realize a lot of things, but he was right. This was a private conversation. She asked Josslyn for a minute, and Josslyn left. (The moss bowl🎍stayed, kowtowing to no one.) Jack said he assumed she wasn’t pleased with him, and she asked how he could not tell her that Vaughn was a WSB agent.

Willow said a therapist was going to supervise her with her own children? and Michael said it was a chance to spend time together for an hour a week. She said it wasn’t a lot of time. She’d missed them so much. Would she ever get more time? He said he didn’t know, but right now, he thought it was best for the kids, and she said she didn’t want the kids more confused. He said he thought she would be more grateful, and she said she was. It was better than not seeing them at all, but it was hard to be overly grateful when it meant that he didn’t trust her to be around her children. Was the therapist on his payroll? He said, no, and she said, and not his father’s? He said, no, and she said she was afraid come January, the therapist would get on the stand and say she was unfit and her kids would be taken away from her permanently.

Vaughn met Josslyn at Pier 54, and she said she wasn’t sure he’d come. He said he almost didn’t. They’d agreed, no contact once they were back in Port Charles. Josslyn said she didn’t forget, and he asked why he was there. She said she thought she should tell him in person. Her mom knew he was a WSB agent. He said, how? and she said she told her.

At the hospital, Britt told Jason that Spinelli came by and was making accusations. He implied she had a hidden agenda. He said, didn’t she? and she said he was tying it to Nathan being back. Spinelli thought she had something to do with his mysterious return. He said he’d speak to Spinelli, and Britt said to tell Spinelli that she’d never hurt James. He said, that part, he believed, but she hadn’t been upfront about the Five Poppies. How could he help her if she kept holding things back?

Anna told Dante that Jack lied as easily as he breathed and was Carly’s alibi. Michael’s alibi was a sex worker who happened to be with Drew the night Drew was on drugs. The whole thing was unreliable and convenient. Dante agreed, but for the record, he didn’t think Michael did this. Yet when he looked at the evidence against him… Anna said he could see how bad it looked.

Michael said he was just trying to get them all in the same room in the most secure way, and Willow said, timed supervised visits? He wouldn’t like it. He said he didn’t make the same choices, and she asked if it was punishment. He said it was an opportunity that he didn’t have to give her, and she said she wasn’t trying to fight. She had no kids, no power, and very few choices. It must be nice having all the power. She wished she had even a little. He said she had the power to see the kids again. If she loved them as much as she claimed, prove it. Be their mom again. They missed her as much as she missed them.

Spinelli went back to see Nathan and said he reconsidered. Nathan said he was sorry. Britt was overprotective of him and James. Spinelli said, James was fine, but a little lost, which was to be expected. They were all unmoored without Maxie to ground them. He found routine was essential with James. Nathan asked what James was like, and Spinelli said spirited was at the top of a wonderfully long list. He wasn’t questioning Nathan’s role as James’s father, but hoped they agreed on some level that consistency was what James needed – people he knew, faces he was used to. Nathan said he understood. He’d never want a child to be without their mother. Spinelli said, there was no equal, and Nathan said, the void Maxie left must be incredibly hard for James. Spinelli said it was life-altering for all of them, and Nathan said, not remembering the last seven years, knowing he hadn’t been there for his son, was hard, but he thought what they were going through was harder. It killed him knowing there was nothing he could do to help Maxie. Spinelli said they had that in common. Nathan still loved her. Nathan said he never stopped. To him, Maxie was still his wife. He was grateful to Spinelli, showing up for Maxie and his son. He was happy they had Spinelli. He wanted he best for James too, but knew James better, so he’d follow Spinelli’s lead.  

Britt said she didn’t know why she asked Jason to come, and he said he’d do anything to protect her. But to do it, he needed to know from what. What was she doing at the Five Poppies? She said if it was Carly, he wouldn’t ask, and he said he wouldn’t have to.

Josslyn said Brennan ordered her to keep her mom distracted, so she used a trick Vaughn taught her in training. He said, blowing his cover in the process… Smart move. He’d have done the same thing. She did make one error. She warned him. She said she didn’t want to blindside him, and he said, personal feelings clouded her judgment, but they all made that mistake. His was falling for her. She said she knew she was irresistible. Jack told her to be convincing, and it turned out they convinced themselves. Vaughn said, maybe it was all in the past, but maybe not, and she said she knew that, but knowing and accepting were two very different things.

Jack told Carly that it was all classified information. When it came to her daughter, it didn’t change. She said, the hell it doesn’t. Josslyn could have been in danger. He said, she wasn’t, and Carly said he lied to her face. He listened when she told him that she was worried about Josslyn dating Vaughn. He pretended to be someone he wasn’t and violated her trust. He said he understood that she was upset, but she knew there were going to be times he had to keep things from her. This was one of those times. She said she could handle separating who he was with them and who he was on the job. She said maybe she couldn’t.

Spinelli said he was relieved they were in agreement about James, and Nathan said, James came first and he gave Spinelli his word that he’d be the father James needed and deserved, especially without Maxie there.

Britt said she wanted Jason out of her life, and he said he didn’t realize he was in. She said he did the same thing every time and she couldn’t do it. Either commit and put her first or stay the hell out of her way. He said he’d do whatever he could for her, and she said, classic non-answer. But it was an answer. Just not the one she wanted.

Carly said Jack was right. She entered the relationship informed and thought with her eyes wide open. But she was fooling herself. She got why he didn’t warn her about Vaughn and was trying to believe he wouldn’t let anything happen to Josslyn. He said he could be who he needed to be on the job and still be someone she could believe in, and she said she wanted to be right about him and trust him. He said he wanted that more than anything, and hugged her.

Vaughn said, what they had in Australia was very real, and Josslyn said, was, past tense. He said, maybe it wasn’t the end. Anything was possible. She said she hoped he was right, and he said he was always right. They kissed and said goodbye and Vaughn left.  

Willow said Michael held all the cards. He knew her answer before she came in. He said he knew what he’d hoped she’d say, but he still needed to hear it from her. She said, of course (🍷) she agreed to his terms. She’d go anywhere or do anything to see her kids, even if it meant supervised visits with a therapist. He said she was making the right choice, and she said, not much of one though, is it? He said he’d be in touch and left.

Anna said she was open to suggestions, and Dante said the Quartermaines’ security system could be breached. Drew got in when he was with Willow last year, and he heard Drew and Martin got in after the almost wedding. Michael was also convinced Willow was sneaking around targeting Daisy. Anna asked why she was just hearing about this now, and he said, he had no proof. Going to the cops was pointless. She asked if he thought Willow could be the shooter, and he said, the guy was sleeping with her mom. Anna said, Willow left Drew at the altar, then took him back, but she didn’t have the same history of violence as Michael or Carly. Dante said they didn’t know a person’s tipping point. Losing your kids was up there. She said she wasn’t ruling anyone out. She felt like the suspect had the ability to get in and out undetected. She said he needed to see something and showed him the computer screen. She said it was security footage from Nina’s apartment building. Dante said, the night Drew was shot, and she said, it was the exact same time Nina said she was with Willow, but they could see her here and she was alone. He said, Willow’s alibi just evaporated, and she said, yeah.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Tracy finds Ronnie in the nook drinking tea and says, you’re still here? Ronnie says, yes, of course (🍷). It’s my house. Monica gave it to me. (We say that last part together.)

Turner goes to Anna’s office and Anna says she didn’t expect to see her. Turner decided to stop dodging her. Turner said she wasn’t dodging Anna. She was busy. Anna says, too busy to explain how the search warrant that she ordered for the Quartermaine residence had the wrong address? Which then delayed their search and gave whoever shot Congressman Cain an opportunity to ditch their weapon.

Isaiah flashed back to getting busy with Portia in her office, when Lucas says his name. Isaiah says he spaced out, and Lucas says, it’s clear he was somewhere else. What has him so distracted?

Portia asks if Dr. Navarro got her bloodwork back, but the doctor says, sorry, no, but it should be in soon. She had it bumped up. Portia asks if she’d mind reaching out to the lab. She did a test at home, and it was positive. She needs to confirm it. Given her age, it’s important to determine how far along she is.

Jordan walks into Drew’s room where he’s using a walker and says, he’s made a lot of progress. Good for him. Drew thanks her and thanks her for seeing him, and she says, his message was mysterious. She had to see what he meant. Tell her why she’s here. He says, so she can save Curtis.

On the phone, Curtis says he’s like to get everything in place so they can move forward as quickly and painlessly as possible. And if they can keep any court proceedings sealed from the public, that’s even better. Keep him posted. Michael asks if it’s a bad time, and Curtis says, no, not at all. He assumes Michael is here because of the article Lulu wrote. It couldn’t have been east to read. Michael said the story was legit and Curtis had to run it, and Curtis said, the article points to Michael as a prime suspect in Drew’s shooting. Michael is taking it better than he would. Is he sure he’s not worried about being charged? Michael says he’s got an alibi, and he’s convinced whoever needs to pay for shooting Drew, will.

Elizaeth says she didn’t realize Willow was working this morning, and Willow said she switched shifts with Deanna. Something important came up this afternoon that she can’t miss. Elizabeth asks if everything is okay, but Willow says she doesn’t know yet.

Sonny finds Lulu at Bobbie’s and asks if she’s got a second. She says, for him? Always. What’s up? He asks why she’s going after Michael in the press.

Lulu says she takes it Sonny read her piece in the Port Charles Press, and he says, yeah, he read it. She might as well have put up a billboard that says, Michael Corinthos shot Drew Cain. She says, that’s not true. She reported the facts. Nothing more. She even included the PCPD screwing up by showing up at the Quartermaines with a faulty search warrant that may have led to loss of a crucial piece of evidence. He says, she made it sound like Michael was the one who got rid of it, but she tells him, the article didn’t say that. All it said was that Michael lived there and was a person of interest. Is that not true? They’re not the only ones who know Michael had a motive. Sonny says, so do a lot of people. And Drew screwed over a lot of people who wanted him shot. She asks if that’s on the record, and he says, she’s always been fair and unbiased. What changed?

Turner says, Anna is blaming her? She guesses that explains this. She reads: unnamed sources in the PCPD suggest the snafu originated with the office of Acting District Attorney Justine Turner. Is Anna trying to sandbag her? Anna says she thinks Turner sandbagged herself. She assumed Turner paid close attention to detail when ordering a search warrant for a sitting congressman. Turner says, it was a typo, okay? A simple human error anyone could make. Anna isn’t infallible either. Anna says she’s not, but she’s careful, especially when things are this important. The error really set them back. It gave all the Quartermaines, including Michael himself, a heads up that they were looking for Edward’s gun and gave them time to dispose of the evidence and cover their tracks. Turner says, that may be the case, but clearly Michael isn’t the only suspect they’re interested in.  

Jordan says she didn’t realize Curtis needed saving, and Drew said he has every reason to believe Curtis is the one who shot him. He had the motive and opportunity, and after yesterday, Curtis all but confirmed it was him. Jordan says she doesn’t buy it for a second, and he says, she doesn’t need to buy it. If he tells the police everything he knows, they’ll stop the investigation from focusing on Michael and they’ll turn the investigation on Curtis. And he doesn’t want them to do that. She says, so Curtis allegedly shot him, but he doesn’t want Curtis arrested? and Drew says, exactly. He’s willing to look past what Curtis did to him, as difficult as it is, provided Jordan use her connections and influence as the former Police Commissioner and Anna’s best friend, and push for Michael’s arrest. She asks if that’s why she’s here. Is he trying to blackmail her into framing someone? He says he’s trying to help a friend help another friend, and she says she hopes he doesn’t believe what he’s saying. He says, it’s true, and she says, Michael is already a person of interest in his shooting, but he says, that’s not good enough. He needs Michael arrested for his attempted murder, and if she can make that happen, he’ll make sure Curtis stays out of prison. She says she’s curious. What did he promise Willow in exchange for her coming back to him?

Elizabeth says she owes Willow an apology. She’s sure Willow got thrown for a loop when the last thing she expected when she got home was to find Michael waiting for her. Willow says, it was definitely a surprise, and Elizabeth says, yeah. Sorry about that. She hopes it wasn’t too contentious. Willow says, not at all. Talking to Michael was really helpful. It gave her the opportunity to see where they stood and what he was thinking. She thinks he finally understood when it comes to being with her kids, there’s nothing she won’t do.  

Curtis tells Michael that the police showing up at the Quartermaines with the wrong address on the warrant, that’s wild. It’s got to be the most well-known house in Port Charles. Michael says, it doesn’t sound like Anna, does it? and Curtis says, not even little bit. Michael says, it surprised him too. Part of him would like to think it was divine intervention. Curtis says, Michael never struck him as spiritual, and Michael says he’s not. He wouldn’t have picked up on the error, but his grandmother’s sister Ronnie, she was the one who picked up on it. He feels like his grandmother brought Ronnie into their lives at just the right moment.

Tracy says, Ronnie may currently have possession of this house, but this tea set belonged to Tracy’s mother. Her father gave to her for her 50th birthday and it wasn’t Ronnie’s to use. Ronnie says, it’s a very thoughtful gift. It’s very beautiful. Her father had excellent taste. His name was Edward… Tracy says, Ronnie doesn’t get to talk about her father. He was rolling over in his grave because of the scam Ronnie is pulling. Ronnie asks if there’s any chance that they could start over. Clearly, Tracy was trying to pick a fight, and the tea set was as good a reason as any. If that’s what Tracy wants to find, she’s perfectly capable of giving it to her, but she’d prefer something else. Tracy says, hmm… How about access to the family safe? Ronnie says she would like Tracy to tell her about her sister. Not the little girl she knew, but the woman Tracy loved. Please, tell her about her sister.

Lulu says, it’s her job to be objective and she believes she was, and Sonny says, no matter who she hurt in the process. She says, Michael is her family. So is he. She would never intentionally target them in the press, but the facts were the facts, and no one was asking her how she felt about them. She genuinely hopes Michael isn’t guilty and wants to believe he didn’t shoot Drew, but she can’t report that he didn’t until it’s proven to be true. He says, when it is, he looks forward to her reporting that he’s innocent.

Elizabeth tells Willow, if it helps at all, when she spoke with Michael, she definitely got the impression he was being sincere. It sounded like he wanted to turn the temperature down between them and actually find the best solution for the kids, which the most important thing, right? Willow says her kids are the only thing that’s important to her and Michael was certainly doing what he believed was best for them. She had to do the same. She had to get to work and told Elizabeth that she’d see her later.

Isaiah says he’s finally about to cross the finish line, and Lucas says, it must feel great. He knows how hard Isaiah is working on the place. Isaiah says his credit cards are doing most of the work, and Lucas says, still, the timing couldn’t be better. A cozy cabin in the fall with the leaves changing and a chill in the air. He’s got to take someone up there for a romantic weekend away. Isaiah says, we’ll see, and Lucas says, wait. He was just trying to encourage Isaiah to start dating. It looks like he has someone on his mind. Is he seeing someone?

Dr. Navarro says she just got the test results, and Portia says, tell her. Is she pregnant? The doctor says, yes, she is, seven weeks. Portia flashes back to getting busy with Curtis and then Isaiah.

Drew asks, what does Willow have to do with this? and Jordan says, don’t patronize me. Everything he does is about Willow. What was it this time? Did he promise he’d frame Michael so she’d get her kids back because Michael would go to prison? He doesn’t say anything and just smirks, and she says, wow. That’s low, even for him. He says, so that’s a no? She’s not helping him? She says, it’s a hell no. She’s not helping him with his vendettas against Michael or Curtis. And the PCPD is building a case based on the evidence, not his desperate machinations. He says, okay. Then she needs to remember this moment. Because this is the moment she chose to turn her back on the chance to save Curtis. She says she just doesn’t get it. He almost died. He was lucky to get a second chance at life. It’s sad and pathetic to see him waste it.

Portia asks if the doctor is absolutely sure about the date, and Dr. Navarro says, absolutely. The test is conclusive. Coming around the corner, Jordan runs into Portia and says, sorry.

Anna says, it’s a long shot, but they have to do their due diligence and eliminate all potential suspects, and Turner says, it was Nina Reeves who originally told them that she and Willow Tate were together walking in the rain when the congressman was shot. Anna says, yeah, which is suspicious in itself. Nina is nothing if not perfectly put together. Why would she willingly go for walk in the rain and ruin that lovely blowout? Turner says, and the security camera footage shows Nina entering her building at 9 pm and leaving at 10:30. That covers the entire window of the congressman’s shooting. Anna says, which means Willows alibi is a lie, and Turner says, which doesn’t make her guilty, but it does make her unaccounted for. But how would Willow have gotten her hands on Edward Quartermaine’s gun? Anna says, she used to live at the Quartermaine estate when she was married to Michael. She knows the grounds very well and would be able to get in the main house undetected. She imagines Willow would know where Edward’s gun collection was. Turner says, it’s certainly worth a search, when Anna’s phone rings. Turner says, sorry. She has a meeting she has to get to. She’ll have the warrant in front of a judge, and it should be ready within the hour. Anna says, great. They’ll make sure to double-check the address this time. Turner gives her a look and leaves.

Ronnie says, Tracy had something with Monica she never had – a lifetime of memories – and the bond between them was so clear in all of her letters. Please tell her about Monica. Tell her everything. What made her laugh the hardest? Even as child, she had a spectacular… Tracy says, stop. She’s under no obligation to tell Ronnie anything about Monica. Monica chose not to spend her days with Ronnie and didn’t share things with her because she didn’t want Ronnie to know them. Monica had no relationship with Ronnie, which was why she knows in her bones that Monica did not give her this house. She wouldn’t give Ronnie a dime, much less something that meant so much to her. Ronnie says she was hoping for Monica’s sake and the sake of the family, they could reach some kind of understanding, but it appears it’s not in the cards. Tracy says she spent time with Monica every single day, and not once did she mention even thinking about Ronnie, much less disinheriting her beloved grandson. She knows what Ronnie is doing is a scam and she’s damn well going to prove it. She grabs her bag and walks out.

Jordan says she should know better than to walk and text, but Portia says, it’s fine. Jordan says she should also know better than to answer a summons from Drew Cain. That man is infuriating. Portia says, on that, they can agree, and Jordan says, Dr. Navarro, it’s good to see you. The doctor says, her too, and Jordan says she’ll let them get back to their conversation. Sorry for interrupting. She leaves.

Tracy meets Lulu at Bobbie’s and asks what Lulu’s got for her. Lulu says, hello to you too. I’m great. Loving the weather we’re having. The kids are wonderful. Tracy apologizes and says she’s very preoccupied. She just had the most annoying conversation. Lulu says, who with? and Tracy says, with Monica’s guttersnipe sister, who’s taken over their home. She can’t make a cup of tea in peace, so please tell her that she found something that can be used to run the sister out of town and end this nightmare. Lulu says she did some digging like Tracy asked, and gives her a manila envelope. Here’s everything she needs to know about Ronnie Bard.

Ronnie is drinking her tea, when Michael comes in and says, good morning. How was her first night in her new house? Ronnie says, the bed was very comfortable, but she spent most of the time tossing and turning all night. She’s having a terrible time wrapping her head around this and she’s not the only one; Would he like some tea? He says, no. Thank you though, and she shouldn’t let Tracy get to her. She says, it’s not just Tracy, and he says, to be clear, he’s the one everyone expected to inherit the house. She says, he lives in the house, and he says, that’s true, but his grandmother had a way of surprising people. She says, that’s a very generous way of looking at it, and he says he should be thanking her. If she hadn’t been named new owner of the house and given that search warrant such a close look, the police would have been all over this place immediately. She says, would that have been a problem?

Portia says, sorry to just stop by like this, but Elizabeth says, no. It’s fine. Is she okay? Portia says, not really. Can she come in? Elizabeth says, of course (🍷), and Portia says, are they alone? Elizabeth says, yeah. Willow is at work and Aiden is at school. Can she get Portia something? Portia says she just needs a friend, and Elizabeth says, she has one, and hugs her. Tell her what’s going on. Portia says, Elizabeth was with her when she got dizzy the other day and asked if could be pregnant. Elizabeth says, Portia didn’t seem thrilled by the possibility, and Portia says, it’s not just a possibility anymore. She’s pregnant.

Turner walks into Diane’s office and says, Miss Miller, this needs to be quick… She sees that Sonny is there and says, his attorney’s assistant told her to go right in. Sonny says, yeah. Suzanne is great, isn’t she? When she gets to know you better, you might be lucky enough to score her carrot cake. (Now I want carrot cake.) Turner says she’s got a meeting with Diane. Where is she? Sonny says, court, a deposition, buying shoes. Who can say? Turner says, clearly, he can, and he says, let him tell her something about Diane. She does a lot of things, including facilitating. So today he’s paying her to facilitate. Turner is meeting with him.

Lulu says she took time out of her busy schedule to compile information for Tracy free of charge. So what she thinks Tracy meant to say was, thank you. Tracy says, for what? All Lulu found was information that made Ronnie look like a Girl Scout. She needs something she can use. Lulu says she’s sorry. She can’t find something that isn’t there. Tracy says, Lulu found out absolutely everything to know about Gio, and they never even knew to look for him. She has a gift in finding out secrets about people, but all she found out about Ronnie was that she won a pie baking contest in Durham. Lulu says, three years running. Look, some people really do lead normal, quiet lives. They don’t know many people like that, but she hears they exist. It looks like Ronnie might be one of them. Tracy says, everybody has something, and Lulu says, Ronnie had a husband. He died young. She has a job as a waitress. She has no debt and lives modestly within her means. She’s never been arrested and never had any trouble with the law. She knows Tracy may not want to hear this, but she doesn’t think Ronnie has anything to hide.

Ronnie tells Michael, forget it. She’s sorry she asked. She certainly wouldn’t want the cops rummaging through all her stuff and definitely wouldn’t want to have to clean up after the mess. Michael says he appreciates her for being so understanding, but it’s her house now. Considering they’re all living here, she has a right to know what’s going on. They sit down, and he says, his Uncle Drew made a lot of enemies in Port Charles, several of whom live in this house. When she first met Tracy, it was at the family crypt. She says, the memory of it is seared in her brain. She was just paying her respects. He says, Drew tried to have the crypt bulldozed, and she says, why? What? His family is interred there. His grandparents and great-grandparents. He says, his father and his grandfather, and now his grandmother, but none of that matters. Drew feels like he hasn’t been given everything he’s entitled to from the family and would rather destroy it. Ronnie says, the crypt is still standing, so they managed to thwart him, and he says, actually, it was all Monica. She outmaneuvered Drew and he never saw it coming. The crypt, all of them, are still standing because of her.

Drew tells Willow, look at him. He feels good and he’s pretty strong. He just can’t wait to get out. Willow says, great, but don’t overdo it. The doctor was signing off on his release, but try to take it easy until then.  He says he’ll do his best. He’s really looking forward to getting home so they can get back to their life together. She says she has good news. She’s seeing her kids today. He says, that’s amazing. How did she manage that? She says, actually, it was Michael’s idea. He stopped by Elizabeth’s with an offer for her to see Wiley and Amelia this afternoon. Drew asks, what’s the catch?  

Portia tells Elizabeth that she was completely irresponsible. She’s a doctor. She knows her body and never should have let this happen. Elizabeth says, it’s not all on her. Curtis was there too. Portia says, he’s having some pretty major problems, and they decided to end the marriage. Now this. Elizabeth says she’s so sorry. She didn’t know. So Curtis doesn’t know about the baby yet? Portia says, no and she knows him. He’ll want to stay together for the baby. Elizabeth asks what she wants, but Portia says she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know how it would happen. Either they’ll work it out and stay together and one or both of them will be miserable, or they’ll follow through on the divorce. Elizabeth says, and fight over the baby? and Portia says, assuming Curtis is even the father.

Isaiah says he was hoping things were simple and easy with the next relationship he got into, and Lucas says, the heart wants what the heart wants. Is it worth the headache? Isaiah says he thinks so.

Turner says she doesn’t appreciate an ambush, and Sonny says, it’s not an ambush. She just took a hit in the paper, and he figured she didn’t want to be seen in public with him. So if he went to her office or she came to his house, it would be seen as public. What about her having an issue with the warrant at the Quartermaines? She flashes back to giving the wrong address on the phone while looking at Sonny at the gym and asks why he’s concerned. He says, it’s clear she’s building a case against his son, and she says she told him before, she’s not discussing an ongoing case with him. And for the record, the PCPD builds the case. She prosecutes it. He says, that may be true, but if his son is charged with Drew Cain’s shooting, she may never prosecute again.

Lulu suggests Tracy consider why Monica left a parting gift to her sister, and Tracy asks if she means the house they all call home. Lulu says, Ronnie hasn’t kicked anyone out, and Tracy says she’d like to see her try. Lulu says, at the end of the day, Tracy, Michael, Ned, and Jason all have more money than their children’s children could ever spend. Tracy says, that’s not the point, and Lulu asks, what is? Does Tracy want to know what she thinks? Tracy says, no, but Lulu says, too bad. She doesn’t think Tracy’s problem is with Ronnie at all. Her problem is with Monica.

Ronnie says she remembers Michael mentioning that Drew seduced his ex-wife, so she assumes that’s why she’s his ex. Michael says, if he’s being honest, there’s plenty of blame to go around, but Drew did more than his fair share. He pursued Willow with everything he had and didn’t stop until he got her. Ronnie says, that’s awful. The betrayal is so devastating, especially coming from an uncle who he probably trusted and a wife who he obviously loved. He says, it was hard. He’s not sure he’s made sense of it all yet, and if it confuses him, how does he expect his kids to understand why their mom and dad aren’t together and their mom is with Uncle Drew now. She says, Wiley and Amelia are lovely. A marriage ending is never easy, especially when children are involved. You’ve invested so much of yourself and your time, and when the relationship goes away, you’re left wondering how you can ever rebuild. He says, it sounds like she’s been through losses of her own, and she says, you don’t reach this stage in life without your share of disappointment or regret. He says he doesn’t want to regret any choices he’s made about the kids and doesn’t want to question whether or not he did everything he could to keep them safe.  

Turner says, threatening her wouldn’t be wise, but Sonny says he’s just giving her the facts. She’s got a conflict of interest. Doesn’t she remember the night she was at his house and overheard Drew threaten Michael and flat out trying to extort him? He guesses she didn’t mention that or the fact she came to his house to make pizza with him and his daughter. She asks if he’s threatening to reveal that to the higher ups, but he says he’s making her see the truth. If Michael is charged in Drew’s shooting, she won’t be able to prosecute it. She and the cops know that.

Jordan goes to Curtis’s office and asks, what’s going on? He says, in her last text, she said she was with Drew, and she says, Drew wanted to make her an offer. Either she exerted pressure on the police to arrest Michael or Drew would point the finger at Curtis and say Curtis shot him. Curtis says, Drew never ceases to amaze him. It’s just a scare tactic. Drew is salivating at the thought of pinning his shooting on Michael. He thinks it will clear a path back to Willow. She says, that’s what she thought. Here’s the problem. Michael may be the focus, but if new evidence turns up, the case against Michael will fall apart. Then what? If Drew’s next best option is to steer the investigation to Curtis. Curtis says, let him. Drew has nothing on him. Drew can’t blackmail him anymore. He’s out from under Drew’s thumb. So is Portia.

Elizabeth asks if Portia is saying it’s possible Curtis may not be the father of the baby, and Portia says, yeah, when there’s a knock at the door. Elizabeth says, they’ll go away, but Anna says, it’s Commissioner Devane. She needs to speak with Elizabeth. Elizabeth says she doesn’t know what about and goes to the door. Anna is there with an officer, and Elizabeth asks if she can help with something. Anna says they have a warrant to search the premises.

Jordan asks if Curtis is saying Drew lost the leverage that he had on him and Portia. The evidence is just gone? He says, seems like it. When he saw Drew yesterday, he knew there was something different. Drew’s got nothing on them. Jordan says, it’s kind of miraculous. Portia must be relieved. Although it didn’t seem that way when she ran into her. Curtis says, she saw Portia? and Jordan says, yeah, at the hospital. She literally ran into her. She was with Dr. Navarro, and it seemed pretty tense. He says, Portia’s got a lot on her mind. God knows he does. She asks what he means. If Drew is no longer a concern, then what is the problem? He says he and Portia made the decision that as soon as Drew was no longer a threat and neither one of them might be charged in the shooting, they were going to file for divorce.

Lulu tells Tracy, the last few years with Monica were difficult, but hey still sparred, and Tracy says, of course (🍷). Lulu says, it was their thing, and Tracy says, it was, but actually… They put down their weapons and their guard and became close. She protected Monica. For her to turn around and give the family home to a long, lost relative? She doesn’t believe it. Whatever Monica thought of her, she’d never do that to Michael. Ronnie Bard was hiding something and was as phony as a ten-dollar toupee. And if Lulu can’t prove it, she will. Tracy gathers up her things and walks out.

Turner wonders if Sonny is blackmailing her, but he says he’s not. If he was, he’d let her prosecute the case, then force her to tank it. They both know she has information she shouldn’t have and has a conflict of interest. She should not be part of the case. Give it to one of her staff. She says, one of her less experienced, less skilled staff, but he says, one of her less compromised staff. She’s got to find a way out of this dicey situation. She asks if he’s protecting her, but he says he’s protecting them.  

Drew tells Willow that it’s a trap. Michael is not letting her see the kids out of the goodness of his heart. She’s seeing the kids on his terms with a therapist of his choice. She says she knows, and he says, what if the therapist submits a bad report? She says, it’s a chance she’s going to take. It’s a chance to see her kids, so she’s taking it. It’s not like she has a lot of options. Aside from actually needing to see her kids, if she says, no, she’ll look terrible in court. He says, it will establish a pattern. If she agrees to supervised visits now, what’s to stop the court from doing that in the future? She says she doesn’t know. Even if it’s one of Michael’s tactics, she can’t go any longer without seeing her kids. He says, at least bring her own witness. Call Martin. She says, no. She’s agreeing to Michael’s terms, and it has to be now. She has to see her kids and reconnect. Let them know they can depend on her, especially if Michael is about to be arrested.

Michael tells Ronnie, one thing he’s accepted, as painful as it may be, is that Willow ultimately cares more about being with Drew than she cares about their kids. Ronnie says, how? That’s a very strong statement to make, especially about a mother. He tells her that he says it because of what Willow’s done and continues to do. Every time there’s a choice, she decides to put what Drew wants over the kids’ welfare. Every time. Ronnie says she’s known some women who have done the same thing. It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Paul is good with it, but nobody else is. He says, exactly. Wiley and Amelia love their mother and expect her to love them. She asks if they get to see her a lot, and he says, not recently, but that may change today. She says she hopes it’s a step to healing old wounds, but he says he can’t count on that. He’d do anything for his kids and their needs have to come before anyone else’s, even their mother.

Leaving a message for Ric, Elizabeth says, the police are searching her house. So if he’d done with his stupid digital detox, she could really use his help. Call her back ASAP.  Anna comes downstairs holding a package and says they’d like Elizabeth to accompany them to the station. Elizabeth asks, what’s going on? and Anna asks, where is her houseguest?

On Monday, Curtis tells Portia that he thinks they should hold off on the divorce; Drew tells Willow, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when; and Sonny asks if Michael knows something he doesn’t.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I voted for him actually being Faison. I know it’s a long shot, but that’s what I want it to be.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/is-nathan-on-general-hospital-an-impostor-vote-now/

The tallies on who should get Monica’s house. I voted for Jason. I guess the someone else turned out to be Ronnie.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-poll-results-this-is-who-fans-think-should-have-gotten-monicas-house/

Not that it will affect the judge’s decision, but why not vote for the Daytime Emmys too?

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/who-should-win-at-the-2025-daytime-emmy-awards-cast-your-votes/

It says he was one of several Luckys, but I don’t remember him. I am loving Beyond the Gates though.

https://ew.com/soap-star-greg-vaughan-joins-beyond-the-gates-cast-11824870

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

My main takeaway points were: Do not touch a jellyfish then rub your eye. A shout out to deckhand Max for this lesson. (Really, Max? Really?) Deckhand Christian has a less than zero work ethic, but Nathan is so piss-poor at communication, there are a lot of balls being fumbled. When given a challenge by guests, Chef Josh knows how to pivot. The crew also got a 30,000-euro tip, which was $2800 each. Not bad for a messy team.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

Lisa was out to antagonize Angie and had her Wolf hair products picked up from Angie’s dusty salon. Angie texted Lisa that her products were dusty, but not the salon. Heather told Angie to let it go. Angie told Meredith that Lisa wanted her to dig up dirt when she and Meredith weren’t in a good place. Meredith said that wasn’t who Lisa was, but obviously, it was exactly who Lisa was. Brittani and Jared were talking engagement again, but Whitney suggested Britani give it 30 days for her daughter Olivia. How about giving it zero days and f***s? Bronwyn’s mom was staying with her, in Bronwyn’s interview, she said her mom had the idea of what a perfect Mormon family should look like, and she never measured up. Now her daughter Gwen was following her example. She’d been pregnant at Gwen’s age and Muzzy didn’t take it well. I didn’t like old Muzzy very much. She was very judgmental. Mary’s church was reopening, and she was pretty pleased about that. She was also on Watch What Happens Live this week and seems to have gained a surprising sense of humor. Definitely the MVP once again.

Real Housewives Of Orange County

Once again, pets were the great leveler when Shannon needed another poop bag for Archie and didn’t have one. Been there. She also hoped she hadn’t stepped in it. Been there too. This was while she was on her way to Jen’s for a group session with a pet psychic. Emily and Gina also attended, and we found out that Archie wanted a brother, but not a puppy, a dog closer to his age. Honestly, I used to think this stuff was nuts, but we have a dog whisperer in the neighborhood who changed my rescue Chihuahua with one walk. So who knows? I do think Archie could use some canine company being an only dog. Tamra met with Katie and there were opinions about that. In Katie’s interview, she said Slade was the root of the tornado or the eye of the storm. I’m not sure what to say except I don’t think eye of the storm means what she thinks it means. Tamra told her that everything Slade and Gretchen said she was doing to them was what they were doing to her. Emily had a Trevor Project even to raise money for a wrongly imprisoned man to go back to school now that he was free. They ended up raising $41K. I doff my cap to a good cause. Gretchen showed up with Slade, and when Jenn didn’t want to deal with them and walked away, Gretchers shrieked, run, bitch, run! Nice.

Eeny, meeny, chili beanie. Who will sit next to Andy?

This is a little creepy. And not Halloween creepy.

Real Housewives Of Miami

I hate these Reunions since it’s all rehashing and people getting pissed off all over again. It’s like watching a rerun, but without some fabulous city in the background. There was a big brouhaha about did Julia and Adriana or didn’t they? Julia ended up giving Adriana a box with a replica of a human heart in it because Adriana had stolen her heart or some such nonsense. Work it out on your own time, ladies. Lisa was still getting picked on for going away instead of staying with her dad. They still had time together and he told her to go. STFU already.

Random Reality Items

I think she’ll be an interesting addition. And she’ll give great fashion.

In case you were losing sleep at night over this.

The new season begins November 19th.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Bring Her Back. HBO/MAX. This film wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t classify it as the best horror film of 2025, as one reviewer did. That would be Sinners. A woman wants to bring her daughter back from the dead and attempts a more complicated than it needed to be ritual.

https://decider.com/2025/10/06/bring-her-back-digital-release-streaming-movie-review

Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Netflix. Like most dramatizations of true crime, this limited series took a lot of liberties with the truth. Which is not to say it wasn’t still a compelling drama containing a lot of truth, some fantasy, and maybes that we’ll never really know. The acting was just incredible, especially Laurie Metcalf as Ed’s mother, the inspiration for Psycho. There was some time jumping – not my favorite storytelling technique – and also parallel stories of the future where the films based on the killer were being filmed. There were also Ed’s fantasies, most notably that of a sort of relationship with real life Nazi Ilse Koch. These sequences reminded me a lot of Cabaret, and I found them mesmerizing. That being said, it’s not for the faint of heart. Even I found it creepy, and that’s saying a lot.

https://ew.com/charlie-hunnam-worried-monster-ed-gein-role-was-horrible-mistake-11825170

https://ew.com/monster-the-ed-gein-story-fact-vs-fiction-11825218

Baylen Out Loud was also back, and I was there for it. This season, she and fiancé Colin are planning a wedding. I love this couple and watching Baylen navigate the world on her own while navigating Tourette’s is both heartening and heart wrenching. Things we take for granted, like going to the grocery store or baking a cake, cause all kinds of anxiety for Baylen, but she has a wonderful support system and a whole lot of fans cheering her on.

https://extratv.com/2025/10/02/baylen-out-loud-baylen-wants-alpacas-at-her-wedding-exclusive-clip/

https://extratv.com/2025/10/02/baylen-dupree-talks-wedding-planning-and-fiance-colin-bonding-with-her-dad-exclusive/

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

I’m not so sure a sequel was necessary. The ending of the first one was so good, I nearly stood up and applauded. And I was sitting at my computer. From what I’ve read, I’m sticking with that opinion, but no doubt I’ll watch it anyway.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/black-phone-2-review-fantastic-fest

This, on the other hand, looks intriguing. The Bone Temple was one of my favorite parts of 28 Years Later.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-trailer

I’m so glad this is moving forward. I want to know what goes on beyond the Wall in Westeros.

https://ew.com/a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-game-of-thrones-differences-ira-parker-exclusive-11822602

🐺 On the Howl-o-Ween Side…

🐈‍⬛ When it comes to pets, celebrities are just like us.

https://www.tmz.com/2024/10/30/celebrity-pets-all-dressed-up-for-halloween/

🦝 Some inspiration. I’ll admit it. I actually bought costumes for my dogs this year.

https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets/editor-favorite-pet-halloween-costumes

🐻 And of course…

🕸 Quotes of the Week

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot. – Plato

If you can’t make a mistake you can’t make anything. – Marva Collin

Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. – Shari R. Barr

Before anything else, preparation is the key to success. – Alexander Graham Bell

A letter is a soul, so faithful an echo of the speaking voice that to the sensitive it is among the richest treasures of love. – Honoré de Balzac

Nothing will work unless you do. – Maya Angelou (Preach!)

A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow. – Richard Bach

I’m not the art police. Everybody is allowed to feel exactly how they want.Taylor Swift

You want poetry, you listen to Neil Diamond. You want advice, listen to your mother. – Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty), The Golden Girls

🧙‍♀️ Double, Double, Toil and Trouble…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not judging anyone for their beliefs about Halloween and respect them celebrating or not; and stay knowing what you want and not settling for less.

September 26, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Monica’s Memorial, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Watching Soon, Already, Treasured Companions, Less Than a Dozen Quotes & Maggie

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Alexis met Molly at the coffee bar, and Molly said she couldn’t have this particular conversation in front of Kristina.

Brook interrupted Emma and Gio kissing in the stable.

Michael went to Sonny’s and told Sonny and Carly about Monica passing away.

Tracy looked at old photos, when the doorbell rang. She said nobody except her ever heard the front door, but if the oven door opened, there was a stampede. It was Lucy, and Tracy slammed the door in her face.

Britt went into Bobbie’s and saw Rocco with Charlotte. Rocco approached her and she said she was sure this must come as shock. Rocco said, kinda. His parents had seen her, but he was glad to finally get to meet her

Dante told Anna that he got more details about Nathan. He’d been pulled from a car wreck. But it couldn’t be Nathan. He was dead.

Elizabeth saw it was Nathan, but Lucas said, right now, he was a patient. They’d figure out the rest later.

Brook said she was looking for Cody, and Emma introduced her to Outback. Cody said she’d been bunking with him, and it would be hard giving her up. Brook said there was something they all should know.

Tracy told Lucy, go away, but Lucy said it was about Deception and important. The company could fold if they didn’t take action. She’d crawl through a window if Tracy didn’t let her in. Tracy opened the door and said, don’t talk. She told Lucy, have a seat… Monica died.

Michael said he found out when he got home and thought he was still in shock. Carly asked how Jason was, and Michael said Jason was holding up. Jason found her and thought she’d died in her sleep. Michael said, even though she’d been sick, they weren’t prepared for her to go so suddenly.

Dante said there was nothing in the car or on him, and Anna said it didn’t make sense. Dante said, Faison shot Nathan, and he was dead, but Anna said they thought the same about his sister. It wasn’t a coincidence.

Charlotte introduced herself, and Britt said she and Rocco had both grown. Charlotte left, and Britt said she’d seen pictures of Rocco on his social media. He asked if she followed him on MyFace, and she said she’d like to, if it was cool with him, and he asked her to send him a follow request.

Outside Bobbie’s, Charlotte told Lulu that Rocco was talking to Britt in the diner. Lulu said she was lucky Charlotte was her daughter and Rocco was lucky she was his sister.

Rocco said he’d asked Obrecht questions about her, and Britt said she’d tell him what she could. He said his mom was waiting, so another time, and she asked if he found his dog. He said he was still looking, and she told him not to give up hope.

Lulu asked how it went, and Rocco said Britt was nice, but it was kind of a lot. Lulu, Charlotte and Rocco headed for home.

Molly told Alexis about Kristina hiring Cody to come between Ava and her dad. She knew Kristina had good intentions, but it bothered her that she and Cody had been getting close and it screwed things up. She thought she had feelings for Cody.

Emma said Monica had always been kind to her, and Gio said him too. Cody said, everyone loved and respected Monica, especially the little guys. It would be rough on them. Emma said it would be rough on Brook and the family, and she was sorry for their loss. Cody asked how Tracy was taking it, and Brook said Tracy was composed, but devastated. Monica had been important to her.

Lucy said she was sorry, and Tracy said, Monica went peacefully in her sleep. She had to contact the hospital and write the obituary. Lucy handed her a shot and said, she needed it.

Lucas said Nathan appeared to be in good shape, and Anna asked why he was still unconscious. Lucas said, his brain activity was normal, but they’d know more when they did a CT scan. Officer Carson came in, and Anna asked him to get a sample to run a DNA test and take the patient’s fingerprints. Carson asked what the name was, and she said, Nathan West.

Brook said, sorry about the interruption, and Emma said they had to get Outback chipped first thing. Cody asked to say goodbye to his girl and told Outback that they hadn’t spent lot of time together, but were bonded for life. It would always be her home, so don’t be a stranger. He’d always have a sandwich for her. Brook said, why not make it her home?

Lucy said the Quartermaine home was something to aspire to, and Tracy said, Lucy was so inspired, she stole Monica’s husband. Lucy said she was surprised Tracy didn’t try to stop the wedding, but Tracy said, why bother? Monica and Alan found their way back to each other. Despite Lucy’s machinations, Monica triumphed over her.

Carly said Monica had loved Michael and was proud of him. The funeral home called Michael and he stepped away. Carly told Sonny that Michael had already been through enough this year.

Elizabeth said she couldn’t stop thinking about how it would affect Maxie and James, and Lucas said there had been no significant change in Maxie’s condition. Anna told them to keep it quiet for now and admit him as a John Doe.

Britt went back to Jason’s room and saw a gift on the bed. She opened it and said, oh my God.

Molly told Alexis that Cody had done it under the guise of helping her. His behavior was convoluted and backward, but at the end of the day, he had a good heart. He proved it tonight.

Brook said, half the time Rocco stayed with his dad. They could ask if he minded if Outback lived there. Cody said he’d love it, but the Q’s had made it clear he couldn’t have a pet. Brook said, if a Q made the rule, a Q can change it, and she declared it was okay. It couldn’t hurt to ask Rocco, and if he said, no, everything would stay the same. Cody said it was a dog’s paradise, and Emma said it sounded like the perfect solution.

Dante wondered what happened, and Anna said, he might not be Nathan. She didn’t want to give Obrecht false hope and thought she’d have to question Britt, since they were close when he died. It wasn’t impossible Nathan was alive, considering he and Britt were the children of Liesl Obrecht and Cesar Faison.

Lulu went to see Britt and said she was there to make peace for Rocco’s sake. Britt said it had been a long day, and Lulu said she was trying to stay open to Rocco getting to know Britt, but she wanted to set guidelines to protect him. She didn’t want him to get hurt. Britt said neither did she, and Lulu said, then they were on the same page, but Britt said she didn’t think so if Lulu was giving her guidelines about how and when she’d see her son.

Emma said Rocco was relieved Outback was fine and was cool with her staying there. Gio asked about the horses, and Cody said Outback got along with everyone. Brook said, welcome home Outback, and Cody said, the Princess of Port Charles has found a new castle.

Michael said the funeral director was going to get back to him with dates. There was so much to decide. Carly told him to give himself time to grieve, and he said he hadn’t told the kids yet. Carly said, instead of taking care of everyone else, let his dad and her take care of him, and she hugged him.

Lucy told Tracy that she’d been a different woman then. When she was younger, she didn’t know her power or her own strength. She thought all of her problems would be solved if she married Alan, but it was a complete disaster. He never stopped being in love with Monica. Tracy said they’d always been in love, even though they’d cheated on each other. They were the love of each other’s lives. Lucy said, Monica was an amazing surgeon and Chief of Staff, and everybody at GH loved her. People came from all over the world to see her. Tracy said Monica had a life well-lived, and Lucy said it was nice to think Alan and Monica were reunited. Tracy agreed and hoped so, and they toasted to Monica. Tracy said, may she rest in peace.

Dante told Anna that they were running the plates to make sure the car wasn’t stolen. Since Nathan and Britt were connected to Faison, did she want to notify the WSB? Anna said she wanted to have a better grasp of the situation first. It may not be Nathan. Elizabeth told them that the CT scan results were in.

Lulu asked why Britt and her mother thought they had a right to a relationship with Rocco. He wasn’t Britt’s son and she was nothing more than a test tube. Britt said she carried him for 9 months and they were connected in more ways than Lulu and Rocco were or ever would be. She birthed him, nursed him, and raised him for almost a year, and they both knew he wouldn’t exist if not for her. Lulu said Britt stole the embryo, and Britt said it was languishing in a cryochamber. Like it or not, they were establishing a relationship without constraints. Lulu said she’d been trying to give Britt the benefit of the doubt. She’d been told Britt had grown as a person and was a good Co-chief at GH. She saved Josslyn’s life, but they were all one-offs. She was still the same toxic, self-involved witch she’d always been. She left her own mother heartbroken when she faked her own death. Obrecht was still grieving when Britt waltzed into GH. She didn’t care about anyone but herself. Britt said Lulu was threatened by her because in her heart, she knew Britt was every bit a mother as she was. Maybe more. (Some peace maker Lulu is.)

Lucas told Anna that there was no sign of the brain swelling, but they had to wait to see if there were neurological deficits when he woke up. Anna called Carson to put a rush on the DNA and asked if he’d run the prints. Dante asked what he said, and Anna said, according to the PCPD database, the man lying in that bed is Nathan West.

Lulu said Britt wasn’t Rocco’s mother in any way, shape, or form. She was nothing more than an incubator of stolen goods. Britt said, not for long. She had stories from when Rocco was a baby, and she couldn’t wait to share them with him. Lulu said that wasn’t going to happen. Stay away from Rocco. Lulu walked out, and Britt said, his name is Ben! She slammed the door and took out the gift. She opened the box and we saw a note that said, DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE, signed, C. 😮

Molly said Cody turned down Sonny’s $10K reward, and Alexis said she didn’t know if she was more stunned that Cody turned down the money or that Sonny put up that much for a dog. Molly said, he told Gio to give it to a shelter, and Alexis said it showed good character, but Molly seemed conflicted. Molly said Cody could be charming and sweet, but he was also frustrating and unpredictable. She was afraid she’d regret it. Alexis said Molly was smarter, braver, and had better taste in men than she did. Cody seemed like good guy. Take the risk. It wasn’t like she was sending out wedding invitations. Molly said maybe Alexis was right.

Gio asked Brook to tell Tracy that he was sorry about Monica, and he and Emma left. Cody said their vibe was hard to miss and asked if it was new. Brook said, maybe, and he said he thought everyone would be happy with the arrangement. Emma and Gio would be there more often, so it meant she’d be running into her son more often. Maybe it would bring them closer.

Michael said he and Monica talked about the custody battle for him as a kid, and Carly said she was sure Monica had a lot to say, especially about her and Sonny. Michael said he let Monica know that he wouldn’t be half the man he was if not for them, and eventually she conceded grudgingly that they didn’t ruin his life. Sonny said, that was a ringing endorsement, and Michael said she understood that they loved him and, on some level, she respected them. Carly said she hoped Monica knew they respected her a great deal too and they toasted, to Monica.

Lucy said she loved the staircase. It represented elegance and wealth. Tracy said, Alan wanted a grand staircase for Monica. He imagined her descending like royalty. She thought it and Monica were tacky, but she was wrong, wrong about so many things about her sister-in-law. She teared up, her voice cracking, and Lucy almost touched her shoulder, but just said goodnight and left. Tracy started to cry, went up the staircase a few steps, then laid on them and sobbed.

Tuesday:

Britt injected herself, when there was a knock at the door. It was Jason and she asked if he was there to fix the window.

On the phone, Martin said he had details about Monica’s memorial service. Might they be able to attend?

Lulu went to the Quartermaines and told Brook that she was so sorry about Monica. Brook thanked her and invited her in. She said she’d let her grandmother know Lulu was there.

Jordan visited Drew, and he asked if she was there as a friend or to make him see the error of his ways. She said, both

Marshall was welcomed home with hugs, and he said he’d tell them everything about the tour in good time, but right now they needed to come together as a family. Congressman Cain got what was coming to him, but he’d do everything in his power to make sure Curtis didn’t take the fall.

Felicia was glad to see Stella back at work.

Nina went to Anna’s office and said she wasn’t answering questions about Drew unless her lawyer was present, but Anna said it wasn’t about Drew. It involved Nina’s brother Nathan. Nina asked if it had something to do with Britt coming back, but Anna said she wasn’t sure. There was an unidentified individual recovering at GH. He was unconscious and she ran his DNA and fingerprints and confirmed a match for Nina’s brother. Nina said the tests were wrong.

Stella told Felicia that she was relieved the investigation was closed and needed to get back to focusing on her patients and friends who had bigger worries. How was Felicia doing? Felicia said she kept tabs on Maxie, but always heard the same thing – there was no change.

Curtis told Marshall that the worst was over and the charges against Stella had been dropped. She was back to work with a spotless record. Trina said now everyone would know they were trumped up charges, and Marshall said the fact Drew went after her proved there was no level that fool wouldn’t sink to get what he wanted, and he wanted to cause Curtis pain. Curtis said he was hardly the only person of interest. Congressman Cutthroat had plenty of enemies. Marshall said the one he wanted to protect was his son.

Drew said, the person who shot him was still out there, but Jordan said she was no longer on the force. She was sure Anna and the PCPD were making it a priority, but they had their work cut out for them. The way Drew hurt people left and right, there was a long list of suspects, some of them people he used to call friends. Drew said Curtis had turned against him and stole his company. He was possibly the man who pulled the trigger. Jordan said Drew was the one who went on the offensive, going after Stella, and Drew said, maybe she shouldn’t have broken the law. Jordan said, maybe he shouldn’t have abused his power to go against Curtis, and he said he didn’t want to fight. Monica just died. She said she heard. In fact, that was why she was there.

Britt said Carly was sending out a repair guy. Was it Jason? The window wouldn’t close and she needed to get to orientation after she ran the damn place. Jason easily closed the window and said, is that it? She said the closet was full, but he said he had commitments today. He came to grab something. He took out his suit, and she asked if there was a formal mob meet and greet, but he said it was a funeral. His mother died.

Michael said everyone’s memories about Monica helped Tracy, and Lulu asked how Tracy was. Brook said she couldn’t find Tracy anywhere.

Felicia said her heart broke for Spinelli, and Stella said, of course (🍷). No matter where they turned, somebody was hurting because Maxie wasn’t there. She wondered if Felicia was letting herself be distracted so she didn’t have to deal with her own broken heart. She was grieving too, and needed to let herself process it. If Felicia wanted time off, Stella would be happy to step in so Felicia could look after her family and herself.

Marshall said Drew was vindictive and wouldn’t give up until Curtis was thrown in prison for the shooting, but Curtis said the police had nothing on him. He’d stick to the facts, and given time, they’d find the suspect. There was a knock at the door, and Dante said he was wondering if he could have a word with Curtis.

Jordan said she was sorry to hear about Monica and thought, in the light of her passing and his own brush with death, Drew should use the time to take stock of his life. Drew said he was left with the memory of Monica refusing to let him back in the family estate, but Jordan said that didn’t mean Monica stopped caring. She’d expected more from him and wanted him to use his power and influence for good. He said, now she was gone, and Jordan said, her loss would be mourned. Could the same be said for him? If he couldn’t be a better man for Monica, be one for his daughter. Be the man he used to be, the man Scout needed. It was his chance turn his life around and grow from the experience. Ask himself what was truly important. Do that, and there might be hope for him yet. She left.

Britt said she was so sorry. She hadn’t known Monica was ill. Jason said she’d had a bad fall and her health had been up and down afterward, but they took care of her at home. Britt asked when she passed, and he said, yesterday morning. She said, that was the call he got when she was locked out? and he said Tracy wanted him to come back to the house. No one told Monica about Drew’s shooting and Tracy thought it best if he was the one who told her. He went to her room, but she was already gone. Britt said she was so sorry, and he said he just wasn’t prepared to find her that way.

Ned thought Tracy probably took Hades out for a ride, and Michael went to the stable. Ned said when Lulu saw Tracy, she’d probably complain about having to plan the memorial and brush off Lulu’s condolences with a sarcastic remark, but that was on the outside. The truth was, Monica’s death hit her hard. He’d never seen her so fragile.

Nina said, no way Nathan was alive, but Anna said she was at GH when he was brought in. She couldn’t believe it. That’s why she ran tests. She wanted to tell Nina first, since Obrecht probably couldn’t handle the shock after Britt. Nina wondered if Britt knew something. She showed up alive, then a couple of days later… Anna said the timing was questionable, but Nina said it couldn’t be Jay. They were all at the funeral. Anna said that’s why she ran tests. They couldn’t deny the DNA results or the fingerprint match. Nina said they knew all too well who could have arranged this – Cesar Faison. (A whodunnit, spy stuff and Faison? My head might explode.)

Dante said ADA Turner was nitpicking every line in every statement. He wanted to go over Curtis’s statement to make sure he had it correct. He’d start at the beginning of the night in question. Curtis paid Stella’s bail and took her home? Curtis said, correct, and Dante said, then he went to see Alexis. Did he go anywhere in between? Curtis said he stopped for gas, but didn’t remember the station name. He could check his credit card statement. That was between 8:30 and 8:45. Dante said, then Curtis went from Alexis’s to The Savoy and was there at 10:15, and Curtis said he went in the back and straight to his office, so no one could verify he was there. Dante said, then after The Savoy, Curtis went to the Brown Dog Bar and met Jordan for drinks, and Curtis said, right. Portia didn’t look happy.

Martin saw Stella and said the rumors were true. Something was going right in this crazy world. Stella asked how he was doing, and he said his back was fine. He wanted to see her face because he needed a shot in the arm before he paid a visit to Drew. She said she thought he was done being Drew’s lawyer.

Anna said it crossed her mind it had something to do with Faison, but she saw his brain in a jar, and Nina asked if she was sure. Anna said, 99%. She was going to follow up on everything, but needed a positive ID. Nina said, absolutely not, but Anna said she couldn’t go to Obrecht because she wouldn’t be objective. Nina asked if Anna thought Britt was part of it, and Anna said she needed a second pair of eyes before he regained consciousness. Please, come with her to the hospital.

Felicia went into Nathan’s room and asked how their John Doe was doing. When she saw his face, all of her paperwork slipped from her hands.

Ned said Monica and Tracy became each other’s favorite sparring partners. Their battle kept them sharp as tacks and kept the rest of them amused. Things changed when Monica became ill. Britt said, Tracy became Monica’s fiercest guardian and advocate, and Ned said he thought Monica saw her great-grandchildren every day. Lulu should have seen it when Willow tried to take the kids away. Brook said, or when Drew tried to destroy the family crypt and Tracy defended it for Monica. Lulu said it made sense for Tracy to fight that hard. Monica probably would have done the same for her. Ned said, for all her effort, there was one fight Tracy couldn’t win, and losing was one thing his mother didn’t handle well. Michael came back and said he checked the whole property, but couldn’t find Tracy and her car was gone. She could be anywhere.

Martin said he and the congressman came to an agreement, and Stella said, one minute, she was under investigation and arrested, and the next minute, the case was closed. He agreed to go back to work for Drew if the case went away. He said, yeah, but if he’d kept his mouth shut in the first place, there would have never been an investigation. It was his responsibility to end this thing. She said she didn’t like the idea of him going to work for Drew again for her sake, but he said he was being well compensated. He knew who Drew was, how far he was willing to go on Drew’s behalf, and knew when to stop. If there was anything he could do to keep Drew away from her, it was well worth it.

Felicia looked like she was in shock, and a nurse asked if she was okay. Anna said she needed to sit down, and asked Felicia to come with her. She took Felicia out to the hallway, and Felicia stared at Nina.

Britt said, when Drew was shot, Jason had been in Croatia for three days. She was doing the math, and if she was right, he was on his way home when she called him back to the Five Poppies. If he hadn’t gone to look for her and come back when she called, he would have been home with his mother for her last days. Jason said he was exactly where he needed to be.

Brook said Tracy’s bed wasn’t slept in and her overnight bag was missing. Her fine jewelry was gone, including Lila’s brooch. Ned said he had no tracker on Tracy’s phone because she refused to be tracked like a bear, and Brook said, maybe the right question was should they try to find Tracy or let her be. Michael said she could definitely take care of herself, and Ned said, under normal circumstances he’d agree, but she just lost her friend of 50 years and was grieving. They needed to find her.

Dante said the only time Curtis couldn’t account for was when Drew was shot. Did he make any phone calls? Curtis said, no, and Dante said that was all he needed. He left and Portia told Curtis it was time for her to go.

Anna told Felicia that she didn’t know if the man in the room was Nathan. She needed to find out more before she told anyone anything. Felicia said, Mac didn’t tell her either. She didn’t understand how… Anna said she didn’t either. She ran the number on the car he was found in and it was listed as having been in a crusher in Mississippi. He had no ID or phone, so she ran his DNA and fingerprints, and it came up as a match for Nathan. Felicia said Anna brought him on the force. Did she really think it was him? Anna said Nathan died and was buried, but then, so was Britt and she was back. She needed more to go on before she drew a definitive conclusion. Felicia said, the only person who knew for sure was lying in a coma.

Nina went in and looked at Nathan. She started to leave, but then turned back and sat by his bedside.

Jordan asked Stella how it felt to be back, and Stella said she wasn’t gone that long. Of course (🍷), it could have been longer if not for Jordan. Curtis told her that Jordan was instrumental in figuring out how Drew sicced the authorities on her to hurt him. Jordan said she’d do anything for Stella. What Drew did was awful. Stella said she was afraid the damage was already done.

Curtis followed Portia outside and said this was not the time. Portia said he made his choice and couldn’t admit he chose Jordan over her like always.

Trina listened at the door, but Marshall told her to stay out of her parents’ business. He was going to make coffee and needed her help.

Britt said she was sorry Jason wasn’t with Monica, but he said he’d never regret what he was doing instead. Monica wanted him to do the right thing, and he was. She said she knew what Monica meant to him and he should have had more time with her, and he said he did. After Sam died, she talked him into moving back with the Quartermaines, so Danny, Rocco, and Scout could be together. He told himself that he was doing the right thing for his son, but he was doing the right thing for himself too. Monica wasn’t sleeping a lot and neither was he. If her light was on, he’d check on her and see if she needed anything. Most of the time, he’d just sit with her, and sometimes they’d watch the sun come up together. Britt said she was sure Monica loved it, and he said he did too. He was so grateful for the time they had. He just wished he’d known that was all he was going to get.

Martin told Drew that he had an update on his safe. Turner was challenging the injunction, and he was waiting on the ruling, but didn’t know if the injunction would be upheld. The odds weren’t on their side. Drew said he wasn’t focused on the contents of his safe. He was focused on Monica. Martin said Drew had his sincere condolences, and Drew said, Monica treated him like a son until… Tracy and Michael and the rest of the family turned her against him.

Michael said he’d call Brick, and Ned said he’d see if Tracy filed a flight plan for the ELQ jet. They left to make the calls, and Lulu said, maybe staying in the house was too painful for Tracy. Brook said, it was Tracy, so who knew what she wanted, and Lulu said, if it was her dad, he’d go on a bender and be gone… She thought she knew where Tracy was.

Britt told Jason that maybe it was better not to know. Monica’s passing was unexpected, and they could just be together without worrying how to say goodbye. She spoke from experience. He grabbed his suit, told her, good luck on her first day, and left.

Drew said he thought he and Monica had a real relationship, when she turned her back on him. It was even more painful knowing it wasn’t her choice. The family made her do it. They poisoned her against him. Martin said, just so they were clear, he was Drew’s attorney and that was all. This time was billable, so it might be in Drew’s best interest to work through his grief with a therapist or the hospital chaplain… No, definitely a therapist. Drew said he knew exactly who he was talking to. Monica may have cut him out of her life, but he’d be damned if he was going to be cut out of her will.

Ned said they needed to find Tracy and bring her home. If she wasn’t there when they said goodbye to Monica, she’d be in more pain than she was. Michael asked how quickly they could get to her, and Ned said he knew someone who could get to her fast. On the phone, he said, it’s me… Thank you. Monica will be greatly missed… Actually, there was something they could do. He needed help with his mother.

Jordan told Stella that she had faith Curtis wasn’t involved in Drew’s shooting. They met for drinks that night and there was no way Curtis shot Drew. He had way too much to lose.

Portia said, when things were tough, or even when they weren’t, Curtis ran to Jordan. She didn’t know why she was surprised he was with her the night Drew was shot. Where else would he be? Curtis said they had a drink, and he’d been protecting Portia. The only reason she hadn’t been questioned was because of him. She said, stop protecting her. Don’t do anything for her. She was done pretending they had any kind of marriage. She walked off, and Curtis went back inside where Trina was waiting for him.

Felicia told Anna, if that was Nathan, what would it do to James? He was already struggling with his mom in the hospital. Anna said, maybe it would help to have another parent around, but Felicia said it was a parent he’d never met and had no relationship with. And if it wasn’t Nathan, it would mess up James even more. Anna said, don’t do anything until she found out the truth, and she was determined to find it.

Nina took Nathan’s hand and he squeezed hers. He turned his head and opened his eyes, and she said, Jay.

Wednesday:

Nathan woke up and Nina hugged him. She went to get a doctor and told Anna that Nathan was awake.

At the stable, James told Cody that his mom said his dad was watching over him and wondered if his mom was watching over him now too.

Curtis wondered how much Trina heard, and she said she saw the look on Portia’s face when he said he was with Jordan the night of Drew’s shooting. That said it all.

At the hospital, Portia ran into Jordan said Curtis was at his house. It wasn’t her home anymore.

On the ELQ jet, Brook hoped Tracy was still at the casino, and Ned promised they’d track her down. There was something he thought Brook should know. He had an affair with Monica.

Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tracy played blackjack in a private room, when Lois joined her and said, deal her in.

Nina told Anna that the second he smiled, she knew it was Nathan. Isaiah came out and said the patient was alert and stable. He’d sustained head trauma, so they were treating him for a concussion, and he had a scar from a previous gunshot wound, but there was no lasting trauma, and he seemed in excellent health.

Cody told James that his dad was watching him, but his mom wasn’t gone. He bet she was dreaming about him riding Comet. Felicia came in and James said he’d be a riding pro by the time his mom woke up.

Anna came into Nathan’s room, and he asked what was happening. She said, what was the last thing he remembered?

Curtis told Trina that Jordan wasn’t the reason for the strain in his and Portia’s marriage. Drew was a factor, but the problems already existed. Whatever happened, one thing that would never change was that they’d always love her and he’d always have respect for her mother.

Jordan said leave her out of it, and Portia said she owed Jordan an apology. She laid the friction between her and Curtis at Jordan’s door, and it wasn’t fair or right. The flaws in their relationship were there from the beginning, and her marriage was over.

Brook said Ned and Monica’s affair was the stuff of family legend, but Ned wanted to shed light on why. He was a tennis pro, and they were using different names. He didn’t know who she was or that she was married to his uncle. Brook begged him to stop, but he said he knew Monica in a way the rest of the family didn’t. He and Monica knew each other without the family politics and dysfunction. Monica was a remarkable, dynamic, insanely brilliant woman and he thought he let her down.

Tracy said if Lois left now, she’d leave a winner, and Lois gave her some hints. Tracy said she was going to find another table where the dealer was the only one who spoke, and Lois asked her not to go. Tracy said Lois was right. This was her room and her private dealer. Lois should be the one to leave. Lois said she would when she’d said her piece, and told the dealer to take a break, slipping him some cash. He left, and Tracy said Ned sent Lois. Lois said he was worried, and Tracy said he must be desperate, and Lois said Tracy was right. She’d done wrong by Ned in the past. Tracy said, alert the media. Lois was admitting fault. Lois said she considered it a moment of reflection. It happened when you lost someone important to you. It became clear how short life was and you were afraid you’d run out of time for the chance to make up for mistakes, and Tracy was going to make a mistake right now.

Ned said he didn’t show enough consideration for Monica when he went after AJ, and Brook said AJ had issues. Ned said he’d compounded them when he undermined and double-crossed AJ, but Brook said, that was life at the Quartermaine’s. Ned said nothing was more painful than seeing your child struggle. Monica had so much loss – the death of her three children and Alan – he didn’t want to lose sight of what he had. Being a father was the most important thing in the world. He needed her to know that he loved her endlessly. She said she’d always known.

Marshall said, some homecoming, and Curtis said, sorry. The police visit probably ruined the celebratory mood. Marshall said it was nice being home in the good times, but more important in the not so good times. He didn’t know if he was more worried about Curtis being a suspect or watching his family and marriage fall apart.

Trina went to see Jordan and said she was afraid her parents were splitting up.

Nathan said the last thing he remembered was Cesar Faison shooting him. He looked down his shirt and said, impossible. How could it be healed? Did it not happen? Nina said, it happened, and Anna said, seven years ago.

Lois said Tracy was the de facto Quartermaine matriarch. Didn’t she want to send a message to society that the family was being preserved? Tracy said society would be just fine, but Lois said Tracy wouldn’t be. She loved Monica. Tracy said her debt to Monica had been paid. Monica didn’t need her to show up, nor did anybody else.

Cody asked James to fill up the oats to feed the horses, and when James left, he asked Felicia what was wrong. Felicia said it sounded insane, but there was a man who looked exactly like James’s father admitted to GH. Cody said he thought… and Felicia said, he did. There was a funeral and everything, but somehow Nathan might be alive.

Nathan said that couldn’t be right, and Anna said it was 2025. He asked if he’d been in a coma, but Nina said he’d been declared dead. There was a funeral and a gravesite she’d been visiting for seven years. It was a miracle. Anna said it was definitely something they had to figure out, and he said they were both shocked and here. So did Maxie not know he was alive?

Curtis told Marshall that Drew’s shooting was the final straw with his marriage. Drew had tentacles in his life and was the reason Stella was arrested. He was the reason Trina and Kai broke up, and Portia lied to him for months about Drew blackmailing her. Marshall said he didn’t blame anyone for taking Drew out, and Curtis said, on paper, few people had more motive than him and the cops knew that. Marshall said it sounded like his family was under attack and they never needed each other more.

Isaiah went to Portia’s office, and she said, the last time they spoke, she’d told him the time they shared was all they had. He said, she told him they had no future, and she said she’d reconsidered.

Lois said Tracy was underestimating the importance of saying goodbye, but Tracy said Monica was dead and wouldn’t care. Lois said it was important for Tracy, when Ned came in. Tracy said, right on time. His minion stalled until he got there. Ned thanked Lois, and Lois said she was sorry for their loss. Ned told her that Brook was on the boardwalk, and she left. Tracy asked why he did that.

Felicia told Cody that Nathan died before James was born. James heard about him and had seen pictures, but never met him, and Maxie wasn’t there. She had to be there. Cody said until he was, they’d take it one step at a time. First, they’d have faith that the cops would figure out who he was. She said, and if it was Nathan? and he said they’d deal with it. She said she didn’t want James to be hurt or scared or confused, but he said confused was unavoidable, but they’d make sure the rest was taken care of, when James came back.

Anna suggested they go through the facts as they knew them. A motorist found Nathan in a wreck and called 911. He was extricated from the car and unresponsive. Nathan said he had no ID or cellphone? and she said that’s why she ran his DNA and fingerprints. The car was listed as destroyed, crushed in Mississippi. Nathan said he’d just appeared out of nowhere and had been missing for seven years? It was ridiculous. Where was Maxie? He needed to see her.

Trina said Dante came to question her dad about the night Drew was shot, and Jordan said he was establishing a timeline of Curtis’s movements and Curtis said he was with her. Trina said her mom heard, and Jordan said she just ran into Portia at the hospital. She’d made it clear things were strained. Now she understood why. Trina said her dad insisted Jordan wasn’t the issue in their marriage, but was that true? and Jordan said she respected Curtis and Portia’s relationship. She hadn’t pursued Curtis, and he hadn’t pursued her. Trina said she believed that, but unfortunately, her mom didn’t seem to. They were splitting up and that couldn’t happen. Jordan said she didn’t think there was anything Trina could do. They had to navigate their own relationship. Trina said she wasn’t trying to keep them together as a couple, but keep them out of prison.

Isaiah said Portia seemed adamant. So what changed? She said her marriage was over. She hadn’t told Trina, but Trina saw the writing on the wall. He asked if Curtis did, and Portia said he was at the end of his rope, like her. There were only so many times you could try to fix a relationship before you had to call it. She thought she and Isaiah would be a good thing, but only if he was interested too.

Ned said his main concern was Tracy, but she said she was where she wanted to be. He said he didn’t believe that, and she said she was under no obligation to attend the funeral. Monica was deceased and wouldn’t care. He said, no, but Tracy would.

On the boardwalk, Lois brought Brook some pink cotton candy and said she went to three different vendors. All they had was blue and she knew Brook didn’t like blue. It was always pink or bust. It was small, but she thought they could share.

Curtis told Marshall that he hated not trusting his wife. Every time they started fresh, they hit another wall. Marshall said, two people could love each other and still not be right for each other, and Curtis said they could make promises they intended on keeping. He didn’t believe Portia set out to lie. Marshall said, but she did. It was good they were both brave enough to acknowledge the situation. Curtis said it was no kind of marriage and no way to live.

Isaiah asked if Portia was sure her marriage was over, and she said she wasn’t playing games. He said he needed time to think about it, and she said she didn’t want to pressure him. He said he loved working there and wouldn’t do anything that risked him losing his job.

Brook told Lois, no thanks, and asked, how’s granny? Lois said, in a private card room playing blackjack and not winning, and Brook said she was grieving. Lois said it was deeply hard for a woman like Tracy to lose someone like Monica. They’d been sparring their whole lives. It was like the greatest tennis match of all time. Brook said she’d miss that, and Lois said they all would. Brook thanked her for coming, and Lois asked how she knew Tracy was there. Brook said Lulu told her that Tracy had bolted there before, and Lois said it wouldn’t have been her first choice. The Leprechaun Casino in Atlantic City didn’t scream Quartermaine. Brook said, Luke went there when he was banned from the strip, and Lois said she was proud of Brook and Lulu working together for her grandmother, and Brook said, and Maxie. Lois said she was sorry to her about Maxie. She did reach out. Brook said she knew. She saw the text. Lois said she knew. She saw Brook’s read receipt

Tracy said she didn’t need Ned telling her what she wanted or where she should be, and he asked if she didn’t want to honor Monica. She said she honored Monica plenty when she was alive, and he said, why abandon her now? She said she was sick of it. She went to a funeral for her father, a funeral for her mother, a funeral for her brother, and two for Luke. And let’s not forget Gregory. She was done burying people she loved. He asked if she didn’t think she’d regret it, but she said she didn’t want to listen to another tribute. She wanted Monica back and to be fighting with her, not burying her, but they didn’t always get what they wanted. She wouldn’t sit in a room and listen to platitudes about what a wonderful woman Monica was. She should still be there, but she wasn’t. She was dead. The end.

Nina told Nathan that she was so sorry. Maxie collapsed last month. She lost consciousness, but they weren’t sure why. Anna said her condition was stable, but unchanged, and Nathan said they were expecting. Did she have the baby? Was the baby okay? Nina said, the baby is now a wonderful, adventurous little boy named after his father – James Malcolm West.

James asked if Cody would teach him how to jump, and behind him, Felicia shook her head. Cody said, at some point, and Felicia suggested they go. She thanked Cody, and James said sometimes he wished Cody was his dad.

Trina told Jordan that the reason this all happened was because her parents were trying to protect her. If they broke up, the police might figure out they had motive and look in their direction. Jordan said Trina wasn’t responsible for fixing their relationship, but Trina said she couldn’t do nothing. Jordan said that’s exactly what she should do and let the investigation run its course, and Trina said, what if it led to her mom and dad? Jordan said, what if it led to Trina? Trust her. Stay far, far away from Drew’s shooting.

Marshall said, so they were calling it quits, and Curtis said he thought it’s what they both wanted. Marshall said they couldn’t while the investigation was ongoing, and Curtis said, if the police found out they split because of Drew, he didn’t want Portia to be a suspect. Marshall asked if Curtis thought she was guilty.

Portia told Isaiah that she loved her job too, and came close to losing it. The time they shared was amazing and she selfishly wanted more. He said he also thought it was amazing, but if they did this, it had to be quiet. Not just under the radar, but off the radar completely. No one could know. She said she understood, and he said he’d been down the same road before. Things got complicated and he got hurt. Whatever this was or became, he wasn’t signing up for that again.

Lois told Brook about the time Ned’s ex Kathryn Bell was poisoned. That’s when she realized she wasn’t in Kansas anymore, or Bensonhurst. Kathryn fell down the stairs, and they were all there – Alan, Monica, EJ, Jason, and Lila. They were all accusing each other of being guilty, while at the same time, working together to cover it up. Brook asked if Tracy was in the mix, and Lois said she hadn’t met Tracy yet, but her presence loomed large. She realized, as loony as it was, in their own twisted, convoluted way, the Quartermaines loved each other. Brook asked, who poisoned Kathryn? and Lois said, Reginald the butler, but that wasn’t the point. Family was family, ride or die, and Monica was at the heart of all of that. Brook said there really was a lot of love, and they shared the cotton candy.

Ned said Tracy had the right to deal with Monica’s death any way she chose. If she wanted to do her mourning by staying there, he’d stay and play as long as she wanted to do it, but it would be with a heavy heart. She said she could live with that, and he said he knew if she didn’t go to the service and pay tribute to the woman whose house she lived in and shared the majority of her life with, if she didn’t tell people who Monica was to her, she’d regret it. And he didn’t want her to have any regrets about anything. Tracy suggested they leave it up to the cards, and he said, as anyone with an enormous life decision would. She said she had 17. If she lost the next hand, she’d stay. If she won, she’d go with him. Deal? He asked if he had a choice, and she said, no. Hit me.

Thursday:

⚠️ Warning: This is nearly a whole enchilada since it was Monica’s memorial service.

Monica’s memorial was set up at All Saints. Elizabeth hugged Jason who said it didn’t seem real. She asked if he needed help, but he said Michael was there. She said she was glad he had Michael to lean on since she knew Sonny and Carly wouldn’t be there, and Jason said Monica blamed Sonny for a lot. It took her a long time to realize it was his choice to keep his distance from the family, and he knew he’d caused her pain. Elizabeth said, what happened in the past made him living at her house later that much sweeter. Monica was beyond happy to have her son back under her roof.

In the foyer, Ned looked at a photo of Monica and flashed back to talking to her about marriage and her saying he was an insightful man and irreplaceable friend. Olivia joined him and said it was a great picture, but Monica didn’t take bad ones. He said, she didn’t believe in them, and Olivia asked how he was holding up. He said some part of him didn’t believe this was possible. Even when she was sick, Monica had a presence in the house. Olivia said, and in the family. Whether she was there or not, it didn’t matter. It would always be Monica’s house. Brook, Chase, and Dante joined them, and Chase said he’d see them at the church, and left. Ned asked if they were ready to go, but Brook said she didn’t know if she’d ever be ready. She was staying strong for Monica. Olivia asked if Ned had the letter, when Tracy came down the stairs. She asked what they were all standing around for. Let’s say goodbye to Monica.

At the hospital, Drew asked Martin to help him with his tie, and Martin said he wasn’t ready to be released. Why was he out of bed and dressed up? Drew said he was going to his mother’s memorial.

Laura hugged Jason and said she was sorry for his loss. Speaking as the mayor, it was impossible to overstate how important a pillar of the community his mother was. She was at the heart of it. She respected Monica more than she could possibly say. Monica was also her friend, and she’d miss her a lot. Jason said, him too, and Laura said her mother planned on coming and came down with a bug. She couldn’t travel, but she’d be fine. She could still remember how her mother and Monica made peace. In the end, her mother thought of Monica as a friend.

Michael and Lulu hugged, and she said his grandmother was an extraordinary woman. She was glad she’d had time with her and would always be grateful for living at the Quartermaines when her dad married Tracy. When Monica threatened to throw him and Tracy out, she said Lulu could stay.

Stella told Jason that Monica was one of a kind and admired by everyone in the hospital, and Portia said she was honored to walk the halls with her. Michael joined them, and Portia said his grandmother was a remarkable woman. Stella said it was an honor to be there, and they sat down. Michael said, the small talk must be torture, and Jason said it was, but it was okay. He wanted to thank everyone who came to honor his mother.

Martin asked if Drew was sure this was a good idea, since the service was private, but Drew said he was still her son. Martin said he was still recovering, and Drew told him, say it. The family didn’t want him there, but he didn’t care about them or what they thought. He had every right to be there. It wasn’t about how things ended up. His mother loved and accepted him the second she found out he was Alan’s son and it meant something. She’d reached out to him, but he’d never returned her call. He’d thought she was calling about him protecting Scout. Martin asked if he meant the restraining orders, and Drew said he thought she’d side with the family. He never imagined it would be the last time they talked and he’d always regret it. He wasn’t letting his anger at the rest of the family stop him from saying goodbye to his mom.

Jason thanked Lucy and Felicia for coming, and Felicia said she loved hanging out with Monica. She was a good friend and had been Maxie’s heart surgeon. Monica’s hands gave Maxie new life. Lucy said, she was a brilliant surgeon. She was brilliant period. The truth was, Lucy was jealous, although Monica was no saint. Felicia said, stop it, and Lucy said, Monica was a brilliant doctor and family mattered more than anything.

Lulu asked if Laura knew what she was going to say, and Laura said she had a good idea. She and Monica had been through so much together. She flashed back to when she was a teenager and talking to Monica when Monica was a patient at the hospital. She told Lucy that Monica was battling a life-threatening disease and still had time to launch a support group. She was going to speak from the heart and hoped she found the words to tell them what Monica meant to her.

Gio said he hoped it was okay that he was there, and Jason said he was glad Gio came. Gio said he didn’t come as a member of the family, but was there for Monica. When she didn’t know they were related, she’d welcomed him into her home. He hoped the others didn’t get the wrong idea. Jason said he couldn’t control what other people thought, but he appreciated Gio being there. Brook and Dante walked in.

Brook said Monica would be touched that Gio came, and Gio said he didn’t know her long, but knowing her couldn’t have been better. Brook said Monica loved hearing him play. She talked about how talented he was. Dante said Gio was welcome to sit with them, but Gio said he was okay and would see them inside. Brook watched as Gio hugged Lulu, and Dante said Gio was there and it was a good thing. Brook said, progress, when Chase came in. Chase said Gio was there, and Brook said, to honor Monica. Baby steps.

Tracy and Ned arrived, and Ned told Michael, sorry they were late. Michael said Jason took care of everything, and Tracy said it would have made Jason’s mother very happy. Michael suggested they get started, and they walked in. Tracy looked at the photo collage, exchanged nods with Stella, walked to the front, and sat down.  

Martin told Drew that it wasn’t a question of what was right, but of what Monica wanted, and Drew said he knew they would have reconciled if they’d had more time. She wouldn’t have called if she’d given up on him. They loved each other and she was the only mother he’d ever known. Drew flashed back to bringing Monica a bunch of pizzas (presumably on Thanksgiving) just in case, and them hugging. He said he wasn’t letting the Quartermaines keep him from Monica’s celebration of life. He’d been kept from her actual life and wasn’t going to let Jason pretend he was her only son. Martin said he sounded angry already, and Drew said he was. Martin said, exactly. He just said the family wasn’t getting in the way of him mourning his mother, but was showing up really about Monica, or another way to screw with his family?

At the podium, Ned thanked everyone for coming on behalf of the family. They were here to honor Monica Bard Quartermaine. She had strong opinions on how her memorial should go and was clear she didn’t want it to be a sad occasion. She wanted to have a gathering of friends and family to remember her and celebrate her life, and he thought she was right – as usual. This was a celebration because they were all lucky to have known Monica and spent quality time with her, either in person or professionally. He cherished the years he had with Monica. She was the anchor of the family and always ready to welcome people into her house. Tracy flashed back to Monica telling her not to argue. They were welcoming a new baby into the house Alan gave her. Tracy asked if she was going to let one day go by without… Monica laughed, and Tracy asked why she was laughing. Monica said, because it got Tracy every time.

In the present, Ned said, to be honest, the house felt empty without her and he thought they were all a little lost. Olivia flashed back to Monica saying that she’d stood up for Drew, and that made Olivia aces in her book. This place wouldn’t be a home without Olivia being there, and she wanted Olivia to think of this as her house. Ned said it would take time for them to figure out how to live their lives without her love and guidance, but at least for today, they didn’t have to do that because Monica left one final message for them. Ned took out a letter and read: To my dear friends and family. Thank you for being part of my life. I have so many beautiful memories of all of you and hope you do too. Please share them with each other and be happy. I’m sorry to leave you, but I had a wonderful life and was truly loved, just as I’ve loved all of you.

Elizabeth said she’d known Monica almost her entire life. Her grandmother considered Monica to be one of her closet friends. Monica and Audrey worked together at General Hospital and her mother used to tell her that she had the utmost respect for Monica as a doctor. When Elizabeth started working at the hospital, she was intimidated, but didn’t need to be. Monica was so patient and willing to teach anyone who was willing to learn, no matter their position. She saw no title, but saw people, and that’s how she saw her patients too – people she spent time with and connected with. She treated them with honesty and compassion, and they loved her for it. It was the same for all of them, the staff. They were a second family, and she took care of them like she took care of the Quartermaines. She encouraged them to be the best version of themselves, and they loved her for that. Monica also inspired her to be the best version of herself and days she couldn’t, Monica forgave her, and she loved her for that. Elizabeth flashed back to Monica saying she wished she had gotten to know her grandchild. She lost Emily and AJ, and Jason was her only surviving child. If it were Elizabeth, wouldn’t she want to know she had another grandchild? In the present, Elizabeth said she was lucky to be part of the family, and her son Jake was lucky to be Monica’s grandson.

Laura said she was truly honored to be asked to speak. Like Elizabeth, she’d known Monica most of her life. When she was 15 years old, she volunteered at General Hospital as a Candy Striper, and when she met Monica, she was so impressed at how poised she was. As the years went by, she watched Monica navigate around the Quartermaine family, something even the Quartermaines might say was not such an easy task. Even though Monica married into the family, she was a Quartermaine through and through. Another job Laura had was working for Monica’s father-in-law Edward Quartermaine, a formidable and intimidating man. Even though she was young, she could see how much Edward truly loved and respected Monica. Tracy flashed back to Monica telling her that she hoped they lived happy lives for her father’s sake. Tracy said Monica loved Edward as much as she did, and Monica said, yes. And she knew the reason Edward was so healthy was because Tracy had taken good care of him after his heart attack. (Yeah, after she kept his pills from him.) Tracy said she could grow to like Monica, and Monica told her, don’t get carried away. In the present, Ned took Tracy’s hand and looked at Brook, who put her hand on Tracy’s shoulder.

Laura said, Monica saw caring for patients as an act of reverence. She only loved her own family more and she loved them very much. She treasured the time she had with them and sadly, also saw a lot of loss. She lost a son, AJ, and two daughters, Emily and Dawn, and finally, Alan, her husband. She battled breast cancer and alcoholism, and it only served to deepen her compassion for others. Felicia flashed back to giving Monica a card from Maxie and saying Maxie told her that Monica saved her life. Maxie said she knew Monica would be okay because General Hospital was the best hospital and had the best doctors and nurses. Monica said Maxie was right, and opened a handmade card. She told Felicia to thank Maxie and she’d write Maxie a note.

Laura said, Monica was generous with her time and philanthropy, two of the biggest reasons General Hospital and Port Charles were the amazing places they were today. She’d miss Monica with all her heart and knew Monica lived on in her family and in her legacy at General Hospital. She sat down, and Ned told Tracy that it was her cue. Was she really not going to say anything? Tracy said she couldn’t, and Lucy told Felicia that Tracy had to speak, or she’d regret it for the rest of her life. Felicia agreed, but said it wasn’t their call, and Lucy said, maybe Tracy needed someone to buy her more time. She went up to the podium and said she wasn’t asked to speak or scheduled to speak. Why would she be? She wasn’t part of the family and not really Monica’s friend per se. They were so-called rivals, enemies. She had a unique perspective on Monica Quartermaine and thought they all should know it. Felicia looked stunned.

Lucy said she shared a passion with Monica that everyone knew about – the Nurses Ball. As the founder and organizer, she worked closely with Monica. As a doctor, Monica saw the devastating consequences of HIV/AIDS up close and firsthand and was as devoted to the cause as she was. Monica performed at many Balls and was amazing. She was amazingly generous with her time and money, and she couldn’t have done it without Monica. She was going to miss having somebody that cared as much about their special event as she did. And of course (🍷), they also shared a husband, dearly departed Alan. She knew what they were thinking. It was unorthodox for the other woman to be speaking at the memorial, but Monica believed in facing things head on. They hated each other. We flashed back to Monica telling Lucy to stop seeing her husband. If she didn’t, Monica would make sure the hospital knew what a cheap little tramp they had running their daycare. Lucy said Monica shouldn’t make high-handed threats… People who live in a glass house. Monica asked what Lucy was implying.

Lucy said, Alan and Monica could fight. They would leave, but they’d always came back. They were the love of each other’s lives. So what they can learn is that love doesn’t look the same for very couple, but they know true love when they see it. They did make their peace. She was going to miss Monica and was sorry she was gone, but so happy to know Monica and Alan were back together again. She sat down, and Olivia asked Ned if no one else from the family was going to speak.

Jason went to the podium and said Lucy was right. Monica loved Alan so much that she took him in when he was a baby. She chose to be his mother, and from that moment on, she was his mom, no matter how he distanced himself or pushed her away. She let him be his own person and go his own way. She had faith and trust that he’d find his way back to her and eventually he did. He flashed back to Monica saying, no matter what was said in anger, he was her son, and she loved him very much. In the present, he said he wasted so much time. It took him so long to figure out that she wasn’t making him someone he wasn’t. She really just loved him for who he was, in the same way she loved everybody in the family – unconditionally. She told him that he wouldn’t be able to see all the forms love could take until he had a child of his own. She was right. Not until he had his son did he realize that what he saw on her face every day was love. Sometimes there was laughter or sometimes frustration behind it, but it was always love. And that kind of love made her the best mom to Emily, AJ, and to him. So speaking for all of her kids, he wanted thank them for being there. He went to the casket and said, I don’t think I said it enough, but I love you, mom.

Jason sat down, and Tracy asked why they were waiting. Michael asked if she was sure she didn’t want to say something. Tracy said Michael was supposed to be the last one to speak, and Ned said it was okay if she wanted time to collect her thoughts. She says she didn’t, and they were holding things up. Michael went to the podium and thanked everyone for coming. It meant a lot. He grew up hearing stories about Monica. People talked about her being a brilliant surgeon and respected her, but to him, she was just grandma. It wasn’t until later he found out what a powerful woman she was, busy saving lives. He understood that intellectually, but it didn’t feel that way. She made time to sit and ask about his day. It didn’t matter if he was in elementary school or the office at ELQ. She made the time and made time for his kids. He considered himself very lucky to spend time with his grandmother. The consolation is knowing that she’ll never really be gone as long as they remember her. He hoped they would help in remembering by celebrating the incredible life she lived in joining them back at Monica’s house. So unless anyone else wanted to say something…

Michael looked at Tracy, when the door opened. Drew wheeled himself inside and he and Michael locked eyes.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…  

At the podium, Michael says he considers himself very, very lucky to have spent time with his grandmother in the past few days, and there’s some consolation in knowing she’ll never really be gone. Not as long as they remember her. He hopes it helps them remember the celebration of the incredible life she lived by joining them back at Monica’s house. So unless anyone else would like to say something… The door opens, and Drew wheels himself into the church and up to the front. Chase asks, what the hell is this guy is doing? Felicia says, talk about inappropriate, and Lucy says, and Felicia was worried about her. Drew says his name is Drew Quartermaine and he’s here to honor his mother, Monica. Jason approaches him, but Tracy says, allow her to fact check. His name is Drew Cain and he’s in no way related to Monica and in no way was he invited. Drew says he has every right… but Tracy says, he’s delusional. Drew says, she wants to deny him the family name? That’s fine, but Monica called him her son, so he has every right to say goodbye. She says, he forfeited that right when he broke Monica’s heart, and starts to push his chair back down the aisle. He asks what she’s doing, and she says, escorting him out. She wheels him out the door and into the foyer. He says, she can stop, but she says, oh no. She’s just getting started. She parks his chair near the sign-in book and says, your presence here is neither required nor desired. In fact, it’s detested. She goes back in and closes the door. She says, well, that felt good. She walks to the front and says she guesses she’s supposed to say something about her sister-in-law. She doesn’t want to do it… She has tried to avoid it… She just doesn’t know if she can do it… Okay. She’s going to try… because she knows if she doesn’t… she’ll regret it… because… because Monica means that much to her.

Tracy says, so. When she first met Monica, Monica was already engaged to her brother Alan. Her initial thought was that Monica was beautiful and would never last. She assumed her brother would grow tired of her as he usually did, and it would be over as quick as it started. Monica was beneath them. She wasn’t good enough to marry into the Quartermaine family, much less carry the Quartermaine heir. Now Monica had bamboozled her father, her mother, and her brother, and it was up to her to make sure all their eyes were open – everyone laughs – but she underestimated Monica. Monica was nobody’s victim, least of all, hers. Monica gave as good as she got, and somewhere between, during, or because of their epic battles, she grew to respect Monica. In fact, that respect grew to love. In the 45 years they were family, she came to accept that Monica was not only good enough to be one of them, she was the best of them. The Quartermaine family wouldn’t be what they were without her. Monica would do anything for the Quartermaines. Monica took care of them when they lost both of her parents and her brother. Monica was the one who kept their memories alive, and it meant so much to her. She was sorry she never told Monica… Maybe she did. She probably phrased it like an insult. Everyone laughs, and Tracy says, that was their love language. It was how they knew they cared. She never for a moment thought that she would have to live her life without Monica, but she was wrong again. She was going to have to find her way in this world without Monica. Her brother made Monica her sister-in-law, but Monica became her sister. So, my sister, it looks like I’m the last one standing, but don’t you worry. That house is yours – everyone laughs – Alan gave it to you. And as long as I’m alive, I promise you, it’ll stay that way.

Drew is back in his hospital room, and Martin says, that was fast. Did he change his mind about going to the service? Drew says, no. He went. Martin says, briefly, and Drew says, Tracy kicked him out. Or should he say, rolled him out, and nobody tried to stop her. Martin says he’s shocked, and Drew says, it’s not right. There was a time when Monica loved him, really loved him. Martin says he’s sure she did, once upon a time, and Drew says he loved her too. She was amazing. She was there for him when he lost Oscar. She sat with him at the hospital and held his hand for hours. Now all of a sudden that’s not supposed to count for anything? That just gets erased like it never even happened? Martin says, it happened… along with a lot of other things, and Drew says, now the Quartermaines see him as an enemy? Martin says, they’re angry about the role he played in what happened between Michael and Willow, and Drew says he’s angry too. The point is, that shouldn’t even matter. Martin asks what he means, and Drew says, they’re all angry. The Quartermains live for a good fight, then come together in the end because family comes first. Martin says, not always. That didn’t happen today. Drew says, it didn’t. It’s the ultimate proof that they don’t see him as family. Martin says, so? and Drew says, it’s more clear than it’s ever been that he’s not a Quartermaine and never will be.

Back at the mansion, Laura says, her heart goes out to all of them. She thought it was a beautiful ceremony. Ned says, it was, wasn’t it? and Laura says she thinks Monica would have loved the way everyone came together. Michael says, everyone except Drew, and Laura says, oh well. She doesn’t know, but she thinks Monica is looking down watching and got a big kick out of it when Tracy showed Drew the exit. If only they could get him out of congress as quickly and easily as Tracy got him out of that church. Ned says, truer words… Refreshments are in the living room. Laura says, if Tracy needs anything, she’s here, Tracy thanks her, and they hug.

In the nook, Dante wonders, where’s the staff? Why is it a one-woman operation? Olivia says she gave them the day off. She wanted it to just be family. Isn’t he supposed to be working? Dante says he got someone to cover his shift, but she says he didn’t have to. He says, Monica was important to her and she’s important to him. Monica opened the doors of her home to him, Danny, Rocco, and Scout. She was an incredible woman. Olivia says, the best, which is why she made all of Monica’s favorites. Dante says he’ll give her a hand, and she says, remember how she had him deliver the hors d’oeuvres to the block party? He says he was zigzagging through the guests and never dropped one pig in a blanket, and she says, he was the cutest little server ever. He says, they’ll see if he’s still got it, and she tells him to take the bacon wrapped eggs. It’s Gio’s favorite and he won’t be able to resist. Dante says, it’s not the time or place to try and have a conversation with him, but she says she’s not trying to pressure it. She’s just saying he showed up at the church. That says something. If he shows up at the house, she thinks it says even more. Dante says, we’ll see, and she says, get out there. The bacon wrapped eggs aren’t going to deliver themselves. He says he loves her, and leaves with the platter.

In the living room, Lucy tells Felicia, when she lived here, she did steal some of these glasses. Felicia says, of course (🍷) she did, and they clink them. Dante comes in, and Brook says, Olivia let him do something? She got tossed out of the kitchen twice already. Dante says, she knows her way around serving tray? She looks like she might be a dropper. How is she holding up? She says, pretty much how you’d expect, and he says, any truth to the rumor that Lois and Tracy were gambling in Atlantic City last night? She says she doesn’t think they were gambling together. Tracy wasn’t doing much winning, and her mom won’t put a dime on the table if the vibe or the math is off. He says, that’s true, and she says she’s not done being mad, but she admits her mom came through for them. He says he’s not happy with Lois either, but it’s true what they say about the Quartermaines. They stick together, even if they do literally try to kill each other at times. She says, they show up when it really matters, and he says, even the ones who don’t like them. She says she’s hoping Gio comes, but doesn’t expect him to, and Dante says him neither. Maybe next time, he’ll say hi and bye to them. She says she doesn’t know. Maybe her shields are worn down with everything going on, but Gio’s anger hurt more than usual. Dante says, at times like these, everything lands a little harder, and she says she hopes she lives long enough to see Gio less angry. Not just for their sake, but his. Dante says they have to just keep showing up. It’s all they can do. Speaking of showing up, Tracy’s speech was incredible. Brook says, it was perfect. She’s so proud of her. He says, Tracy reminded him of her.

Lulu joins Jason outside the boathouse and says she thought she’d find him out here. She saw him greeting people at the church. That must have been a lot. He says he did it for Monica, but he can’t do it again here, and she says she doesn’t blame him. She thinks everyone would understand if he wanted to take off. He says, it’s tempting, but he needs to be here. So many times, he wasn’t and should have been. She says, that’s not true, and he says, that he wasn’t here? She says, no. That he wasn’t present. When she lived here with her dad, she doesn’t think a day went by that Monica didn’t mention him. She loved telling stories about him, and he gave her a lot to choose from. So even though he wasn’t physically here, his presence was felt. His mom made sure of it.

Martin says, Drew and Monica were close once and not even the almighty Quartermaines can take that away from him. Drew says, right, but Michael is the golden boy and always has been. He thought Monica still loved him enough to get past the whole Michael and Willow situation. Martin says, maybe if she’d had more time, she would have, but Drew says, with Tracy spewing poison in her ear, he doubts it. The only thing that stopped him from going full steam ahead and telling the police Michael shot him was to protect Monica, but now that she was gone, forget it. All bets are off. Martin asks if he’s saying he remembers it was Michael who shot him, and Drew says he doesn’t remember a damn thing, but the police don’t have to know that. He can tell them that it all came back at any time. Martin says, whoa. Take a deep breath. It’s possible he doesn’t have to perjure himself to get revenge. Drew says, perjury is the least of what he’ll do. He’ll stop at nothing to make Michael pay for what he’s taken. If convincing the cops that Michael is the one who pulled the trigger and put two bullets in his back is the way to do that, so be it.

Michael thanks Dante for being here, and Dante says, is he kidding? Monica opened her home to him and the kids when Sam died. That was everything. She was great with his mom and Leo too. Chase says, same here. She welcomed him into the family on day one. She was such a special person. Dante says, it’s weird to refer to her in the past tense. He can’t get past that. Michael says, it’s hard to believe she’s really gone, and Dante says, whatever he needs. Michael says, he’s doing it. Showing up and putting Drew’s investigation on the back burner for a minute. Dante says, they’re with family today and that’s all that matters

Lulu asks how Laura is doing, and Laura says, fine. Why? Lulu says, other than Monica’s family, Laura is the one who’d known her the longest, and Laura says, they did go way back. Further than she’d like to admit, before she even met Lulu’s father. Lulu says, really? and Laura says, Monica came to their wedding. Lulu says, along with the rest of the world (truth!), and Laura says, Monica was the type of person who you could count on when things got tough… and things did get tough. Lulu says she’s glad Laura had Monica, and Laura says, her too. She’s a better person because she knew Monica. She hopes she never forgets that. Lulu says she’ll help Laura remember. Deal? Laura says, deal. She’s going to miss Monica so much. They hug.

Dante says, it was one heck of a remembrance, and Tracy says she wasn’t going to do it. Then she was on her feet evicting Drew. Stella says, in spectacular fashion, and Tracy says she figured she was halfway there, so… Stella asks if she’s glad she did it, and Tracy says she is. Don’t tell her family. They were all over her about paying tribute, blah-blah-blah. Stella says, tell the truth. How is she holding up? Tracy says, it’s hard losing the people she loves – obviously, her parents, her brother Alan, losing Luke, Gregory, and now, Monica. They just keep leaving. Stella says she knows how Tracy feels, but she’s still here, and Tracy says, the last man standing, but Stella says, look around, not the foyer, but this house. That big old crazy family adores her. The door opens and Stella says, the family that keeps growing. Gio walks in.

Tracy says she’s so glad he came, and Gio says he wants to offer his condolences. He’s very sorry about Monica. Tracy thanks him and says she’s sorry for his loss as well. He says he wishes he’d gotten to know Monica better, and she says, you would have loved her, and she, you. Actually, she had a head start. He asks what she means, and she says she thinks Monica played his Nurses Ball performance at least a hundred times. She couldn’t get enough of it. Who could blame her? They didn’t see eye to eye a lot, but when it came to him, they were of one mind. She’s grateful he’s here. He says him too. He saw a different side of the family today. No drama. She says, really? and he says, actually, a little with Drew in the church. What else was she going to do? She tells him, some might say she had options, but he says, not him, and she says she’s glad to hear it. He says, the family coming together to support each other made him proud to be a part of the family. He’s proud to be her great-grandson.

Dante says he talked to Brook, and Olivia says, she keeps asking to help. He says he told her that she looked like a dropper, and Olivia says, facts are facts. He says, no matter what, the family seems to come together, and she says, it’s not always pretty, but it’s true. He says, apparently, Gio is here, but he hasn’t seen him, and she says she knew he’d still be angry, but he’d still show up. It says something. He knows deep down what’s truly important. Dante says, let’s hope, and Olivia says she doesn’t have to hope. She knows she’s right. He says, Brook told him about the trip to Atlantic City. It was good Lois stalled Tracy until Ned got there. Olivia says, Lois knows her way around Atlantic City, and he says, yeah, she does. Olivia hands him a tray and says, just out of the oven. They should be served warm. He kisses her cheek and leaves.

Dante sees Gio in the living room and puts the platter on the table. Gio tells Ned that he’s so sorry about his loss, and Ned thanks him. He says, it’s been a while. Is he doing okay? Gio says, yeah. He’s taking time to figure things out. Ned says he’s glad Gio is here now, and Gio says him too. Ned says, they spent time together when Gio was living here. Little did he know Gio was his grandson. Gio says, surprise! and Ned says, no pressure, but when he’s ready, if he’s ever ready, he’d love the chance to connect. Gio says, Ned was a musician, and Ned says he still is. He’d like to think he is. He’s never played the violin. Gio says, not a lot of people can say they have, and Ned says, a rarified few play like him. His performance at the Nurses Ball showed unbelievable talent, passion, and skill. You can’t teach that. It’s just part of who he is. Gio thanks him, and Ned says, don’t tell Brook, but it’s pretty obvious Gio got his musical talent from him.  

On the phone, Portia says, perfect. Thanks. She tells Elizabeth, it’s all set for later, and Elizabeth thanks her for spearheading it. Portia says, of course (🍷). How is Jake doing with all of this? Elizabeth says, he’s devastated. He loved Monica an awful lot. She thinks he felt relieved that there were no kids at the service. It made him feel less guilty. Portia says she was wondering if it was by design, and Elizabeth says, since Scout wasn’t allowed to go… Portia says, the restraining order, and Elizabeth says, even if Jake could be here, Michael and Tracy thought it best not to include the kids. Portia says, they’re probably right with Drew crashing the service, and Elizabeth says, even if the kids had been there, she doesn’t think it would matter. Nothing could dampen Monica’s memory in their eyes. Monica’s bond with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was strong. Portia says, the kids will carry the memory of Monica forever, and Elizabeth says, her legacy.

Tracy sits in the foyer looking at the family photographs, then gets up and goes out the front door.

Ned, Olivia, Michael, Gio, Dante, and Jason have drinks in the nook, and Ned says, hand to God. The elevator door opened and there was Monica on top of his mother, strangling his mother, or at least trying to. Olivia says, Tracy is nothing if not difficult to snuff out, and Gio says, this family is insane. Ned says, it is, but they wear it with pride, and Olivia says, maybe too much pride. Gio says he loves all these stories. Monica had a full life. Michael says, she remembered everything, and when she told a story, she had a picture to go with it, so it was like you were there. Jason says, she told one to him recently that he’d never heard before, and Gio says, don’t leave them in suspense. Let’s hear it.  

Brook asks if Portia has seen Tracy, but Portia says she hasn’t. Stella says, neither has she, for some time, and Portia says, maybe she took a minute for herself, but Brook says, those don’t always work out so well. She asks Dante and Lulu if they’ve seen her grandmother, and Dante says, no, and Lulu says, but they haven’t been on the lookout for her.  Brook says she thinks Tracy is nervous, and Lulu says, she should be proud. She was so vulnerable at the church. She’s never seen Tracy that way before. Brook says, her either, but in front of all those people talking, she rose to the occasion, and Lulu says, Tracy always does.

Ned says, if he hasn’t told Olivia already, she did an incredible job with all this, and Olivia says she wanted the operation to be a reflection of who Monica was – warm and welcoming and filled with beauty and class. He says, it was all those things and more, and she says, after all the years, she knows what Monica likes. She knows how Monica felt about her entertaining and fundraising, and she just did the opposite of that. Ned laughs and says he knows it was a lot of work. He thanks her, and she says, Tracy’s speech hit home. He asks, how so? and she says she thinks she and Monica were more alike than she thought. Monica wasn’t born a Quartermaine – Monica became one – and that’s how she feels too. Ned says, she’s brilliant and beautiful and a Quartermaine through and through. He kisses her and says, God help her. They kiss again.

As they leave, Chase tells Portia and Stella, thank you for coming, and Brook turns around to see Gio. She says she’s so glad he came, and Gio says he wanted to pay his respects, for Monica. She says, Monica would appreciate it. She thought he was pretty great. She really loved having him live here. She would look out the window and listen to him practice. He thanks her for telling him that and says, see them later. He leaves, and Chase says, he showed up, didn’t he? Brook says, he showed up, yeah, and Chase says, baby steps. Brook says, yeah, and they hug.

Lucy says, what about the will? and Michael says, sorry? Lucy says she just means, what about the house? Is it going to be for sale, because the market is sizzling hot. Felicia says, let’s go, and steers Lucy to the door. Lucy says, maybe a little too soon? Felicia says, yes, and they leave.

Lulu says, it’s been a minute since she’s seen Tracy, and Michael says he was thinking the same thing. Lulu says she was hoping to say goodbye.

As she walks outside, Elizabeth sees Jason. He thanks her for being here, and she hugs him.

Drew says, Monica would have been gutted to find out Michael was arrested and he was trying to spare her that, and Martin says, so he sat on something he didn’t remember? Drew says, Monica’s not a consideration anymore and Jason is gonna hate Michael going back to prison, and Martin says he knows things between Drew and his brother and nephew are strained. But doesn’t he think he’s missing the mark? Tracy is the reason he wasn’t in the church, and she insisted on changing his name. Doesn’t he think Tracy is the Quartermaine who deserves all this fury? Drew says, she’s going to get it. She orchestrated his exile and turned the whole family against him. She deserves a world of pain, but Michael out-destroyed them all. With one phone call, he can take them all down. Martin says, Tracy only suffers if the Quartermaine legacy crumbles, and Drew says, she deserves a lot more than that. Martin says, and he has the feeling someday she’ll get it. You know what they say, in the end, karma catches up with all of us. Drew says, and when it catches up with them, he’ll have a front row seat.

Ned says, they got through it somehow, and Olivia says, it was a touching, emotional, beautiful day. Michael says, exactly what Monica would have wanted. Everyone gathered to celebrate her, not mourn her. Ned says, to Monica, a woman who fought for this family until her last breath. As his mother said, she was not just one of us. She was the best of us. Michael says, I’ll miss you, grandma, and Jason goes to the foyer.

Jason goes up the stairs and stops midway. He looks up and says, I once told you… that you never lost me. I won’t lose you either. You will always be my mom. I love you. He raises his glass and we flash back over Monica’s life. Her journey with Alan, them meeting and getting married, sharing her cancer battle with him. With Emily and young Jason. Performing at the Nurses Ball with Tracy, toasting with Tracy, telling Tracy, this is my house, and Alan gave it to me, and Alan’s death. Jason says he knows she loves him and he loves her too. He flashes back to Monica hugging him, and he sighs.

Portia, Stella, Felicia, Elizabeth, and Laura gather at the GH memorial G GH Memorial wall. They look at the new photo of Monica, and Laura says, you worked so hard. Now rest. Elizabeth hugs Laura.

Tracy sees the crypt door ajar and goes in. She sees a woman facing the plaques and says, who are you and why the hell are you trespassing? The woman turns around and says, you must be Tracy Quartermaine. Tracy says, and you are? and the woman says, someone who’s been waiting quite a while to meet you.

It’s Victoria Lord Erika Slezak!

On Monday, Anna says there’s been a turn of events; Nina tells Obrecht and Britt that they’re going to need each other to get through this; Felicia tells Spinelli that James has the right to know his father is alive; and Willow introduces herself to Nathan.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

It’s about time, although I have to say, they did a bang-up job.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospital-pays-tribute-to-leslie-charleson-and-monica-quartermaine/

Leslie Charleson’s last interview IRL.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-leslie-charlesons-final-interview-reflecting-on-her-decades-as-monica-excl/

More from the real side. It was a weird world for all of us.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-steve-burton-on-jasons-monica-memorial-monologue-i-was-there-emotionally/

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-jane-elliot-on-tracys-and-her-own-mourning-for-leslie-charlesons-monica/

She seems like she’d be amazing to work with.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/general-hospitals-giovanni-mazza-on-jane-elliot-one-of-the-great-joys-of-my-life-excl/

I can’t wait to see how she stirs the pot. I can tell already that she and Jane Elliot will be making enemy magic.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/one-life-to-live-alum-erika-slezak-on-her-completely-different-general-hospital-role/

I don’t remember him, but if he was a Cassadine, he deserves a final bow.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/andre-landzaat-the-first-cassadine-on-general-hospital-dies-at-81/

To end on a lighter note, actors who began their careers on soaps.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20100105_6a0dc430b95a5ecaa804e02330515779/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

The first thing I noticed was that Heather has Ozempic face. Brrr… After their pseudo Blair Witch escapade, the women talked about their lives. Heather said she’d gritted her teeth while being a good Mormon wife and mother and felt guilty. Bronwyn moved her daughter’s boyfriend in so her daughter wouldn’t move out just yet. Whitney said she now wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but couldn’t, especially after their business had been a fail. Mary said, some days, Robert Jr. was good, and some days he wasn’t. She was taking it one day at a time and letting him figure it out. She gave kudos to the women raising kids by themselves and said it was an accomplishment. Heather met with Lisa for lunch and told her about the dismissed lawsuits being discussed. Lisa got weepy and condescending at the same time. Bronwyn and Whitney discussed the possibility that Lisa had a side piece paying for her lip filler. Once again, more real than any of these women’s petty bullsh*t was Robert Jr., who told Mary that he felt like he was at a standstill. He wasn’t in a dark place, but it was still there. Mary said he had to retrain his mindset, and he said it was scary. He didn’t hang out with anyone anymore. In Mary’s interview, she said she’d been a helicopter mom and felt it led Robert to not telling her the truth. Bronwyn met Heather, wanting to talk outside the friend group and see if they could be friends or needed to just co-exist. Heather was concerned about the back and forth with Bronwyn and Lisa, and Bronwyn said Lisa had been talking smack about her, and it could either be called retaliatory or meeting Lisa where she was. Heather said it shouldn’t affect the rest of them. Later at a party, Lisa called Bronwyn a gout d*ck sucker. Huh?

Real Housewives Of Orange County

I think maybe these women need to read more… or something. In their respective interviews, Shannon had a hard time with the fool me once credo, and Gina said don’t make a mountain out of a mouse hill, trying it several more times before a producer took her out of her misery. There were some good moments with Tamra and her daughter Sophia, but those were counteracted when she nearly belted Gretchen then walked out because Gretchen had been talking sh*t about her. Which also made me wonder if there wasn’t a grain of truth about her banging the band member. And really, who cares? After pitching a screeching fit – why must Tamra always screech? – she walked out. Is she quitting again, or…? Gretchen also arranged for the group to take a self-defense class, and in her interview, Fancy Pants Heather thought because she lived on the 38th floor with lots of security downstairs, nothing could possibly happen to her. Does she never leave her apartment? Has she never heard the phrase, don’t sh*t in your own backyard?

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhoc-recap-tamra-judge-melts-down-over-boy-band-affair-rumor/

Real Housewives Of Miami

I didn’t get a whole lot out of this episode, except for more arguments at parties. Oh, and Adriana probably shouldn’t set her sights on a music career, even though she sang about her dog. This was the finale, but even the factoids at the end were ho-hum. However, the three-part Reunion looks promising.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/rhom-finale-recap-real-housewives-is-where-friendships-go-to-explode/

Welcome To Plathville

I’m including this one this week because several people on this show are totally psycho. Ethan is a big baby man who likes to have literal tantrums where he throws things around. And Micah’s girlfriend Veronica doesn’t just stir the pot. She molds it on a pottery wheel, glazes it, and fires it. In her interviews, she looks absolutely insane as she comes up with every insult and scenarios that are only in her head involving the Plaths and their significant others. At a wedding, she schmoozes with the cows on the farm rather than attending like a normal human, while at the reception, Ethan throws her seashell place card across the field. I’m trainwreck fascinated by this whole peculiar crew that I’ve watched grow even weirder since the first season where they merely seemed unconventional.

Random Reality Items

In case you were wondering.

Hopefully, he doesn’t need new teeth.

A VanderBaby!

You can’t keep a good Morgan down.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Superman. HBO/MAX. I really enjoyed this. I didn’t read much about it beforehand, so I had no preconceptions, and was delighted to find a lot of the plot revolved around Krypto, Superman’s dog. Which should be no surprise to anyone who knows me. I could also identify, since Krypto doesn’t listen, much like my own dogs. The overworked and sometimes frustrated Man of Steel was more humanized, which I appreciated, and I loved the inclusion of a few other Superheroes. The acting was worthy and the special effects, a chef’s kiss. If there wasn’t so much streaming, so little time, I’d watch this again.

https://people.com/see-the-superman-2025-cast-vs-their-original-characters-11770576

Never Let Me Go. Netflix. One of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen. People live to be over 100 years old because they’re harvesting organs from clones. The clones are required to make three organ donations once they turn 18, and by donation three, well, they’re dead. The depressing part was the clones thought they were actual people and had feelings. It has a supremely sad ending and I was bummed for the rest of the night. I noticed director Mark Romanek also directed One Hour Photo, a magnificently acted, but also disturbingly depressing film that I will never, ever watch again.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/never-let-me-go-15-year-anniversary

🔮 Watch Of the Future…

I’m so looking forward to this. Premiering December 17th. And I don’t think the teaser spoiled anything.

https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/fallout-season-2-teaser-sets-release-date-and-introduces-new-vegas-but-did-it-spoil-too-much-video

🎺 Early Roll Call…

Stars we’ve lost so far in 2025:

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpeg_20250923_25e72ac1c25143dea5ea001dd403bfd0/

🐾 Lifestyles Of the Rich and Furry…

🐩 Historically famous pets.

https://www.loveproperty.com/gallerylist/389888/historic-photos-show-celebrities-and-their-pets-at-home-through-the-years

💰 Spoiled pets.

https://www.kinship.com/pet-lifestyle/how-the-rich-spoil-pets

🐕 Bollywood pets.

🦉 Quotes of the Week

The point is not to pay back kindness, but to pass it on.Julia Alvarez

Someone who has never failed somewhere, that person cannot be great. Failure is the true test of greatness. – Herman Melville

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey Fierstein

In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion. – Albert Camus

Silent and listen is the same word, just misspelled. – CyHi the Prynce

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

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. – James Baldwin

How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win. – Gilbert K. Chesterton

Fireball makes you talk a lot of sh*t.Tamra Judge, Real Housewives of Orange County

Superman doesn’t have time for selfies. – Superman (David Corenswet), Superman

🍁 Bring On the Flannel…

Until next week, stay safe; stay buying your Halloween candy early or risk them being out of mini Tootsie Pops (and get the Holiday Barbie while you’re at it); and stay never forgetting, it’s Monica’s house. Alan gave it to her.

June 27, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Daisy’s Christening Day, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watching, Dead Coming Up, New Squid, Bite Me, Above & Beyond, Octrain Of Quotes & Banner

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Carly talked to Michael in the MetroCourt Garden about Daisy’s christening, but he wasn’t paying attention. She asked what was going on, and he said welcoming a new family member felt cruel to Willow.

Nina said Willow had just gotten divorced, but Willow said she’d just lost her kids. Marrying Drew would help her get them back.

In his office, Martin told Drew that he’d alerted the media. Tracy had caved and they had her where they wanted her.

Brook found Tracy in the solarium and told her that there was so much she wanted to say to Gio, but she was giving him space. Tracy said Gio would come to her when he was ready. She wanted to run something by Brook, and Brook asked if she was hiding a body. Tracy said, not yet. She’d received an offer from Drew and had agreed to his terms. She needed to decide if she should go through with it.

Kai went to the gallery and told Trina that he’d taken Drew up on his offer and accepted the internship.

Portia sat down in the locker room and Isaiah came out in a towel.

Curtis came out of pool, and Jordan said she was shocked to find him there in the middle of the day. How would Aurora survive without him chained to his desk? He said, through the magic of cellphones. What was the point in working in a building that had a rooftop pool if he didn’t take advantage of it once in a while?

Carly said it was up to Michael and Sasha, but his beautiful baby girl was something to celebrate, and he shouldn’t feel guilty about the christening. He’d fought for his parental rights and the judge decided the children were better off with him full time. She was relieved. He said he was too, but was having a hard time getting past Willow falling apart in court. Carly said they’d been in love a long time and that didn’t go away overnight, but he said it wasn’t just that. Willow loved the kids and was still their mother, and he wanted her to be when she was ready and healthy. The real problem was Drew.

Willow said she and Michael had gotten married when they wanted to fight Nelle, and Nina said, so it was just a legal tactic, but Willow said this was different. She and Michael weren’t in love the first time they got married. She and Drew were in love and intended to stay married. They were telling the truth. Nina said, they knew that, but the judge wouldn’t.

Jordan told Curtis that the job with Sidwell gave her a bump in salary, so she could afford something bigger. Plus, to maintain her cover, she had to commit to the part. Anyone in her position would upgrade their living situation.

Isaiah told Portia that he was sorry. He didn’t realize anyone was in here. She said she needed a minute after pulling a 15-hour shift. She was trying to work up the energy and wherewithal to go home and couldn’t find it.

Trina said she thought was turning down the move to DC, and Kai said he did turn it down. He didn’t want to leave Port Charles or her, but Drew said the position had flexibility and Drew would make it work for him. Drew was letting him work in Port Charles. He might go to DC one in a while, but he definitely wasn’t moving there. Trina said she was happy he was staying, and he said him too. He asked if she was okay about him taking the internship. He wanted her to be honest. She said she didn’t trust Drew and thought working for him would be Kai’s biggest mistake.

Drew told Martin that this was the second best thing that happened to him all day, and Martin wondered what could possibly be better. Drew said Willow agreed to marry him, and Martin said he’d offer congratulations, but he and matrimony were no longer speaking. It was a smart strategy for the custody fight. Drew said what was different was that he loved Willow and looked forward to her sharing his last name – Quartermaine.

Tracy told Brook about the press conference and said if she dropped the cease and desist preventing Drew from using the name, he would refuse to cooperate with the authorities and the ketamine charges would go away. Brook asked what the problem was, and Tracy said, her pride. It was telling her to let this ridiculous case go forward. Force them to prove it. Brook said, could they? and Tracy said, of course (🍷) not. She didn’t drug Drew. Brook said, normally she’d tell Tracy to fight to the end, but it was a matter of public record that she’d framed Alexis. She could lose even though she didn’t do it. Drew was a complete sleaze, and he was offering her an offramp. She may just need to swallow her pride and take it.

Isaiah said Portia was Co-Chief of Staff. Why was she working a long shift? She said someone had to cover for Dr. Park in the ER and she volunteered. He said he apologized if he was overstepping, but was she possibly taking on too much? She said she was actively avoiding going home, and he said if things were tough there and at home, she needed a distraction and to not think of either.

Curtis said Jordan was good at making a believable cover, and she said there were so many life-or-death situations where he had her back and helped her. He said he knew she had his back, and they reminisced about a drug operation where they sat in his busted-up car in the August heat with no air conditioning. Jordan said, if only his employees knew their polished CEO once sat in a sweatbox, and Curtis said he remembered the chase. Then the look on his face when he realized he’d been played. Jordan said, that almost made it worth it.

Nina said if Willow married Drew, it would look like they were working the system. The judge saw how devastated Willow was. She’d think they only married to change that. Willow said they wouldn’t be, and Nina said, they knew that, but had to make sure no decisions seemed irresponsible or reckless. Willow said Martin had advised them to get married. He’d said it was a good strategy. Nina said, it might be, but Willow didn’t have to do it right away.

Michael told Carly that he and Willow had no chance to solve their problems. If Drew had backed off, who knew what could have happened? Carly said, Drew was family. They were close and he trusted Drew. Then Drew betrayed him in the worst possible way. Michael said, then Drew played mind games with his son, making Wiley think he didn’t want him. It was despicable. What kind of man did that? She said, someone with no moral compass. At least for now, Willow was blind to it. Michael said that was going to change.

Kai asked if Trina’s parents couldn’t keep their grudge with Drew between them, and she said they happened to be people she loved and who mattered to her. He said he got they had a bad experience, but Drew had been nothing but good to him, and she said she he was, but she had to question Drew’s motives. Kai asked if it wasn’t possible Drew saw something in him. She had. It was an amazing opportunity to explore politics on a national level without leaving Port Charles. She said she didn’t know he was interested in politics, and he said all he’d thought about was football. Now his future was wide open. It intrigued him. He liked helping people and serving the community. He wanted to see where it went. Maybe he’d pursue it long term or maybe not, but he did know he was hoping that working with someone she didn’t like wouldn’t come between them.

Brook asked if Tracy was that worried about Drew calling himself a Quartermaine, and Tracy said it did. The name meant something, and he didn’t deserve the name or the respect that went with it. Brook said Drew would never get what he really wanted – their acceptance. He’d never actually be one of them. Monica wouldn’t even let him into the house. If he needed a name change to drop the charges, give it to him. Tracy said she’d face the humiliation that came with the deal she made with the devil, but Brook said she wouldn’t be doing it alone, and took Tracy’s hand.

Isaiah said Portia would be no good to her patients if she ran herself into the ground. If she wasn’t going to get sleep, at least have some fun. Portia said she didn’t remember what fun was like, and Isaiah said they’d have to change that. It was a beautiful day, and they were going to go have fun.

Carly said Michael was legally able to get the kids away from Drew, and he said if Willow had any chance of being in their lives, Drew had to be taken out of the equation. Carly said she’d even teamed up with Nina, but nothing would shake Drew’s hold on Willow, but he said that was before she lost her kids. She painted Drew as her hero, but he was the real reason she’d lost her children. If she was forced to see that, maybe it would finally be enough for her to walk away for good.

Nina said it was fine if Willow and Drew wanted to get married, but they had to convince the judge it was a real marriage, not just a legal strategy. There should be no rush. No city hall. No Vegas. An actual wedding that was planned. Willow said she’d have to wait longer to see her kids, but Nina said there had been no visitation hearing yet. Willow said if they got married by the time the hearing was scheduled, it would improve her chances, but Nina said rash decision making wasn’t going to help her get her kids back.

Jordan said, afterward, she and Curtis had sat on the roof of his car, and he said they celebrated finally nailing Hoffman. She said the breeze from the water cooled them off. She remembers it being the best feeling ever. He said, because it was.

Kai said he appreciated that Trina was worried, but he was making a choice based on his experiences and could handle himself. He didn’t have to like someone to learn from them. Trina said, but he liked Drew, and he said he did. Maybe Drew would give him a reason not to, but that was a lesson he had to learn for himself. It was an amazing opportunity, and he was going to take it. His phone dinged and he said he had to go to a press conference for Drew. He’d call her later. As he left, she called him back and kissed him. She said she didn’t have to agree with him to be on his side. He had this. He thanked her and kissed her.

Brook met Chase at the press conference, and Tracy said she appreciated the support, but Brook didn’t have to notify the family to witness her public humiliation. Brook said she was Tracy’s moral support and Chase was hers. Chase said he was here support Tracy too, and Tracy said she’d been through worse, when Martin came in.

Curtis said, it was a long time ago, and Jordan said things were a lot different. He said he was proud of them. They’d come a long way. She said she just got a glimpse of the guy she used to know, when Portia came in with Isaiah. Curtis’s phone rang, and he said it was Trina. Trina asked if he could come by the gallery.

Portia told Isaiah that her workaholic husband made time to spend at the pool with Jordan, and he said maybe they had the same idea they did. Portia said they weren’t co-workers and didn’t need to decompress. They used to be married. Did he think they’re behavior was appropriate? He said he didn’t think he was the person to ask. He wasn’t impartial. He and Jordan used to date.

Willow said getting married could be the only way to get her kids back, and Nina asked if Drew was pushing her, but she said, not at all. Nina suggested she tell Drew that she wanted more time to plan. As her mother, she’d love to give Willow the wedding she’d dreamed of. They could plan it together. Willow said she’d already told Drew that she’d marry him, but she’d think about the rest of what Nina said. She had to go. Nina told her to call if she needed to talk, and Willow left.

Carly says she wants Drew out of Willow’s life almost as much as Michael does, but she may never leave Drew. Was he willing to keep the children out of her life for good if that was the case? He said Drew wouldn’t be part of Wiley and Amelia’s life. It was non-negotiable.

Martin told the press that Congressman Quartermaine was going to address the charges against his aunt, Tracy Quartermaine. There was nothing more important to him than family, honesty, and loyalty. Brook wondered if Tracy would go through with it, and Chase said Tracy had the means, motive, and opportunity. Brook said Tracy’s colorful past didn’t help, but if Tracy had wanted to drug Drew, she wouldn’t have met him in a public place and kept the evidence in her car. She’d already been caught framing someone and wouldn’t let herself get caught again. He said it was an interesting and perfectly logical defense.

Drew said, it didn’t have to go this way. Tracy could have cooperated. Tracy said he was so proud himself for winning. Gloat wasn’t a good color on him. He said, nor on her, although she’d worn it many times. Now that the shoe was on the other foot, he guesses it was proof they were related. He left and she said, think again.

Isaiah told Portia that he and Jordan’s relationship was brief. It got complicated and she wanted to step back. Portia said she could guess why, and he said this wasn’t helping her unwind. Maybe they should go. She said, absolutely not, and he said he’d wanted to help her relax, not add to her tension. She said it hadn’t. Curtis didn’t even notice she was here. Clearly, he was focused on something else.

At the press conference, Drew told Kai, when it was over, they could go back to what was important, making the constituents happy. His aunt made a grave error in judgement and when she acknowledged that, he could put the incident behind him and move forward. Kai flashed back to hearing Curtis talk about paying Jacinda off to say Drew took the ketamine on purpose, and Drew said he’d see Kai after the press conference.

Nina said she needed to talk to Carly. Carly needed to get through to Michael. If she didn’t, Willow was going to marry Drew.

Michael found Willow in the solarium and told her that the kids weren’t there. She said Yuri told her and although she’d love to see them, she came to see him.

Trina told Curtis that Kai accepted a position as Drew’s congressional intern, and he said he was sorry. There were better people for Kai to work and learn from, but don’t let the tension affect their relationship. Kai was a good guy and Trina seemed happy with him. Don’t let this stop that between them. Trina said she knew Curtis was trying to find the escort and bring her back, but she didn’t understand how it would protect her mom. He said it was complicated and to leave it alone, but she said she couldn’t. What kind of trouble was her mom in?

Portia said she couldn’t fix the situation until she knew what she was dealing with, when Isaiah’s phone rang. He said he needed to take it and when he left, Portia went over to Jordan. She said she was sorry to interrupt. Jordan must be exhausted from entertaining her husband all afternoon.

Carly said she felt awful about Willow, and Nina said she’d be legally entitled to visitation sooner or later. Carly said they’d deal with it them, and Nina said both kids were at an impressionable age. Drew would be a potential role model and a huge influence. The only way to change that would be for Michael to compromise now. Carly needed to convince him to allow Willow to see the kids and get a court order as soon as possible and make sure it’s just Willow, not Drew. Carly said she didn’t think it was possible, and Nina said if Willow saw the kids, she could pry her away from Drew. Carly had the power to get Michael to allow Willow to see the children.

Michael asked how Willow was feeling, and she said, better. She was so shocked. It hit her all at once and she didn’t know how to handle it. He said it was a surprise to him too, and she said the process was horrible. She didn’t want another court fight. Wiley and Amelia loved and needed them both, and they needed to set a good example. Michael agreed, and she said that’s why she wasn’t hiding anything anymore.  Their lack of honesty was what got them into trouble in the first place. She and Drew were getting married.

Drew addressed the press and said he knew his family was a fractious group and Tracy Angelica Quartermaine’s questionable judgement was legendary. As a family, they’d decided it didn’t make sense to waste taxpayer money and clog the court with a personal mattery. His aunt fully regretted her actions that led to her arrest and was pleased to make a public announcement. The Quartermaine family would settle the dispute in house, and he’d no longer cooperate with the investigation involving his aunt and strongly encouraged them to drop the charges. Now his aunt would like to address them herself.

Tracy took the podium and said she’d like to read a few prepared remarks. With regard to the reckless and reprehensible accusations she’d levied against her beloved and honorable nephew, Congressman Drew Quar… After trying several times, she said she couldn’t do it. She had to tell the truth. Drew took the drugs, then planted them in her car. He caused embarrassment and disgrace to the family when he destroyed his nephew’s marriage and should be thrown out of office the same way his stepmother threw him out of the Quartermaine mansion.

Tuesday:

Jason met Sonny at Sonny’s house. Sonny said Turner thought she was sending him to prison, but didn’t know her star witness was about to disappear.

Sidwell invited Lucy to lunch at the MetroCourt Garden, and said his son would be joining them.

Jordan said she didn’t know what Portia was implying, and Portia said she saw Jordan and Curtis by the pool, smiling and laughing. Jordan said reminiscing about old times? and Portia asked if she meant during their marriage. Jordan said Portia needed to have a conversation with Curtis, but Portia said Curtis wasn’t the problem. Jordan was.

Trina told Curtis about Kai overhearing him and Portia talking about Jacinda. She asked if Portia was in trouble and did Drew have something to do with it. Kai was working with Drew, and she needed him to tell her what was going on.

Tracy tried to call Drew Congressman Quartermaine, but couldn’t do it. She said she had to tell the truth. Drew took the drugs, then planted some in her car to embarrass and disgrace her. Just ask her nephew about that. He should be thrown out of office the same way his stepmother threw him out of the Quartermaine mansion. Martin suggested Brook take Tracy home. She was either having a stroke or sundowning.

Nina said Carly had to convince Michael to give Willow visitation. It was the only way to stop her from marrying Drew. Carly said Nina had plenty of chances to do that and nothing had worked. Why was this time different?

Michael said he and Willow married to get custody of Wiley from Nelle. Did she think it was going to help her this time? She said she loved Drew and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and Michael said if she married Drew, he’d make sure she never saw the kids again.

Jason said Natalia’s house was set up along with the guards, and Sonny said if she brought over the incriminating records, she’d be off to Belize. Jason said he had eyes on her just in case, but had one concern. What if Natalia already told Sidwell everything she knew?

Sidwell, Marco, and Lucy talked about Sidwell’s house in Dubai, and Sidwell said he’d tried to swing a substantial sale Lucy’s way, but it fell through. She asked if he was talking about Windymere, but he said, no. Sonny’s piers. Sonny considered his offer, but decided not to take it. Que sera sera. Lucy said, don’t give up yet. Perhaps she could still make it happen.

Nina said if Michael agreed to a generous visitation schedule, there was no way Willow would pass it up, even if Drew couldn’t go. Eventually, Willow would see that she didn’t need Drew’s help to have the kids in her life, and it would be the beginning of the end of their relationship. Carly said Drew was still calling the shots. There was no way he’d let Willow agree when it didn’t include him.

Willow said Michael won custody, but once she and Drew were married, the judge would revisit it and give her at least partial custody. Michael said he wasn’t being cruel, but after her meltdown, he didn’t think that would happen. He’d exercise every bit of his power to protect his kids. She said he didn’t have to protect them from her, but he said as long as she was with Drew, it wasn’t healthy for them. It was his opinion and the judge’s too. She said Willow’s relationship with Drew was the reason she’d lost. If they got married, she would seal her fate. She said he was just trying to bully her into dumping Drew. He was scared she was going to win and when she did, she’d try to have more compassion than he had for her.

Tracy said she was no fool, and on the side, Kai said he wanted to get Drew out of there, out of the line of fire and away from the cameras. Martin said Tracy blew her chance to stay out of prison with her insolent behavior. If there was any doubt about her guilt, there wasn’t now. She said his client got caught acting like a frat boy on spring break and was trying to cover his ass, planting the ketamine to frame her. From the audience, Cody said she was dead wrong about that.

Lucy said perhaps she could get Sonny to reconsider, but Sidwell said he’d declined before. She said circumstances had changed and she thought she’d pay him a visit right now. Sidwell called her an angel, and hugged her.

Sonny told Jason that he’d considered the possibility of Natalia leaking information to Sidwell, but from what he’d seen, she couldn’t stand Sidwell. The animosity ran deep and Sidwell would make plans to come after him even if Natalia was gone. He wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.

Portia said she’d seen Jordan begging for Curtis’s attention before, when Isaiah came back. Portia said Jordan found excuses to seek Curtis out, but Jordan said they had business dealings, and they were still family. Curtis was TJ’s uncle. And they were friends. Portia was projecting and what she’d described was how she chipped away at Jordan’s marriage to Curtis. Portia asked if it was pay back, and Jordan said if they were having a problem, it wasn’t on her. Portia asked, who said they were having problems? and Jordan said something wasn’t right or Portia wouldn’t be confronting her. Portia said Jordan had been fawning over Curtis and it was embarrassing, and Jordan said Portia was the one causing a scene because she felt insecure. It had nothing to do with her. If Portia’s marriage was on the rocks, Jordan was guessing she only had herself to blame. Grabbing a drink from nearby, Portia threw it on Jordan.

Cutis said Trina’s mother was in a tough position with very negative consequences if it wasn’t handled, and Trina asked how she could help. He said she couldn’t. They were handling it. She asked if he was tracking down Jacinda, and he said, yes. She asked if he was going to ask her to lie, but he said, the less she knew, the better. She said she understood he wanted to protect her but thought he was making a big mistake. She could help.

Tracy said she gave Cody a roof over his head and a job. This was how he repaid her? Brook told Chase that Cody despised Drew, and Chase asked why he was doing this. Brook said she had no idea. Martin announced that Cody was the son of the PCPD Chief of Police Mac Scorpio and worked for Tracy. It was courageous for him to speak out against his employer. Cody said he wasn’t a supporter of Drew’s and didn’t vote for him, but he couldn’t stand by and see him be accused of something he didn’t do. Cody was in charge of the horses, and Hades was their prize show horse. Before the Hampton Classic, Hades needed a minor medical procedure, and he had to help by getting an anesthetic. His truck wouldn’t start so he borrowed Tracy’s car. In addition to supplies, he picked up ketamine and must have left a vial in Tracy’s car. That meant the congressman didn’t frame her and Miss Quartermaine didn’t drug the congressman. She was innocent.

Curtis said he appreciated Trina’s concern, but her mom was in this situation because of him. Drew had been gunning for him and got to him through Trina’s mother. He was the target, not her, and he didn’t want Trina involved. They were capable people, and she had to trust him. Trina asked him to promise to tell her if it got worse, and he promised, but told her, in the meantime, don’t discuss it with anyone. She promised that she and Kai wouldn’t tell anyone.  

Jordan asked what was wrong with Portia, and Isaiah told Portia to come with him. As she left, Portia warned Jordan to stay out of her marriage. Isaiah hustled her out and asked if she felt better. Portia said, not really. This wasn’t her, but she had to deal with this once and for all. Her phone rang and she said now was her chance.

Nina told Carly that she’d deal with Drew, but needed Michael to work with her. Do it for their grandchildren. They loved and needed to see their mother. It would also help Willow deal with the trauma. Carly said she wasn’t unsympathetic, but hadn’t forgotten what Willow put the children through. She couldn’t stop Willow from marrying Drew; no one could. Nina would have to figure out another way. Carly left.

Jason said too bad Sidwell wasn’t legit. Sonny selling him the piers would solve all their problems. Sonny said, leaving Port Charles in Sidwell’s hands was a huge mistake, and Jason said they couldn’t tie him to the explosion or exonerate him. There was too much uncertainty, and they should prepare for blowback. There was a knock at the door, and Jason opened it to Lucy carrying a basket of oranges. She said she was hoping to have a tête-à-tête with Sonny, and Jason said he had to get going. He left and Lucy said they needed to talk about Sonny’s piers.

Outside, Jason’s phone rang. Nina asked if there was any chance he could meet her at the MetroCourt.

Michael said he’d tried to be compassionate, but Willow said he was unreasonable. She’d flown to Germany to see if they could work something out, and he refused to see her. He asked where she was getting that. No one told him that she was there. She said she spoke to the receptionist, who’d conferred with him and said he didn’t want to see her. He said, that never happened. It must have been a mistake. Willow said the mistake was hers thinking it was possible to be amicable, but he said it made no sense. She said he couldn’t stand it that she chose Drew over him, and he was holding it against her, keeping the children from her as punishment for falling in love with another man. He said he’d never use the children to punish her, but he would protect him from Drew, who was a destructive, manipulative fraud. She insisted Drew was none of those things. He respected her enough to tell her the truth, and he said Drew lied to her and she lied to herself. Willow said Drew treated her as an equal, and he said she wouldn’t stop living in her warped fantasy life. She said he was used to getting his way, but not this time. She was going to marry Drew, and she was going to get her children back.

Martin asked why Cody hadn’t stepped up before now, and Cody said he didn’t watch the news. There was so much sadness out there. He didn’t realize he’d left the ketamine in the car until it was time for the procedure. The full truth was he didn’t ask to borrow Tracy’s car and was worried she’d be upset if she found out. Martin said, more than facing charges that would send her to prison? and Cody said he didn’t realize how far it had gone. When he found out what happened, he had to say something. Martin asked how much Tracy was paying him, and Cody said he had the receipt, pulling it out of his pocket and reading, Dr. Jane Thomas, DVM. Martin said that didn’t prove a damn thing. It could have been doctored. Tracy grabbed the receipt and said she’d take it to an expert to prove it wasn’t. It was going right to her lawyer. Martin made a grab for it and fell off the stage.

Sonny asked if Sidwell sent Lucy over, but she said, no. She thought he needed to reconsider Sidwell’s offer. It wasn’t about the commission, but about being his friend and getting him out of a politically sticky situation. Measure C made a mess for him and Laura. Why turn down Sidwell? Sonny said, because he was a bad guy, and Lucy asked if he realized he was already in business with Sidwell through Deception. He said it wasn’t his decision, and she said the stock was soaring. It would be that much better if Sidwell owned the piers to operate his import business. He said, minerals and God knows what else, and she said in the spirit of cooperation and friendship, what could she do to make it happen?

Marco wondered if Sidwell thought Lucy could get Sonny to change his mind, and Sidwell said it was a long shot, but she was very persuasive. He hoped she succeeded so he didn’t have to resort to more drastic measures… Just kidding. Marco said he didn’t think Sonny would be an impediment for much longer.

Nina told Jason that Drew was engaged to her daughter, and she needed to make sure they didn’t make it to the altar. He asked how he could help, and she said she pitched a plan to Carly to get Michael on board, but Carly turned her down. She was desperate and Michael valued his opinion. He asked, what was her plan? and she said she wanted Michael to let Willow see the kids – without Drew. It would give Willow less reason to marry Drew and give her wiggle room to get Willow to postpone the wedding. If she got really lucky, she could convince Willow to dump Drew altogether. He said, it could work, and she asked if that meant he’d talk to Michael. Willow approached and asked, what’s going on here?

Carly told Michael that she’d talked to Nina and Nina told her that Willow and Drew were getting married. He said he knew. Willow was just there. She was convinced it would help her win back custody. Carly said, Nina thought if he allowed Willow visitation without Drew, it would take away her incentive to get married. Eventually, she could be pried away from Drew, and he’d be out of the picture for good. In the end, that’s what he wanted, right?

Portia said she was at the pool when Curtis called, and he said they must have missed each other. She said, they didn’t. She saw him with Jordan and thought they needed to have a conversation about that. He said they needed to discuss Trina. She knew Portia was in trouble, and knew it was because of Drew.

Martin was helped up, and Drew said he thought it best to bring the conference to an end. He thanked everyone for their time and patience, but Tracy said, before they left, there was something Drew might want to say to the good people of Port Charles. Drew said it seemed his dear Aunt Tracy had been exonerated, and he couldn’t tell them how relieved he was to know she wasn’t the one who drugged him. But rest assured he’d be working closely with the PCPD to find the real culprit. Tracy said he didn’t have to look far. Just look in the mirror. She laughed.

Jordan said she was glad Isaiah was still there, and he asked if she was okay. She said it was unexpected, but she was fine, and she thanked him for intervening. She didn’t know why Portia flew off the handle. He said he saw her with Curtis too. Was she seriously trying to say there was nothing to worry about?

Portia said they should have been more careful and asked if Curtis thought Kai told Drew what he heard. Curtis said, Trina told him that Kai wouldn’t, and he had a hard time believing Kai would do anything to hurt their family or Trina. He wanted to make sure Trina didn’t get tangled up in this. She asked if Trina knew what Drew was holding over her head, but Curtis said she had no idea Portia doctored Heather Webber’s test results. Portia said, if she did, she’d probably blame herself, and he agreed. They had to make sure to stop Drew. She said it didn’t seem possible, but he said he had some good news.

Michael said he thought Willow would come to her senses, but he was wrong and so were Carly and Nina. Today he knew Willow was incapable of realizing that her and Drew’s relationship was harming the kids. It was why she lost custody, and she couldn’t or wouldn’t see it. Ultimately, it didn’t matter because the impact on the kids was the same. Carly asked, what was his plan? and Michael said he’d ask Diane to delay the visitation hearing, but when it happened, Willow would get nothing. Keeping the kids from their mother broke his heart, but he couldn’t allow Drew to be part of their lives.

Drew said if Martin hadn’t been focused on revenge, he would have seen what Tracy was planning and stop it before she made fools of them. Martin said he could do damage control with the press, but Drew said he’d done enough. Martin said he was going to the hospital to get his back checked, and Drew said Martin’s retainer was all he was getting.  

Chase said, that was quite a speech, and Cody said it was the truth. Chase asked if he really had the receipt, and Cody said he’d have to check. He wasn’t so good at keeping records.  

Brook said, that was wild. Cody rode in to rescue Tracy. Tracy said she was relieved to be cleared.

Sonny said Lucy was a savvy businesswoman and savvy enough to know not to get involved in the situation. Lucy said he was judging Sidwell by his reputation, not his actions, but he said he trusted his sources. She said she also trusted hers and thanked him for hearing her out. She hoped she hadn’t imposed on their friendship. He said, not at all, especially when she brought him delicious oranges. They ate one.

Sidwell asked why Sonny wouldn’t be a problem. Did Marco know something? Marco told him that he’d said as much as he could say, and Sidwell said he hoped Marco was right. He preferred not to get his hands dirty, but if it was the only option to eradicate Sonny from Port Charles, so be it.

Jordan said nothing was going on, and Isaiah asked if it was completely innocent… It wasn’t his business anymore. She said she was sorry it didn’t work out, and he said him too. He saw that Sidwell wasn’t the only problem. Her ex-husband was too. She said that wasn’t true, but he said, deep down, she knew it was. If not, she was in for a rude awakening.

Curtis told Portia that Felicia had a lead on Jacinda. She was in Sydney, He didn’t know her exact location, but he would within 48 hours. Portia said, maybe the nightmare would be over soon, and Curtis said if he could convince Jacinda to come back and publicly state that Drew hired her for a wild night of sex and drugs, he’d be too busy to focus on imploding Portia’s career.

Tracy asked if Brook didn’t think Cody would lie, and Brook said she wasn’t judging, but it was clever. Tracy said, it was Michael’s idea. A real Quartermaine knows how to get things done.

Drew told Kai that he’d have to call off the wedding. He couldn’t be the reason Willow lost her kids. Kai asked if he thought it was a possibility, and Drew said it seemed everyone was against them. Kai said there was something he should know. Curtis Ashford planned to find the escort and bring her back to say Drew knowingly abused drugs. He should prepare for increased scrutiny. (I said, no, no, no, no, no, through the whole thing.)

Willow asked if Michael sent Jason to intimidate her and her mom, and Jason said she was making a mistake. She said he was wrong about his brother. Drew was a good man, and she couldn’t wait to be his wife. Together, they were going to get her kids back. He said, if that’s what she wanted to do, that was her choice, and left.

Michael said he hated separating the kids from their mom, but it was for their own good, and Carly said she’d been where he was. She was convinced keeping him from AJ was the right thing, but he didn’t thank her for that decision. His kids might not thank him and might very well resent him. He said he had to do it anyway and live with the consequences.

Wednesday:

Gio instructed Rocco and Danny on working at the pool. Danny was on water and Rocco on towels. Rocco told Danny that his mom took his photo like it was his first day at school. From a chaise lounge, Lulu waved to Rocco.

At the Quartermaines, Marco gave Lulu two birth certificates for Rocco, telling her how, 7 months later, it was altered to Rocco Falconari. Dante walked in.

Kristina went to Alexis’s office and Alexis said she’d seen Elizabeth. Martin was pushing her to sue the car company. She wasn’t interested and Alexis thought she didn’t suspect Kristina’s involvement. Kristina said Elizabeth didn’t suspect, she knew. Lucky told her.

At the gallery, Ava gave Laura an invitation to the Joel Sartore opening, but Laura said her calendar was overflowing. If she couldn’t make it, could she pass the tickets on to Elizabeth?

Ric came into the hospital, and Elizabeth said she was busy, but he said he was there to see a potential client.

Martin told Lucas that his back was still killing him. Lucas examined him and Martin said it was all Tracy Quartermaine’s fault.

Tracy looked at her phone and laughed, when Cody walked in. He said he knew how much she enjoyed watching Martin fall ass over teakettle, and she thanked him. She knew the minute she told him to shut up, Martin would insist he speak. She was trying to make a GIF of Drew’s face the minute he realized she’d won, but she’d ask Leo to do it later. They needed to discuss his payment. He said he didn’t want her money.

At Sonny’s, he asked what Natalia’s answer was, but she said she didn’t know. He was asking her to give up her life. He said, for a whole new beautiful, comfortable life in Belize. They were running out of time. What was her answer?

Rocco asked what Lulu was doing there, and she said she was just another guest. She asked if he remembered his social security number and if he thanked Carly, while she straightened his shirt. Danny told Gio that Rocco was so embarrassed. if his mom was here… she’d do the same thing. Gio said, so would his.

Brook told Dante that they were wrapping up and said she’d let Marco know when she made a decision. Marco left, and Dante said he assumed Chase told Brook what happened. She said, yeah. He could hold what he wanted against her, but Chase was just protecting her. He said he didn’t want to hear it, and she asked if he wanted to yell at her again. He said he didn’t. Talking to Chase made him realize it wasn’t getting him anywhere. In order to reach Gio, they had to work together.

Cody told Tracy that Drew was such an ass, he was happy to take him down a peg or two. She’d been framed and he was glad to help. She was a great boss, and it was the best job he’d had. She said Hades loved him and she found him more than tolerable. She thanked him.

Kristina said Lucky didn’t mention the blackmail to Elizabeth. Just that he helped cover it up. She had the right to turn Kristina in, but wasn’t going to. Alexis said Elizabeth must know Lucky could be charged as an accessory after the fact, but Kristina said, Lucky was headed to Africa, but Elizabeth knew it would hurt Alexis and Molly. Alexis said Kristina’s plan to break up Ava and Ric needed to stop.

Ava said, of course (🍷), and Laura said Elizabeth loved art and now that she had her cast off, she probably wanted to get out. Ava said she was happy Elizabeth was feeling better, and asked if Laura wanted a sneak peek at Joel’s new book. She sipped at a drink, and Laura said not her too with the dragonberry juice. Ava said Ric got her hooked on it, and Laura said he and Elizabeth were drinking it when she stopped by.  

Elizabeth asked Lucas if Laura knew Martin was in the hospital, but he said he wasn’t sure. She said she’d do the honors, and he said he’d noticed Ric was around, but she said he was there for a potential client. Lucas pointed out that Ric had dropped by every day since Lucky left, and she asked if he thought she was leading Ric on.  

Sonny said the longer Natalia stalled, Turner would pull the deal and prosecute her. He couldn’t let her give Turner anything that incriminated him. Natalia handed him the key to her safe deposit box and said, everything was in it. Her life was in his hands.

Ava said Ric had been working nonstop, and Laura said, now that the Corinthos case was settled, he’d have more time. Laura’s phone rang and she stepped away to take the call. It was Elizabeth.

Kristina said, as long as Ric and Ava were in it together, they’d drain the Cassadine estate dry, and Alexis would get caught for embezzlement. Alexis said she wouldn’t leave Elizabeth in Ric’s crosshairs, but Kristina said, she already was. If anyone could handle Ric, she could. Alexis said Elizabeth had a soft spot for Ric and she’d take him back. They should tell her about the blackmail. Kristina said, if they did, she’d confront Ric before she kicked him out of her life. Then he’d retaliate by sending her to prison. They were in this too deep and couldn’t say anything.

Cody told Tracy that he didn’t like taking money to help a friend.

Martin said he was going to sue Tracy for emotional and physical distress and the damage would go up with every spasm, but Ric said Martin had lunged at the paper, lost his balance, and fell. Martin said Tracy goaded him. How about a nuisance suit? She’d pay them to go away. Ric said Tracy was too vindictive to settle and he’d need a retainer of $15K. Martin said he couldn’t afford it. He wasn’t even sure he could pay his deductible. Ric said, forget Tracy. Take care of his back.

Lucas said Elizabeth was friendly toward Ric, but he was seeing Ava. Why did she seem bothered? She said there were certain things she liked about Ric, but hadn’t forgotten the terrible things. She wasn’t going back to him and Ric knew that. Unless he saw what he wanted to see. Lucas said it was hard seeing the good in people that others didn’t, and she asked if he meant Brad. He said they all made choices, and he’d decided when he had enough.

Dante said he wasn’t ready to forgive Chase or Brook, but didn’t want to prevent a relationship with Gio now. Brook said she wanted that too and was sorry Gio was so mad at Dante. She gave Gio up. It wasn’t Dante’s choice. Dante said she’d had a good relationship with Gio before. On the other hand, he’d come down hard on Gio when Rocco passed out. He regretted it and it made it harder for Gio to trust him. She said they were in the same boat. What should they do?

Sonny said he knew Marco negotiated for Natalia and asked what the timeline was. She said, Monday, and he said she’d be long gone by then. She couldn’t tell Marco that she was leaving. If Turner found out she was going to run, Turner would arrest her. Natalia said she wouldn’t be able to come back, and he said, no contact with friends or family. Belize was beautiful, especially if you had money, and she’d be safe. She’d be in a beautiful, luxury home on the beach. She asked if he would still be in contact with her, and he said, yeah. He owed her a debt and took it seriously. (If she doesn’t want to go, I will.)

Cody met Kristina and said he assumed she wanted an Ava update. She asked how it was going, and he said she couldn’t expect instant results. If he came on too strong, Ava would get suspicious. She told him to include Lucky leaving the country in his next conversation, and he asked, why? She said Ric was infatuated with Elizabeth and Ava was aware of it. She was guessing that Ric didn’t tell Ava about Lucky, and it would make her insecure and more receptive to his advances. Cody said if Ric was into Elizabeth, wasn’t his job done?

Elizabeth said she was sorry she’d assumed Ric was there to see her, and he said she could make it up to him by letting him buy her coffee – or dragonberry juice. She said she would have guessed he had plans with Ava, but he said, not tonight. Ava was swamped with a big show coming up at the gallery.

Brook told Drew that Gio was fair. They should let him set the pace and not crowd him. Eventually, he’d be ready to hear them out. When he was ready to listen, they’d prove they wanted a relationship, one on one and as his parents. Dante asked, what happened if Gio was never ready?  

Lulu asked how Rocco and Danny were doing, and Gio said it was their first day, but he thought they’d get the hang of it – Danny dropped a towel – eventually. Lulu asked how Gio was doing, and he said, just fine.

Alexis asked if Eliabeth had a minute to talk in private, and she said, sure. Lucas’s phone rang, and Marco asked if he wanted to meet for a drink at the MetroCourt pool when he was done. They could watch the sunset. Lucas said he’d love to. He was guessing from Marco’s tone, his mom’s legal troubles had cleared up, hypothetically, and Marco said, hypothetically, the interim DA was tough, but he negotiated, and a tentative agreement was in place. He was glad it was over.

Sonny said Natalia had kept his heart condition a secret and made sure he got the help he needed. She came to him when Turner offered her a deal. She said she was sorry she let Turner think there was a deal worth making, and he said she was there for his daughter when she’d had an accident. She was also there for Kristina in court. These were the little things he didn’t forget, and he’d make sure she was taken care of. She thanked him and said he had no idea how grateful she was. She was excited about the new life he was offering. He said loyalty meant everything to him and he wouldn’t abandon her.

Laura asked what Martin had done to himself, and he said he’d had a bad fall and was stuck there overnight. He didn’t want to be a burden. She said he was her brother. She loved him and he’d never be a burden. He said he’d wanted to get his own place, but couldn’t work, and she told him not to worry. He’d need an overnight bag, so text her a list of things she needed to bring back. She left, and he said, Tracy Quartermaine is going to pay for this one.

Tracy met Lulu at the pool, and said there was a pool at the house, but Lulu said, that pool didn’t employ Rocco. It was his first day. Tracy thought it was cute that Lulu was spying on Rocco, but Lulu said she wasn’t spying, and Tracy laughed. Gio asked Danny what he was doing, and Danny said, refolding the towel. Gio said they couldn’t reuse the towels, but Danny said, the guy barely touched it. Gio said, any towel they picked up should be put in the bin. Lulu said it looked like Gio would have the big brother thing down if he gave it a chance, and Tracy told her to just be grateful they were getting along. He was still mad at Brook, and she hoped he got over it soon.

Dante told Brook that they couldn’t give Gio so much space that he’d question if they cared. They had to do something to show him. She said they couldn’t force a relationship on him, and he said there was so much he didn’t know about Gio. Now he felt like he’d never get to know him. Brook said he would. Between her, Dante, her mom, and her grandma, they’d get through to him. Dante said they were a tough group to ignore forever. She was right. They had to be patient, but it was hard. He’d missed so much already.

Cody asked if Molly would be okay if Ric and Elizabeth got back together, and Kristina said, Molly would love that, but Elizabeth wasn’t interested. Until Ric knew he had a sure thing, he’d settled for Ava, but Ava… Cody said, is no one’s consolation prize, and Kristina said, if there was a break-up, it would be Ava breaking up with Ric. They had to get Ava to see that she had better options than Ric.

On the phone, Ava said she’d lost an antique watch. She knew she had it the day Ric went to Beecher’s Corners to work a case. Could they tell her the date?… Her mistake. Thanks. She flashed back to Ric telling her that he’d made it back so quickly because he had a fast car and knew a shortcut. In the present, she said he was a lying liar.

Marco asked if Lucas was working at GH when Britt was Chief of Staff, and Lucas said he was. Britt was best friends with his ex, Brad. Why? Marco said he came across her name whole working on a case. He’d see Lucas at the pool. Lucas said they’d start at the pool and see where the night took them.

Alexis said she didn’t realize Kristina and Elizabeth had talked, and thanked Elizabeth for not going to the police even though she had every right. She didn’t take what Kristina had done lightly. She’d spent her life pursuing justice, and now she was covering up Kristina’s crime. Elizabeth said, of course (🍷) she was. Kristina was her daughter. Alexis said she couldn’t let Kristina go to prison even though she deserved it.  

Lulu thanked Rocco for the excellent service, and Tracy said, the service was fine, tipping him. Danny and Rocco high-fived and Gio said they were free to go. Rocco asked if they could go in the pool, but Gio said employees didn’t get to swim. Swim at the Quartermaines. Danny said what if he tripped and fell into Rocco, and Rocco said, and as he was falling, he pulled Danny in? Tracy blew a whistle and said she’d give them a ride home. She’d had enough fun in the sun.

Cody saw blank walls in the gallery and asked, what happened? Was this art? Ava said, no. She was making room for an exhibit. He saw a freestanding sculpture and asked if that was art. She said it was abstract and meant to be touched. They both ran their hands over it, when Ava’s phone rang. She said, that’s not right. They booked months ago… She was sorry too. Cody asked if she was okay, and she said, not really. That was the guy who normally hung the art exhibits. He had a family emergency and wasn’t coming.  She had nothing on the walls for the exhibit. Cody said he was good with a hammer and nails.

Elizabeth said Lucky told her that Kristina thought it was Ava’s car, and she was horrified, and Alexis said so was she. Elizabeth said she knew Kristina had been struggling since she lost the baby and Sam. Anyone would have snapped. She thought Kristina made a terrible mistake. She gave into her impulses, and she knew Kristina regretted it. Alexis said that was generous. She thought Kristina was aware of the severity of what she’d done, but she was wondering if she was seeing what she wanted to. Elizabeth said she didn’t think so. After talking to Kristina, she thought Kristina understood. It was one reason why she agreed to stay silent.

Sonny asked when Natalia was supposed to meet with Turner, and she said, Friday afternoon. He said by the time the meeting rolled around, she’d be on a beach, sipping a Mai Tai and thinking about her future. She thanked him and said she’d be ready. She needed him to know how important their relationship was to her, and he said it was to him too. She said she was sorry she’d compromised it not telling him that Jenz was her ex. He blindsided her and she froze. No matter how he sold himself, he was a dangerous man. Marco wasn’t. Sonny needed to know Marco wasn’t like Jenz. Her attitude drove Marco toward his dad, but he wasn’t a criminal like his father. Remember that. Sonny said as long as Marco was only Sidwell’s lawyer, there was no problem.

Ava said, hanging the art was harder than it seemed. She couldn’t ask Cody. Cody said he was offering. She would have to point and occasionally cheer him on, and not hit him with anything when he got too close to the art. Serenity, where he grew up, was huge and had a lot of art. He wasn’t allowed near it, but sometimes there was a piece he’d have to look at. If he leaned in, the housekeeper would slap him. Ava said, that was terrible, and he said, those days were long gone. He’d be on his best behavior and be careful. No slapping or fighting. Ava asked if he did that often, and he said, the last person he hit was the mayor’s son, but in his defense, he was drunk. Ava said, he hit Lucky? but he told her that it wouldn’t be a problem. He didn’t get drunk anymore and Lucky was out of the country.

Elizabeth told Alexis that Ric knew how she felt about Lucky and they hadn’t been killed. She thought it best to move on and she had. So had Ric. The accident was a wake-up call. Ric seemed lighter. Ric heard them and ducked around the corner.

Natalia went to Miller & Davis, and Marco asked if she wanted to go over the deal. Natalia said the message was clear, but she wasn’t there as his client. She was there as his mother.

Dante saw Lulu at the pool, and she told him that Rocco’s shift was over. He said, too bad. It looked like they both had the same idea.

Kristina was sitting in a lounge chair, when Lucas came in. She asked if he wanted to join her, and he said he was meeting Marco, but was happy to keep her company in the meantime. She asked if things were going well, and he said, very well.

Dante saw Gio and said, got a minute?

Brook was looking at the birth certificate, when Danny and Rocco walked in. Rocco asked if she was working, and she said, yeah. She was busy with a very important project.  

Deanna went into Martin’s room, and he said he hoped she brought dinner. He was starving. She said they had a bit of a problem. She was sorry, but apparently, his insurance lapsed. He was no longer covered.

Sonny went to see Laura and she asked, what’s going on? He said he wanted to tell her in person that he wouldn’t be selling the piers to Sidwell. She said she couldn’t tell him how relieved she was to hear him say that. Sidwell was an evil man. The last thing she wanted was for him to get a foothold in Port Charles. Sonny said that’s why he turned Sidwell down. He wants to take over the city, but that ain’t gonna happen. He knew Sidwell acted like a legitimate businessman, but he’d seen how Sidwell operated. Laura said, so had she, Lucky, Anna, and Jason. Sonny said, not to start anything, but violence was coming to Port Charles and they had to figure out a way to stop it.

Thursday:

Sasha put Daisy in her crib as she talked about the christening.

Brook was looking at the Rocco folder when Rocco and Danny came in. Danny said they almost got kicked out, and Brook asked what they did. Jason came in and told them to quit bugging Brook.

Gio told Dante that he was still on duty, and Dante said he had tickets to the Port Charles Philharmonic series. He asked if Gio would like to check it out with him. He, Gio, Rocco, and Charlotte could make a night out of it.

At the pool, Lucas told Lulu that he was meeting Marco, and she said she was happy that he was happy, but how close was Marco with his father?

Marco said he wasn’t interested in talking to Natalia outside of the case, and she said even if he never acknowledged her as his mother, she gave birth to him and nothing changed that. Not even if they never spoke or laid eyes on each other again. He asked what that was supposed to mean.

Sidwell looked at photos of Sonny’s family members, when Boyle came in griping about being summoned to Spoon Island. He asked what was with the photos, and Sidwell said Sonny’s family was his obvious weakness. Their negotiations broke down and it made him upset.

Carly went to Sonny’s and said she had bad news about the christening. Sonny said he thought the reception was at her place, but she said Monica wanted to go, so it was easier to have it there. He said there was something he needed to fill her in on.

Sidwell told Boyle that Sonny turned him down, so he had to give Sonny incentive to sell. The people of Port Charles had to be reminded there was a menacing thug in their midst. Boyle said he wanted no part of it, but Sidwell said he was paying for Boyle’s campaign and didn’t care what he wanted. He’d do what Sidwell deemed necessary, smile, and say thank you.  

Lucas said he understood Marco and his father were close, and Lulu asked if he wasn’t concerned. He said, not really. He appreciated her concern, but they were two completely different people. Marco wasn’t his father. She said it would be good to know how tight they were. Were they just emotionally tight or criminally tight too?

Natalia said it may be the last time she and Marco saw each other, and he said she was leaving the country, wasn’t she?

Dante told Gio that he didn’t know much about classical music, but the first chair violinist was one of the best in the country. Did he want to check it out? Gio flashed back to smashing his violin and said music wasn’t his thing at the moment. Dante said, maybe some other time. He had a subscription and Gio could take who he wanted to. Let him know.

Jason asked how the pool was, and Brook said it was still standing. Danny said Gio wouldn’t let them go for a swim, and Jason said they had a pool there. Rocco told him, that’s what Gio said, and Danny said, nothing happened, and Tracy drove them home. The boys left, and Jason asked if Brook was good. She said she was up to her neck in Deception, and Jason said he had to talk to the boys and see how much money he owed Carly.

Sasha told Daisy, sleep well, my little ray of sunshine. She turned out the light and left.

Felicia was waiting in the nook and asked Sasha how it was going. Sasha said it was wonderfully exhausting and everything she’d ever dreamed of. She thanked Felicia for coming, and Felicia said she figured it had something to do with the christening and last-minute errands. Sasha said it was something more important. Felicia had been supportive, encouraging, and loving, Sasha’s ultimate safe space. It would mean so much to her if Felicia would be Daisy’s godmother.

Danny and Rocco told Jason about the day, and Rocco said Gio was a drag. They wanted a quick swim. Danny said it wasn’t like Carly would care, when Dante came in. He said the staff being in the pool would make them look entitled unprofessional. They didn’t want to be those guys. The boys left and Jason thanked Dante. He said he thought it was going to be good for Danny to work, and Dante said Rocco too. Did Jason have a minute? Jason asked, what’s up? and Dante said he realized he had the wrong take on Jason.

Lucas told Lulu that he assumed Marco and Sidwell’s relationship was similar to Sonny and Dante’s. They loved each other, but chose to keep Sonny’s extracurricular activities out of it. Lulu said Sidwell didn’t strike her as having the same code or boundaries, but Lucas said Marco promised he had nothing to do with his father’s business and had given him no reason not to trust that. Lulu said she didn’t, but she was going off what she knew about Marco’s father, and Lucas said, totally fair. Imagine if Charlotte was judged solely on who her father was. She said, well played, and he said, score. She said she just wanted him to be careful, and he said his eyes were open. Maybe he and Marco crossed wires. He was going to go. Lulu said, if Marco showed up, she’d tell him that he just missed Lucas, and Lucas left.

Natalia said she was leaving the country and Marco never had to deal with her again ever. He asked where she was going, and she asked what difference it made. She was starting a new life somewhere else. He wondered how she arranged it. Sonny, right? She said, yes.

Sonny told Carly that Sidwell had offered to buy his piers. The offer looked good on paper, but he couldn’t hand over unchecked power. He knew Sidwell wasn’t a fan of the word no and wouldn’t give up. Carly asked how long Sidwell had been trying. How were they sure he wasn’t responsible for the fire in the penthouse, or the assassination attempt in LA? Sidwell could be a threat to their family.

A drunk guy told Lulu that he liked her hat, calling her blondie. He asked if he could buy her a drink. She said she was good, and the guy sat down. He said the Mai Tais were insane, and Gio asked if Lulu was okay. The guy said he was trying to convince her to have Mai Tai and loosen up. How about a swim? Gio said the pool was closed and the lady would like him to move along, but the guy said he and blondie were good. Lulu said if he called her blondie once more time, she swore… Gio said he was going to tell security the guy was harassing her, and the guy said they were real buzzkills. He’d go swimming on his own. Gio repeated that the pool was closed. Get out. The guy left, and Lulu thanked Gio for the assist, when they heard a splash.

Brook looked at Rocco’s folder and flashed back to Lulu saying she’d never lie to her children or keep huge life altering secrets from them. Brook called Deception and asked Mona to print out the March financials. She’d pick them up from the office. She put the folders on her desk and left.

Sonny told Carly that he, Brick, and Jason had been looking into it, but so far nothing tied Sidwell to the bombing or assassination attempt. Then again, nothing exonerated him either. Carly asked how they knew he wasn’t a genius at covering his tracks, and Sonny said he was keeping his guard up. Sidwell had it easy getting what he wanted in Port Charles. Carly said he was invested in Deception, had underwritten the Nurses Ball, and scooped up Windymere, but Sonny said Sidwell wasn’t going to take anything from him.

Marco asked when Natalia went to Sonny, and she said before she’d come to him. He said Sonny was going to kill her, but she said that wasn’t who Sonny was. He said Sonny was a mobster, but she said he wouldn’t hurt her. They were friends… more than that. He’d promised to take care of her. He appreciated she’d been there for him a lot. He said she was blowing the deal and now her best outcome was to go to prison where they could keep her safe, but she said she and Sonny were leaving together. He said Sonny’s entire family and business were there. He wasn’t going anywhere. She said, not permanently, but she was starting a new life in a new country and Sonny would be part of it. He’d promised to provide for her. He said Sonny was going to kill her. He’d negotiated a deal she’d had no intention of honoring. He could be on the hook and go to prison. Lucas came in and asked if he was okay.

Felicia said she’d be honored to be Daisy’s godmother. Was Michael… Sasha said she was certain Michael was in full agreement. Felicia was a steadying presence and a true friend. Felicia said they were family, and Sasha said she felt that. Her mom and Robert were gone, and she was grateful. Other than her grandmother, she’d had no consistent mother figure. Felicia had a maternal way with her gentle guidance and open acceptance. She let people find their own way and she wanted that for her daughter. Felicia suggested they make it official, raised her hand, and said she accepted the role as Daisy’s godmother. They hugged.  

Daisy cried and someone came into the room, their shadow looming over her.

Natalia said she’d let Marco fill Lucas in. She wasn’t dealing with him when he behaved like this. Marco said he tried. If she left, the rest was on her. If she walked out, she was no longer his client or his mother. She was officially nothing to him. She said she already was and left. Marco said he had to call the police, but Lucas said, don’t do that.

Carly asked Sonny, what about Natalia? She was Sidwell’s ex and knew he’d had heart surgery. What if she’d tipped Sidwell off? Sonny said, let him worry about that. Natalia wasn’t going to be a problem for him or anyone in their family.

Dante said he thought Danny ran wild because Jason was too busy with Sonny to see what Danny was doing and what Danny thought he needed. Jason said he knew Danny needed space, and Dante said balance began there. They couldn’t hold on too tight. That’s not how it operated with Rocco, and he had to be patient with Gio. Let him call the shots. He was sorry he was so dismissive and critical of the way Jason parented his son. He apologized. Jason said, no problem. Apology accepted.  

Sasha suggested she make tea and found she’d put the milk in the cupboard instead of the fridge. Baby brain was real. Felicia asked how it was going with the Quartermaines, and Sasha said it had been great. Michael was an amazing father and Wiley and Amelia were so cute with the baby. They wanted to help with her, and she loved it. Felicia asked about Sasha’s parents, and Sasha said Robert video called every morning at 10 am Eastern time. He had to see Daisy. Felicia said, what about Holly?

Daisy was now in a different onesie, and the mystery person left. (I wondered now if it was Holly.)

Sasha said Holly was a work in progress, and Felicia said, weren’t they all? Sasha said they’d come a long way to build a relationship, and Felicia said her relationship with Maxie hadn’t always been good. She made some big mistakes, and it took a lot of time and effort and a lot of forgiveness to overcome it. It didn’t happen overnight. Sasha said Holly had been lovely. She’d sent a gift and they’d been texting. Now that she was a mother with a daughter, she looked at some of Holly’s choices differently and thought Holly did the best she could in the best way she knew how. Holly was what she was, and Sasha was starting to see she did what she could. Felicia said nothing taught you humility faster than parenthood. Everything you knew about your parents probably deserved a second look, as well as things you knew about yourself. They heard Daisy crying on the monitor, and Felicia said she was going home to rethink her outfit.  

A man told Gio that the guest was escorted off the property and sent home in a cab. It wasn’t the first incident, so he was no longer welcome at the MetroCourt. Gio had done an excellent job getting him out of the pool. He told Lulu, sorry for the inconvenience, but Lulu said she was fine and praised Gio. The man left, and Lulu said, part of her wanted to let him drown. Brook came in, but stayed behind a partition, listening. Lulu asked what the rule was about dangling your feet in the water, and Gio said he’d let her. She asked if he wanted to join her, and he said, why not? They sat laughing and talking as Brook watched.

Danny said he was going to bury Rocco at poker, when he saw the folders on Brook’s desk. Rocco said Brook told them that was private. Should he be looking at it? Danny noticed Rocco’s name.

Lucas said it was just them, and Marco said Lucas didn’t understand. He needed to get his mom arrested. Lucas said he’d mentioned Sonny, and Marco said his mom had evidence against Sonny that she was supposed to turn over to ADA Turner, but she already gave it to Sonny. Sonny convinced her that he’d protect her, and in her mind, she was moving to another country to live with Sonny. Lucas said that made no sense. Sonny had too many ties to Port Charles. Marco told Lucas, that’s what he’d said. She was supposed to turn everything in on Monday at 11 am, but she wouldn’t be there. Now he was left holding the bag. Lucas said he couldn’t bring the police in. He couldn’t be the reason his own mother went to prison.

Sidwell was looking at the photos again, when he heard Natalia coming in. She said she and Marco just got in a huge fight. Marco never wanted to see her again. He asked, whose fault was that?

Lulu and Gio talked and laughed, and Lulu said she was glad Gio was here for the boys. She had the feeling they needed him. Gio said he was glad Danny and Rocco weren’t there when the drunk was bothering her. They would have tackled him into the pool. Lulu said they didn’t need to. The Mai Tai idiot did it on his own. She thought they handled it pretty well. He said if she hadn’t thrown him the floating device, the guy would have dragged him down too. She said they made a pretty good team, and he said, they sure did. They high-fived and Brook looked pained.

Jason said he was sorry for what Dante was going through with Gio, but Dante said what happened wasn’t on Jason. Jason said Dante wasn’t responsible for what he didn’t know. Gio was a smart and good kid. Dante had to trust him to figure it out. Dante said he didn’t know what Gio would want from him or even what he had to offer, and he didn’t think Gio would accept it if he did.

Danny said it was about Rocco. See for himself. He handed Rocco the folder.

Marco said either Natalia went to prison, or he did, or she died, but Lucas said he didn’t know as Sonny would kill her. Marco negotiated in good faith with the ADA. It wasn’t on him if his mother ran for it. Marco said it was a total nightmare, and Lucas said the only people who knew the truth about Natalia’s plans were Sonny, Natalia, Marco, and him. He wasn’t going to say a word. No one else ever needed to know. Marco said Lucas would keep his secret? and Lucas said he would.

Sonny said they should be grateful Michael was home safe with the kids and happy, and Carly said, and their newest adorable surprise granddaughter. It was wild all the family Daisy brought together. Daisy was a Spencer, a Corinthos, a Quartermaine, and a Scorpio. Sonny said, God help her, and Carly said she was going to get so much love.

Sasha goes to Daisy’s room and says Daisy is lying in the wrong direction. She always puts Daisy facing the door. And her onesie was yellow. Did daddy change her? Why would he do that?

Natalia says she should have known she wouldn’t find compassion. Sidwell turned her son against her a long time ago. He says she did that all on her own, for not accepting Marco for who he was – a remarkable man. So whatever hole she found herself in this time, don’t expect him to dig her out. Natalia said she didn’t, but she needed him to promise something. He said he loved Marco; prove it. Keep Marco out of his disgusting business. They both knew Sidwell had his hands covered in blood. Don’t doom their son to the same fate. She left and he took out the photos one more time. He looked at Sonny, then slammed the envelope down. He went out onto the turret in the rain and looked out over the city.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Josslyn greets Michael at the Quartermaines and says they’re having a christening in his baby’s honor. She’s so excited, but admits she didn’t see it coming. He says, no one did at first. It wasn’t exactly planned. She says, you can’t plan for a baby as cute as Daisy. They’ll all be putty in her little hands. He says, Daisy was what his heart needed, but he didn’t realize until Sasha told him. Josslyn says she’s happy for him, and he says he’s happy for him too. She says, he’s home where he belongs, and he says, finally. She asks why he wanted to meet here instead of the church, and he says he wanted the chanced to explain why she’s not Daisy’s godmother.

Felicia says she’s excited. She can only imagine how Sasha is feeling. Sasha says she’s pretty excited too, and Felicia says, a christening is a big deal. It’s an honor to be Daisy’s godmother. Sasha says, when she was growing up, there was no big family, just her and her grandmother most of the time. Thanks to Felicia, Maxie, and Mac, Daisy will have the kind of life she didn’t have. She loves Felicia. Felicia says she loves Sasha too, but why did Sasha make everyone think Jason was Daisy’s father the whole time?

Carly says, Jason looks perfect (FYI, in a suit), and he thanks her. She says, Michael would have probably asked him to be Daisy’s godfather, but Sasha did it first. Michael didn’t have to ask. He says he’s honored, but he was surprised. She says, in the first place, he really stood up as Daisy’s father when no one knew who was. Sasha would have been alone except for him. They must have a genuine bond. He says, they do, and she says, it’s fitting that now he gets to watch over Michael’s daughter like he watched over Michael.

Natalia thanks Brook for coming over. She wanted to speak with Brook privately. Brook asks, what’s going on? and Natalia says, it’s the last thing Brook wants to hear. Deception is in trouble.

Turner shows up at Sonny’s place, and he says, hi, Justine. To what does he owe the visit? She says, for the record, they’re not on a first name basis, and he asks if he should call his lawyer. She says, he might if his attorney can explain why he sent her this. She indicates a box in her hands.

On the phone, Anna says, then get another judge to sign off because she needs the warrant today… Yes, today today… Thank you. She tells Jordan, sorry. Signing off is supposed to be the easy part. Jordan says, don’t apologize. She knows how it works in this office. Anna asks if Jordan put any more thought into what she should do about Curtis, and Jordan says she doesn’t know what’s happening between them, but whatever it is, Portia has a big problem with it.

Portia goes to Curtis’s office and says he must have gotten an early start this morning. She didn’t see him at home. He says he had work he needed to take care of, and she says she understands. she was hoping they could talk. He says, now is not a good time today, but she says she needs to know one thing. Is he helping her with Drew to save their marriage or is he using getting her out of trouble as an excuse to leave her once and for all?

Sasha tells Felicia that there was so much strife swirling around Michael, she didn’t want her child dragged into any part of what was going on around him. Felicia says, being a mother means making hard choices and putting your child first. Sasha was already thinking like Daisy’s mom before she was even born. Another way to be a mom is allowing the family to spoil her daughter. That reminds her. She and Yuri took all the gifts to the nursery. Sasha says, gifts? Plural? Felicia says, Sasha has no idea, and Sasha says she’ll remind Daisy again and again how lucky she is – how lucky they are – to be part of the Scorpio family. Cody stands at the door with a giant stuffed elephant and asks if that includes them.  

Sonny asks, what’s in the box? and Turner asks if he’s really going to pretend he doesn’t know. He says he doesn’t have to pretend. Sorry to burst her bubble. She says, it’s a baseball glove, gorgeous, very expensive. Some of the nicest leather she’s ever seen. He says, whoever sent it was doing her a favor judging by the sad, ugly glove she showed him the other day. She could definitely use it. She says, giving gifts to a public official is a risky move. If it’s seen as a bribe, it’s a felony. He says, is that so? She says, it is, but a squeaky-clean guy like him would never cross that line, would he?

Josslyn says she would make the best godmother the world had ever seen, and Michael says, no doubt, but he and Sasha agreed in the beginning that she would make all the decisions when it came to raising the baby. Josslyn asks if he supports that, and he says, 100%. She decided on Jason and Felicia. Josslyn says she can’t be mad at that. They’re amazing options. She knows firsthand that Jason is the best godfather one could have. Michael says Jason promised to be there for Daisy, just like he was there for him and for Josslyn, and she says, when Michael was in Germany, she couldn’t help feeling the heart of the family was missing. He really is their anchor. He says, speaking of his time away, it sounds like she and mom kept busy. Mom is dating the spy from Christmas dinner and Josslyn went to Easter Island and is now assisting a professor in his research. She needs to tell him everything, like now.  

At the church Jason says, Carly and Michael didn’t make it easy, but it was an honor to watch over them. Carly says she looks back at that time and she’s like, how did I do that? How could she leave her newborn? But she was able to do it because of him. If Michael was with him, she knew he’d be okay. Jason says, and he was, and she says, more than okay. He took care of everything, even Michael’s christening. By the time she walked into the church, her son had a name. He says, two of his favorites – Sonny and Mike. He can still hear Edward yelling, over my dead body! when they announced it. She says, only the Quartermaines would crash a christening, and he says, they had to. They weren’t invited. She says, Edward was so mad. Wow. But not today. There will be no uninvited crashers today.  

Brook tells Natalia that she blew off Tracy’s concerns about Sonny’s investment because she did her due diligence. The money was clean. It was from an account Sonny put aside for the record label. Natalia says, that money was clean, but it was a second follow-up transaction from a different account. If she’d scrutinized it in time, she’d have caught it. Brook asks if Sonny knew, but Natalia says, he had no idea. His finance team handled it. Brook says, Sonny would never do something like that, and Natalia agrees and says, it was a huge clerical error. Brook says, an error that could cost Deception its reputation, and Natalia says, it could, but there are some things they can do to protect the company. Have Sonny divest for safety and optics. There’s also a chance it may never come out. Brook asks if Natalia thinks they need to avoid a scandal, and Natalia says she doesn’t know, but she thought Brook deserved to know regardless. Brook says she appreciates that, but why come forward now?

Anna says, so Portia, General Hospital’s Chief of Staff, threw a drink on Jordan? and Jordan says, Co-Chief and yes. Portia threw a glass of iced tea on her. Anna says, wow, and Jordan says, and she caused a total scene, which is her way. Anna says, good Lord. Talk about overreacting. Jordan says, it’s just Portia’s M.O. in general, but if she’s being honest, she’s not so sure Portia was. She and Curtis do have a connection that runs deep, and she’ll always carry a torch for him. She doesn’t think that will ever change. Anna says, it’s a struggle, carrying a torch for another woman’s husband, one that you still love or have feelings for. It’s kind of brutal, especially when they’ve moved on. Jordan says, that’s the thing. They were reminiscing by the pool yesterday and she started feeling like maybe he felt the same way. Anna says, in spite of what Jordan felt in her head, she knew he was married, and Jordan says, that’s why she asked to stop by Anna’s office. She wishes she could have settled the conflict between her head and her heart before she walked through the door. Anna says she knows where Jordan’s heart is. Where is her head at? Jordan says she’s not the kind of woman to get involved in someone else’s relationship. If she did, she couldn’t respect herself and it would mean she didn’t learn anything from the pain she felt when her marriage fell apart, and she did. Even if Portia is being petty, she could never do to Portia and her marriage what Portia did to hers.

Curtis says, all he can concentrate on right now is getting free of Drew and any leverage he has over Portia. Whatever’s happening between them is lower on the list. Portia says she needs him to move it up. She can’t sit in limbo forever, waiting for him to decide whether their marriage is worth fighting for. He says he understands, and she says, maybe he has a lot going on right now or maybe he’s not ready to fight for their marriage, but she is. He says, if they dive into this right here, right now, she’s not going to like what he has to say, and she says she may not like it, but she wants to hear it. She needs to hear it. He says, okay. He admits that Drew wouldn’t have gone after her had he and Drew not fallen out. She says she’s proud of him standing up to Drew and refusing to be taken advantage of, and he says, right. He appreciates that, but they wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for her lies. After everything that happened with Trina, she promised him that things would be different. She’d always tell him the truth. She knows better than anyone that secrets ruined his marriage to Jordan. Yet here they are, questioning their future together for the exact same reason. Portia hurt him and betrayed him. His mind is blown that she’d be so foolish to put their family in this situation again. She says, wow. She’s glad she’s finally hearing what he’s thinking. He was right. She didn’t like it, but she needed to hear it. Now he needs to hear what she has to say.

Sasha says, of course (🍷) she and Daisy are happy to have Cody and his friend as part of the family, and he says, good to hear, because it could go either way on any given day. But actually, this isn’t his friend. To be honest, he intercepted the delivery guy. There’s a card. Sasha reads: Wishing you and Daisy a life filled with love and happiness. Love, Mom and Dad. She says, it’s so sweet, but it’s a little weird to read mom and dad. Felicia asks if Robert and Holly mentioned anything about visiting, but Sasha says, not yet. But she’s bombarding them with photos and videos. Mostly Robert. She and Holly don’t communicate as much, but she wants Daisy to know both of her grandparents. They hear Daisy cry on the monitor, and Felicia asks if she can get her. Sasha says, sure, and Felicia leaves. Sasha asks if Cody wants to hold the baby, but he says, Daisy is still pretty new. Let her grandparents and cousins break her in before he attempts anything. She says, if he’s sure, and he says he is. She seems happy. She says she is, and he says, that wasn’t the most convincing response. She says, sorry. Everything is fine. He says he knows her. If it’s not, she has to tell him. Seriously, what’s wrong? She says she doesn’t know. Something really weird is going on around here and it has to do with Daisy.

Josslyn says, when Michael has a few hours to spare, they can go to lunch or something and she’ll fill him in on everything he missed when he was gone. He said they’ll definitely go, and she says, he’s definitely paying. He says he missed her, and she says she missed him. So did the kids. How is he doing back home with the kids living with him full time? He says he’s adjusting. They both love being a big brother and sister. She asks if they’re excited about the christening, and he says, yes, but he thinks they’re struggling, Wiley in particular. He asked if his mom would be there, and when he told Wiley, no, he could see the confusion all over his face. How were they having a big family event without mom being there? And it’s only going to get worse. Josslyn asks, why? and he says, because Willow and Drew are getting married.

Brook says she doesn’t understand why Natalia didn’t tell her the second she saw it, but Natalia says she wasn’t sure about it. When she was, in good conscience, she couldn’t move on and not tell Brook. Brook thanks her for telling the truth, unlike some other people in her life, and Natalia says she thinks her son probably had a little to do with her coming forward. Allison too. Brook says, how’s that? and Natalia says, when you have two kids who want to have nothing to do with you, you realize some pretty hard truths about yourself. Like maybe you need to be a better person or a better mom. She just made a lot of mistakes with Marco and Allison. She refused to see the way her children were living their lives as anything other than missed opportunities. She destroyed her family and it’s her own damn fault. Brook says, there’s still time to repair it, but Natalia says she wishes that were true, but there’s nothing left here anymore for her. A lot of pain and hurt, and she thinks Marco is better off without her here. He’s started a whole new life in Port Charles and that’s okay because she has her future wide open now waiting for her.

Sonny says, it must have been sent by a very thoughtful teammate, and Turner says, maybe, but she finds it awfully convenient that the day after they had a run-in at the park, a brand-new baseball glove appears at her door with no note, no return address, and no indication of whom it might be from. He says he doesn’t know what to tell her, and she says, only someone with expert help and motive could pull off a drop that clean. He asks if that’s all she’s got, a gut feeling and no evidence. Is that how she prosecutes all her cases? She says her instincts haven’t let her down yet, and he says, yet. That is the word that matters. She says, okay. Even if he didn’t send it, she can’t accept it. He can pass it along to one of his teammates. Kristina comes in and asks if Sonny is ready to go, when she sees Turner.  

Sasha tells Cody, Daisy is great, but there have been a few things… It started at the hospital when they brought her the wrong baby. They sorted it out, but it still shook her up pretty good. He says, of course (🍷) it did, and she says, then, the first night they were home, the mobile over the crib was spinning. She knows it was off when she left. Then yesterday, when she put Daisy in her crib, she was wearing a yellow onesie. When she went to check on her, not only was she in a pink onesie, she was facing in the other direction. He says, Daisy can’t move around like that yet, right? and she says, no, and she can’t change her own clothes. He says, good to know. The hospital is an easy explanation, but the other stuff, there’s Michael, the nannies, and Mama Q running around. Any one of them could have done it. She says she asked. No one touched anything. He asks if she’s sure. This place is kind of like Grand Central Station. Any number of people could have gone in there and run the mobile or moved Daisy. Unless… She says, unless what? and he asks if she thinks it’s a ghost. She says, no, but it’s really unsettling, and he says he knows, but he’s sure there’s an easy and corporeal explanation for it all. He knows what happened with Liam and knows the journey she was on to get here. She has a second chance at being a mother and he promises her baby will be okay. She asks how he knows, and he says, she’s got the best mom in the world. He thinks he knows and always knew.

Josslyn tells Michael that she guesses she shouldn’t be surprised. Willow and Drew are awful people, so now they’re doing an awful thing. Michael said he was blindsided by the news, and she says she bets. She was so hard on Willow when he was gone, and mom took on Drew. They didn’t actually get anywhere, but they got a lot off their chests. It was like some weird primal scream therapy. Michael laughs and says he’s glad something good came out of it. He’s trying his best to keep the hurt and anger over his marriage out of the equation altogether and focus on what’s good. She says, yes. That’s the right thing to do. The kids love their mom. He says, they want to see her, but Willow keeps choosing Drew over them. By agreeing to marry Drew, she’s making that choice permanent. She says, Willow is going to… Willow, but she’s caused enough drama. So please don’t let it darken what should be a special day.

Carly says she wants to doublecheck security and then she’ll be good, but Jason says he and Sonny took care of that. The church is secure and has been on lockdown ever since. She says she did see quite a few guards, and he says, there are quite a few she didn’t see, so everything’s going to run smooth today. She asks if he’s sure, and he says he’s positive. After the explosion at the penthouse and the attempt on Sonny’s life in LA… She says, both unsolved, by the way, and he says, but they’re on high alert, especially at events like this. If anyone even thinks of making a move, they’ll be stopped.

Turner says, good to see Kristina again. She hasn’t seen her since the trial. How is she? Kristina says she’s okay. It got little crazy at the end when the decision came in. Turner says she remembers, and Kristina says she never got the chance to properly thank Turner for all she did. So thank you. Turner says she was happy to do what she could. It’s her job to bring criminals to justice. It looks like they have somewhere to be. She hopes they have a wonderful rest of their day. Sonny says, her too, and she leaves. Kristina says, the acting DA pays Sonny a house call? Something is going on unrelated to softball. He says, there’s nothing going on. He promises. Could she do him a favor? He left Daisy’s gift in the kitchen. Can she get it and meet him back here? She goes to the kitchen and Sonny makes a call. He says, ADA Turner was here. She’s showing too much interest for his taste, so as far as Natalia goes, there’s a change of plans.  

Anna says, if Curtis is feeling the same way Jordan does and the same pull, she’s probably right, and Jordan says, maybe it’s like Anna said. Being connected the way they are, they’ll probably always feel something. She doesn’t want to think about what that means. Portia and Curtis’s future is unclear, but she knows the issue they’re dealing with is serious. Portia’s been dishonest and kept secrets from Curtis. Anna says, kind of sounds familiar. Would it be fair to say that she and Portia are now on an even playing field? Jordan tells Anna that she can certainly say Portia’s high horse is a lot lower these days, and Anna says she thinks Jordan needs to speak with Curtis, have a proper, honest conversation about all of this. Jordan says, maybe. Curtis is important to her, and she’ll always want him in her life, but the way things are going, she doesn’t know if she can be around him anymore.

Curtis tells Portia, if she’s got something to say, let’s hear it, and Portia says she knows a little something about being hurt and betrayed too. He keeps bringing up Trina and she could have sworn they dealt with that a long time ago. Yet here he is throwing it in her face again. He knows she kept Trina’s paternity a secret from him and Taggert to protect her. That’s why this whole thing with Drew started. She wanted to protect Trina from that lunatic Heather Webber and did what she had to, what she could do, to keep Heather in prison where she belonged. She’ll always do whatever it takes to protect their daughter. She knows he wants her to say she regrets everything, but she doesn’t. He says, at least she’s finally being honest, and she says she’s so tired of living in fear of his judgement, his impossibly high standards, and needing to be right every single time they talk. She’s terrified that she’s going to try her best, but never live up to his image of the perfect woman in his head. She’s a human being. She makes mistakes. Those mistakes shouldn’t cost their relationship. They should work on them and grow from them. That’s what marriage is. He says, secrets can’t be the way married couples solve their problems. He can’t keep secrets from her. She says he didn’t tell her that he and Michael were plotting against Drew. Like he said, that’s what he did that started all this and that’s the reason Drew is coming after her right now. Drew is trying to destroy her life and everything she’s worked for because she’s Curtis’s wife. A wife he’s not sure he wants anymore. He says he regrets every day what he started with Drew, but she says, keep the regrets. She wants some understanding. He says, she has it, and she asks why he feels like what he did is different than what she did. He says, there are differences, but she says, no. There’s hypocrisy and irony because she loves him for protecting their family by any means necessary, but when she does it, he uses it as an excuse to break up their family.  

Carly greets Michael with a hug and asks, where’s Daisy and the kids? He says, Kristina is supervising a photo shoot in the garden before the ceremony, and she says, good luck. She can’t imagine anyone in that group staying still for very long. Sonny says he’s surprised Jason got her to stay still, and she says, they were having a conversation about old times, like Michael’s christening, and how important it is for them all to be together and look out for each other. Sonny says, nothing is more important than family – the family you’re born into and the family you choose along the way. As they all know, family is forever.

Looking at her laptop, Natalia says, Sonny was right about one thing. Belize is gorgeous. Is that sand really that white? That’s crazy. There’s a knock at the door, and she opens it to Paul. She asks, what’s going on? She didn’t expect him until later. He says, everything is fine. There’s just been a change in her itinerary. She’s not leaving tonight. She’s leaving now. She asks where Sonny is, and he says, at his granddaughter’s christening. She says, if he’s taking the red eye, she’ll wait and take it with him, but he says, Sonny’s not going with her. She’s going alone.

Anna looks at some papers and makes a call to Turner. She says, Commissioner Devane. Something just landed on her desk, and they need to discuss it. She needs Turner here now.

Curtis says, Portia is right about protecting Trina, but they have different ideas about what that looks like and the consequences of their different ideas look different. She says she’s apologized over and over. At some point, he has to break down and tell her how to fix this. He says he’s not sure it can be fixed, and she says, so he’s saying this is it? This is how they end after everything they’ve been through together? She understands that he’d never do to her what she’s done to him, but she’d never make him feel the way he’s making her feel. She starts to cry, and he says, she’s hurting and in pain. She says, they love each other and brought each other so much joy and so much happiness, haven’t they? Let’s just get back to that. Just tell her what to do. How they can work through this together. Tell her there’s hope. He kisses her.

 Brook comes into the church and says she ran into Sasha and Daisy outside. That baby is delicious. Carly says she plans on spoiling Daisy every chance she gets, and Brook says she thinks there’s going to be a long line of people waiting to do just that. Carly says, the more love, the better, and Brook says, always. Carly says she needs to find Father Reyes and tell him this has to be perfect, and Michael says, or they could not pressure him and just see if he’s set up for the ceremony. Carly says, we’ll see, and they leave. Brook says, good thing they’re all in the church. The father is going to need all the help he can get. Chase says, so Corinthos and Scorpio. That’s unusual parenting. Felicia says, it is, but Robert seems very happy about it. He and Holly sent a gift to the house. Chase says he’s disappointed. He’d be interested to see Sonny, Mac, and Robert stand around the baptismal font. Felicia says, Mac and Robert can’t be here, so he’ll have to let his dream go. Brook says she wants to run something by Chase, and they go to a more private spot. He asks if she’s okay, but she says, no. She has no idea how to tell Maxie. He says, tell Maxie what? and she says, Deception might be in very serious trouble.

Sonny tells Jason that ADa Turner paid him a visit today. Her reason was innocent enough, but she’s more interested in him than he’d like. Jason says he doesn’t like that, and Sonny says him neither, but it made him think getting Natalia out of town sooner rather than later was the best thing. Jason says, he moved up her flight and Paul is picking her up as they speak, and Sonny says, the last thing they want is for her to run into Turner or anybody else. Jason says, Paul is taking her straight to the airport, and Sonny says, she’s going to be put on a plane and she’s going to Belize, and this can finally be over.

Natalia says, Sonny’s not coming? and Paul says, her name has always been the only one on the manifest, but Mr. Corinthos arranged for her travel, accommodations, and security. She says, but he didn’t arrange to get himself on the plane, and Paul says, he has no reason to need to accompany her. She says, okay. Then she needs like, an hour to pack. He says, that’s fine, but she needs to hurry. He’ll let Mr. Corinthos know her ETA. Paul leaves and she closes the door and cries. She says, Sonny’s not… So there’s not… a future. There’s no new life. Just the same one somewhere else. Did she just tell herself this story? I didn’t do it without your help. Sonny, you bastard. You don’t want anything to do… What happened to not abandoning her? She cries some more and says, he doesn’t want anything to do with her. He just wants her gone. She checks the hallway, grabs her purse, and leaves.

Portia is about to return Curtis’s kiss, when he lifts her onto the desk. They hear the door open and it’s Jordan.  

Brook tells Chase that Sonny’s second investment in Deception wasn’t clean, and he asks if that wasn’t Tracy’s concern all along. She says she’s aware, and he asks how she found out. She says she saw Natalia at the MetroCourt earlier… He says he can’t talk about this, and she says, why? What does he know?

Turner asks what Anna wants to discuss that’s so important Anna had to order her into the office, and Anna says, see that? showing her a folder. It landed on her desk. It was an accident. It was intended to go to Detective Chase. The same detective Turner assigned to a case that she and Detective Falconari were excluded from. Turner asks how much she read, and Anna says, enough to know this stops now. Turner says, really? and Anna says, Turner isn’t running an investigation through her department using her officers without her. Turner says, there are reasons Anna was excluded. First and foremost, she can’t count on Anna when it comes to dealing with Sonny Corinthos. Anna says, okay. If Turner doesn’t trust her, she doesn’t end run her. Take it to internal affairs. Turner says, maybe she will.

Brook says, Sasha and Josslyn are going to bring in Wiley and Amelia, and Carly asks if Sonny is good. He says, yes, he is. He loves moments like this. The whole family under the same roof. They just don’t get enough of them. She says, no, they don’t, when Natalia strides in. Carly asks Sonny why Natalia is here.

On Monday, Portia says Curtis may not see what’s going on here, but she certainly does; Lucas tells Marco that this may be the last chance he has to reach back; Natalia says Sonny is going to get what he deserves; and there’s an explosion.

General Hospital will not be airing a new episode on July 4th.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

First the sad stuff. This still upsets me to no end.

https://extratv.com/2025/06/25/slain-actor-johnny-wactor-s-mom-and-brother-attend-premiere-of-his-final-film-exclusive/

https://extratv.com/2025/06/09/first-look-at-johnny-wactor-s-final-film-ciao-mama-exclusive-trailer/

https://people.com/johnny-wactor-mom-gets-standing-ovation-premiere-of-actor-final-movie-one-year-after-death-11761541

I recognize him, but don’t remember him from GH. His character sounded like a good time though.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/joe-marinelli-general-hospital-and-santa-barbara-alum-has-passed-away-at-68/

Now fun stuff. Hmm… We know Britt’s coming back – I assume in a flashback – so why not? Although Obrecht is still alive, so why not?

https://parade.com/tv/general-hospital-star-67-keeps-fans-guessing-amid-return-rumors

A sign of the times. The only shocking thing to me is finding out there’s another soap character out there named Sonny.

https://www.soapoperadigest.com/photos/pride-and-joy-the-romantic-and-dramatic-history-of-gay-weddings-on-daytime-soaps/

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck

The gay porn guests were still on board and Chef Anthony forgot one of them had a shellfish allergy. Fraser told the guest that it was his mistake, but in his interview, he said he was concerned since bringing on the chef had been his bright idea. Solène cleaned the bar without being told, and Rainbeau went out of her mind with joy. In Rainbeau’s interview, she thought it was kind of sad she was this excited, but it wasn’t long before she found a big mess Solène didn’t clean up. After she confronted Solène, Solène tried to bitch to Jess about it, but Jess wasn’t having it. The guests requested an S&M Venetian private club dinner, and Fraser was happy to oblige, insulting the guests without cracking a smile while serving dinner. The other staff, including Chef Anthony, played along, and a good time was had by all. After the guests left, Captain Kerry said he’d been impressed by everyone’s performances, but unfortunately, the tip didn’t reflect that. It was pathetic. Since there was a commercial, I figured he was doing that thing they do on American Idolwe’re so sorry to tell you… you’re going to Hollywood! But alas, that wasn’t the case. It was $19,990 or $1500 each. He gave them a dinner perk and some time off, and later, the crew lounged in the hot tub. Fraser kissed Damo after his boyfriend had specifically told him that kissing others was a no-no, but in his defense, it sounded like they never see each other, both of them being in the industry.

Next Gen NYC

So I guess 10K for an apartment is on the cheap side now? At least according to Ariana and Hudson who found one for that amount. Charlie said, with his dad, it was one big d*ck measuring contest. Well, it’s only a contest if you enter. He brought some friends to meet his dad and stepmother, probably to prove what an immeasurable d*ck his father is and that the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree. Georgia was dating a guy that sounded like her complete opposite, but he seemed cool and wanted to invest in her heart project. So kudos! One reviewer compared this show to NYC Prep, which I also loved, but this group seems a lot more mature. In thinking about it, it must be really weird to be related to someone on reality TV and probably being their kid is the worst. Georgia, the one native New Yorker, is the one feeling like the odd man out because she’s not there as a nepo baby.

The Valley

Jax needs to have some cheese with that whine. When he wasn’t listing the faults that he supposedly addressed in rehab, he was complaining about how Brittany and the rest of the world treated him. A group trip to Maui was planned, where Jesse intended to propose to Kristen, and at least Jax had the good sense to opt out. No doubt he wanted to party without eyes on him. Not that it mattered a whole lot. With him or without him, there are plenty of issues to go around. Everyone has beef with someone, but when they claim to want resolution by talking it out, the talks usually end up with screaming and/or crying.

Yeah. He doesn’t seem like the nicest guy. And what the blip is Scheana wearing?

Real Housewives of Miami

It never fails that I stop watching something, forget why I stopped, then remember after I watch again for a while. With this, it was the constant screaming matches during events. This time it was during a surprise wedding celebration Alexia was throwing for Marisol and new husband Steve, and between Julia and Gurdy. It doesn’t matter why. It’s always stupid stuff. I felt bad for Marisol though. She was like, hello? Can you deal with this another time and not at my wedding reception?

Random Reality Items

I’m not sure why she was concerned. I didn’t get the vibe she was the bad guy in the situation. Just the opposite.

Below Deck baby leaves the dock!

You, too, can live like the Countess.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem. Netflix. At the time, this guy was an endless source of amusement to me. It was like, what’s next? In watching  this, I could see why people wanted to keep him in office. He really did work for the people. Unfortunately, his extracurriculars got the better of him.

https://people.com/what-happened-to-toronto-mayor-rob-ford-11758556

Grenfell Uncovered. Netflix. Harrowing and upsetting doesn’t begin to cover it. A high-rise apartment building became a literal wall of flame in the blink of an eye because of the inappropriate materials used to build it. Fire freaks me out since it so easily becomes out of control. I can’t even imagine being trapped in an inferno like this.

https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a65170885/grenfell-uncovered-netflix-documentary-trending/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-14837965/Netflix-viewers-tears-Grenfell-Uncovered-documentary.html

The Ritual. Netflix. Nothing deep here. Sacrificial rituals aren’t my favorite sub-genre, but this is a fun watch. The monster has a slow reveal, but there’s plenty of action leading up to it.

No spoilers.

https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/netflix/netflix-horror-the-ritual-watch-creepy-861343-20240828

Lotsa spoilers.

The Fix. Amazon Prime. The air is unbreathable, but there are ways around it. You can wear a mask, but the more affluent can get a drug that combats the poisonous ozone. It can also have some crazy side effects. Apparently, there’s a limited supply, but the public doesn’t know it. Although it seemed like the head guy gave out an awful lot of it to those around him. Since it was something a little different, I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. IMO, the plot got more complicated than it needed to be, with unnecessary tributaries thrown in.

https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/prime-video/prime-video-just-got-an-overlooked-sci-fi-thriller-movie-thats-already-crashed-the-top-10-and-its-a-pleasant-surprise

Diary of the Dead. Amazon Prime. I kept missing this part of George Romero’s Living Dead manifesto, so this one’s a little old, but a zombie is a zombie and this delivered. One interesting tidbit was seeing Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead franchise) in the credits as Special Makeup Effects Producer.

Dead City finale. AMC+. Just when you think you’ve seen every way possible the dead can attack, they find something new. There was truly some phenomenal acting. While I’m sad to see this come to a close, I’m looking forward to Daryl Dixon’s next chapter. Spoilers, but come on, you haven’t seen this yet?

⚰️ Dead Of the Future…

Premieres September 7th.

https://ew.com/the-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-season-3-teaser-premiere-date-new-photos-11759045

🐙 Join the Game…

Squid Game is back in the house.

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/squid-game-season-3-review-netflix

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/videos/watch-the-trailer-for-squid-game-season-3

🦈 Have a Bite…

Shark Week begins July 20th.

https://www.discovery.com/shark-week/shark-week-2025-kicks-off-july-20

https://people.com/shark-week-2025-how-to-watch-new-shows-11759071

🐶 Tails Of Surprise…

💍 If I tried this with one of my dogs, it would be chaos multiplied.

https://people.com/celebrity-dog-serves-as-ring-bearer-in-owners-wedding-exclusive-11762126

🐕 Who says cats are the only ones with more than one life?

https://people.com/dog-thought-dead-for-4-years-reunites-with-stunned-family-11760580

🐻 No doubt my dogs would take advantage of the open refrigerator.

https://people.com/small-senior-dog-scares-big-black-bear-out-home-video-11757704

🪽 I love an inter-species friendship.

https://people.com/woman-finds-comfort-in-friendship-between-pomeranian-and-pigeon-after-loss-of-daughter-11759276

🐳 Quotes of the Week

The only defense against the world is a thorough knowledge of it. – John Locke

A year from now you may wish you had started today. – Karen Lamb

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work. – Chuck Close

You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. – Johnny Cash

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. – Herman Melville

Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. – William James

You’ll have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to. – Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), Good Will Hunting

I asked my dog what two minus two was. He said nothing. – I don’t remember where I heard this, but it’s pretty funny.

Happy Independence Day!

♨️ We Got Steam Heat…

Until next week, stay safe; stay behaving responsibly on Independence Day, aka the 4th of July; and stay working on your mistakes and growing from them.

April 25, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Drew Keeps Willow From Michael, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Shenanigans In the Wild, A Revolutionary Number Of Quotes & Day

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

Josslyn heard Emma’s voice coming from a dumpster. She asked if Emma was okay, and Emma said she was fine. Josslyn could go. Josslyn asked if she was sure about that.

Maxie asked if Anna was going to arrest Sidwell, and Brook said, if she did, his assets would be frozen, and they wouldn’t be able to fulfill pending orders. Maxie said Anna had to tell them – how bad is this guy?

Jason asked why Sasha sold out to Sidwell, and she asked what he was talking about. He said she claimed to have a stash of money. Yes or no, did the money come from Sidwell? She said, yes.

Sidwell asked when Sonny was getting heart surgery, but Natalia said she didn’t know, but soon. She happened to walk in when Sonny was having an episode and got him his medication. Sidwell asked if she was saying it was fatal and the surgery would be lifesaving, but she said she didn’t know. She told him everything she knew. Now she had to do damage control after what he’d told Lucy.

Lucas met with Marco, who said he wasn’t sure Lucas was going to show since he didn’t answer Marco’s text. He knew Lucas was thrown by finding out Sidwell was his father. Lucas said he wanted to give Marco a chance to explain before judging him.

Isaiah said, now that Jordan had decided to infiltrate Sidwell, they were done? and she said, yes. He said he didn’t want them to be over (me neither). He’d been having a good time. Wasn’t she?

On the phone, Alexis asked what Sidwell wanted, and he said he understood there’d been an impending job offer for his son, but it had hit a snag when they’d found out he was Marco’s father. She said they thought it was pertinent information that should have come out in the interview, and she had no time for this. She hung up, startling Sidwell.

Sonny said, Carly was coming to LA? and Carly said he’d need someone there and that someone was going to be her. He said she couldn’t do that, and she gave him a look.

Jordan said she’d enjoyed their time together, and Isaiah asked why they couldn’t keep doing what they were doing. She said she couldn’t take the risk. She had to focus on her new job and Sidwell would probably have eyes on her. He asked if she was DEA, but she said, no. He said, so she was just on her own? She was going to disrupt her life and put herself in danger for the possibility of bringing Sidwell down? She said it wasn’t about ego, but she was in a unique position to stop him, and he said Sidwell had been operating under the radar for decades. Anywhere he went, he committed crimes, but his rap sheet was clean. Her chances of incriminating him were slim to none.

Lucas said Marco’s father hurt a lot of his friends and family, and all of them thought he was a criminal. Marco said he didn’t grow up with his father. His parents had divorced when he was young and his mom wouldn’t let him see Sidwell. When he was in high school, he and his mom had a falling out. She didn’t want a gay son and definitely not one who was openly gay. Lucas said he was sorry Marco went through that, and Marco said that’s why he reached out to Sidwell. His father didn’t care who he was or that he was coming out. His father was there for him. Lucas said he didn’t know his father until he was older, and Marco asked if they were close now. Lucas said, Julian died four years ago, and they were estranged at the time. Were Marco and his father close? Marco said they were. When his father was moving to Port Charles, he suggested Marco move there too, and he said yes. Lucas asked if Marco knew who he was and that he lived in Port Charles when he offered to buy Lucas a drink in Miami.

Emma said she was fine, but Josslyn said she didn’t sound like it. Emma said she was just trying to get her foot unstuck, and Josslyn told her to hold out her hand. Emma insisted she was fine, but Josslyn said she didn’t look it. Come on. Emma took her hand, and she pulled Emma out of the dumpster.  

Carly told Sonny that she’d say she was scouting hotels because she wanted to expand the MetroCourt. It was believable that he’d give her a ride to LA. Wishing he could bring the moss bowl 🎍 instead, he said they couldn’t stay in the same room, and Carly suggested they say they’re interviewing doctors for Michael’s follow-up treatment. Sonny said he didn’t want to use Michael as a cover, but she said, Michael would approve, and it would explain their presence at the hospital. She thought it was perfect and that it would work.

Anna told Maxie that she had no reason to investigate Sidwell. Since he’d distanced himself from Africa, he’d broken no laws. Maxie asked if they should distance themselves from him, and Anna asked if that wouldn’t destroy their business. Sidwell had every incentive to keep his dealings with them above board. He was looking to establish himself in Port Charles as a legitimate businessman. Ultimately, it was their decision and their company, but if it was her, she’d stay the course. She thought that was the safest thing, but whatever they did, don’t trust him. She left and Lucy came in. Lucy said they were never going to believe what she heard. Natalia is Jenz Sidwell’s ex-wife. In unison, Maxie and Brook said, Jason told us.

Jason asked why Sasha would take anything from Sidwell. He kidnapped her and held her at gunpoint. They barely got her out alive. Why take money from him and lie to Maxie and Brook? He thought they were her friends. Sasha said they were, and she didn’t exactly lie. She told them that it had been Sidwell’s response to her mother conning him and stealing diamonds from him worth hundreds of millions. She wasn’t saying he wasn’t dangerous, but he was provoked. Deception needed Sidwell’s zincite and Maxie said Deception wouldn’t use him because of what he’d done. They could have lost everything. She downplayed it because she wanted Deception and her friends to succeed. She didn’t think he was a danger, and they could make up their own minds. Jason said she didn’t have to take Sidwell’s money, but Sasha said she did.  

Sasha said she wanted to know that she could support herself and her child. She grew up with a mother driven by money, who transformed herself into whatever her mark wanted her to be. She didn’t want her child to think it was a valid way to live. He said, but her mother was acting alone. She had family and friends. Sasha said she didn’t want charity. This was compensation for what Sidwell had put her through. She took it and they’re done. Jason asked if she’d be okay if Maxie and Brook knew she took it, and she said, he wasn’t going to tell them, was he? He said, no, but the fact she didn’t want to, told him that she wasn’t okay with it.

Jordan said there was no evidence that Sidwell was doing anything illegal, and Isaiah said Sidwell was dangerous and ruthless, and too smart to leave a paper trail. She said, all the more reason to get close, and he said he was afraid for her. If Sidwell found out, she’d just be gone. She said she assumed as much, and he asked why she was hellbent on risking her life with no back-up. She said that was why she was saying goodbye now. If they’d been in a relationship she would have had to make him understand. The cold, hard truth was that it was her choice own and no one was talking her out of doing what she needed to do. He took her hand and said, please be careful. He left and Anna came along. She asked Jordan, what’s wrong?  

Sidwell walked into Alexis’s office and thanked her for seeing him, but she said she already told him that she had no time for him. What did he want? He said, they were on the verge of hiring Marco, and the presumed the stumbling block was him. She said, the fact he was Marco’s father was a factor, but Marco wasn’t the only candidate they were considering. He said none were as well qualified, and Alexis said Sidwell was one of Marco’s clients. Did he possibly know that Sonny and Jason were their clients and brought Marco in to infiltrate them? He said it wasn’t even a remote possibility, and she said, did he ask Marco to relocate? He said, yes. He was moving stateside and looking forward to being close to his son, but it was Marco who wanted to work at the firm. What could he do to alleviate their concerns? She’d be a fool not to hire him.

While downing gummi bears, Lucy told Maxie and Brook that they’d be fine. Brook said they could invoke the morals clause and sever ties with him, but Maxie said he’d never been implicated. Brook said, that would imply they knew something was illegal, and Lucy said if they cut their losses, it would take them months to build up a new supply chain. They’d have to postpone their global launch and would lose all momentum. If they stayed with Sidwell, they could keep an eye on him. They didn’t have to like him to do business with him. Maxie said, which brought them to their CFO. What were they going to do about Natalia?

Sonny said he didn’t want Carly to disrupt her life because of him, but she said left to his own devices, he’d push himself and his recovery would suffer. He said she wasn’t going to tell him what to do, and she said she had a better shot at it than anyone else. Sonny trusted her judgement enough to listen to her, and she was worried that Natalia knew as much as she did. Sonny said he he’d known Natalia was Sidwell’s ex, he would have acted differently, but he didn’t think she’d wish harm on him. His phone rang and Brook asked if he could come to Deception right away. They had to talk about Natalia.

Emma noticed Josslyn was limping and asked if she was okay. Josslyn said she was fine. She’d twisted her ankle during a hike on Easter Island. She’d been fine until she put weight on it hauling Emma’s ass out of the dumpster. Emma said Josslyn did not just call her fat, and Josslyn asked why Emma was always so angry with her. Emma said she was so sick of Josslyn getting everything she wanted, Easter Island, Dalton’s class, even though it already started. Everything always worked out for her. Josslyn said, when they were kids, she was jealous of Emma. She was perfect and could do no wrong. She was never in trouble. Emma said, because she was being who everyone wanted her to be, and Josslyn said, look where that got her. She had a criminal rap sheet. Emma said, public enemy number one, and they laughed.

Anna said that Jordan seemed tense, and Jordan said she’d just broken up with Isaiah. Anna said she didn’t realize they had something going on, and Jordan said, not anymore. She liked him too. Anna asked, what happened? and Jordan said, Jenz Sidwell came to town just when things were getting interesting. Anna said, so given his and Isaiah’s history, she cut Isaiah loose. She didn’t want Sidwell to be suspicious while she was cultivating him. Jordan said, exactly, and Anna said she’s cultivated targets in her lifetime. Jordan said she and Isaiah tried to see each other on the downlow… Anna asked, what changed?

Jason arrived at Sonny’s old kitchen and said he’d gotten Carly’s text. She said she found out Sonny was having open heart surgery, and he asked if Sonny told her. She said, just now, and asked how long he knew. He said he’s known for a while, before the penthouse. Sonny didn’t want anyone to know. Isaiah knew because he was monitoring Sonny’s condition, and Brick knew because he got the specialist in LA. Carly asked what Natalia brought to the party, and Jason said, she found out when she walked in while Sonny was having an episode. She got his pills, and he confided in her. Jason didn’t like it. She said, now it came out that Natalia is connected to Sidwell. Why didn’t he tell her what was going on? He said, Sonny didn’t want her to know, and she said, that never stopped him before. Why didn’t he trust her now? Was it because of Jack?

Marco said he dropped his card because he knew Lucas would find it. Once he did, he knew Lucas would get so drunk, he’d have to carry him back… Lucas said, stop. He didn’t know why he constantly embarrassed himself. Sorry. Marco said he didn’t know who Lucas was. He was just relieved to get his card back and intrigued by the cute boy who found it. Lucas caught him off guard and the next morning he had no reason to think he’d see Lucas again. Surprised again. Lucas asked if Sidwell being Marco’s father was a good surprise. Did Marco work for him? Marco said Sidwell was one of his clients, and Lucas asked if Sidwell was a criminal. Marco said he had no knowledge of his father doing anything illegal, and Lucas said, interesting phrasing. Was that because his father is legit or is Marco being willfully ignorant because he doesn’t want to know?

Brook said Natalia had been in Port Charles over a year, and Lucy asked if she believed Natalia said anything that could hurt them. Natalia walked in and said she wouldn’t have even if there had been something to tell. They had a right to be upset, but she asked that they hear her out. Maxie said, go ahead, and Natalia said her ex had been out of her life for decades. They broke up when their son was a baby. The last she heard, he was in East Africa. She had no reason to think he’d be in Port Charles. Brook said, but he was, and Maxie asked why she didn’t say something, but Natalia said it had nothing to do with their business decisions.

Emma said she’d been envious of Josslyn when they were kids. Josslyn was the super cool girl who lived part-time in Australia, surfed, and never cared what people thought. She pushed boundaries to go after what she wanted. Josslyn said they remembered things differently, and Emma said she was bugged that Josslyn was so fearless, while she was stuck being good. Josslyn said she was jealous of Emma. She had everything figured out and didn’t need to break rules or push boundaries to get what she wanted. Emma said now she just wanted to fight for what was right, and she was covered in paint and gum a tiny child put there. How did Josslyn get into Dalton’s class when there were at least 10 people on the waitlist?

Marco told Lucas that his father was powerful and ambitious. He knew there were parts of his father’s business that his father kept from him, and he preferred it that way. Lucas said he understood too well. He ignored everything his father did until he couldn’t. That’s why they were estranged when he died. Marco said, that’s new. He would tell Lucas his life story on date three. Lucas asked if this was a date.  

Jordan told Anna that after she resigned, Sidwell offered her a job as his personal lobbyist. It wasn’t official and she’d appreciate it if Anna didn’t say anything, especially to Curtis, and Anna said, of course (🍷). Was Laura in on this? Jordan said they’d come up with the plan together. She knew Boyle couldn’t resist grandstanding and putting her on the spot and he didn’t disappoint. And any good cover story works if there’s an element of truth. She’d never been comfortable with Laura’s closeness to Sonny.

Carly said she’d never tell Jack that Sonny needed help, and Jason said he knew she’d never divulge Sonny’s secrets to Brennan. She had a right to have a life, separate and apart from Sonny. In the past, she’d try to distance herself, and he’d pull her back. She said, those were her own choices, and he said, Sonny cost her a lot. She changed after Sonny and Nina. He saw how painful it was, and it wasn’t fair to ask her to come through for Sonny again.

Alexis asked why Sidwell was working so hard to get his son hired, and he said maybe he was overcompensating. He and Marco’s mother divorced when Marco was young. As a father, he was mostly absent. Marco’s mother had him – Natalia Ramirez. Alexis asked if he was Allie’s father, but he said, no. Natalia remarried and their divorce was so acrimonious, he missed out on Marco’s childhood. She asked when they reconnected, and he said, Marco reached out when he was in high school. He was happy to pay for Marco’s college and law school. He was grateful for the chance to bond with his son and was looking forward to living in the same city. Alexis said she could see he loved his son. Unfortunately, his feelings had no bearing on the firm’s hiring decision. She’d have her assistant see him out.

Natalia said she should have told them the second she walked in. She was sorry, but when she saw Sidwell, she froze. She didn’t know he was in North America, let alone Port Charles. Maxie said she was sure it was a shock, and Brook said, it was two months ago, and Natalia continued to keep quiet. Natalia said, Lulu was so passionate with her objection, she didn’t think they’d be able to move forward, and too much time had passed… Sonny walked in and said he didn’t know Natalia would be here. Natalia said, of course (🍷). She owed the women an explanation and an apology. Maxie said, Natalia explained why she kept her ex a secret, and Sonny asked what they decided. Lucy asked if they were still all in agreement, and Maxie said, yeah. Let’s not drag it out. Effective immediately, they were terminating Natalia’s contract.

Anna asked what happened when Jordan got Sidwell, and Jordan said they both knew he was up to something. He hired her to be his public facing, but once she was inside, she’d been in the perfect position to keep an eye on him. Anna asked if she thought she could get evidence against him, and Jordan said, maybe. She was hoping her presence in his organization would make it harder to pull something. Anna said it sounded too good be true, she and Laura having a man on the inside.  And she couldn’t think of a better man for the job.

Sonny said he’d made the decision, and Brook said that’s why she’d asked him to come. Maxie said, except they had a CFO they couldn’t trust, but in the light of things, it was a necessary evil. Lucy said they couldn’t have Sidwell’s ex-wife near their financials, and Natalia told Sonny that he knew she could be trusted. Don’t let it happen. He said he was sorry, but she needed to understand and accept the decision. She said, after all she’d done. Where was his loyalty? He said, business is business, and Natalia left.  

Lucas said he had no idea Marco’s standards were so low, and. Marco said it wasn’t the worst date he’d been on. Lucas said him either (me neither), when Marco’s phone rang, and he said his mom didn’t usually call him. Lucas said he was looking forward to date three, and left.

Carly thanked Jason for taking her life into consideration as she gazed at the moss bowl🎍. It seemed like it had been forever since Sonny’s name had come up in their conversations. She’d always love him. They had kids together. But she loved Jason for thinking about her and supporting her choices even when he didn’t agree. It was her choice to go to LA. She wanted to be there for Sonny. They’d been through a lot, and he was always there for her, just like she was going to be there for him. Jason said he was glad Sonny told her. Sonny was going to need a lot more help than he thought.

Josslyn told Emma that she didn’t know how she got in the class, but she did know she didn’t ask for a special favor. Emma said the school would do what it took to keep her dad happy. They could pay for a new sports center. Josslyn said she knew it was unfair that she got into class when there was a long wait, but now that she was in it, she was going to work her ass off. Emma thanked her and left.

Anna said she supported Jordan’s reasoning, but thought the bottom line was that Jordan missed the action. She was good undercover, but what was worse was that she loved it. Anna was worried that if Jordan focused on Sidwell, it would cost her, and Jordan said it already had. Anna said Sidwell wasn’t an easy target. He was dangerous, and for someone in town for a short time, he had powerful connections.

Alexis came into her office to find her assistant telling Sidwell that he needed to leave. Alexis said she’d take it from here and asked Sidwell if she needed to call security. He said, no, but he wanted to tell her one more thing. Marco had never done anything remotely illegal. He was proud of his son and loved him. Did she think he’d condone any form of criminality? Alexis said she had no idea, but she’d take it under advisement. Sidwell said she was a hard woman to impress, but Marco could rise to the challenge, as could he, and he left.

Jason said Carly had her work cut out for her. Keeping Sonny still while he was recuperating wouldn’t be easy. She said she’d gotten him through the original injury 25 years ago, and they’d get through this too. She was more worried about what Sonny had shared with Natalia. Did he think Natalia had told Sidwell Sonny’s secrets? He said Carly was Sonny’s ex. How much did she tell Sonny? She said, everything, and he said there was her answer. They’d have to assume Natalia told Sidwell everything.

Marco met with Natalia, and she said she didn’t know who she was angrier at – his dad or Sonny. His dad just blew her life to hell and after all she’d done for Sonny, he just fired her like she was nothing.  

Lucy said she was going to look for a new brand scout, and Brook said she was sorry. Natalia was furious. Sonny said she was, but they couldn’t ignore her connection to Sidwell. Since he brought her to Deception, he felt it was right for him to be involved in letting her go. Maxie said, but what happens now? and he said, they just deal with it.

Tuesday:

Ava visited Rick wearing a (faux) fur coat and said, Ava Jerome is back.

Alexis apologized to Diane for being late, and Diane said she couldn’t keep living like this. They needed to revisit the idea of having Kristina committed to a psychiatric hospital. Alexis said she couldn’t do it, and Diane asked if prison for Kristina was okay.

Lucky opened the door to Kristina who wanted to make sure Elizabeth was okay. Lucky said he told her that Elizabeth was fine, but Kristina said the guilt was eating her alive. She couldn’t last like this.

Trina met Curtis at the café, and said she had a feeling her mom told him about the conversation they’d had about Kai. He said he thought she might want someone else to talk with. He knew she was nervous about Kai having surgery. She said Kai was excited, but there was a good chance of it not working out. It would break his heart if that happened or worse. Something could go horribly wrong, and he wouldn’t be able to walk.

Kai went to Drew’s place and Drew said he was sorry about the other day, but Kai had all his attention now. Kai said he thought over Drew’s offer and wanted to have the surgery.

Nina walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and told Carly that she’d gotten a call from a friend in DC. Drew had been asking for the name of a realtor there. Hoping for a calming effect from the moss bowl 🎍, Carly said they couldn’t let that happen, but Nina said, first things first. What was Carly thinking with that ridiculous outburst? They were supposed to break up Willow and Drew, and Carly pushed them closer together. Carly said she was beginning think that’s what Nina wanted.

Willow went to see Jason, and he asked why she wanted to see him. She said she needed his help, and he sighed. He said he didn’t think it was a good idea, but she said he was her last chance. He’d gotten through to Tracy and Tracy compromised. No one knew Michael and Carly better than he did and he was the only person Carly would listen to. She begged him to tell Carly not to take her kids away.

Nina asked where the hell Carly got that idea, and Carly said she thought their alliance was about breaking up Drew and Willow. Now Drew was shopping for a real estate agent, and Nina just stood there after she laid into Willow. She could have used some back-up. Nina said Carly barely took a breath, and Carly asked if it was Nina’s plan all along to be there to comfort her daughter. Nina asked if Carly was done.

Curtis said he was surprised Kai wanted the surgery after Portia told him that she didn’t recommend it, and Trina said Kai ignored Portia’s professional opinion even though he’d asked for it. She thought he’d made up his mind the second he heard about it. It was Kai’s call and she knew she needed to be there to support him even if she didn’t agree. She didn’t want to be dishonest or lie, but she thought he was making a huge mistake.

Drew said he was hoping Kai would go through with it, and Kai said his fear got in the way of him saying yes. Drew said it was normal to be afraid to get his hopes up, but the doctor said he was an excellent candidate. He could call the doctor now if Kai wanted. Kai said he was amazed how generous Drew was, and Drew said, what was the point in having money if you didn’t use it to help people? Just give him a shout out when Kai won the Heisman. Kai said Drew was changing his life and had given him the best gift he could ask for – hope.

Alexis told Diane that Kristina and Molly were closer than ever. It was almost like it used to be. The only thing missing was Sam. Molly was now able to move forward, and Kristina was over the hump. If the truth came out, they were done, and she couldn’t let that happen. Diane said if she had Kristina committed, they would have secured an insanity defense as back-up, and she could keep Molly in the dark about the accident. Alexis said Molly was too smart and would keep digging until she found out and nobody would recover. The best option was to leave it alone and pray the truth stayed buried. So far, it had. Diane said that was all well and good except for one thing – Ric.

On the phone, Ava said she’d take the Maserati… Rose gold of course (🍷)… Fabulous. She couldn’t wait. Ric asked what she was doing, and she said she had plenty of the money left and more was coming, but he said she couldn’t be blowing it on lavish gifts for herself. She said she didn’t forget him, and gave him a giftbag, a thank you gift for standing by her. It was a limited-edition watch. She’d seen his was damaged in the accident. He said, no. It all had to go back. She couldn’t keep anything.  

Nina said Carly could trust her and she didn’t want Willow and Drew together. She wanted the relationship over permanently, but she was in a delicate position. If she was too obvious, she risked alienating Willow and didn’t want to blow it for the likes of drew. If Willow pulled away, she had no influence. Now she was in Willow’s ear. Barely, but it was better than nothing. Carly said Nina had to do more, and Nina said she was trying. Carly was a better mouthpiece anyway and most of what she said was spot on, until she brought up Nelle. Nina refused to let Nelle be weaponized, and moving forward, Carly needed to respect that. Carly said that was fair, but the slow approach wasn’t working. Willow had moved in with Drew and they were running out of time. Nina said she wanted Willow out of Drew’s house as much as Carly did, and Carly said she was done waiting. She was going to get Wiley and Amelia out of Drew’s house with or without Nina’s help.

Jason told Willow that Carly was angry, but meant what she said. Wiley and Amelia meant everything to Michael, and Michael meant everything to Carly. Michael couldn’t fight for himself, and Carly wasn’t going to back down. Willow said she knew no one approved of what happened, but it wasn’t fair for her to put her life on hold. He said that was her choice, but she was wrong about him being her least chance. Her last chance was herself.

Lucky asked if something happened, but Kristina said, nothing new. She kept replaying the accident in her mind and could barely sleep. She had nightmares and when she woke, she realized it was her life. She almost killed two people. Lucky said it was fine. Everyone was healing and would eventually move on. Kristina said she couldn’t move on from this. The only way to free herself was to confess

Ava said Ric couldn’t tell her how to spend her money, and Ric said he got it. He was happy for her and glad her luck was turning, but if she showed her wealth, people would notice and he expected her to be smart. Instead of Alexis transferring the money directly to her account, they needed to set up an offshore account and needed to put the money in Ava’s account slowly, make it look like the galleries were getting stabilized and doing well. She had to fly under the radar if she wasn’t going to get caught. She said, all right. She’d cancel the car and send everything back, but she was keeping the coat. She closed the blinds and said she found it kind of sexy when Ric gave her financial advice. Money was her aphrodisiac. She got in bed with him, and he said, blackmail was his. She said, it would be foolish to waste this serendipitous event, and they kissed.

Alexis said Ric didn’t remember the accident, and Diane said, yet. He’d remember the failing brakes or Elizabeth would, and Kristina would be in for a world of hurt. Did Alexis want to take that chance? Alexis was her best friend and Diane loved her. This was as close as she’d ever come to begging. Please take her advice. Alexis said she could handle Ric, and she loved Diane too. She thanked Diane, but told her to shred the papers. Alexis left and Diane put the papers in a folder.

A nurse gave Portia some paperwork to sign, and Portia noticed they were hosting a guest surgeon, Dr. Mohinder… and the patient was Kai Taylor. The nurse said, yes, the football star.

Drew said the hospital should be receiving the surgeon’s request shortly. If all went well, the doctor was optimistic that Kai would fully recover before the first game in the fall season. Kai said he didn’t know how he’d repay Drew, but Drew said it was the best use of his money… There was something Kai could do for him though. Kai said, anything, and Drew said he came across a documentary producer who did thought provoking work. He thought Kai could do a documentary story – from surgery to recovery to return to the field, a hero’s journey. It was a story that would inspire people. Defying the odds was something people wanted to see. Kai said he’d do it. He owed Drew and if Drew thought it was a good idea, he was in.

Curtis told Trina that deceit didn’t sit well with him, but sometimes in life, circumstances forced your hand. She said she’d been thinking of all the things that could go wrong and how much pain it would cause because Drew thought it was a piece of cake and a sure thing. Curtis said Trina had one choice, to stand by Kai’s side and support him, no matter the outcome.

Lucky said he was sorry it was hard, but he couldn’t tell Kristina to confess. It wasn’t his decision. Kristina said she knew that, but thought if she did, she’d feel lighter and be able to sleep. He said, but at what cost? and she said Molly would never get over the fact she almost killed her father, and she’d lose the only sister she had left. Her whole family would implode. It would destroy all of them. He said, the question was, what was more selfish? Her keeping the secret and protecting herself or confessing and hurting everyone she cared about?

Nina said she was completely committed to breaking up Willow and Drew, but she and Carly had to change their approach. Fighting only reinforced their romantic delusion of them against the world. Carly asked, what if Willow never sees the light or the real Drew? They couldn’t just hope she came to her senses. Nina asked what the alternative was, and Carly said, going to court to fight for custody of her grandchildren, but Nina said, no judge would give a grandparent more rights than the mother. If Carly did that, she and Michael would lose the kids for good.

Willow said nothing she’d done seemed to work and they were in this endless cycle of fighting, but Jason said that was because she surrounded herself with people who shoved their opinions at her. None of that mattered. They were her and Michael’s kids and the rest was noise. She had to shut it out and stop listening. He thought she should go to Germany and see Michael. They needed to meet face to face and end this war once and for all.

Lucky told Kristina to remember one thing. She’d been incredibly lucky. Everyone survived. She’d made a terrible mistake. She couldn’t change that, but she could learn from it. Make almonds amends in any way she could and let her family have peace. Stop letting her emotions rule her. Kristina said she’d been reckless and completely running on emotion, and he said, and more than anything, let go of her vendetta against Ava.

Alexis went to see Ric and said she thought she’d check in. He said she seemed nervous and asked if she was okay.

Portia went to see Drew and said she couldn’t believe Kai was going through what Drew was willing to do to him, and Drew said, nice to see her too. She said she saw the schedule and wasn’t going to sit by while he toyed with this kid’s life. The surgery was dangerous and not going to happen. He said it was, and Kai was the ideal candidate. She said, Kai was young and his whole life had been upended. He wasn’t thinking about the repercussions or how his life could be worse after the surgery. Drew said Kai was just there and was feeling excited, and she said that would end quick if Kai was left in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. How would Drew feel if he did that to Kai? (My guess is, Drew would say, oopsy, and move on.)

Carly told Nina that nothing was going to change until Michael came home. Then everything would change. Nina said that’s what she was hoping. The more room they gave Willow and Drew, the more they’d get complacent and comfortable. When Drew screwed up – and he would – she would be in Willow’s ear and tell her all about it. She’d agree to 50/50 custody and everyone would win, especially Wiley and Amelia. Were they in agreement on the plan moving forward? Carly said they were, and Nina said she’d keep Carly in the loop, but she had to stay away from Willow. She’d be in touch. Giving a last look at the moss bowl 🎍, Nina left, and Carly made a call. She asked if they were busy. She needed to talk to them.

Ric asked if Alexis was sure she was okay. He knew her and she was never this stressed unless it had something to do with Kristina. Alexis said she was fine, and Ric said she could talk to him. Their truce extended to him listening. She said she appreciated that and asked how he was. He said, better every day. He’d actually started to remember things about the accident. She said, like what? and he said she was too smart to be this dumb. She wouldn’t be there if she didn’t think he knew her lunatic daughter tried to kill Ava and almost killed him and Elizabeth instead.

Diane walked into Sonny’s old kitchen and asked, what fresh hell was she here to prevent or cause? Carly said, Michael and Willow’s custody case.

Willow said it seemed drastic to go to Germany, and Jason said he did it. He needed to hear something directly from Michael, so he flew over, talked to him, and got a clear answer. She said she and Michael hadn’t spoken since he left. Kristina set up the video chats with the kids. Michael probably hated her. Jason said he saw Michael before the explosion, and Willow said that was the day she was served in DC. He said he saw Michael’s face and it wasn’t something he wanted. He believed Michael loved her and the kids and wanted the best for them. She said she never doubted it, but Michael came out swinging and asked for sole custody. Jason said they were in this situation because they stopped communication. She had to see Michael face to face, and they had to be on the same page once and for all. It was the only way.

Alexis said, Ava and Ric were in this blackmail scheme together. Of course (🍷) they were. He said she was damn right. If she wanted to thank him for not turning Kristina in, he was all ears. She said he’d never change, and he asked if that meant their truce was over. Kristina belonged in prison. She could call if she preferred. She could end this. Alexis said it would kill Molly, but he said Molly deserved to know the truth. The horrible way Kristina behaved during Irene’s death was the person her sister was. It would break her heart, but at least she’d be free of Kristina. Alexis said, what about the money? and Ric said the money was nice, but for Molly to see who Kristina really was and that Alexis would always protect Kristina over Molly was the best gift he could give his daughter.

Trina sat next to Kai in the park as he watched some guys practicing football. He said everything was set for next week. He talked to his parents. They were out of the country, but supported his decision. He knew Trina wasn’t sure about it, but he appreciated her caring about him and looking out for him. She said she did care about him, and he said if he had the surgery, it would give him a shot at playing football again. It was a long shot, but that was all he needed.  

Drew said he would feel terrible if something happened to Kai, but the doctor was an incredible surgeon and wasn’t going to let anything happen. Portia said, every surgery was a risk, but this was a massively high stakes procedure. She was a doctor and the Chief of Staff. Maybe he shouldn’t argue with her. Drew said, maybe she shouldn’t throw her medical license and credentials around, since she knew she shouldn’t have them. She only did because of him. She said, now the threats, and he said it was a reminder, but he didn’t know why he was keeping her secret. She hadn’t helped him with Curtis at all. It was clear she had no sway with her husband. Maybe it was time Curtis, and the world found out the truth. There was a knock at the door, and it was Curtis. He asked what Portia was doing there, and Drew said they’d just talking about him.

Curtis asked what they were saying about him, and Portia said she’d come to tell Drew that she didn’t support Kai’s surgery. Curtis said he’d come about the same thing, but Drew said they were both wasting their time. He wasn’t going to yank the chance away from Kai. He promised them, the surgery was happening. Curtis said they’d just have to pray the surgeon could pull off a miracle. Not for Drew’s sake, but for Kai’s. Drew asked if they were done, and Portia said, absolutely. She and Curtis left, and outside, Portia said they’d have to pray the surgeon pulled it off and Kai became one of the rare success stories. Curtis said he hoped so for Trina’s sake as well, and Portia said, if it went well, it would prove Drew’s intentions were good and they could put it behind them and move on. Curtis said that wasn’t likely.

Trina said, the last time she saw Kai smile like that, he was in a football uniform, and he said football always made him happy. She said she remembered when she snuck in the tunnel and saw him smiling, and he said it killed him that he couldn’t play now, but the chance for the fall was keeping him going. She said she’d be on the stands supporting him, no matter what, and he put his arm around her.

Kristina thanked Lucky for listening, and he said he hoped it helped to clear her head. She said, it did. She wasn’t going to confess. It wouldn’t accomplish anything, and she didn’t want her family to suffer more than they already had. If anyone should suffer, it had to be her. She learned from it and was going to let go of her vendetta against Ava. She just wanted Elizabeth and Ric to get better. She wanted the people she’d to be okay and the people she loved to never get hurt.  

Alexis said she and Ric had a long, horrible history, but one thing she was sure of was that she thought he loved Molly. When he left, it was her who took care of Molly, raised her, and wrapped a loving family around her, including Kristina and Sam. Could he acknowledge that? He said, sure, why not? and she asked why he would purposely do something to hurt her by taking away her family. She gave in to Ava’s demands and funneled money from the Cassadine estate. Please don’t expose Kristina. He said, since she begged so nicely. He always enjoyed watching her smug moral superiority crumble when it came to Kristina. The blackmail wasn’t the best part. The fact that she had to embezzle from a child to do it was the gift that kept on giving. (Like Ace would even miss it. He could probably live off the interest alone.)

Willow said she didn’t know how it all spiraled or if Michael would want to hear from her, but Jason said he thought Michael would. They owed it to each other and the kids to talk. Somebody had to make the first move, and it had to be her.

Carly asked what the status of the custody case was, and Diane said it was at a standstill until Michael was back in town. Carly said Willow was served in DC. Could they move forward on Michael’s behalf? Diane said, not at the moment. It was hard to have a custody battle when the plaintiff was halfway around the world. Carly said she could handle getting Michael there as long as they were ready to go. Diane said they would be, and Carly said, good. Drew could decide to move at any time, and she wanted to get a court date on the books for the hearing. Diane said she didn’t keep the court’s calendar and there was a good chance they wouldn’t get one until later. Carly said that was okay. She wanted to keep it quiet until a date was found. She wanted Drew, Willow, and Nina to think the hearing was far off in the future. She wanted reality to blindside them.

Wednesday:

Laura goes to visit Lulu and see her new house and thought it would be a wonderful home. She couldn’t stay, but she could come back to help. Lulu said she thought she was good, and Dante came out. He said he thought he heard Laura’s voice.

Boyle stopped by Tracy’s table at the MetroCourt, and said he hoped they could let bygones be bygones and put their unfortunate property dispute behind them. She asked if he meant when he tried to bulldoze her deceased relatives. Did he want something? He said if she ever needed a friend in city hall… and she told him to sit. She said despite his unfortunate relationship with Congressman Cain, she did find herself liking some of his positions. Actually, just one position. The one where he put Sonny Corinthos out of business.

At another table, Nina thanked Portia for meeting with her. Drew was out of control, and they had to do something to stop him before he cost Nina’s daughter her children.

Carly was chopping vegetables in Sonny’s old kitchen, when Jason came in. She said they had something to talk about before she went to LA. She finally figured out how to get Michael’s kids away from Willow for good. Jason said he needed her to put the knife down.

Drew told Willow that he’d talked to his lawyer about the kids. If something happened to her and Michael, they could stay with him. She didn’t have to worry they would end up with Carly. His lawyer would make sure they wouldn’t. Willow asked if he could stop them.

Boyle said the locale of the esplanade should be left up to the people, but Tracy said she didn’t want to talk about the esplanade. No one gave a damn about the esplanade, and if she never heard the word esplanade again it would be too soon. Boyle said that’s what the referendum was about, and she said not to talk to her like she got her news from social media. The referendum had absolutely nothing to do with a sidewalk. He asked what she thought it was about, and she said she thought it was about getting rid of and extremely dangerous criminal in Port Charles. Sonny had wormed his way into the graces of important people. Her only regret is that it took this long to find the perfect way to shut him down. Boyle said he couldn’t agree more and asked if she was willing to put her money where her mouth was.

Dante said the garbage disposal was now working, but not some of the outlets, and asked where the panel was. Lulu said she didn’t even know her zip code, and he said he’d find it. He left, and Laura said Lulu really didn’t need her help. Lulu said Dante’s handyman skills had been a lifesaver, and Laura said she was sure they had. Lulu said, fine. She was enjoying his company, but she’d always need her mother. Laura said, nice save, and she was only a phone call away. She’d miss having Lulu and the kids there, but was thrilled Lulu had found a home for her family. Just don’t forget that her home was also Lulu’s home – always. They hugged and Laura left. Lulu found a giftbag among the boxes and took out a vase. Dante came back and said the outlets were working, and she said, don’t tell her that he picked out the vase. He said, Tracy did. He was just the messenger. She took out the card and read, Love, Your Stepmonster. Dante said, new house, new vase, and old, but functioning, garbage disposal. It looked like Lulu was back on her feet. Lulu said, not quite, but soon.

Brook told Lois that she and Chase would like to start a family, so they decided to explore adoption. Chase said Brook thought it would be a nice way to pay it forward, and Lois said she thought it was an amazing idea. She’d do what she could to help. Brook said, one thing they knew for sure was that they wanted to use the same agency where Lois placed her baby.

Carly told Jason that she wasn’t going after Willow with a knife. Michael served Willow with divorce papers when she was shacking up with Drew in DC, but there was no follow through because of his injuries. While he was in Germany, Willow was living out her romantic delusional fantasy with no consequences, like losing her children. She told Diane to prepare for Michael’s custody battle. Jason asked if they were going to inform Willow, and Carly said when they got a court date, but Diane thought it was far off. Jason said, what if Michael wasn’t ready? and Carly said they’d postpone it, but if and when he was ready and back in Port Charles, they’d have tons of evidence that Willow was an unfit mother. Jason said, but they didn’t know what Michael wanted.

Willow said she didn’t think extreme action was best, but Drew said it wasn’t extreme. Willow still had Michael’s medical proxy. She said she wasn’t using that as leverage again, and Drew said Willow had to consider her position. No one was filling her in on Michael’s medical condition. She said, Carly updated her when she asked and Michael was doing better, but Drew said, all they had was Carly’s word. What if he was getting worse? What if something happens to her? She said she didn’t want to talk about that, but he said, consider the possible outcome. That if Michael succumbed to his injuries and she became incapacitated? She needed to make it super clear in the eyes of the law that the kids wouldn’t end up with Carly. She said before they went any further, there was one more person she needed to face – her husband.

Brook said either she never knew the name of the agency or didn’t remember, but she was sure Lois and Gloria vetted them within an inch of their life. Chase said Lois told them she was grateful to the nuns, and Brook said, that’s why they thought it would be a great place to adopt a child of their own. What was the name? Ned came in and asked what he just heard about a child.

Portia said she was confounded by Willow’s faith in Drew, but it seemed to be a pattern. People fell under Drew’s spell. Nina said it was because he was a master manipulator, and Portia said Drew used half-truths and subtle pressure to convince people to do what he wanted, then made them think it was their idea. Nina said he had Willow convinced it was the two of them against the world and Willow never questioned it despite other people’s warnings. Portia said he tried to manipulate Curtis into giving him controlling interest in Aurora again, but when Curtis saw who Drew really was, it changed his perception for good. Nina said Drew would never show Willow any side of himself except the hero. If only she knew what he was capable of. Portia said, if Nina knew what Drew was hiding, the simplest way was to tell Willow.

Carly said her son wanted his children back, and Jason asked if she’d talked to Michael. She said, early in his treatment, she’d talked to him on the phone, but he was tired and in pain and she didn’t want to push it. Did he talk to Michael? He said they’d had two conversations that lasted about three minutes. He just wanted his kids to be okay. The only two who could fix this were Michael and Willow. She said, Willow was too enthralled with Drew. She didn’t even remember she had a husband. Jason said, she remembered. Willow was going to Germany to see Michael.

Drew said, Willow was going to visit Michael? and she said, that was the plan. He didn’t approve? He said it wasn’t that. He was surprised. She said she should have gone a long time ago, but didn’t know for sure what his condition was. She needed to see it for herself, so she was going to Baden-Baden. If Carly was lying about his progress, they’d know what legal action to take. The sooner she knew his current condition, the better, and if he was improving, they could have a productive conversation. Drew said, Michael filed for sole custody. Did she think he wanted to talk? She said, when she was served, it was petty and cruel, but Michael wasn’t. He’d had no chance to explain, and they only had Carly’s take on it. She needed to hear it from him. Drew said she might not like what he had to say, and she said, maybe not. There was a reason their marriage didn’t work, but they had cared for each other and the one thing they could always agree on was the kids. He said, the kids Michael was trying to take away from her, and she said, which was also not like him. Even when the video was shown, he stood up to Carly and let her take the kids because he knew they belonged with her. Drew asked, what changed? and Willow said she spoke to the one person who knew Michael better than anyone. She talked to Jason.

Boyle looked at a check and said he couldn’t thank Tracy enough. She said she didn’t want thanks, just results, and he said he was confident the referendum was going to go their way, but it wasn’t a slam dunk. Sonny had powerful friends who were fine with the status quo. Tracy said she wasn’t and she wasn’t the only one. Boyle said, if she aligned herself with them, she would be going up against Sonny’s powerful friends – Laura approached the table – such as their illustrious mayor.

Laura asked if Boyle was making amends to those whose family he tried to have disinterred, and Tracy said he promised to make every effort to make it up. Boyle said Laura should know he got the internal polling on the referendum. Sonny Corinthos’s days on the piers were numbered. Laura said, then they were. Excuse them. Boyle said given the way the wind was howling, Laura should jump on board with their position, but she said, unlike him, she didn’t choose her position based on polls. She did what was best for Port Charles. Tracy said Boyle had his money. Go put it to good use, preferably as far away as he could get. Boyle left and Laura sat down. She said, Tracy gave him money? She couldn’t trust him. Tracy said he was loathsome, but she thought they needed to listen to him.

Lulu told Dante that she was looking for a new job to go with her new place, and she’d found something perfect. He asked what she was going to do, and she said she reached out to her old contacts at The Invader. She was pitching herself as a long form journalist. She was starting as a freelancer and had a great call with the managing editor at the Llanview Banner. She felt good about this one. She got to make her own hours, so she’d have plenty time for the kids. Dante said, they’d love that, especially Rocco. He felt Rocco could use his mom.

Carly said, Jason told Willow to see Michael in Germany? and Jason said he did. She asked why he was talking to Willow, and he said Willow had tracked him down and wanted him to stop her from taking the kids like he’d stopped Tracy. He told her that only she and Michael could figure out their marriage and needed to have a face-to-face conversation. Carly said it was a bad idea. Michael was in no condition to figure things out. He was still in love with Willow.

Willow told Drew that she took the kids to see Monica and ran into Jason. They talked and he asked why she hadn’t reached out to Michael. The truth was, she was afraid of what Michael would say and do, but Jason said he’d be willing to hear her out. Drew said she couldn’t trust anything to do with Michael, but she said she couldn’t make decisions based on fear. She had to face him and try to find common ground for the kids’ sake. Was there something she wasn’t seeing? He told her that he couldn’t believe he was saying this, but he thought Jason might have a point. He was in favor of anything that brought the family peace.

Nina told Portia that she could expose Drew, but had no tangible proof. If she openly challenged Drew, it would just push them closer. Portia said that Drew wasn’t just a manipulator. He was impossible to call out. You could try, but it could backfire. Nina wondered if she was talking about Curtis, but Portia said Curtis could hold his own. She was worried about Trina’s friend Kai Taylor. Nina asked if he wasn’t the spokesperson for Drew’s Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷). Didn’t he play football? Portia said, he was football until he got hurt. Drew convinced him that he could play again if he underwent an incredibly risky surgery. Nina said, if it was a success, Drew would be the hero for saving a young man’s future, but if it didn’t work… Portia said, Kai could end up paralyzed. Trina was terrified and they’d both tried to talk to Kai. Nina said, but he bought Drew’s act, and Portia said, if it didn’t work out, Drew would say he never promised anything, like making Curtis CEO. Nina said Drew could weasel himself into anything, and Portia said he lured them in until they were trapped, then convinced them they did it to themselves. Nina said then they’d just have to set a trap of their own.

Tracy said, a broken clock was right twice a day, and Laura said Boyle pandered to donors and polls. He was eager to get back and Sonny. Tracy said it was worth working with him to get rid of the blight on her family. Sonny stole Michael from AJ, then murdered AJ. There was no love lost between her and AJ, but he was Alan and Monica’s son, and it was a murder. She could understand Laura’s conflict and it wasn’t her intention to put her at odds with Sonny. That’s why she wanted to meet. She wanted to give Laura a heads up before she made her position public. She apologized for the timing. Laura said she didn’t care about that, but Tracy aligning herself with Boyle was a mistake, and Tracy said if Boyle was willing to go head-to-head with Sonny Corinthos, she had no choice but to support him.

A beautiful woman went to the bar and asked Boyle if the seat next to him was taken. Portia wondered how she and Nina would pull it off. Councilman Boyle was here. He was Drew’s lackey and did his dirty work. They looked over to Boyle and the woman laughing and clinking glasses, and Nina said maybe they could use that. Portia wondered what that woman was doing with that troll, and Nina said she’d seen that woman here before several times.

Lulu asked if Dante was concerned about separating Danny and Rocco, and he said, a little. He was more worried about Danny being without Rocco’s influence. Danny also let Rocco loosen up, but she shouldn’t worry. Rocco wouldn’t get in as much trouble as he did at Rocco’s age. Lulu dropped something and Dante suggested they take a break.

Ned hugged Brook and said adoption was wonderful. He adopted Leo and considered it a great joy, the gift of life. Chase said he hoped they were half as lucky, and Ned said the child they adopted would be happy and lucky. He’d do everything he could to help. Lois said, absolutely, when her phone rang. She said it was a lighting director she was trying to nail down for the Nurses Ball and left. Chase thanked Ned in advance and said they didn’t know if they wanted to adopt an infant or an older child. Ned said, the proper mindset was an open mind. You never knew who your child would be until the day you met them.

On the phone, Lois told Gloria, Bingo can wait. Brook was asking what agency they used to place the baby. What was she supposed to tell her? Clearly, there was no agency.

Lulu said they were using the glasses they’d got when they took Rocco to Disneyworld, and Dante said they were the first glasses he’d found. She said she remembered how excited Rocco was to meet Goofy, and Dante said he did too. That’s why he made sure they were still around. When she got sick and he packed up her house, he made sure he got what he thought she’d find important. He was hoping they’d get use one day. Lulu’s phone rang and she said it was the Llanview Banner.

Lois came back and Ned said he had to get to a meeting. They’d talk more tonight. He couldn’t wait to meet his grandchild.

Laura said she felt there was nothing she could say to change Tracy’s mind, and Tracy said there wasn’t. She was sorry it was going to create friction between them and understood it put Laura in a bad position. She hoped Laura understood the wisdom of ridding Port Charles of a mafia boss. Laura said Tracy thought driving Sonny out of town was going to rid them of organized crime, but it wasn’t. Somebody else would slip in behind him and she thought she knew who – Jenz Sidwell. She asked what Tracy knew about him, and Tracy said she wasn’t a fan. Unfortunately, Deception needed him and his rare mineral. Laura said he wasn’t just that Sidwell was a dangerous criminal, she believed he wanted to take Sonny’s place in Port Charles. By driving Sonny out, they were inviting someone worse in.

Carly said, if Willow saw Michael, she’d try everything to get what she wanted, but Jason said it was Michael’s decision. Carly said he was in no condition to decide and couldn’t have a full conversation. Willow wasn’t the woman he remembered and would put her person put selfish desire ahead of the kids. The Willow that Michael loved was gone. Jason said, if that was true, Michael needed to see it for himself, but she said he wouldn’t see it. Willow would cry and do what she could to get what she wanted. He told her to try to have faith and trust that Michael would see through that and figure it out, and she said he would if he was 100%, but he’s not. Jason said he was still Michael.

Drew said he only wanted what was best, and Willow said she was going to book her ticket now. Drew said he’d do it. They’d fly first class, and he’d find an incredible place for them to stay. He could take a couple of days off. Willow said as amazing as it sounded, she needed to go on her own, and he said she didn’t want him to go? She said, if it was a holiday or a long weekend, but she was seeing her husband who was in a burn clinic. On top of it, if Michael found out Drew came, he could take it the wrong way, and he wouldn’t exactly be wrong. She needed to focus doing what was best for the kids. He said if that was what she needed to do, he was behind her 100%, and they hugged.

Nina went over to the woman and said she didn’t mean to interrupt, but she was Nina Reeves, editor of Crimson. Boyle said he was off the clock, but she said she was talking to his friend. The woman introduced herself as Jacinda, and Nina said Jacinta must already be represented by an agency. She assumed Jacinta was a model. Jacinda said she was a freelancer, and Nina handed her a card. Boyle said they had to get going and asked for the check. Nina said, of course (🍷). Call her. She gave Jacinta a wink and went back to the table. Portia thought it was no time to scout models for Crimson, but Nina said, that woman was no model.

Laura said Sonny kept certain elements away from Port Charles, and Tracy said, like drugs. She understood he was the evil they knew, but she was willing to roll the dice on a brand-new devil. Laura said if she couldn’t sway Tracy, could she talk her out of aligning herself with Boyle. Boyle asked her to resign… Is that what Tracy wanted, for her to step down? Tracy said, of course (🍷) not, but why didn’t she distance herself from Sonny. Don’t let that man take her down with him.

Lulu told Dante that the Llanview Banner accepted her 2000-word article, and he said, which one? She said she pitched three and they went with the adoption story.

Brook said she felt terrible that Lois never met her own grandchild, but Chase said their child would still be a new member of the family. Lois said she’d welcome them with open arms – the whole family. Chase said, Tracy might complain, and Brook said, at the beginning, but then she’d be happy there was another Quartermaine, or adjacent. What was the name of the agency? Lois said, Saint Ignatius, and Brook said she’d give them a call. Lois said, unfortunately, they closed down 15 years ago.

Jason told Carly that they weren’t married to Michael. Willow was. Carly said, not for much longer, but he said, until that happened, Michael would say how and when the marriage ended. Carly said she wasn’t calling off Diane. They’d lay the groundwork for Michael to get his kids back and there was nothing Willow could do about it.  

Drew said he was proud of Willow for facing Michael alone, but she said he seemed to have his doubts. He said, never about her. He was going to miss her a lot. They hugged and she said she wasn’t gone yet. They kissed and moved to the bedroom where they got busy.

Boyle left with Jacinta and Portia asked how Nina knew she wasn’t a model. Nina said she recognized Jacinda from the hotel security footage. When she was co-owner, she had to have Jacinda removed from the premises several times for plying her trade. Portia said, she’s an escort? and Nina said, she was, and they had a job for her.

Thursday:

Brook brought Cody to the hospital and he told Felicia that Hades had kicked him. He’d made a rookie mistake, and it wasn’t the horse’s fault. Felicia said she’d find a doctor.

Lucas went to Lulu’s place and thanked him for meeting her. She wanted to interview him for the Llanview Banner. He asked if she needed a medical expert, but she said it was more personal. How did he feel about being adopted?

At the batting cages, Jason told Danny that Rocco was going to be late. Danny said Jason didn’t have to stay, but Jason said he hadn’t planned on leaving. He suggested Danny take some swings.

Alexis thanked Marco for coming back to the office, and Diane said she wanted to cut to the chase. They’d extended him an offer and wanted him to work there, but before they could consider moving forward, there was one thing she had to make abundantly clear.  

Molly walked Ric down the hall at the hospital, and he said he wasn’t the most popular guy. His only regular visitor besides her, was Ava. She said that’s what she was afraid of.

Dante came by Sonny’s old kitchen to see the moss bowl 🎍 Kristina. She said she’d made pancakes with Donna, but was crawling out of her skin a little bit. Dante said he was worried about their dad too.

Brick asked if Sonny was ready to do this thing, and gave Carly a hug. Sonny smiled.

Dante told Kristina that their dad appreciated her staying with Donna. Carly and Sonny were lucky. Kristina said since Carly was going with Sonny to LA, she was grateful she could help out, and he said Donna was here and safe with her. He was grateful too, that she got Sonny to tell him about his health issues. They were family and their dad needed them, especially now.

Brick asked how Sonny was doing, and Sonny said, better now that Brick was here. Brick said he already seemed to be in good hands. He was glad Carly came with Sonny. Sonny said Brick had connected him to the cardiologist, set up the appointment in LA, and kept it discreet, and Brick said, you know I got you.

Jason said Rocco had a great swing, and Rocco said his mom taught him. It was more Rocco’s sport, but he liked it. Jason asked how he felt with Rocco living at Lulu’s half the time, and Danny said, Rocco had missed his mom, and he was happy for him, but it was already weird enough with Scout gone. They were supposed to stick together. Jason said, like mom wanted, and Danny said, now that she was gone, he guessed it didn’t matter.

Molly said Ric was doing great. He’d come a long way. She’d been terrified when she got the call. He said he was tougher than people thought, but Molly said she thought people knew he was tough. She would have lost it if not for mom, Kristina, and Cody. Ric said, Cody the horse guy? and she said, actually, he’d shown up for her a couple of times and turned out to be a good friend. He said, good friends were hard to come by, and Molly said she was grateful Cody got him and Alexis to make a truce. She was concerned about his support system and worried that Ava was the only person showing up for him.

Diane said she didn’t like slip-ups. She introduced Marco to a valuable client, when she wasn’t aware of his controversial parentage. While he hadn’t been obligated to tell them, it was absolutely pertinent. Alexis said it wasn’t a disqualifier. Marco was an excellent attorney, and considering her background, she made it a point to not hold anyone’s lineage against them. While they appreciated the billable hours and Marco bringing in his client list, they needed assurances. Marco said, that his father’s business wasn’t a conflict in working with Jason and Sonny.

Felicia came back and told Brook and Cody that she’d thought Lucas was there, but there’d been a schedule. As soon as a doctor was free, she’d let them know. Brook got an ice pack and said Cody had to get the swelling down. She opened his shirt and said, let’s go, big baby, and put on the ice pack.

Lucas said his parents handled things the right way. They never hid that he was adopted, and he knew he’d been chosen and loved. He didn’t feel they love was any different than their love for BJ, his dad’s biological child. His mom loved both of them. Lulu asked if it made him more receptive to being an adoptive parent, and he said he didn’t know, but he had no hesitation. She asked if the aftermath changed how he felt, and he said, not at all. Adoption was the greatest gift to give or receive. Lulu said that might be the title of her article. He’d been an adoptive parent and been adopted. What was it like when his biological father came into his life as an adult?

Jason said he knew Danny missed his mom and felt he had no one to talk to except Scout, but Scout was young, and he wasn’t seeing her as much as he’d like to. Danny said he was happy about Rocco getting his mom and sister Charlotte back, and Jason said it made sense that Rocco would be feeling mixed up with losing his mom. Rocco could talk to him about how he felt missing her. He missed her too. They were similar and stayed in their heads too much and didn’t talk. He and Danny’s mom did. Nobody got him to talk like she did, and it helped, so he was there. Anything and everything Danny wanted to say, whenever he needed.

Lucas said Tony Jones would always be his dad, but Julian was part of the reason he existed. Despite not being raised by Julian and his many flaws, he found he had room in his heart for his father. He asked if that was awkward or terrible, but Lulu said, neither. She appreciated his honest answers. Julian was a flawed man, but if Lucas could choose, would he still have Julian re-enter his life or would he have been better off never knowing him. Lucas said their relationship was a rocky road filled with highs and lows, and Julian fighting demons until the day he died. He knew Julian loved him and he was grateful for that and Julian, so yes. He was glad Julian came back into his life.

Cody said he thought Brook was annoyed at him for running his mouth to Lulu. Now she was staying in the lounge with him. Brook said she’d told him that she wasn’t mad, and she meant it. She was mad and annoyed at Lulu for manipulating him and digging into something that was none of her business. He said he was sorry, but she said, don’t be. He was there when it counted. She was scared and didn’t know what she would have done without him that summer. He said he was glad to help, and she said she was there for him now and glad to help.

Brick said Dr. Abbott was the best cardiologist in the country, and Sonny said, whoever tried to kill him and hurt Michael was still out there. Brick said he’d find out who it was. He gave the order and got a security team together in case Sonny was under surveillance. He was going to check in now. Carly was in charge, so behave himself. Try to do what the lady says.

Dante told Kristina that he thought Sonny would be around forever. It made him realize he was taking the people he loved for granted and needed to tell those people how much they meant. Kristina said she needed to get better at it. Their dad was her anchor when she bottomed out and didn’t judge her. He just loved her. Dante said Sonny did the same for him after he lost Sam. Kristina told him, both Sam and their dad said they weren’t their mistakes. They did bad things, but were still worthy of love. Dante said, true, and Kristina was super loveable. Donna ran in and asked if Dante wanted to go to the park, but he said he had to pick up Rocco. Her big sister was there though, and she was a blast. Donna said, Kristina was the best, and he said she certainly was.

Marco said he could keep his work for his father siloed and had no problem representing Sonny or Jason, but Diane said, him representing them was highly unlikely. Marco said if a situation was a conflict of interest, he would recuse himself, and Alexis welcomed him aboard. She had to leave for a meeting with Kristina, and Diane would take it from here. Alexis left and Diane handed Marco a folder, saying the cases were still in the preliminary stages. He pulled some papers out and asked if she was sure she wanted him to work on this. He handed her the involuntary commitment papers for Kristina.  

Ric said Ava was his client and friend, but Molly said he wasn’t talking to a ten-year-old. She knew Ava was more than a friend. He said he and Ava had an understanding, and she said that scared her. Ava appealed to the worst parts of him. He said that wasn’t fair, but she said, Ava was never fair. Or she’d never seen it. While Ava wasn’t directly responsible for Irene’s death, she was responsible for a lot of bad. She wanted better for him and wanted him to be batter. He asked if having Ava in his life meant she wouldn’t be, but she said she wasn’t giving him an ultimatum. She just wanted him to think long and hard about being involved with Ava before she wrapped him up in something he’d regret.

Diane told Marco that the paperwork had obviously been misplaced. It was a private matter that she assumed he’d regard with discretion. He said he understood and was going to his office to work on the prelims. He left and Diane wrote Davis on a manila envelope and put the papers in it.

Donna and Kristina did some coloring, when Donna asked for a glass of water. When Kristina went to get it, Donna picked up Kristina’s phone and called Sonny. Sonny answered and when he saw it was Donna, he asked where her sister was. Kristina popped in and said she was there, but Donna shouldn’t take other people’s phones without asking. Donna said she wanted to call her daddy. Where was he and what was he wearing. Sonny said he was at the hospital for a check-up. Mommy was here with him. Carly said hi, and Kristina said they should let their father focus on his check-up. She had things under control despite what it seemed like. Sonny said he loved them. When the call was over, Sonny asked if Carly thought Donna was scared, but she said she thought Donna was more afraid he was getting a shot. Sonny said Kristina looked terrified even though she was trying to act like she wasn’t. Dr. Abbott came in and Sonny introduced Carly as his friend, and she said, friend and ex-wife. Sonny told the doctor that whatever he had to say, he could say in front of Carly. Let’s hear it.

Felicia brought Lucas to Cody and said he’d been kicked by a horse. Lucas asked if Cody could walk, and Cody said he could and left with him.

Rocco asked how Lulu’s interview went, and she said, fantastic. Lucas opened up about how it felt to be adopted. Rocco said that’s how he felt, like Danny, him, and Scout adopted each other when they moved in with Sam. She asked what it was like blending families and having new siblings, and he said, weird at first, but they figured it out. It was mostly bathroom schedules and what they liked to eat, but it didn’t take long. Lulu said when she and Dante agreed he’d live with her part-time, she thought it was important that they spend time together. They’d missed out on so much. She knew he had a real family who loved him – his dad, Danny, and Scout. She knew he had that with Sam too… Rocco said he’d spent years praying for this, to see and talk to her. He loved his family, all of them – dad, Danny, Scout, and Charlotte – but when he was here with her, it’s exactly where he wanted to be. They hugged.

Dr. Abbott said he was going to repair Sonny’s heart damage from the shrapnel. It sounded scary, but he’d survived a great deal, and the doctor expected him to heal well. Carly said he was a fighter and incredibly stubborn, and the doctor said that would help too.  

Donna asked if Kristina was mad at her, and Kristina said, of course (🍷) not. She could never be mad at Donna, but she shouldn’t take anyone’s phone without asking. Donna asked if their daddy was going to be okay, and Kristina said he’d be just fine and back before they knew it. She suggested they made Sonny a get-well card, but Donna said she couldn’t find her glitter. Kristina (who probably hid the glitter, as anyone whose made crafts with kids would) said she had the feeling it would be just perfect without glitter, and Donna said she was glad Kristina was here with her. Kristina said she was too.

Diane went to Ric’s hospital room, and he asked what brought her by. She said she was filing a request in family court. Sonny wanted to take Avery on a trip to the island this summer. She thought he should have a hard copy so there were no inconvenient delays. She dropped the folders she was carrying, knocking down Molly’s folders with them. She said she was sorry. She guessed it was one of those days. She and Molly picked everything up, and Molly said they all had those days. Ric earned some rest, so she was going to leave him to it. She left, and Ric said, about that trip out of the country with his client’s daughter…

Dante picked up Rocco, and said he was sorry he was running late, but Lulu said it gave her more time to work on her adoption piece. There was a chance it might reach a lot of people and hopefully change some lives.

Lucas came back and Brook asked how Cody was. Lucas said Cody was in radiology. He wanted to take some x-rays to be on the safe side. He should be fine, but he’d be sore for a bit. She said she was glad to see him, since they were told there was a change in schedule, and he said he had to step out for a quick interview. Brook said, tell her more. Was he being asked what it was like to be a sexy, single doctor? He said, sadly, no one asked that. Lulu was writing a piece for the Llanview Banner, her first piece for her freelance gig. Brook asked what it was about, and he said, adoption. She pitched the subject to the editor, and they gave her the green light. She was excited about it and it seemed like she was doing a really deep dive.

Jason said, either he was getting slower, or the pitch machine was faster, and Danny said he remembered when Jason first came back, his mom didn’t want him hanging out with Jason. He thought she was more worried that Jason wasn’t sticking around. She changed her mind when she figured out Jason could take care of him. Jason said he would, always, and Danny said it was cool to have people who cared. He was glad he had Jason and hoped his knew Jason had always been there and he hasn’t felt so alone. Jason said he bet she did and hugged Danny as he looked up.

Molly saw Cody and asked what he was doing at the hospital. He said he was kicked by a horse, and she said, the same one he rescued her on? Cody said it wasn’t the horse’s fault, but she said she knew it. She could see kicker in his eyes. Cody said it was a natural reaction to being startled. He was a good horse. He was waiting for his x-ray results. Brook was here, but she disappeared. Why was Molly here? Molly said she was visiting her dad and guessed she had work she could do here. He shouldn’t have to wait alone. She asked him to button his shirt, and they flirted a little. (I’m not really feeling these two.)

Diane said Ric was obviously bored and enjoyed squabbling, but she didn’t. If he wanted to contest the response, he could do it in family court. Until then, happy healing. Ric said he thought she was a proponent in calling a truce, and she said she was, but any interaction that had to do with Ava was inordinately exhausting. He said she was being overly dramatic, and she said, he might enjoy helping his financially strapped clients by doing pro bono, but she didn’t. On the day Avery turned 18 and was finally an adult (which, in soap years, should be about five years from now) there would be no one more excited to handle their client’s interests, through the proper channels. Truce or not, he needed to give Alexis a break. Ric asked, why?

Alexis asked why they were meeting in Sonny’s old Carly’s kitchen, and  Donna said they were making a get well card. She was going to get her markers that smelled like fruit. Kristina said that was exactly what the card needed, and Donna went upstairs. Kristina told Alexis that she was staying while Sonny was seeing a doctor in LA. Carly went with him so she was helping out. Alexis said all she wanted to know is if Kristina was okay, and Kristina said she’d been scared out of her mind. Donna was so sweet, she was glad she was there. It made her realize that she was glad Alexis was here too. Kristina had been so close to not being there.

Carly said she was thinking about the gunshot that almost killed Sonny. It was 25 years ago, but she remembered it like it was just yesterday. Sonny said, things like that got seared in your memory, and she said, he flatlined. They’d lost him. He said she wouldn’t let him go, and she said they made him keep fighting and he knew he was fighting. Do not give up. Not for anything. She didn’t care if St. Peter was waving him in at the Pearly Gates. Turn around and come back. He was going to make it through this. Sonny said he promised he would, and the nurse came to prep him for the OR. She said Carly would need to go outside, and Carly told Sonny that she meant what she said. He said he never doubted it and promised he would. She left.

In the waiting area, Carly told Brick that Sonny was gone, but he said he came back to see if she’d mind some company. She said she’d like some company, and he took her hand.  

The anesthesiologist asked Sonny if he was ready for a great nap. Think of good, positive things. Count back from ten. Sonny said, ten… nine… eight… seven… six… … five… He thought of making pancakes with Donna and Kristina saying he was the only one she could turn to. He remembered Dante saying he was going to keep his oath, and Sonny saying, even if Dante had to arrest him, he’d always love him, and them hugging. He thought of Donna asking him to show her his father’s picture and them looking at a picture of Mike. Donna asked if he missed Mike, and he said, every single day. The anesthesiologist said, he’s ready.

Marco found Lucas at the hospital and said he’d been officially hired by Miller and Davis. Lucas said, congratulations. He owed Marco dinner. Marco said he’d be happy to collect.

Danny asked Rocco how his new house was, and Rocco said cool. The boys went to do some batting, and Jason said he knew Rocco meant a lot to Danny. Dante said the same with Rocco. They were brothers. They had to make sure the boys didn’t lose their connection. Jason said, Sam would love seeing this, as the boys used their bats like light sabers.  

Lulu looked on her computer at a list of facts and questions about Brook’s pregnancy and the baby’s adoption. There was a knock at the door, and Lulu opened it to Brook who asked what the hell she was trying to pull.  

Ric asked for a reason he should take it easy on Alexis, and Diane said, aside from common decency? No. Their truce or lack thereof was none of her business. She was going to file the petition. Do as he will. She left and in the hallway, she banged herself in the head with her hand. In his room, Ric said, nice try. Alexis told you the truth.

Kristina told Alexis that she’d been a mess since the baby died. Losing Sam was hell and she’d been putting Alexis through hell since she was ten or so. She was so grateful, but more than that, she was grateful for her life and to see how much good she had waiting. Alexis said she’d wanted Kristina to let the past go. In knowing the good that was waiting, she was putting herself in a position to receive it. They hugged.

Molly looked through some papers and Cody suggested she get out more. She said paperwork was comforting. Sometimes she went to a restaurant, ordered a glass of wine, and worked for hours. It’s a world she understood and where she was in control unlike him and his devil horse. She took out the paperwork for the involuntary admission and said, oh my God.

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

At the MetroCourt, Sidwell thanks Jordan for sitting in on his meeting with Congressman Cain. He knows she’s not his biggest fan. Jordan says, true, but as Sidwell pointed out, he’s a powerful ally. He hired her to make the right connections, so she’s going to grin and bear it. Sidwell says he appreciates that. He’s determined to make this fair city his home, especially since his son put down roots here too.

At the office, Alexis says she’s glad she caught Marco. She wanted to talk over some concerns she had about work he’d be doing for his dad. Marco says, as he promised when they hired him, all his services to his father’s company are completely above board. He wouldn’t involve the firm in anything illegal. She says she certainly hopes not, but this is about something entirely different. It’s about a deal he’s already made.

Molly looks at the commitment papers and says she can’t believe this, and Cody asks, what’s wrong? She says, according to these documents, their mom wants to have Kristina committed.

Kristina tells Donna, it’s the best get well card ever. Dad is going to love it. Donna says she thinks it needs more dino stickers, and Kristina says, of course (🍷) it does. Everything needs more dino stickers. Donna asks if daddy is really going to be okay, and Kristina says, yeah. He’s going to be just fine. He’ll be home before they know it.

Carly brings Brick some coffee and says she thought he could use the caffeine. She owes him big time for taking care of Sonny and getting him in to see Dr. Abbott. Brick says, Sonny is in great hands. Dr. Abbott is one of the best cardiologists in the country. She says, and he’s in LA, far away the people who want to take advantage of Sonny’s vulnerability. Brick says, even so, they can’t take their guard down. The person who firebombed Sonny’s apartment is still out there.

Lulu asks what Brook wants now, and Brook walks past her. Lulu says, please, by all means, come in. Would she like a tour or is Brook just going to start ripping into her? Brook says she’s so angry, and Lulu says, about what? Brook says she wants Lulu to stop using her baby to torture her, but Lulu says she hasn’t said a word to anyone about Brook’s baby. Brook says, stop playing dumb. She knows Lulu is writing an article on adoption. Lulu says, so? and Brook says, obviously, Lulu chose that particular topic because she had a child with Dante when she was a teenager and gave him up. It was her not so subtle way of letting Brook know that she could tell him about it anytime she wants. Lulu says she pitched three ideas to the editor, and they decided she should write about adoption, and Brook asks why she suggested it in the first place. Lulu says, it’s an important topic that a lot of people are interested in. Brook isn’t the only person whose given up a baby for adoption. Brook says she’s sick and tired of Lulu’s twisted little games. Fine. Tell Dante the truth if it means so much to her, but be ready for the consequences.

On the phone, Willow says she just got to the clinic. She’s a lot more nervous than she thought she’d be. Nina says, when she sees Michael, she’ll relax and they’ll both feel the old connection they had. Willow says, maybe… until she tells Michael that she and the kids are moving in with Drew, and Nina says, it will be hard for him to hear. They both know he may be angry at first, but stay calm and focus on the kids, and she’s sure they can work something out. Willow says she hopes Nina is right. She’ll call later and let her know how it went. Nina says, please do. Good luck. She’ll be thinking about her. Nina tells Portia, sorry. Where were they? Portia says, Nina was telling her about how they can hire a prostitute to solve their Drew problem.

Drew arrives at the MetroCourt, and tells Sidwell that he didn’t realize Jordan would be joining them. Sidwell says, Drew probably knows that Jordan recently resigned as Deputy Mayor, and Drew says he was lucky enough to have a front row seat for the fireworks. Sidwell says, the city’s loss is his gain. Jordan has agreed to join him as his COO. Drew says, wow. Congratulations. Jordan thanks him and says she’s excited for a fresh start. If she’s being honest, she was hoping they’d have one too.

Marco asks which deal Alexis is referring to, and she says, Sidwell’s contract with Deception. Marco asks, what’s the problem? and Alexis says, Lucy Coe. She’s known Lucy a long time and she’s a lovely woman, but just a little flighty. She may change her mind 15 times. Marco says, thanks for the warning, but the contract was already executed, and Alexis says, somehow, she doesn’t think that’s the end of it. Keep that in mind. Also, Tracy Quartermaine is shrewd and could pull a fast one. He needs to stay ten steps ahead of her. He says he’ll keep a close eye on Tracy, and Alexis says he’s got his work cut out for him. He says he got a sense of Tracy from his mother too. She went on an epic rant after Tracy fired her. Alexis says, Natalia was fired? and he says he didn’t realize she knew Natalia was his mother. She says his father told her in passing, and he says, after the way his mother treated Kristina, was sure Alexis wasn’t shedding any tears about it.

Cody asks if Molly is sure she’s reading it correctly, and she says she knows how to read the papers and they clearly state her mother’s intention to have her sister committed to a mental facility, even if it’s against Kristina’s will. He says, that’s extreme, and wonders where it came from, but Molly says she doesn’t even… Her and Diane’s files got mixed up and she must have picked it up by mistake. He says, Kristina has no idea? and Molly says she doesn’t know how she would. Just the other night, they all hung out and had a great time. They watched a movie and ordered food. Her mom wasn’t acting like somebody committing their daughter and Kristina wasn’t acting like somebody who needed to be committed. Cody says he feels bad for Kristina. He knows what it’s like to be held against your will in a mental facility and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. She say she wants to hear that story another time, but she needs to do something right now, and Cody gets up. She says, he shouldn’t do that, but he says, it’s just his ribs. Don’t worry. He’s been kicked before and bruised. What can he do?

Carly says, having Brick here makes it easier, and he says, it’s the least he can do. Sonny wants him to find the person responsible for hurting Michael. He promised he would, but so far, no luck with the electronics found in the man’s apartment. It’s driving him crazy. She says, if there’s anything to find, he will, and he says he appreciates that. What’s going on with Michael? How’s his progress going at the clinic? She says, as far as Michael and his doctors tell her, he’s doing great, but she can’t help worrying that he’s going to have some kind of setback. He says, she’s a mama and worry comes with the territory. Unless something else is in play to cause it. She says, there is. Apparently, his cheating wife is on her way to Germany to visit him right now.

Willow asks the reception nurse at the clinic if she speaks English, and the woman asks how she can help Willow. Willow says she’s Willow Corinthos and she’s here to see her husband Michael.  

Nina tells Portia, Willow is enthralled with all things Drew. She won’t be able to get Willow away from him until she sees him for the sleazy master manipulator he is. Portis says, so they’re going to hire a sex worker to seduce him, and Nina says she hates giving Drew the tiniest bit of credit, but she doesn’t think he’d cheat on Willow. Not this soon anyway. They have to frame him. Portia asks how that would work, and Nina says, that’s where Portia comes in. She’s counting on Portia to concoct something, just enough to knock Drew out. Portia says, a mickey, and Nina says, call it what she will, but when Drew is out, their friendly escort will climb into bed with him just in time for Willow to come home to her knight in shining armor with another woman. Portia says she can’t believe she’s saying this, but it’s not a bad plan. She only has one issue. She can see how it benefits Nina, but what about her?

Lulu asks if Brook is threatening her, but Brook says, not at all. She’s just pointing out that if Lulu reveals the truth, it won’t just hurt her. Lulu will be hurting everyone involved, first and foremost, Brook’s son. When he was born, her mom gave him to the nuns at St. Ignatius who found him a loving family. He may not know he’s adopted. Lulu says, Brook is worried that if Dante tracks him down, it will uproot his life. They’ve been over that. Brook says she thought about what would happen if he rejects Dante, or worse, hates Dante for telling him that the only parents he’s ever known have been lying to him his entire life. Dante just lost Sam and he’s still grieving. If she tells him, that could make it worse. Lulu says, Brook doesn’t know how it will play out. Maybe her son has known his entire life. Brook says, Lulu is taking a huge gamble with her own son. How will Rocco feel about finding out he has a new older brother? Lulu says, maybe he’ll love it, but Brook says, maybe he won’t. That’s her point. Lulu is just guessing at everything. Go ahead. Tell Dante the truth. She’ll take the fall for her gut-wrenching decision she made when she was a teenager, but she’s an adult now. Lulu will have to tell everybody why she so cavalierly blew up everyone’s lives. Lulu says she’s not being cavalier. If she was, she would have told Dante the day she found out. Brook said, it must be so fun to have something to hang over her head, but Lulu says, not enough to make up for her having to keep lying to those it directly effects – Dante and Rocco. Every time she sees them, she hates this thing. Brook asks, then why can’t she let it go? and Lulu says, because Brook decided it’s best it stay buried forever? She doesn’t necessarily agree. Dante walks in and asks, what’s going on in here?

Alexis says she has no ill will against Marco’s mother. She made amends to Kristina. That’s all that matters. Marco says, then maybe that means there’s still hope for his own relationship with her, and Alexis says she’s sorry. They’re not close? He says, not really. They had a falling out when he was in high school. They had different ideas of what his life should look like. She says, given Natalia’s relationship with Allie, she has an idea of what that means, and Marco says he’s sure. He’s sorry about all the problems she caused Kristina and her sister. Alexis says, no need to apologize. None of it was his fault. It wasn’t even entirely his mother’s fault. Kristina was going through some difficult things and got through it. She had a tough go of it. He says he’s glad she’s better now, when there’s a knock at the door. Ava asks if Alexis has a minute, and Alexis asks what she wants.

Kristina tells Donna, this is amazing. It’s the best get well card ever. Dad will love it. Donna thanks her for helping and says she’s the best sister ever, but Kristina says, that’s impossible since Donna is the best sister ever. There’s a knock at the door, and Kristina asks if Donna ordered ice cream again. Donna says, no, and Kristina asks if she’s sure. She opens the door to Molly and Cody, and Molly sees that Donna is there. Kristina asks, what’s going on? and Molly says she ran into Cody at the hospital, and he was telling her how he was teaching James… Cody says, how to tie knots, and Molly says she thought it sounded like so much fun, Donna might like to learn too. Cody asks what Donna thinks. Does it sound cool? Donna says, not really, and Cody laughs and says, okay. One of these – he shows her a lollipop – for every type of knot she learns to tie. Donna says, I’m in, and he says, let’s do it. They need to find some rope or cord… or shoelaces. Donna says she has those, and he says, all right. Let’s go. Donna leads him away as he grips his side with his other hand. Kristina says, okay, tell her what’s really going on, and Molly says there’s something she needs to see. She shows Kristina the papers and Kristina says, what the hell is this?

Kristina says, this can’t be real. Their mom is acting to have her committed? Did she ask Molly to file this? Molly says, no, and she wouldn’t have if their mom did. She doesn’t even know Molly has seen them. Kristina asks where Molly got them, and Molly says, Diane’s envelopes got mixed up with hers, and she came as soon as she saw them. She swears she didn’t even know their mom was thinking about this. Kristina says she’s an adult. Can their mom have her committed without her consent? Molly says, she can have Kristina held for observation, and Kristina says she doesn’t get why their mom would do this to her.

Alexis says she doesn’t believe Marco has met Ava, and he holds out his hand, saying, Marco Rios. Alexis says, he’s new to the firm, and Ava says, he’s a lucky man. Alexis is one hell of a lawyer. Every time she’s had the pleasure of working with Alexis, she always delivers. Alexis asks Marco, do you mind…? and Marco says, of course (🍷). Nice to meet Ava. He leaves, and Alexis asks why Ava is here. Ava says she needs to make a change in their payment schedule.

Nina tells Portia, when Willow kicks Drew to the curb, there will be nothing left to keep him in Port Charles. She guesses he’ll take Scout and move to DC permanently. Portia says, as nice as it would be not to run into him, it doesn’t solve her problem. He’ll still have leverage over her. Nina says, true, but what good is Portia to him in Washington DC? He’ll be so busy with his new life as congressman, he won’t even remember her. He’ll move on to terrorizing someone else. Portia says, what if he doesn’t? and Nina says, then they’ll arrange to have salacious pictures taken of Drew’s indiscretion. Portia says, now you’re talking.

Jordan says she regrets letting herself get dragged into the disagreement between Drew and Curtis. It was never any of her business. She’s just hoping they can put it behind them and get back to what they used to be. She’s missed their friendship. Drew says he appreciates her saying that and he’s certainly open to it, and she says she fought hard for him during his campaign because she believed in him. And no matter what’s happened between them, she still does. He thanks her and says, that means a lot. Sidwell says, isn’t that delightful? (I absolutely love him at this moment. He’s just such a happy guy.) Speaking of delightful things, can they all agree the McConkey esplanade should be moved to the piers currently owned by Sonny Corinthos? Jordan sort of nods, and Drew says, True. Yes. Sidwell says, in that case, Drew should double down on his opposition to Sonny. He was a very persuasive and powerful man and could sway the majority voters over to their side. Drew says, can do, but Jordan says, before he says yes, there’s something to consider.

Brick tells Carly, maybe seeing Michael face to face is a good thing. Maybe Willow will come to her senses, and they can agree on a reasonable compromise they can live with. Carly says, there’s nothing reasonable with Willow lately, and he says, it’s a lot easier to deal with a person when you don’t have to be face to face. Maybe when she sees Michael, he can convince her to do what’s in the best interest of the children. Carly says she’d like to believe that, but she’s lost all faith in Willow’s ability to do the right thing. She’s worried this trip to Germany is going to be one big disaster.

The reception nurse apologizes for taking so long, and Willow asks if Michael is having a good day. Can he have visitors? The nurse says, yes, and Willow asks if she can have his room number. The nurse says she doesn’t quite know how to say it, but Willow’s husband doesn’t want to see her.

Lulu wonders why Rocco isn’t with Dante, and he says, after the batting cages, Rocco and Danny went to see a movie. He could have gone, but didn’t know he was going to walk into World War III. Something is going on. What are they arguing about? Lulu asks if Brook wants to tell him, and Brook says she heard Lulu was writing an article on adoption and it’s a problem for her. Because the truth is, it hits way too close to home.

Alexis asks what change Ava needs, and Ava says, another transfer as soon as possible. Alexis says, how much? and Ava says, 150 thousand. Alexis says, she’s kidding. What does she need the money for? Ava says she has her reasons, just like Alexis has her reasons for giving Ava’s money to her. Alexis says she can’t just blatantly skim from the Cassadine trust and not get caught. And if she gets caught, they both go down. Ava says she’s sure Alexis can come up with a way to do it, and Alexis says, she’s being completely unreasonable. Ava says, that’s one of the downsides of being blackmailed, isn’t it? and Alexis says, just take more time between transfers or settle for an amount that’s smaller. Ava says, if it’s not something Alexis feels she can do, Kristina will be the one to pay the price.  

Molly says, maybe their mom wasn’t planning on filing, but had it drawn up just in case, and Kristina says, what case? In case she had some sort of mental breakdown? Molly says, Kristina had been going through a lot. Maybe their mom had them drawn up after the baby died. She did have post-partum, and they were all worried about her. Kristina says, no. She had them drawn up a couple days ago. The date is the same day they had their Davis girls night. She did this then and hung out with them like everything was completely fine. She asks if Molly remembers Alexis being nervous. She was planning on having Kristina committed. Molly says she’s so sorry. She can’t imagine how betrayed Kristina feels. Kristina says she feels betrayed, confused, and devastated, but grateful. She thanks Molly for bringing her the papers, and Molly says she wasn’t going to let her sister get ambushed. Kristina says she’s surprised, and Molly asks, why? Kristina says, usually her and their mom have the same perspective and it’s her against the two of them. Molly says she’s not a psychiatrist, but if a person came to her and said they’d decided they wanted take to take a break from life and work on themselves, she would support it 100%. But she doesn’t support going behind their back and taking the decision out of their hands, even if she agreed. She doesn’t want Kristina to feel ganged up on ever again. Kristina thanks her and says she’s grateful to hear Molly say that, and they hug.  

Jordan says, it’s fine if Drew comes out against Sonny, but she cautions him against attacking Mayor Collins, if that’s his plan. Drew says, Jordan quit her job, so why does she care if he went after her? and Jordan says she’s concerned about what Laura might do. She still has a high approval rating and people love what she’s done for Port Charles. The only thing badmouthing the mayor will do, is make him look bad. Drew says, for the record, despite their disagreement, he loves what Laura has done as mayor. Very much so. He also doesn’t feel she needs to defend Sonny. Sidwell says, that’s a wise stance at the moment, and Drew says, if anyone is going to attack Laura, it’s Councilman Boyle. Sidwell says, that’s perfect to keep the blowback far away from himself. He doesn’t know about them, but it’s clear to him that the three of them make a great team. With the congressman’s pull and resources, they can be assured Sonny loses control of the piers. Drew says, that’s good news for everyone.  

Willow tells the nurse, please. She has to let her speak with Michael. She flew here from New York. The nurse says she’s so sorry, but she has to respect the patient’s wishes. Willow says she understands, but it’s important. It’s about their kids. Just tell him that. Please. The nurse says, honestly, she doesn’t think it would make a difference. He made his feelings clear that he wants nothing to do with her. (Um… Doesn’t she still have his medical proxy?)

Brick tells Carly that he’s heard great things about the burn clinic in Baden-Baden. From what he understands, it’s pretty close to impossible to get into. How did she get Michael in? She says, John Brennan from the WSB pulled a few strings, and he asks if they’re friends. She says she’s seeing Jack Brennan, and he says, damn. Another one slips through his fingers. Jack is a lucky man. She asks if Brick knows him, and he says, a little, mostly by reputation. She says, what reputation? And he says, he’s very smart, a heavy hitter in intelligence communications, and apparently has great taste in women. Carly laughs, when the doctor comes out. Carly says she didn’t expect Sonny’s surgery to be over so soon… Is Sonny okay?  (Before a commercial, the doctor always looks grim no matter the outcome.)

Dante asks what the article has to do with Brook, and she says she and Chase are exploring the idea of adopting a child. Dante says he didn’t know. He thinks it’s great. Brook says, Chase hasn’t told anyone. They’re just at the beginning stage and feeling it out. She heard Lulu was going around interviewing people about adoption and the whole thing felt too coincidental. Lulu says she had no idea Brook and Chase were thinking about adoption, and Brook says, now she does. Can she think about another subject? Lulu says, why? If anything, maybe Brook will learn something. Brook says, or Lulu could use it to stick her nose in other people’s business under the guise that it’s work related. Dante says he doesn’t think Lulu would do that, and Lulu says she wouldn’t. Truly, she wishes Brook and Chase the best, but she’s also trying to get going as a journalist again. If the Llanview Banner wants her to write about adoption, that’s what she’s going to do. Brook says, great. Knock herself out. Brook leaves, and Dante says, that could have gone better, but he guesses they’ve had worse. It’s just them. Is there any truth to what Brook said?

Jacinda arrives at Nina’s office and Nina says, lovely to meet her. Have a seat. She thanks Jacinda for coming, and Jacinda says, arriving is the easy part. Let’s cut to the chase. As much as she’d like to believe she was going to be the next Crimson cover model, something tells her not to write home about it just yet. Nina say, she is a stunning woman, but she’s right. They have a slightly different job in mind that she guesses is more in line with Jacinda’s current profession. Jacinda says, Nina doesn’t need to beat around the bush. They’re all adults. She’s a sex worker and she’s proud of that. Portia says, in that case, she won’t be offended at their offer. Jacinda says she’s been doing this a long time. It’s not the first time two women have brought a proposition to her. Portia and Nina trip over themselves saying no, and Portia says, the job doesn’t involve sex at all. Nina says, but it does require pictures.  

Jordan says she’s going to make some calls to get the ball rolling on their agenda, and Sidwell says, that’s what he likes to hear. Drew says he’s glad they had a chance to talk, and Jordan says, her too, and leaves. Drew says, Jordan is very smart and motivated. Hiring her was a great move. Sidwell says, the key to making Port Charles his new home is having the right friends. Jordan has become one and he’s hoping Drew will become another. Drew says he believes they have a mutually beneficial relationship, considering Sonny is a thorn in both their sides, and Sidwell agrees. He says he looks forward to the day Mr. Corinthos is no longer a problem to anyone.

Carly asks if Sonny is okay, and Dr. Abbott says, he’s fine. (What I said.) They repaired his heart with no complications. Brick asks if that means he’ll have a full recovery, and the doctor says, he needs to avoid strenuous activity for several weeks, so his body can heal completely. Carly says she’ll make sure he follows the doctor’s instructions, whether he likes it or not. Can she see him? Dr. Abbott says, he’s still settling into his room. He’ll let them know when he’s done. Carly thanks him, and he says, of course (🍷), and leaves. Carly says, Sonny’s okay, and Brick says he never doubted it for a second. They hug.

Alexis tells Ava that they both knew she’s not going to expose Kristina, since she and Ric are milking this tragedy for millions of dollars. Ava says, Ric? and Alexis says she knows he’s part of her blackmail scheme. He couldn’t help throwing it in her face that he was getting a cut. Ava says, Kristina did almost kill him. It’s the least Alexis can do. Alexis says she’ll give in to this installment, but Ava is to stay the hell away from her office and her daughter. Ava says, Kristina is the one who has to stay away from her. As far as coming by, she’ll pop in when she sees fit. Alexis isn’t the one calling the shots. She is. Don’t forget that. She leaves.

Kristina tells Molly that she’s done things that she deeply regrets in her life, but she’s seeing a therapist. She’s getting help and their mom would do this after she’s getting help, and didn’t talk to her. It’s just wrong. Molly says, their mom would never intentionally hurt Kristina. As bad as it sounds, she thinks it was coming from a place of love. Their mom had never been able to find the balance between loving Kristina and controlling her. She watched it for years. Kristina says she thought their mom was finally out of that pattern and trusting her to make her own decisions. She guesses not. Molly asks what she’s going to do, and Kristina says, what choice does she have? She’s going to confront their mom – now. Molly says she’s going with Kristina. Cody can watch Donna. Kristina says she doesn’t need to. It’s not her fight. Molly says she wants to be there to support Kristina… unless Kristina doesn’t want her to, and Kristina says she does. It means a lot to her.

Dante says he thought Lulu agreed to go easy on Brook, and Lulu says she has been. She had no idea Brook and Chase were thinking about adoption. And Dante knows the editor chose the topic, not her. He says he knows. Obviously, she should tread carefully as adoption is a touchy subject with Brook. Lulu says, clearly.  

Jacinda asks if their telling her that her mark is a US congressman, and Portia says, trust her. He’s not a good guy. Jacinda says, that’s the problem. She’s seen that movie before and people like her who do things like this tend to end up dead. Nina says she’s not stealing state secrets or bomb codes, and Portia says, they promise she won’t be harmed. Jacinda says, they expect her to take their word. That’s a big ask. It’s going to cost more than her usual rate. Nina says, how much more? and Jacinda says, six thousand. They laugh and Nina asks if she didn’t hear them say they don’t want her to have sex. Nina’s phone rings, and she says she has to take it; it’s Willow.

Nina asks how it went, and Willow says, Michael wouldn’t even see her. Nina says, maybe he’s just not prepared and needs time to pull himself together before he sees her again, but Willow says, no. They have nothing left to say to each other. Obviously, he’s cutting her out of his life. That’s fine by her. She’s going to fly home tomorrow morning. Nina tells Willow to hold on a second and puts the call on hold. She tells Jacinda that they have a deal, then goes back to the call. She tells Willow that she’s so sorry, and Willow says she never should have come here, and she can’t wait to get home. Drew would never treat her this way. They communicate when there’s a problem. Michael shuts down on her. She’ll call Nina when she lands. Willow leaves and the nurse makes a call. Drew asks, is it done? and she says she did exactly as he asked. He says, she lied to Mrs. Corinthos, and she says she told Mrs. Corinthos that her husband refused to see her. He says, excellent. Her payment is on the way.  

Donna gives Cody a cup and tells him that her mom says it helps the medicine go down. He says, her mom is a smart lady. He takes his pill and says, she’s right. It did help. She says, Kristina was upset. Does he think her daddy is okay? He says, of course (🍷). Kristina just had to run an errand with Molly. They’re lucky. They get to stay here and tie knots. Show him her square knot. She asks if he has lollipops.

Alexis makes the transfer to Ava when Kristina and Molly walk in. Alexis says, a nice surprise. What’s going on? Kristina says, you tell me, mommy dearest.  

Brick says he’s sorry to hug and run, but he has to race to the airport. There’s a security issue in Dubai… Unless she needs him to stay. Carly says, no. Go. He’s done so much already. Brick tells her to keep him updated and they hug. She says, thank you so much. Safe travels. He leaves and she calls Jason. She says, Sonny is out of surgery. The doctor said it was a success. He’s going to be fine… She hasn’t seen him yet, but she’s so happy. There were no complications, and the doctor said he’d make a full recovery. There’s a nurse skulking around, listening, and Carly says she’s sure Sonny is going to be fine. The shifty nurse goes into Sonny’s room and turns off the monitor. She takes out a syringe, and Sonny opens his eyes.

On Monday, Brad tells Portia. this new arrangement sucks; Tracy tells Gio to think twice before supporting Sonny; Vaughn asks if this is Josslyn’s way of saying she can’t do it; and Carly goes into Sonny’s room and says, oh my God.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Here’s hoping she’s good at her assignment.

I want one too!

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospitals-finola-hughes-is-a-real-doll

I want to start watching Will Trent. This gives me one more reason.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-alum-jophielle-love-reveals-her-new-gig

I don’t watch this, but kudos to them. His untimely death was so sad.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/how-suits-la-honored-billy-millers-character

If his last two projects are any indication, I can’t wait.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/nicolas-alexander-chavez-lands-a-prestigious-new-project

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m not sure why these crews are always at odds. They’re busy AF and when they’re not working, they get to have fun in magnificent places, and spend big, fat tips.

The Valley

Jax finally recognized his coke problem that the rest of us have been talking about for years. Or has he?

Summer House

One of the most annoying things this group does is discuss another couple’s relationship on the side while watching the couple talk, analyzing every word and giving commentary. I did, however, learn that yellow flags are a thing. Unfortunately, so is Toegate. A lot of this episode was the Jesse/Lexi flirting-or-not thing. I’m already over it, but glad Lexi is starting to get a clue that this might not be her true love. There was another theme party, Snoozefest. No comment. Oh, and there was Schwartz.

He’s been at this rodeo before.

Random Reality Items

I haven’t kept up with this, but I might start now.

Maybe she’s desperate to meet Boy George.

A pleasant surprise. Their whole parting of the ways was just messy.

I’ll watch anything with this guy in it, especially when he’s being himself.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

2073. MAX. Well… This was an odd film and not exactly what I’d expected. It takes place in a grim future, but interspersed with what-got-us-here footage. Some of it real, some of it taken from other films about a grim future. I got the point about two seconds in, and let me say it this way, I could have read the plot and it would have been good enough.

Companion. HBO/MAX. I found this one endlessly amusing. I don’t want to give much away, since there are some fabulous twists and turns, but a non-spoiler is that Iris is a robot. She’s also a good time and Sophie Thatcher is wonderful in the role. I appreciated all of the unexpected moves in the plot and a few little tugs at the heartstrings didn’t hurt.

https://wrif.com/2025/02/05/companion-non-spoiler-movie-review/

https://www.cbr.com/jack-quaid-companion-hit-max/

Discuss among yourselves.

One of Them Days. Netflix. This was great. Pure escapism and fun, with a message about friendship wrapped in slapstick, capers, and characters you know are based on somebody’s auntie/uncle/cousin/the guy on the corner. A female buddy movie, two roommates and best friends have to make the rent in a few hours or be evicted, and hijinks ensue. The cast is excellent, and it will make you forget about your troubles. I loved the female friendship aspect.

https://www.purewow.com/news/netflix-one-of-them-days-movie

https://www.purewow.com/entertainment/one-of-them-days-review

I also finished Black Mirror: Season 7, but it’s been one of them weeks, so coming soon.

🐾  Animal Hooligans…

🐶  Valerie has been captured! She is now living her almost best life in captivity again.

https://people.com/missing-wiener-dog-valerie-rescued-from-rugged-island-after-529-days-11722228

🐦 I know a cardinal who could give this woodpecker a run for its money. He peck at my gazing ball when he sees his reflection. I haven’t figured out if he’s trying to fight with the other bird or he’s gay and trying to spark a romance.

https://people.com/massachusetts-woodpecker-vandal-destroyed-25-car-mirrors-exclusive-11721462

🙉  Can you blame them? Sometimes you need a break from throwing poop at each other.

https://people.com/wild-chimps-filmed-bonding-over-alcoholic-fruit-11720149

🐘 Quotes of the Week

Don’t be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an opportunity somebody wishes they had missed. – Lily Tomlin

If you are not where you want to be, do not quit. Instead reinvent yourself and change your habits.Eric Thomas

Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. – W. Clement Stone

The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there. – Ursula K. Le Guin

I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be. – Ken Venturi

The good we do today becomes the happiness of tomorrow. – William James

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi

Slow down just a kiss. I can’t understand you.Alec Baldwin, The Baldwins

If you’re covering up cracks, you missed a big one. – Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi) seeing Mike bent over while doing basement reconstruction, Mike & Molly

🤸‍♀️  A Little Madness In the Spring…

Until next week, stay safe; stay not planting before Mother’s Day (trust me); and stay keeping in mind that any good cover story works if there’s an element of truth.

April 4, 2025 – GH Weekdays, Ric Remembers an Important Detail, Soap Suds, This Week In Reality, Weekend Watch, Impending Watch, Wild Surprises, A Half-Dozen Solid Quotes & Money

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

🥢 Weekday Bites…

Monday:

A rescue team arrived at the scene of the accident, and Kristina stopped down the road. Molly looked for Kristina at Charlie’s and ran into Cody. Drew was glad Kai was keeping an open mind about the surgery, and Kai said Drew had given him a lot to think about. Alexis showed up, but Drew had to take a call. In the hallway, Drew asked if it was done, but Boyle told him they had a situation. Drew told Boyle, fix it. He didn’t care how. Trina continued to film at the crypt, and Anna cuffed and arrested Emma. She told Boyle that he was on his own when it came to Tracy, and took Emma to the station. The sheriff tried to arrest Tracy, but she said, don’t touch me. Sonny asked Soliski who hired him, but Soliski insisted he didn’t know. Sonny said then they didn’t need him, and Soliski said, wait. The jaws of life were used at the accident, and Ric was taken out of the car as Kristina watched.

Ric was strapped to a gurney, when Lucky showed up. Kristina said, it was supposed to be Ava. Cody told Molly that Mac wanted to meet up at Charlie’s and he was hoping to see Lucky to apologize. Molly wondered how Cody convinced Ric to make peace with Alexis, and couldn’t thank him enough. The guy who pulled off that miracle didn’t seem like the drunken idiot she met at the PCPD. She thought maybe he was a good guy after all and gave him her card. She said she owed him one, when Mac arrived. Drew introduced Alexis to Kai, and said he was the face of the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷). Kai left and Drew told Alexis that he had great news. Yuri stood with Tracy, but Boyle said there was no getting out of this. Soliski said he didn’t have a name, but Sonny said he was tired of Soliski’s games. Soliski told him to open a drawer where he’d find the info, but when Sonny put his gun down, Soliski got the better of Jason. Jason sprang back, they struggled, and Soliski fell, hitting his head. Kristina told Lucky that it was Ava’s car. She checked before she cut the brake line. Lucky told her to jet to Charlie’s and say she’d been doing inventory all day. Lucky stayed and saw Elizabeth being taken from the car. He freaked and ran toward her, but an officer grabbed him and told him to calm down.

Anna gave Emma a lecture, and Emma said she wasn’t a little kid anymore. She was a college student who had the freedom to push the boundaries, break the rules, and make mistakes. She knew she was somebody that hated inequality and fairness and wanted to do good in the world and fight for what she believed. Anna said the Quartermaine crypt wasn’t her fight, and Emma asked if Anna wasn’t dedicated to helping people. What changed? Tracy talked to the good people of Port Charles, telling them about the crypt and who was buried there and how they’d helped Port Charles grow and thrive. For years, their vision and generosity had kept the doors of GH open. The crypt had nothing to do with righting a wrong, but everything to do with a corrupt politician. Cutthroat Cain was using his position for a personal vendetta with the shameful assistance of Councilman Boyle. Trina said it was about to go viral, but Boyle said no one was going to help Tracy. Tracy was about to be arrested, and the deputies carried her off the steps. Drew said Willow, Amelia, and Wiley were moving in with him and Scout, but Alexis said she thought it was a mistake. Jason said Soliski was dead, and they had to jet. He’d grab everything of use. Sonny said, the trail might not be cold just yet. Cody told Mac about talking to Ric when he was at the PCPD. He’d told Ric that Molly needed both of her parents. Kristina came out and told Molly she’d been doing inventory. Molly said organization was her happy place, but Kristina said they’d just gotten a new system. Molly asked if she could hang and Kristina said, sure. Ric and Elizabeth were brought to the hospital, and Isaiah told Lucky that he had to leave, but Lucky begged to stay. Lucas worked on Ric who would need emergency surgery once he stabilized.

Mac asked Molly to join them. He wanted to say thanks for getting Cody’s car situation straightened out. Molly asked Kristina to sit with them too, and Mac praised Molly’s skills as an ADA. Kristina flashed back to the accident aftermath, and Molly asked if she was okay. Molly’s phone rang and a nurse from GH told her about her father being in the ER. Cody offered to drive and Kristina said she’d come too. Anna said nothing had changed, but she worked within the law, but Emma said breaking the law was sometimes the only way to get someone’s attention. Anna said she’d been like Emma, but growing up, you realized the world was complicated and every action had its own set of consequences. Emma said growing up didn’t mean you abandoned your principles. She wasn’t sitting by and watching a corrupt politician abuse his power just because he could. Anna said experience broadened perspective and you couldn’t save everyone. Emma was putting her future at risk. Emma said Anna was being condescending and trivializing her intentions. She was there because of her mom. Tracy wailed that they were hurting her, when Diane showed up and said Trina’s recording would come in handy in court later. She had an official cease and desist order from Monica. Unhand her client. Alexis told Drew that Scout had been through enough upheaval and was dealing with the loss of her family as she knew it. She missed her brothers. Drew said it wasn’t his choice to leave, but Alexis said it was his choice not to add more change to Scout’s life. Scout needed normalcy, consistency, and stability to heal. Drew said he’d only told her out of courtesy. He wasn’t asking for permission. Isaiah insisted Lucky leave and Lucky said he’d be right outside.

Molly saw Lucky at the hospital, and he told her that Ric had been driving and Elizabeth was his passenger. Alexis said she wanted what was best for Scout and Drew said he did too. That’s why he chose to stay in Port Charles. Alexis said she hoped it went smoothly, when her phone rang. Kristina told her about Ric and Alexis said she’d be right there. Anna asked what Robin had to do with Emma helping the Quartermaines, and Emma said Robin had always told her the story about how she’d been sick when Edward was sick with the same thing, but he’d insisted she take the only dose of serum available. He was one of the people Tracy was trying to protect, and she wasn’t going to watch a man who made that kind of sacrifice for her have his final resting place torn down like trash. Anna said she’d always be grateful and understood. Emma said it wasn’t just Edward. Alan had told her mom she was HIV positive, and Robin’s world crumbled. HIV had been new and terrifying, and all people knew was that they should be afraid. Alan wasn’t and stood by Robin’s side when she had no one to count on. Anna said it was one of her biggest regrets not being there, and Emma said Alan was a huge reason Robin chose a career in medicine. Edward and Alan saved their lives and made their lives possible, and she couldn’t watch their final resting place be destroyed. Jason thought Soliski would have been more useful alive, but Sonny said he was going to die regardless. He wasn’t going to stop until he succeeded in killing Sonny. It was kind of like self-defense. Also, a warning to whoever hired him. Jason said they’d hire someone else, and Sonny had to be ready for the next attack.

 Alexis asked Molly how Ric was, but Molly didn’t know. Ava showed up and asked if there was word on Ric’s condition. At the crypt, Boyle said the order was legitimate. How did Monica secure it? Diane said Monica had struck a deal with the Port Charles Land Trust. She’d admitted a mistake was made and negotiated a deal. The crypt would stay as long as the Quartermaines gave them a piece of land on the lakefront. Tracy suggested he take his bulldozer, cheap suit, and really ugly tie and get off her property. He said it wasn’t over, but Diane said it was. Diane said Monica told her to tell Tracy, the next time, why not just come to her first? Tracy said, a win is a win, and Diane said, enjoy it. Gio asked about Emma, and Tracy said Emma was a friend and ally and she’d respond in kind, starting with getting her released. She thanked Trina for recording everything. She was an excellent tenant. Tracy left with Gio, when Kai arrived and said he’d seen Trina’s livestream. Anna said she had no way of knowing Emma’s reasons and had misjudged her and the situation. She was sorry. The arrest still stood, but she thought Emma would just get a slap on the wrist. Mac came in and asked to speak with Anna and in the hallway, Anna said she understood Emma’s reason for the protest. She was trouble, but good trouble. Mac said he wasn’t sure she’d feel the same after seeing this, and handed her a folder. Molly said no one was telling her anything and Isaiah asked to speak to Lucky in private. He told Lucky that Elizabeth was lucky. She had a broken leg that would need surgery, but they wanted her to regain consciousness first. Ava said she and Ric cared about each other and Alexis said she was here for her daughters who got upset seeing Ava. Be a decent human being for once and worry about Ric someplace else. Lucas came out and had news about Ric’s prognosis.

On the plane, Sonny said Ric would go through Soliski’s devices until he found something. In the meantime, they couldn’t show any weaknesses. Jason said Sonny delaying the surgery any longer was dangerous. If he died, he’d do the enemy’s work for them. Sonny said he’d give Ric time to get a name and then schedule the surgery. Until then, it would be business as usual. He wasn’t letting anyone hurt his family again. Drew asked what Tracy’s face was like when she was arrested and the crypt was demolished, and Boyle told him that his dreams of being a Quartermaine were over. He was legally obligated to use the name Drew Cain. Drew wondered how Tracy managed it, and Boyle said, Tracy didn’t; Monica did. Anna said her respect for Emma was short-lived, when Tracy came in. She said Emma’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. They won and the crypt would stay where it was. They high-fived, and Tracy said she wanted to secure Emma’s release, pay all legal fees, and celebrate with dinner. Anna said Emma was going in a jail cell until she could see a judge in the morning. She would have gotten a slap on the wrist were it not for a number of prior offenses. Lucas said Ric had severe head trauma and internal bleeding. He was stabilized and going to the OR for surgery. Lucky sat by Elizabeth’s bedside and said she had to be okay. He’d been wanting to say something since he got back, but didn’t have the courage. She had to know that he loved her. He fell in love with her the first day they met and he was going to love her forever. She opened her eyes.

Tuesday:

Laura thanked Sonny for coming to the hospital and said he always showed up when it counted. Alexis thanked Curtis for encouraging her to go to a meeting. She liked the one at the hospital because it was safe and familiar. He said he was starting to feel the same way. Carly was there with Donna and Donna wanted to say hi to grandma’s photo. Felicia joined them and said the hospital had been born today. It was 62 years young. Lucy knocked at Windymere and Sidwell said she’d sounded mysterious on the phone. He was intrigued by her proposal, and she said she had four words that would blow his mind – General Hospital Nurses Ball. Laura said they were unveiling the new cardiac center and asked if Sonny wanted get coffee. Tracy arrived and said she had some unfortunate news.

Lucy told Sidwell about the first Nurses Ball in 1994. The whole town of Port Charles was there. Terry talked to Portia about the anniversary of GH, while Anna filled Robin in on the new cardiac center and told Mac that GH looked pretty good for her age. Tracy said Monica had a respiratory issue and couldn’t be around many people. Laura said she was the heart and soul of GH and had brought the hospital into the 21st century. Her mother and Monica had their moments, but her mother held Monica in high esteem professionally, and Laura had always been grateful for how Monica treated her when Lulu had her transplant.

Lucy said the Nurses Ball was a fundraiser, but there were other highlights, including, but not limited to, the clothes. We flashed back to the many gowns Lucy has worn for the Ball. Carly and Felicia took Donna to the memorial wall, and Donna told Bobbie that she missed her. Felicia said nursing was Bobbie’s calling and Carly said the hospital was a part of Bobbie. Felicia said Bobbie was her best friend and she thought of her every time she came to work. Carly said her mom would be proud. Maxie gave Deanna and Amy giftbags for the nurses, who she said were the heart and soul of the hospital, and asked for help handing them out. Tracy went to the memorial wall to see her parents and Alan. Stella joined her and said she spent a lot of time in places where she could honor her loved ones. Tracy said she liked the quiet and opposed to at home, her loved ones couldn’t talk back. She was concerned about Monica, who kept having setbacks. She didn’t think the hospital would be standing without her.

Terry and Portia checked out the new space, and Portia said Monica deserved it. Terry said Monica inspired her to be better and not just as a doctor. Lucy talked up the hospital staff to Sidwell and said everyone gave it their all for the most worthy of causes. Sidwell asked what the cause was, and she said she was glad he asked. Laura saw Curtis who stayed for the unveiling, and she said people would get care there they couldn’t get anywhere else. Curtis said Aurora Media was covering it. Laura said Doc was at a seminar, even though we all know he’s running a casino on the side. (Joke for Beyond the Gates watchers.) Curtis said he’d heard there was an anonymous donor, and Laura said if she had to guess, it was somebody that had a contentious relationship with Monica, but still respected her. She didn’t think it was a mystery for Monica, but it was a relief that their names wouldn’t be attached. Curtis said, being attached to the wrong people often hurts as much as it helps, but Laura said the hospital brought out the best in everyone. Alexis found Sonny at the memorial wall where he was counting his blessings. Blessings are always there, but sometimes you have to dig to find them. She said the atrium was stunning, and she knew he was the anonymous donor because she’d seen the paperwork. He said Monica hated him, but he’d always respected her.

Laura told Alexis that Monica wasn’t up to coming, but even Monica wouldn’t want them to postpone the unveiling. Laura asked, how you thank someone for giving your child their life back and fill the void of such a loss? She said she was sorry and cried. She didn’t know how to adequately convey her gratitude. Alexis said it wasn’t an exchange. One thing had nothing to do with the other. Sam had chosen to donate her organ, and it had been successful. What happened was beyond their control and they should focus on her bravery and her children and the gift to Lulu made her a hero on earth. All the love she gave to everyone was what mattered. They hugged and Laura said that’s how they’d honor Sam going forward. Amy gushed over how expensive the Deception products in the giftbags were, but Maxie said they weren’t worth as much as the nurses. She thanked them for taking care of her family and they said that was the idea. Curtis apologized to Laura for giving her a hard time about the donor, and she said she was nervous about giving her speech now that she knew Monica wasn’t going to be there. Curtis said he’d make sure Monica got a copy of the film, and Laura said it was also the 62nd anniversary of the hospital. Curtis said he’d still be in the wheelchair were it not for the doctors and nurses, but Laura said his strength and courage were a big part of his recovery. He said they’d made him feel like he mattered, and she said he did. Ned found Tracy and wondered if she was sharing an inside joke with her brother. They’d loved each other in their own distinctly unique way. Tracy asked if he meant the Quartermaine way. She said their father would pit them together, but didn’t count on Alan’s ultimate betrayal of becoming a doctor. She was jealous. Right or wrong Alan followed his dreams. She was wrong to give him grief for his choices in wives. So much of what existed at GH did so because of Alan and Monica’s legacy. Ned said they should tell Monica that, but Tracy said she was doing nothing of the kind. He told her, never change. Lucy told Sidwell about the conception of the Nurses Ball and how it was created to fight HIV/AIDS when it was the darkest days of the crisis, and they saw no hope of a cure. She told him about Stone’s death and Robin being diagnosed, but still being with them. Her co-chair John Hanley had also passed, but she couldn’t count how many people she’d lost. That was why she put her heart and soul into making the Ball a success.

Donna lit a candle in the chapel for Michael, when Sonny joined her and Carly. Sonny said Michael was getting better every day, and Donna went to say a prayer. He asked if Carly was okay, and she said she was thinking about how many times she’d been at the hospital. Sonny said he’d made a lot of bargains with God in the chapel, and she said she didn’t associate the hospital with pain. She sees her mom at the nurses’ station, she had her babies there, Sonny walked again, and they gave Michael a fighting chance. Sonny said it was because of Carly, but she said it was because of them. Sidwell said it was a beautiful, moving cause and Lucy asked if he’d like to contribute. She thought it would be good for him to be an underwriter. It would change people’s perception of him. He said he was in, but had one condition. She said, of course (🍷) he did, and he said he wanted to be the sole underwriter for the entire Nurses Ball. Those were his terms. Take them or leave them. Laura told Portia that Monica wasn’t coming.

Anna told Sonny that she’d spoken to Robin who wished she could be there. Sonny said they could remember Stone together. He’d changed Sonny’s life. So did Robin. Anna said the hospital had given Robin her career, her life, and her family, and Sonny said Robin had been beautiful and brave, stating she was the face of HIV/AIDS at the Nurses Ball. Anna said she wished she’d been there for her at that time, and he said Robin had been taken care of. Anna said, in large part by him. Despite their differences, she’d always be grateful. He said, with all his heart, it was his pleasure, and she said she was supposed to give him something from Robin. She kissed his cheek and thanked him.

Terry thanked everyone for being there for the official unveiling of the Dr. Monica Quartermaine Cardiac Care Center and Atrium. Portia said Monica couldn’t be there in person, but was there in spirit. She was the hospital. Terry said Monica was the ultimate example of what a Chief of Staff should be, and she and Portia often asked themselves, WWMD? What would Monica do? Portia said she was their guiding light. She was their constant reminder to move forward and not bet on the future not on the past. Terry said that’s what the new center was about. Helping future patients meet their medical needs and saving lives. Portia introduced Laura, who stepped up to the podium. Laura said she was honored to be there to open the enter and commemorate the hospital’s anniversary. She thought it was a place where people from all walks of life came together to receive care. It was also a place where they put their differences aside and focused on what was important supporting each other as family, friends, neighbors, and a community. With its amazing staff and volunteers, she believed it represented them at their best. It was a place where you could start of as a somewhat mediocre Candy Striper and wind up the mayor of the town. Everyone applauded and she said, for so many of them, General Hospital felt like home, the people in it their family. Embrace that. Cherish that. And with the opening of the new center, they would honor that. The covering was dropped and everyone applauded. Lucy dragged Sidwell out and said she had a great big announcement. Jenz Sidwell had agreed to be the sole underwriter for the 2025 Nurses Ball. There was applause, but not by everyone. She said volunteers knew where to find her, and happy 62nd anniversary General Hospital. The applause was more enthusiastic, and we saw Monica’s photo plaque.

Wednesday:

Jason went to the hospital to talk to Lucas about Carly and said, this thing with Brennan has to end. Carly woke up with Jack. Gio went to the courtroom and found Emma, and asked why she did it when she had a record. Anna talked to ADA Turner, hoping they could take the extenuating circumstances into account, but Turner said, Emma had been in defiance of the court order. Anna said she thought Turner was after her granddaughter because of her. The Deception team met at the Quartermaine solarium, and Lucy said they needed zincite and Sidwell was offering them a good deal, but Brook wondered what was in it for him. Plus, he’d kidnapped Sasha. Maxie said Sasha claimed she’d been overreacting and Tracy wondered why Sasha would say it if it wasn’t true. Sasha went to Windymere, and Sidwell thanked her for talking to Maxie. The Deception team was coming over to sign the contract. Sasha said she wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to screw them over. She would tell them who and what he was, and the deal would be off. He asked if she wouldn’t miss her payday, but she said there were limits to what she’d do for money. Sonny met Laura for lunch at the MetroCourt and Boyle came over to their table. He wanted to know how the public felt about Laura breaking bread with an alleged crime boss.

Sasha said if Sidwell was getting Deception into something questionable or illegal, the deal was off, but he said he was doing them a favor and she’d earned a tidy sum. She said the moment she suspected he was up to something shady, she knew someone who could keep him in line. Lucy said Sonny’s involvement with Deception had turned out fine and if Erica Kane got her product out first, they’d never catch up. Maxie said Lucy was right and Lucy asked for a yay or nay on a long-term contract. Jason said he never should have told Carly what to do. It only made her dig in deeper. Lucas said he’d done the same thing. Carly and Jack were obviously into each other. Jason said she wasn’t allowing herself to see Brennan for who he really was. Carly suggested she and Jack spend the day in bed, but his schedule wasn’t light. He said whenever the WSB allowed, he was all hers. Laura asked Boyle, what kind of a crime boss? and Boyle said, alleged. Sonny asked if he wanted to be rude, and Boyle asked if Laura had heard of the appearance of impropriety. The people wouldn’t like this. (Those invisible people again.) She said her approval rating was twice as high as his and this was a private lunch. Boyle said she could do more good if she wasn’t wasting time with Sonny, and left. Laura said Boyle was a jerk and Sonny said he agreed, but Boyle wasn’t wrong.

Marco went to Diane’s office for an interview, and she said his resumé was impressive, but why did he want to move? Marco said they had an excellent record in criminal defense, and he liked a place where winter was winter. His client, JS Associates, was also based there now. If it worked out, he’d bring them along, as well as a few others. He showed her a list and she said, very impressive. Sonny said they both knew Laura was putting her reputation on the line being seen with him, but she said she wasn’t going to hide her friendship with him. He said he didn’t think they should be seen together, but she said they had no business affiliation, and she never had and never would put pressure on the police not to look in his direction. He said if they did, he would get lonely, and she said she wasn’t hiding their friendship because she was mayor. Natalia abstained from voting, Brook was tentative, and Maxie and Lucy were a yes. Tracy also abstained so she wouldn’t be held responsible for the consequences. Emma told Gio that she didn’t want to talk about California, but the crypt was a cause worth fighting for. He said had he known about her priors, he would have done it, and she said he would have lost his spot in the music program. Everyone already thought she was trouble, so it had to be her. Anna said their differences had nothing to do with Emma, and Turner wondered if she’d looked into Emma’s prior arrests. Anna said, Emma had a party that got out of hand, and she got expelled, but Turner said Emma had been part of an activist group protesting a lab and everyone had been arrested. For what, she didn’t know. When she requested the report, she was sent to the university legal department. They must have struck deal because Emma was charged with breaking and entering and she was expelled, but the record was sealed. Anna said it was because it was serious enough that the university didn’t want the story to get out, and Turner said Anna had no idea who she was really dealing with. Neither did she.

At Windymere, Brook asked why Sidwell wanted to do business with them when he had offers from Enchanted and Melador. Sidwell said neither one was in Port Charles, and he didn’t want to be based in Pine Valley or Llanview. Port Charles had everything he needed and more – access, ease, and beauty. Brook’s family had done well, and all he wanted was to do the same. Diane said Marco seemed like a good fit, but before she made an offer, he’d have to meet with her partner. She’d be in be in touch. Marco asked who was in the photograph on Alexis’s desk, and Diane said it was Alexis’s late daughter Samantha and Sam’s brother Lucas. Lucas told Jason that Carly thought because she and Jack weren’t committed, it meant she was safe, but anyone could see they were invested in each other. Carly hadn’t come home last night, but there was nothing he could say that would change her mind. Jason said, she was almost killed, and Lucas said if that wasn’t enough to convince her, he didn’t know what was. Laura asked if Sonny had seen his brother, but Sonny said he avoided that whenever possible. She said Ric had been in a car accident and Elizabeth was with him. They were both in the hospital. He asked how Elizabeth was, and she said, awake. There was no damage to her spine, but she had a fractured leg that would need surgery. Ric hadn’t woken up yet. Sonny hoped for his daughter’s sake, Ric pulled through, when Carly and Jack walked in. Maxie had to leave because of an appointment at GH she couldn’t reschedule, and Sidwell said her health came first. She left, and Brook asked to talk to Lucy, and they stepped aside. Brook said, they didn’t know Sidwell, and Sidwell said he’d already expedited their first order at his cost. Anything to help Deception. Brook said he had himself a deal. The judge came in and said the charges against Emma were obstruction of governmental administration, and Emma pleaded not guilty. Turner said, given Emma’s priors and significant flight risk, the people requested she be held without bail.

Marco texted Lucas that he was in town and to join him at the MetroCourt. Tracy said Emma was charged with a class-A misdemeanor and they were treating her like she’d robbed a bank. Turner said, given her record, that could be next, and the judge told Turner to sit and asked Tracy to let Emma’s lawyer handle it. Tracy said there was nothing to be handled. The sheriff and councilman had been misinformed, and the entire matter had been previously settled. The judge asked if that was true, and Turner admitted an agreement had been reached between Monica and the Port Charles Land Trust. Tracy passed out copies of the agreement and said there was no reason for the sheriff and councilman to be anywhere near the crypt. There had been no crime, so there was no reason to punish Emma. The people had no case and were wasting the taxpayers’ money. She suggested they stop wasting the court’s time and dismiss the charges. Sidwell toasted to the beginning of a long and lucrative relationship, and they drank champagne. Natalia said she and Sidwell had to work out a few details, and Lucy left with Brook. Sidwell asked what the mysterious details were, and Natalia said they weren’t going to sign when they knew what she did. Jason went to see Diane who said she’d always make time for him even when no crime was involved. Was there a crime involved? He said he needed to meet with her before he saw Sasha to amend his will and provide for her baby. Michael and Sasha were in agreement that she’d raise the baby by herself before everyone assumed he was the father. Diane said she’d see that Sasha’s baby was well-provided for, but she needed to know the scope of Michael’s exposure. Who else knew? Sonny? Jason said Sonny was staying out of it. He considered telling Carly, but now that she was with Brennan, he wanted to hold off. Sonny wondered what Carly was doing with Brennan. She nearly died and now he had to pretend she wasn’t batting her eyes at the man who nearly got her killed. Jack’s phone dinged and he looked at Sonny. He told Carly that he’d be back and went over to Sonny’s table. He asked for a word with Sonny, and they left for a private area. Jack said, the WSB informed him that a contract killer by the name of Soliski had been found dead in his Toronto home. He did some digging and found out Soliski was inclined to use incendiary devices much like the one that nearly killed Michael.

Turner said the people agreed the sheriff was there in error. However, that didn’t change Emma’s refusal to obey law enforcement’s order. The charges stood. The judge said he was inclined to agree, but they weren’t going to trial. They were going to work it out here. Emma asked if she could speak, and the judge said, at this point, why not? Emma suggested she do community service and Turner agreed. Emma changed her plea to guilty and the judge said the hours would be determined later. Anna told her, just say thank you, and Emma did. Jason said, regardless of Brennan, there was no way Carly could keep her grandchild a secret even if she didn’t say anything. He couldn’t trust her with this. Diane told him that she’d never heard him say he didn’t trust Carly, and he said, when she was with Sonny, he could protect her. He knew Sonny’s world and understood the players. Jack was with the WSB, and he didn’t know their code and didn’t know Jack’s agenda. He didn’t know the players and couldn’t provide the same level of protection. Jack said Soliski had been based Africa, but also South America, the Balkans, and the Middle East. He asked if Sonny knew anything about Soliski’s death, but Sonny said, no. Jack said he had to ask and told Sonny to have a pleasant evening. Sonny went back to his table, and Jack took out his phone. Sonny told Laura that Jack was asking about a guy in Toronto he didn’t know. He was sorry, but had to cut their lunch short. She asked if he was sure nothing was wrong, but he said everything was fine and left. Sidwell asked what Natalia thought she knew, and she said she knew Deception was the perfect cover for him to smuggle in whatever he was smuggling now. He said it was sad that life had made her bitter and mistrustful. She said they’d been good to her and all she needed to do was warn them, but Sidwell said her position would be compromised. They didn’t know she was his ex. She said she’d tell them that too, but he said it was a little late. Why would they ever trust her again when she’d left out a pertinent piece of information? If she knew what was good for her, she’d keep her mouth shut.

Marco was about to leave when Lucas arrived. Anna said she hopes she and Turner could make peace, and Turner said Emma had dodged a bullet. She was in more trouble than she was letting on. Whatever crime she committed was serious and whatever she did in California would come back to haunt her. Emma thanked Tracy and Gio, and Tracy called her courageous for putting herself in the line of fire. Gio suggested they go to dinner, but Anna came in and said that would have to wait. Gio and Tracy left, and Anna said they had to talk about Emma’s priors. Emma had to tell her what she’d done. Emma said she couldn’t, and Anna said it was news to her parents too. Emma said she couldn’t tell anyone because she signed an NDA. It was that or go to jail. Sasha found Jason in the solarium, and he asked if everything was okay with the baby. Jack said, it was WSB business, and Carly said, with Sonny? The WSB had never been interested in Sonny before. Was he sure Sonny wasn’t warning him to stay away from her? He said, sorry to disappoint her, but the conversation had nothing to do with her. Sidwell asked why Natalia cared. When they divorced, she said she wanted nothing to do with him. She said, yet here he was, back in her life uninvited, and he said let him be clear. She would never be in a position to tell him what to do ever again. Not after the spectacular way she wrecked their family. There was a knock at the door and Sidwell opened it to Sonny.

Thursday:

Jason said he got Sasha’s voicemail and asked if there was a problem with the baby, but she said the baby was fine. The problem was with him. Kai went to see Curtis to ask for his advice about the offer from Drew. Drew barged into Portia’s office saying she didn’t hold up her end of the bargain. Curtis undermined him by calling him Congressman Cain. She’d better get him under control, or he’d blow her life out of the water. Trina met with ADA Turner at the ADA’s request. She needed Trina’s help. Lucas asked why Marco was in Port Charles, and Marco said it was fate. Josslyn went to a coffee bar and saw Vaughn talking to a woman. She asked if she was interrupting. Carly said she didn’t believe Sonny didn’t tell Jack to stay away from her, and thought he’d lied. Sidwell told Natalia that she’d never be in a position to tell him what to do again – ever. Not after spectacular way she’d wrecked their family. There was a knock at door and Sidwell opened it to Sonny. Sonny said it was time they met and walked in.

Kai explained about the operation to Curtis, and said Drew would make the arrangements on his behalf and offered to cover the cost. Curtis said Kai had to live with the outcome and what mattered was if he was okay with it. Kai said he thought it would give him a chance to play football again, but it was risky. He didn’t have time to decide because the percentage of success was higher closer to the injury. He asked what Curtis thought he should do. Portia told Drew that she had nothing to do with Monica and Tracy’s decision and had no idea what Curtis had planned. Drew told her to make it her job to find out Curtis’s plans if they affected him, but Portia worried Curtis would know. Drew said to make sure he didn’t, or Curtis would know stuff she wished he didn’t. He left and Brad came in. Marco told Lucas about his job interview and how he’d seen Lucas’s photo on Alexis’s desk. He still had to meet Alexis, but thought it went well. Lucas said he had a confession to make. Vaughn asked if Josslyn wanted to join him, and the woman asked if Vaughn could spare some sugar. He gave it to her, and she left. Josslyn said the woman had been hitting on him. Her class had been canceled, and she had the day off, so she was exploring the area. She’d seen the logo on his to-go cups and figured the coffee was good. He said she was observant and shaping up to be a halfway decent agent. Jack asked why Carly was sure Sonny had threatened him, and she said, it had happened before. Because they had kids together, Sonny felt like he had a say in her life. Jack said Sonny didn’t bring up her name once. It was WSB business. There were certain subjects he couldn’t discuss for her own safety. Was that something she could live with? Sonny and Sidwell went to the living room, but Natalia had disappeared. Sidwell said the ladies from Deception had been there since they were going into business together. Since Sonny was an investor, they were in business together as well. Sonny said he was there on other business. Somebody had firebombed his penthouse, and his son had been badly injured. It was around the time Sidwell showed up in Port Charles. Sidwell said he hoped Sonny didn’t think he was involved, and Sonny said he hadn’t, but news had come to light that forced him to reconsider the possibility.

Sasha said Felicia had been asking questions, and Jason might need to take a more active role in the baby’s life. Felicia asked if he was going to participate in birth plan, was he supplying his medical information, and if his name would be on the birth certificate. Jason said he was fine with all of it, and she said it was more complicated than she thought. It would have been easier if she’d left town, but Michael wanted her to stay. If Willow found out the baby was Michael’s, she’d use it to get full custody. Jason said that’s why they were pretending, but she wondered for how long. Turner said she had questions about Emma and what happened on the Quartermaine estate, and knew Trina told the truth. Trina said she’d livestreamed the whole thing. Why was Turner interested in Emma when the charges were dropped? Turner said, while processing the arrest, some troubling things came up, and asked if Trina knew why Emma had been expelled. Trina wondered why an ADA in Port Charles was so concerned about what Emma did in California. Lucas told Marco that what happened wasn’t him. He didn’t get drunk and pick up guys. Random hookups weren’t his thing. On the flipside, he wasn’t ready for commitment. Marco said, before Lucas embarrassed himself, he was surprised and pleased to find Lucas lived there. He found Lucas attractive, but wasn’t plotting to get him in bed or make Lucas his husband. He just wanted to get to know Lucas better, especially if he got the job. Lucas said he was embarrassed about what happened and Marco had been so kind. He wanted a chance to get to know Marco better. Marco said, now was his chance. Portia asked what Brad wanted, and Brad said, a promotion and a four-day work week. She told him to get out. The things she thought Brad had taken care of had wound up in Drew’s possession. How much money did he get from Drew? Brad said, nothing. It must have been his Aunt Selina. Portia said he kept evidence that he was supposed to destroy and gave it to his mobbed-up aunt. At least their arrangement was now null and void. She just had to iron out his severance pay. Curtis told Kai that Drew wasn’t a doctor, so before he got his hopes up, he should get the procedure medically vetted. Portia would give him an honest assessment, and if it was legit, he had a tough choice to make. Josslyn told Vaughn that the coffee was great, and she assumed the croissants were too, since the past four customers ordered them. Vaughn said she was off the clock, but she said, never. They discussed volleyball, and Vaughn said he’d been a setter for his college team, but had to stop because he was too competitive. She said she’d heard that before from Trina and Michael, and he said she must miss them. She said she did, but not enough to quit. Carly said she didn’t want Jack to use his career as an excuse to deceive her when it suited him, and he said he’d never manipulate her, use her, or intentionally hurt her. He promised not to take advantage of her trust. He was breaking a cardinal rule of the WSB – never form emotional attachments. She said they’d gotten themselves in a mess, and he asked what she wanted to do about it. Sidwell asked what information Sonny had discovered, and Sonny said the person who placed the device was a hired hitter and he had been informed they’d expired. His name was Soliski. Did it ring any bells? Sidwell said, not a one, and Sonny said Soliski had worked all over the world, including Africa where Sidwell based his operation. Sidwell said Africa was a big continent with a large population. The odds he’d done business with a specific person doing business there were low. Sonny said he didn’t like coincidences, and Sidwell said Sonny seemed to think he wanted to get rid of him, but it was exactly the opposite.

Turner said she was concerned Emma had a legal problem, and if her grandmother was using her influence as a shield, it merited investigation. Trina said it sounded like Turner had an issue with Anna, not Emma. She had no connection with Anna and couldn’t help. Turner thanked her and Trina left. Marco told Lucas that he’d worked for a big law firm in Manhattan, but the hours were long, and his tennis game and love life went to hell. Lucas asked if he was ever married, and Marco said, no. He asked how things were with Lucas and his ex. Brad said Portia couldn’t fire him, but she said she owed him no favors. He begged for another chance, when there was a knock at the door. Kai came in and Portia told Brad, bye. Don’t go far. They had a lot to discuss. Brad said he’d be in the lab doing work that saved lives and left. Kai told Portia that he’d been offered a chance to have experimental surgery that would possibly allow him to play football again. He wanted a second opinion and Curtis suggested he talk to her. She said she’d be happy to help. Sasha told Jason that she wanted to give the baby the best life possible. But how could she when she was starting off by lying? She loved her family. Jason said, one step at a time, especially while Michael wasn’t there. He was getting better, and they had to stay the course until he got back. If it got to be too much, he’d help. Sasha said he was the greatest uncle ever, and he said he promised Michael that he’d be there and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Michael. For the foreseeable future, they were in this together. Sidwell said, in his experience, if someone wanted to operate out of a port, they needed a stable ecosystem. A criminal element would always be there, but it was fine as long as it was contained and there was peace. He was told that Sonny was good at maintaining peace, so Sonny’s continued presence was crucial to his success. Sonny asked if he was expected to believe Sidwell was doing legitimate business, and Sidwell said he didn’t see Sonny as a rival, but someone to maintain the status quo, so his business would thrive. He understood Sonny’s reluctance to trust him, so as a gesture of good faith, he could aid Sonny in finding justice for his son. He also had a son, so he knew what Sonny was going through. He could use his resources to find the culprit. Sonny said he’d handle it himself, and Sidwell said, if there was anything Sonny needed, let him know. Sonny told Sidwell, good luck with his business dealings, as long as they didn’t interfere with his. Sonny left. Carly said she could live not knowing what Jack couldn’t tell her, and Jack said he’d risk his well-being for any chance of a future with her. She said he’d be doing the smart thing, and they kissed. He said as much as he’d like to continue in his room, he had to be somewhere, and he left. Vaughn went to the counter to get croissants and literally ran into the woman who needed sugar. He dropped a croissant and as she helped him, she passed him something while handing him the plate.

Vaughn told Josslyn that it was the last one and gave her the remaining croissant. She said he wasn’t usually a klutz, and he said they all had their moments. Drew went to Curtis’s office and asked, what was so urgent? Curtis said, leave Kai alone. He was vulnerable and didn’t need to get his hopes up for something that may not happen. Football had been ripped away from him and he was trying to put his life and sense of self back together. Now Drew was swooping in, giving him a chance that was impossible. Drew said the success rate was high, and Curtis said, what if it didn’t work out? There were no guarantees and if Kai ended up out of football for good, was the benevolent godfather act going to disappear? Portia told Kai that it wasn’t her area of expertise, but she’d look into it and do some research. Did he hear about it from his coach or physical therapist? Kai said, Congressman Quartermaine. He offered to pay, since Kai’s insurance wouldn’t cover it. Portia said he’d have to talk it over with his parents. They need to know. He said he wanted to wait until he knew it was legitimately possible, and she said she’d let him know what she found out. He thanked her and left. Lucas said he’d been avoiding Brad since he’d gotten back, and Marco said, they work together. Lucas said he knew they were going to run into each other eventually, but in the meantime, he had to clean up a big mess Brad made. He’d manipulated his way into the symposium and crossed the line. Lucas had to make things right with the person wronged. Marco asked why it was his responsibility, and Lucas said, guilt. Once he took care of it, he could put Brad behind him. He wanted to hear about Marco, but Marco said, another time. He had a meeting. He’d be in town for a few days and asked if Lucas would like to see him again. Lucas said he’d like it a lot and they shook hands. They laughed and Marco left. Vaughn told Josslyn that he had to get back to work and enjoy the rest of her day off.

Carly went over to Lucas and said, what was that? He was cute. Lucas said, forget about Marco. Someone didn’t come home last night. She said, Donna was with Sonny, and she thought Lucas was old enough to be okay at home without her. He said she could have given him some common courtesy and let him know she had plans. He was worried. She said it slipped her mind, but he said she didn’t want him to know she was with Jack. Carly said, everyone and their cat had lectured her about Jack, and he said he saw she’d decided not to listen. She said, after careful consideration, she’d decided to let things play out, and Lucas said Jason had said he was worried, and Jason didn’t panic easily. Please take his concern seriously. She said she was sick of everyone’s concern. She wasn’t changing her mind, so don’t fight her. He said he wouldn’t, but had a feeling Jason wasn’t going to back down so easily. Natalia wondered what game Sidwell was playing. Sonny was smart and dangerous. He didn’t want Sonny as an enemy. She hoped he meant it when he said he had no designs on Sonny’s territory and strongly encouraged him to reconsider. Sidwell asked if it was for his safety or hers, and she said she and Sonny were friends. He laughed and asked why she scurried off. Sonny must not know he’s her ex-husband any more than her cohorts at Deception did. She’d already betrayed everyone and now threatened to out him. She’d end up hurting herself. She said, it might be worth it. Sonny and the women didn’t know how dangerous he was. Sidwell said it wouldn’t be good for her health.  Sonny met Turner and she said she was surprised he’d accepted her invitation. He said he was looking for Lucy and she wasn’t in her office, so here he was. She said he must not have told Diane, and he said Turner worked hard to get Ava convicted. Turner said she was sorry she didn’t get justice. She did her due diligence and noticed something interesting. Despite him being the subject of multiple investigations, trials, and some convictions, he did well. He closely aligned himself with prominent leaders like the mayor and the Police Commissioner. Sonny said people liked him, and she said, even when he hurt their careers? He said, true friendship rises above rumors and innuendos. If she was fishing for something, she should cut bait. Josslyn went back to the WSB, surprising Vaughn. She said there was something she wanted to ask him, when Jack walked in. He asked for an update on Josslyn, and Vaught said he thought she was ready to graduate. And he was ready to go back to the field. He didn’t sign up to be a trainer. Jack said, ever since Romania, Vaughn was going to spend a long time not doing anything but training recruits.

Brad begged Portia not to send him back to his Aunt Selina, and she said she’d let him stay. She might need his help in the future. He said he loved helping, and she said he’d better come through, whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it. From now on, she owned his ass. Drew said he was just helping Kai, and Curtis said he was trying to protect Kai from being used. Drew said he wasn’t the problem. Curtis was. Kai went to see Trina and said, it was a long shot, but there may be a way for him to play football again. Turner told Sonny that she wasn’t fishing. She thought she’d get to know Sonny better. He said he didn’t think her boss would like it, but she said no one told her what to do. They had that in common. Sonny got up and said he hoped he’d satisfied her curiosity, but she said she still had questions. He said he was out of answers and left. Sasha felt the baby kick and said Jason had been there the first time the baby moved. Did he want in on the action. Jason backed away, but she put his hand on her bump. He said, that was a strong kick. Natalia asked if Sidwell was threatening her, when there was a knock at the door. It was Marco, who said he was sorry he was late. He saw Natalia and asked what his mom was doing there. Jack asked if he and Vaughn had an understanding, and Vaughn said they did. He asked Josslyn to give them some privacy to discuss the next steps, but Josslyn said, wait. There was something Jack should know. Earlier, she saw Vaughn receive a suspicious drop-off. She thought it was part of a mission sanctioned by the WSB, but now she wasn’t so sure. (I’m thinking it’s a test.)

🫔 Friday’s Enchilada…

Trina asks what Kai is talking about that he might play football again, and he says, it’s not a guarantee, just a chance, but wouldn’t it be amazing if he could get back on the field? She says, of course (🍷). She knows how much he loves the game, but also knows how his doctors say if he gets hit again, he may be paralyzed for the rest of his life. He says, they did, but it turns out that may not be true.  

Curtis asks in what universe is Drew living, and Drew says, in deference to their former friendship, he cut Curtis some slack. Now Curtis is using his grudge to potentially deny Kai a career he’s dreamed of his whole life. Curtis says he’s not, but he’s not buying Drew’s savior act. He’s making the young man promises he can’t keep. Drew says he’s not promising anything. All he’s doing is introducing Kai to a doctor who’s had great success with athletes who have suffered similar injuries. It’s wrong to stand in his way. If Curtis cared, he’d encourage Kai to grab the opportunity before it’s too late for it to be beneficial. Curtis says, Kai mentioned that time was a factor, and Drew says, it is. The less time between the injury and the procedure, the greater the chance of success. Curtis says, if Drew really cared, he’d have encouraged Kai to look into it and be careful to do his research. That’s what he did. Drew says, that’s what he did too. If Curtis wants to come at him, fine, but leave Kai out of it.

Josslyn tells Jack that earlier, she saw Vaughn receive a suspicious drop-off. At first, she figured he was on a mission sanctioned by the WSB, but now she’s not so sure. Jack asks what she’s talking about, but Vaughn says he has no idea. He did bump into Josslyn at a coffee shop, but she was following him, wasn’t she? Josslyn says, no, and he says, she just happened to be there. She says, yes. She saw Vaughn talking to a woman. Vaughn says, what woman? This is ridiculous. Jack says, these are serious charges she’s leveling against a senior agent, ones that could end his career. Which means if she’s wrong, it could end hers.

There’s a knock at the door in Sonny’s old kitchen and we see our old friend, the moss bowl (🎍)! Jason comes in with an envelope, and Carly asks, what’s that? He says, it’s from Diane. Documents from when he signed the MetroCourt back over to her. She thanks him and says she’s sure he’s in a hurry. He says he can’t stand this.

Lucy finds Jordan at the hospital and says she’s been looking all over for her. Jordan asks if Lucy tried her office, and Lucy says, thank God Jordan is helping this year with the Nurses Ball. There’s so much to do and it’s right around corner… She didn’t know? About the 10th time she called Laura’s office, Laura kindly volunteered Jordan as city liaison. Welcome aboard. She shakes Jordan’s hand.

Ava looks at Ric through his hospital room window.

Deanna walks into Elizabeth’s room with a pillow, and Elizabeth asks Deanna to tell her that she’s here to smother her with it. Deanna says, she’s not covered for that, but it is triple fudge brownie day in the cafeteria. Maybe that will help. Elizabeth makes a face, and Deanna asks how she’s feeling. Elizabeth says, not too bad for someone with three new pins in her leg. She’s fine. She appreciates Deanna, but don’t worry about her. Deanna says, it’s literally her job. If she slacks off, her boss might find out. Elizabeth says, she’s the worst. She’s worried about Ric and wonders if Deanna has an update. Deanna says, sorry, but there’s been no change. Lucky comes in with a duffel bag and says, these are the things Elizabeth asked for. Deanna says she’ll leave them to it, and leaves. Lucky asks, what’s the matter? Is she okay? Elizabeth says she realized recovery is going to be a lot more difficult than she thought, and Lucky asks if she’s in pain. She says, no. Just completely helpless.

Alone in the chapel, Kristina says she knows she did a bad thing. She did a dumb, bad thing. She knows she did and just… Please. She knows she asks a lot, but please, just don’t let Molly’s dad die. Alexis and Molly walk in.

Elizabeth tells Lucky that she hates asking people to do things for her. She can’t imagine sitting around like this for three months. Lucky asks if they didn’t say three to six months, and she says she’s a nurse, so she’s saying three months. He says, wow. He thought doctors made the worst patients. She says she’s an excellent patient, and he says, true. He’s never seen a better one. He takes out a sweater and asks if she wants it, but she asks him to fold it and put it on the chair. He says he knows she hates it when she can’t do things for herself, especially when the people trying to help don’t do it the way she would. He tries folding the sweater and looks like me trying to fold a fitted sheet. She says, he makes her sound like a control freak, which she’s not… Just don’t fold it like that. Give it to her. He does and she refolds it.

Kai says he was at Drew’s office, and Trina asks if he means Congressman Cain. He says, the congressman said to call him Drew, and she says, right. He says, they were talking about the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) and Drew asked what he wanted out of life. He told Drew that he was still trying to figure that out now that football wasn’t part of it. She asks what Drew said, and he says, Drew told him about a doctor who’s made huge strides in vertebrae repair. Drew said he could get him in to see the doctor. She says, so Drew happened to know somebody who can offer him what he wants, and he says, Drew is a congressman, so he probably knows a lot of people. Anyway, Drew thought he was a candidate for the procedure and is willing to pay for it. Isn’t that incredible? She says, it just seems hard to believe.

Curtis says he’s not standing in Kai’s way. Kai came to him for advice, and he gave it. Frankly, the idea of Kai in a wheelchair, paralyzed, was enough for him to advise caution. The possibility doesn’t seem as important to Drew. Drew says, Kai is aware of all the possibilities. He gave Kai all the information and he’s making his own decision. He’s just in a position to help Kai accomplish everything he’s worked so hard for. Just like he did for Curtis. Curtis says, excuse me? and Drew asks how Curtis thinks he ended up CEO of Aurora. He wouldn’t be in this office in the first place if Drew hadn’t put him here.

Jordan says, that’s quite the list, and Lucy says, that’s just Jordan’s half of the list. She wants as many people in the community to take part as humanly possible. All Jordan has to do is call each and every person and confirm they’re performing. Jordan asks what Curtis is going to do, and Lucy tells her, he hasn’t said yes yet. Jordan says, so when Lucy tells her to confirm, what she really means is… Lucy says, convince. That means everyone and do not take no for an answer.

Alexis says she didn’t know Kristina was at the hospital, and Kristina says she came to check on Molly’s dad and wanted to say a quick prayer first. Molly said she heard. She knows her dad was not always Kristina’s favorite guy, but she thanks her. She’s been an amazing sister through this. They hug.

Vaughn asks where this is coming from, and Josslyn says she’s just reporting what she saw. He says, she has no idea what she saw, and Jack says, walk him through what happened. Josslyn says she ran into Vaughn at the coffee shop. When she arrived, he was talking to a woman. We flash back as she talks, and she says, later, Vaughn stood up to go to the coffee counter and zipped up his hoodie, which could have been some sort of signal. On the way back, he bumped into the woman and dropped the plate. The woman crouched down to help and passed him a small package. It looked like a pack of gum. Then Vaughn came back, and the woman left right after. She didn’t think much about it at the time, but then she heard Jack say he’s not cleared for field work. Vaughn says, that’s not what happened. Does she honestly think trying to discredit him will impress the chief?

Carly says she hates fighting with Jason. She hates that her situation with Jack came between them, but she can’t live her life by his rules any more than he wants to live by hers. And he’s never policed her life and relationships the way she’s done with him. Jason says, she wouldn’t have listened if he’d tried, and she says, probably not. She understands how hurt he must have been with her back seat driving his relationships. She hates having an ultimatum between them because it’s awful. She doesn’t want to choose between him and Jack. He asks if Jack means that much to her, but she thinks it has nothing to do with Jack. They could be over in a month, but she doesn’t want to give anyone up just because someone tells her to. Even if the someone is him.

Kristina asks if there’s any news about Molly’s dad, and Molly says, Dr. Gannon is examining him now. Alexis says, he’s out of surgery and there’s no permanent damage, and Kristina says, thank God. It’s amazing. Anything she can do to support Molly through this, she’s here. She’s sorry she let her anger and grief get between them. She shouldn’t have done that. Molly says she’s sorry too. They’re sisters and that stuff is behind them now. The Davis girls have got to stick together. Alexis says, forever.

Ava asks Isaiah how Ric is, but he says he can’t discuss Ric’s medical condition unless it’s a family member on the list. Ava says, the list she’s on isn’t that one. His family hates her. He says he’s afraid he can’t, and she says she and Ric are seeing each other. They were together the day of the accident. She’s hoping the last conversation they had isn’t the last conversation they’ll ever have. He says he’s sorry and suggests she try talking to Molly. Ava says, no thank you… Nobody is in there now. Isaiah says, if his family catches her… She says, she’ll be most respectful and leave immediately. He nods and she thanks him. She goes to Ric’s room and sits by his bed. She says, please wake up. She doesn’t want their last words to have been spoken in anger.

Curtis says, Drew gave him the position and he repaid Drew by doing an outstanding job. Drew repaid him by stabbing him in the back. Drew says, Curtis is doing fine. Curtis outmaneuvered him, but the argument still stands. Curtis says, intentions matter. Drew likes to gloss over his betrayals by saying, everything worked out in the end. Willow cares about him. Never mind that he went after his nephew’s wife. The hell with Michael. Drew says he doesn’t think… Curtis says he thinks Drew got everything he wanted in the end. Michael was just collateral damage. He doesn’t want that to happen to Kai.

Kai tells Trina that the procedure is brand new, and the doctor is the only surgeon on the continent who does it. His insurance won’t cover it. Maybe that’s why nobody considered it an option. She says, maybe it’s too new, and he says he’s going to meet with the doctor. Drew got him a consultation. She asks if Drew is going to pay the six-figure tab, and Kai tells her, that’s what he said. She says, he barely knows Kai. Why would he do that?

Josslyn says she’s telling the truth. If Agent Vaughn can explain, great. If he can’t… Jack asks what Vaughn has to say for himself, and Vaughn says, yes. He spoke to a woman in the café. She asked if she could have his sugar, and he gave it to her. He did zip up his hoodie because he was cold. On his way back, he bumped into the woman, but he dropped a croissant. She offered to help, but didn’t lean down and pick anything up. The only thing on the floor was the croissant. Josslyn says, no. She passed him something and then left after her job was done. Vaughn says, or left because she was done with her coffee. Jack asks if Josslyn stands by her accusation, because he finds Vaughn’s version credible. As for her, maybe her mind is playing tricks. So does she stand by her version of the events?

Lucky asks if Elizabeth is in pain. Does she need something? She says she needs to go home, and he says, she just had surgery. She says she can lay around at home like she’s doing here, but he says, can she? She can’t do stairs or stand up to cook. She says, Aiden will help her, but he says, Aiden has school. He has homework and other important things to do. She asks if Lucky can help, and he says he’ll be here waiting until she comes to her senses. She says, they did mention a rehab facility, but she just wants to go home. He says he knows she hates this. He doesn’t blame her, but she needs to let herself heal, okay? Try to be grateful she’s not recovering from something worse. God knows he is. She says she knows she got off easy, and he tells her that he’s not saying it’s easy. Just better than it could have been. She says, Deanna told her that Ric still hasn’t woken up. She’s sorry to hear that. She keeps replaying the moment the car went off the road. It was terrifying. They could have been killed. He says, don’t remind him.

Drew says, all he wants to do is help Kai, and Curtis tells him not to set Kai up for a fall. He’s noticed that about Drew. He likes to pick people up and when they can’t help him anymore, he drops them. He hopes Kai realizes that before it’s too late. Jordan comes to the door and says she can come back later, or do they need a referee? Drew says he was just leaving, but she says, wait. This concerns them both.

Jason says he knows he has no right to tell Carly what to do, but he can’t change how he feels. Brennan is dangerous to be so close to. She says she was close to Sonny, but he says he understands Sonny’s world. He can anticipate things and recognize Sonny’s enemies in that world. But in Brennan’s world, he doesn’t know the enemies. He can’t see around those corners and can’t anticipate anything. He can’t protect her. After Sam’s death, he can’t take the risk of losing her. He figured the people he loves would outlive him. Now after losing Sam, he’s supposed to trust Brennan to protect Carly? He can’t, because her life isn’t as important to Brennan as it is to him. It could never be. He’d take a bullet for her and will always protect her. He can’t trust that Brennan will. He doesn’t trust a word that guy says. She says she knows he doesn’t, but she hasn’t felt this alive in a really long time. He can trust her judgement when she tells him that Jack is not a threat to her.

Vaughn says, Josslyn is making a mistake. She might be embarrassed, but it’s not too late to admit it. Jack asks if she’s saying Agent Vaughn is lying, and she says she saw him put the package in his right pocket – that pocket. Jack tells Vaughn to empty his pockets, and Vaughn says, he can’t be serious. Jack says, do it, and Vaughn takes out the packet and hands it to Jack. Jack undoes it and takes out a computer chip out of the gum pack. He says, well, what have we here?

Alexis says, seeing Molly and Kristina together after everything that’s happened gives her hope, and Kristina says she thinks everything will be all right. Does Molly? Molly says she doesn’t know. She’s scared about her dad, but she has to believe he’ll be okay. It’s easier to do when she’s with them. Alexis says, that’s the way it’s always going to be, and suggests they check on Molly’s dad.

Ava says she’ll make Ric a deal. Wake up now and she’ll let him bill her for a whole hour… He sits up. It was worth a shot. If he won’t wake up for her after the things she said, she wouldn’t blame him, but wake up for Molly. His daughter loves him. So many people need him. She needs him. Remember, he promised to take her to the winery when the weather was nicer, so he can’t leave her hanging on that. She thinks she should go. She doesn’t want to abuse her visitation privileges, but she’ll be back again. She gets up, and Ric mumbles, Elizabeth. Ava says, she’s fine. He’s the one everybody is worried about. He was in a car accident. He asks if someone hit them, but she says, he lost control of the car and went off the road. He was driving Elizabeth home. He says he remembers. They were arguing and he lost control of the car. And the brakes… they failed.  

Ava tells Isaiah that Ric is awake, and Isaiah runs into the room. Alexis, Molly, and Kristina come out of the elevator, and Ava says, Molly’s father is awake. The doctor is with him. Molly runs into Ric’s room, and he says, hey. She says she was scared, but he says, don’t worry. She’s never going to lose him. (Kind of a big promise.) In the hallway, Kristina says she needs some air and leaves. Alexis says she told Ava to stay away. Does she need to get a restraining order? Ava says she was worried about Ric, but Alexis says she’s worried about her girls. Molly needs her sister and the last thing Kristina needs is to see Ava. Ava says she left out of compassion, but GH is a public place. She’s not going to let Kristina’s questionable mental state keep her from seeing someone she cares about. Lucy comes by and says, how lucky she is to find them together. She needs both of them to confirm their performances for the Nurses Ball. Alexis says, never have, never will, and leaves. Ava says she’ll get back to Lucy. There’s something she needs to take care of. She leaves.

Trina says, paying Kai’s medical bills is extremely generous offer, especially for someone he just met. Kai says he thought the same thing, so he asked, and Drew said he thinks Kai has potential. Trina says, obviously he does. Even so… He says, it’s just a consultation, and she asks if he’s going to do it. He says, it depends on her mom. He gave her the information and she agreed to look into it. He trusts her judgement and she did help find a procedure that helped Trina’s dad walk again. She says, it just feels like it’s moving really fast, and she doesn’t want him to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. Even if it does, she’s afraid if he’s hit wrong, he’ll be paralyzed. He says, they’re on the same page and not just about the playing. He was part of a team. Even if he’s able to get back on, it will be tough. They’ve already replaced him at PCU and there are no guarantees he’ll be able to play college or pro ball. But at least he’ll have a chance. That’s because of her.

Carly says she’s driven everyone away her whole life except for the moss bowl (🎍), and Jason is the only person who never walked away. He says he never will, and she says she was thinking about the time they hit their first breaking point – when she slept with Sonny. He says, it was more complicated than that, and she says, their relationship changed, but it didn’t end. She doesn’t want it to end now. He says, neither does he. So he’s going to stay out of her relationship with Brennan. She asks if he means that, and he says, it’s not worth losing their friendship. If she’s right, he’ll be happy. She says, what if he’s right? and he says, they’ll survive whatever danger Brennan brings their way together.

Jack says, what they do now is quite simple. Congratulations, Agent Jax. You just passed your first phase of training. Josslyn says, wait. What? This was all a test? Vaughn says, and she passed. She can celebrate with the pack of gum. Josslyn asks what they were testing, if she noticed the hand-off? Jack says, partly, but it was mostly loyalty. She didn’t let her feelings for a colleague supersede her loyalty to the WSB. Vaughn says, she trusted her judgement even when he gave a plausible explanation, and Jack says, her training is on-going, but right now she’s needed in the field for an assignment she’s well-suited for. Unless of course (🍷) she doesn’t think she’s ready. Josslyn says, no. She’s ready. Where is she going?

Elizabeth says she’s rethinking staying, and Lucky says she would have gotten there eventually. He knows how independent she is, probably because she’s been left to handle everything on her own way too often. She says she’s always taken care of herself, and he says, true, but there’s something she needs to understand. A lot of people love her and want to take care of her. Please just let them help. She says he’ll have to bear with her, learning to ask for help, and he says he can do that. He can even get her one of those little bells. She says, don’t push it, and he says he hates that she’s going through this, but he’s going to see her through it. Deanna says, sorry to interrupt, but she thought Elizabeth would want to know that Ric is awake, and Elizabeth thanks her. She says she knows what Lucky is thinking, and he says, that he needs to hurry up and get her that bell? She says, he blames Ric for the crash. Please don’t. Sometimes accidents just happen.

Jordan says, thanks to Laura, she’s now working with Lucy as city liaison for the Nurses Ball. As such, she’s been given a list of potential acts and both Curtis and Drew are on it. Curtis says, the Nurses Ball is a worthy cause, and he’ll gladly make a donation, and Drew says, as will he. Jordan says, that’s great and all, but Jenz Sidwell is actually sponsoring the entire thing this year. Drew says, what? and Curtis says, his buddy didn’t tell him, did he? Drew says, Jordan is recruiting them to perform? and she says, yes, but he says, the performers are talented. He doesn’t know what he’d do. She says, not to worry. Lucy insisted – and she means insisted – that she will discover everyone’s hidden talents. Curtis says, okay, he’ll think about it, but Jordan says, May will be here before they know it. So what do they say, yes or no?

Molly says, the whole time she kept thinking she might not get another chance to tell Ric how much she loves him, and he says, she thinks he doesn’t know? She says she thinks she doesn’t say it enough, but he tells her that she says it all the time. He loves her. He kisses her hand and she says she loves him too. He says, she’s the most important thing in his life. He’s very proud of the woman she’s become. She says, even though she’s a prosecutor? and he says, they’ll work on that.

Trina says, Kai is giving her way too much credit, but he says, she made him look at possibilities instead of dwelling on the disappointments. She tells him that she could say the same about him. After Spencer died, she was in a dark place. Then he came along and jeopardized her class project and brought color back into her life. He says, that’s high praise from an art lover, and she says, the highest. He says he can’t wait to see where the future takes them, and she says, what a coincidence. Her too. They kiss.

Carly says, Jason’s always been her rock. He gave her the confidence to live life on her own terms, but she knew she could face the consequences, good or bad, because he was in her corner. That’s why the last few days were really difficult because she thought she’d finally driven him away and that terrifies her. He says he guesses he’s glad she didn’t listen this one time, and she says, why? He says, because if she hadn’t and given in and done what he asked, she would have resented him. She says she thinks that’s one reason she didn’t give in. He’s the most important person in her life, and if she gave in, she knew deep down it would destroy them.

Ava goes to a garage and says she’s here about her car. It was in a single vehicle crash on Route 32 by Oakview Road. Has anybody looked at it yet? The mechanic says, there’s not much to see. It was totaled and he sent it to compacting. She says, that’s what she was afraid of. She needs to file an insurance claim asap. She might want to sue the manufacturer. Does he think he could do her a favor and take a look at it? See if he can find a mechanical reason her car lost control?

Deanna tells Elizabeth, time for her meds, and Lucky asks if she brought enough for everybody. Elizabeth says, ignore him, but Deanna wonders if that’s possible. She also needs to take Elizabeth’s vitals. Lucky says he’ll get out of the way. He’s got something he needs to deal with. If she needs anything, call. Elizabeth promises she will, and Lucky leaves. In the hallway, he gets a text from Kristina: Need to see you. Now.

Trina and Kai are on the sofa kissing, when there’s a knock at the door. Lucy says, yoohoo! Anybody home? Kai says, if they’re quiet, maybe she’ll go away, but Trina says she knows that voice and it will never happen. She lets Lucy in, and Lucy says, oh my goodness! This is the cutest little place. She loves it. She sees Kai and says she knows him. He was at the Pediatric Sports Initiative (🍷) press conference. He’s Kai Taylor. Kai says, that’s him, and she says, Lucy Coe, founder and CEO of Deception Cosmetics. Trina says, it’s not a good time, but Lucy says, it won’t take long. She’s also chairperson of the General Hospital Nurses Ball. Trina asks if they can’t discuss it later, but Lucy says, no need. She’ll put them both down to perform at the Ball.

Drew says he would be happy to be part of the Nurses Ball. He always has time for a worthy cause. Jordan thanks him and he leaves. She asks if Curtis is in, and Curtis says, of course (🍷). Hang on. Did she ask him and Drew at the same time because she knew he’d have to say yes in front of Drew since he wouldn’t be able do less than Drew? She says, welcome to politics.

Jason says, Carly will never lose him, and she says, even if he thinks she’s making the biggest mistake of her whole life? He says, even then, and they hug. Josslyn comes in and says she’s home.

Vaughn asks Jack if he thinks Josslyn is ready, and Jack says, she has to be. The assignment is time sensitive. Vaughn says, that’s not an ideal answer, and Jack says, far from it. That’s why Vaughn is going as Josslyn’s backup.

Molly asks if Ric has any idea what made him veer off the road, and he says he’s trying to piece it together, but it’s hard to concentrate. She says, he has a head injury, so just rest. Maybe it will come back. She tells him that Elizabeth is okay. It’s a miracle the ambulance got there as fast as it did. He flashes back to looking through the windshield after the accident and seeing Kristina.

Lucky meets Kristina and she asks, what’s going on? Does anyone know what caused… He says, not yet, and she says, he’s not telling anyone, is he? He says, first, she needs to tell him how she almost killed Elizabeth.

Ava asks what the mechanic thinks. Did he find anything? He says, yeah and it’s not good. She says her car crashed. So what is it? He says, the brake lines in the car were cut.  

On Monday, Elizabeth wonders why Ava is asking her all these questions; Josslyn finds out that Jason has been to Easter Island; Lucky says Kristina went too far this time and has to pay for it; and Ric remembers something about the accident.

🧼  All the Soap News Fit To Print…

Ezra is the new guy I love to hate. His reactions to things are too funny.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/celebrate-with-soap-hopper-daniel-cosgrove

When he’s ready to come back? Freudian slip or wishful thinking?

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/chad-duell-opens-up-been-on-a-real-journey-lately

Reeling in the GH years.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/gh-general-hospital-cast-through-years-photos-108305

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/gh-stars-pick-their-most-memorable-moments-from-the-past-year

Welcome to the Nurses Ball.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/the-general-hospital-nurses-ball-returns-2

💉 A Dose Of Reality…

Below Deck Down Under

I’m surprised the captain doesn’t live on digestives.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The dresses were just phenomenal. These women looked like they were going to the Met. The color scheme was gold and white, and everyone got the memo. Kyle had a bunch of crystals on the table between her and Andy, and my first thought was, all the crystals, lucky charms, four-leaf clovers – hell, even actual leprechauns – in the world won’t make a difference. I also forgot there was that whole thing over PK drinking. Maybe that’s why Dorit is so hellbent on calling Sutton an alcoholic. Dorit is apparently also a smoker (absolutely zero judgement) and Andy asked if PK sent Kyle a meme about it. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! A twin of Erika’s coffee table was on set, and I didn’t think it was odd that she said it was where her mind went. Mine would too, and I don’t care what we were talking about, I’d definitely bring it up. Dorit was nasty and clueless, so no surprise there. Her slow move to come to the truth that PK is done with her is like watching Shep realize Sienna’s not his soulmate. Boz lost her house in the Malibu fires, which is tragic. While I wasn’t happy to hear she was fighting with insurance companies, I was glad that at least rich people don’t have it easier there. Having been through a flood, I could sympathize with her. Cleaning up was easier than the two years of paperwork afterward.

About that exit.

Denise Richards & Her Wild Things

In this week’s episode, Denise and daughter Lola had lunch with Charlie. If he has one more facelift, his ass is going to be on his neck. Once again, I watched in wonder at how Denise holds no grudges. She’s the first to say he’s an a-hole, but she’s not mad at the hell he put her through. I need lessons from this woman.

Summer House

I actually think Carl’s idea of Soft Bar – a bar that doesn’t serve alcohol – is a good one. As he mentioned, it’s not just for alcoholics. Pregnant women and those wanting to make lifestyle changes would also enjoy the social atmosphere without the alcohol. Jesse’s idea that he will be monogamous wasn’t so good, and his claim that he wasn’t flirting with Ciara was ridiculous. Lexi said he’d left out the toe sucking in his narrative and that he lied about it made her feel icky. Never mind him lying about it, the actual act made me feel icky. It also made him seem extra stupid for not telling her right off the bat. Did he not know the other girls would?

Southern Charm

Venita brought out receipts! Proof! Timelines! F***ing everything!

I could go on about the JT/Venita thing, but the best all-encompassing thing I can say is, it’s just so messy. JT is wrong on so many levels, but WTF Venita? She should have backed away from this immediately. She said she was interested in staying friends, but not if his girlfriend was in the picture. In other words, when he’s free to date her, she’ll be there. Ugh. I’m always picking on the guys, but what annoys me about the girls is how they want to figure out everyone’s timelines all the time. There was discussion on Craig being a liar storyteller embellisher and Patricia made an appearance. We saw clips of several casting tapes (see below) from 12 years ago. Patricia said she thought it wouldn’t last. Who would be interested in watching this cast of reprobates and their misdeeds?  Who indeed?

 Sally smack talking Taylor’s Gaston was a topic, and it seemed that most of the group agreed that since Sally came into Taylor’s friend group, she should have kept her opinions to herself. Taylor hadn’t even had a chance to introduce him to the group yet, and Sally tried to influence their opinion. Andy circled back to Craig, this time to inspect his relationship with Paige. That hindsight is 20/20 says it all. Love is blind is also applicable. Apparently, Paige cut him completely off, but that doesn’t make her a bad person. Just because the Charm cast loves to stay in each other’s pockets lives doesn’t mean everyone feels that way about an ex. I’m not a fan of staying friends, although my high school boyfriend is a very close friend. And no, not with benefits.

Random Reality Items

Upcoming twists on the new season of RHOM.

Nothing much to see here, but because it is LVP.

Well, roll me up and call me curly. The first Deck baby.

👀 Last Weekend’s Watch…

Happy Face. Paramount+. In a series about the Happy Face Killer’s daughter, her remembrances from growing up are interspersed with what’s going on today. Supposedly she outed herself on Dr. Phil, but I don’t remember ever seeing that one. The acting is great, especially Dennis Quaid as the killer. It did make me wonder what it must be like to suddenly discover such a horrible thing about your father.

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/happy-face-true-story-keith-hunter-jesperson-daughter-melissa-moore-rcna197120

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/a64254606/happy-face-show-true-story-accuracy

Holland. Amazon Prime. I’m not sure how I felt about this film. I love Nicole Kidman, despite her lapse of judgement in marrying Tom Cruise. Chalking that up to youthful stupidity. A favorite sub-genre of mine is the perfect town that’s not so perfect underneath, but I think this movie bypassed some good opportunities. It’s still a fun watch, but the end kinda sorta leaves you hanging.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/holland-movie-review-2025

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/holland/

Adolescence. Netflix. This 4 part series is focused on a 13 year old boy who’s arrested for the murder of a female classmate. I’m guessing perhaps the laws are somewhat different in the UK where it’s placed, because I spent a lot of the beginning wondering why this kid was so unprotected legally. The underlying topic though, is the influence of the internet – in particular those like Andrew Tate – on young boys. Some articles have taken offense at the supposition they could be influenced so easily, but they’re kids and they are. The part of the brain that understands actions result in consequences isn’t fully developed until age 25, and the internet can be a persuasive place. Be forewarned. This cautionary tale is pretty depressing.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/18/entertainment/adolescence-netflix-limited-series/index.html

https://ew.com/adolescence-creator-responds-to-claims-that-series-race-swapped-storyline-11706011

American Apocalypse aka Refuge. Amazon Prime. There wasn’t a lot on this rather unmemorable film. There’s a small plot blurb and some viewer reviews, but the best part of any review ever: If you need a reason to live, This movie is not it. I didn’t think it was that awful, but it wasn’t very unique or memorable either.

https://letterboxd.com/film/american-apocalypse/

Happiness. Netflix. This K-Drama is a slightly different take on the zombie genre. People have become zombies from taking a failed covid drug that’s on the black market, but they’re not zombie’s 24/7. They have sort of zombie seizures where they attack and eat people, who in turn become zombies if they don’t die from the attack. Protagonist Sae-bom is immune to the bites and is put on an investigative team to find out just what the hell is going on. She also marries a childhood friend in order to get an apartment, and there’s a lot of underlying elements of the haves and have nots, often prevalent in Korean entertainment.

https://en.prothomalo.com/entertainment/happiness-with-zombie-like-mad-person-disease

Outside. Netflix. I didn’t hate this, but I could have cut a good 40 minutes out of it. The exciting – i.e. zombie – parts were great, but there were long stretches of soap opera dialogue and I started to feel like I was actually in the middle of nowhere during an apocalypse in real time.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/outside-release-date-news

https://decider.com/2024/10/18/outside-movie-netflix-review-2024

🔮 Future Watching…

I bailed during the first season, but I’d really like to give it another go. So much to watch, so little time, but it does look good. Although I am a little bitter about the nixing of the Jon Snow spin-off. I wanted to see more of the forbidden places beyond the Wall and what creatures might dwell there.

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-ryan-condal-responds-george-r-r-martin-blog-season-3-new-casting-exclusive-11704545

Korean dramas worth your while. I’ve seen a lot of these and haven’t been disappointed yet.

https://collider.com/k-dramas-anime-fan-must-watch-ranked/

https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/top-10-k-dramas-to-watch-if-you-liked-gyeongseong-creature-season-2-sweet-home-happiness-and-more-1350717

🐦‍🔥 Wild In the Kingdom…

🐢 Makes you glad not to be a tortoise.

https://people.com/97-year-old-reptile-becomes-oldest-first-time-mom-of-species-11708613

🐧 Nature, always full of surprises.

https://people.com/rare-all-white-penguin-found-australia-first-we-have-seen-rescuers-11707610

🐋 I had a Golden who was literally afraid of his own shadow. He would have had a doggy heart attack.

https://people.com/barking-golden-retriever-meets-giant-humpback-whale-video-11707795

🐣 Quotes of the Week

Quitting can be a hard choice to make, but often it’s a brave one, as well.Susan David

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. – B. B. King (They can’t take integrity away from you either.)

Often any decision, even the wrong decision, is better than no decision. – Ben Horowitz

The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well. – Horace Walpole

A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble. – Mahatma Gandhi

If we hadn’t forced her to go to the wedding, she never would have touched that gun. – Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie), Beyond the Gates

💸 Rendering Unto Caesar…

Until next week, stay safe; stay getting your taxes in before 11:59 pm on April 15th; and stay looking at possibilities instead of dwelling on disappointments.

September 23, 2024 – Portia Notices Brad Is Working At GH Again, Captain Sandy Proposes To Leah, Engagement Photos & Remember

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Willow and Elizabeth discuss Lulu, and Willow says, the only thing that will give her a chance is a transplant. Elizabeth says, transplants are miracles and miracles happen. Willow says she hopes they find Lucky soon, and Elizabeth says, Lucky is Lulu’s last hope. Doc and Laura are at his last known location, and Jason and Anna are looking for him. Willow says, someone has to find him and bring him back to save Lulu’s life. That’s what Drew did for her.

Terry and Portia go over the schedules, and Portia says, Elizabeth is doing a great job. At least with the new hires, they’re up to strength in the lab… Wait. That can’t be right. Brad Cooper?

TJ meets Curtis at The Savoy and says he’s shocked they’re meeting here. He thought Curtis would be in his new office, getting ready for his CEO of the Year cover. Curtis says, that’s a specific thought. He likes it. TJ asks what Curtis is doing here, and Curtis says he likes to have his hand in a little bit of everything. Marshall and N’neka did a great job, but the only way he knows for sure is to be here in person. The Savoy is a special place to him. TJ says, he’s the heart and soul of the club, and Curtis says, you don’t turn your back on something you love. He asks if TJ and Molly are having a late-night dinner, but TJ says he doesn’t know where Molly is. Curtis asks if that’s a problem.

Molly goes to the Brown Dog Bar at orders a Manhattan. The bartender says, it’s not a cocktail lounge (um… a Manhattan is pretty much straight booze with a cherry in it), and Molly says, hold the vermouth, the bitters, and the cherry. He says, so bourbon. Rocks or neat? She says, one of each, and takes a picture of Irene/Adela’s sonogram out of her bag.

In Robert’s office, Felicia reads her fortune cookie: If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing extraordinarily. Robert says, that’s not a fortune. It’s a piece of passive-aggressive rubbish. His buzzer sounds, and she asks if he hasn’t kept his guest waiting long enough. Robert tells his assistant, send him in, and Felicia asks what his fortune says, He reads, old adversaries bear new love, and Jack walks in. Robert says, that’s doubtful.

Carly thanks Josslyn for filling in at Bobbie’s, and Josslyn says she’ll stay and help Carly close up. Carly says she doesn’t want Josslyn to cancel plans or force Josslyn to tolerate being around her, and Josslyn says, that’s not fair. Carly says she’s just on edge, and Josslyn says her issue isn’t with Carly. It’s just when Carly puts Sonny’s well-being over her own.

Gio watches as Brook mixes something in a bowl, and says, check her out. He thought Sasha and Olivia were the only chefs. She says she can follow instructions. She’s baking brownies for Violet’s school bake sale. He asks why she didn’t ask Sasha to make them or pick some up, and she says she wants Violet to know she’s loved and cared for. He says, she sounds like his mom.

Carly asks how she can make this better, and Josslyn says, it’s not that simple. They both need to learn to live with the way things are. Carly made her decision about Sonny. She doesn’t like it, but she accepts it. Michael helped her understand Carly’s point of view. He said, if she’s with Sonny in whatever capacity, it’s for the greater good of the family, and he told her to butt out. So she’s butting out. Carly says she appreciates it, but she doesn’t want Josslyn not to come to her. Josslyn says she just told Carly that she’s butting out and actually doing it, and Carly says she’ll try to manage her expectations and maybe Josslyn should do the same. She and Sonny have too much history for her not to be on his side when he needs help, but that doesn’t mean they’re getting back together. Josslyn says, that’s reassuring, but also terrifying.

Robert says he was having dinner with his sister-in-law, and Jack introduces himself to Felicia. She says she’s Felicia Scorpio, formerly Jones, and he says, her ex was the former head of the WSB. He was a good boss. He’s sorry Frisco left. He can’t imagine what the WSB can do for a small jurisdiction, and Felicia says, they wanted to ask about Jason and Anna’s status. Jack says he can’t help them. Jason and Anna’s mission is outside the WSB’s auspices. Felicia says, the WSB has eyes everywhere, but he says he can’t leak privileged intel that could compromise the Bureau’s security or assets. Robert says, he doesn’t trust them, and Felicia says, Anna and Jason aren’t part of the WSB. Jack says he assisted them in finding Luke’s son as a favor, and Robert says, now they can do Jack a favor. Felicia says, by not letting it slip how free he is with the Bureau’s resources. (No good deed and all that.)

Molly leaves a message for TJ and says she just wanted to hear his voice. She’ll see him at home. Dex approaches, and she says, long day? He says, not as long as hers. He heard about her mom. How is Molly doing? She says, he’s the first person to ask her that all day. She’s been better. He asks if she can use some company, and she says she could, gesturing to the seat next to her. He sits down and orders a draft.

Curtis says he’s confused, and TJ says, Molly left him a message saying she’s fine. It’s typical of one of them to reach out, but not connect. Curtis says, couples go through phases. Sometimes they’re in sync, sometimes, not so much. Do they still care about each other? TJ says he feels like they’re going through the motions, but finding reasons to be apart. They never had these problems until now. Curtis asks if Molly feels the same way, but TJ says he doesn’t know if she thinks it’s a problem. Curtis asks if they’ve talked about this, and TJ says, briefly. As much as he wants to put everything on Molly, he can’t. He’s also finding reasons to be apart. Curtis says, sometimes it’s easier to pour yourself into work. At home, there are emotional landmines waiting for you to step on them. TJ says he knows what’s expected of him at work. At home, he has no clue

Terry says, the lab supervisor hired Brad on a trial basis. There have been no problems, and he’s being closely monitored. Portia says, and Terry is just now telling her this? Why didn’t Terry warn her that Brad was back? Or better yet, why didn’t she stop it from happening?

Willow says, Drew risked his life for her, and Elizabeth says, he’s always been brave. Willow says, he’s been through a lot, and he could have turned out selfish and bitter, but instead, he’s kind and compassionate. Elizabeth says, he is something, and Willow says she thinks she’s done enough cheerleading for today. She needs to check on her patients.

Carly says, Josslyn has no reason to be terrified, but Josslyn says she’s genuinely scared. If Carly and Sonny aren’t getting back together, that can only mean one thing. Them saying they hooked up the night John Cates was murdered is about protecting Sonny, so he doesn’t get charged. Carly says she doesn’t want to get into it, and Josslyn says she’s not asking Carly to confirm it. She doesn’t know why Carly is risking her future for a man who doesn’t have the track record for the undying loyalty he asks for. She was willing to go to jail for Jason. Does she think Sonny would do the same?

Jack says, Anna and Jason made contact with the person holding Lucky prisoner, but that’s all the information he can give them. The Bureau plans to be in Port Charles for the long haul, and it’s in all their interests to get along. Robert says, they’re the picture of cooperation, and Felicia says she has another question. Why help Anna and Jason? Jack says he did it to help Luke’s son, but Robert says, he didn’t know Luke. Jack says he didn’t, but the Bureau owes Luke a debt. Felicia asks, what’s in it for him? and he says, their goodwill is plenty, and leaves.  

TJ tells Curtis that he used to get home and let go. Now his tension goes up on the drive home. It feels like everything has changed even though nothing did between them. Curtis says, it happened to them, not between them. When he was learning to walk again, Portia wanted to help, but instead of being grateful or letting her, he pushed her away. TJ says, it sounds counterintuitive, and Curtis says, it was about control. He thought he was the only one who understood what he was going through, so he isolated and didn’t reach out to anyone. No one understood and it was his problem to solve. He had no control over when he was shot, so he had to have control somehow, some way. TJ asks if it helped, and Curtis says, not for his recovery, rehabilitation, or relationships. Other than that, he killed it. TJ laughs, and Curtis says, nothing can compare to losing a child. TJ says he gets what Curtis is saying.

Dex asks how Molly is doing, and she says, today was hard and crazy in its own way, but it’s been that way for weeks. Maybe it’s the new normal… Maybe she was selfish to want a child. He asks, how? and she says, when they decided they wanted a baby and found out she couldn’t, they tried surrogacy. Then when that didn’t work… He says, Kristina, and she says, maybe the universe is telling her something. She didn’t get the message from infertility and a miscarriage, so the universe literally threw her baby and her sister out a window. She can’t help thinking how excited she was over the things she was going to do with the baby. The first words, the first steps, the first birthday, going to the zoo… the first day of school pictures… She starts to cry and Dex says he’s sorry.

Terry says, the lab has been short-staffed, and Brad has years of experience. And he’s good at what he does. Portia says, he’s good at tampering with test results. They can’t allow Brad access to confidential information. Terry says, he’s had it for the last month. He’s being closely supervised, and he’s been incredibly precise and productive. Portia says, thankfully, he’s a trial employee. She’s going to keep her eye on him and the minute he steps out of line, which he will, he’s gone. She slams out.

Carly says, Donna and Avery not having Sonny in their lives would be decimating and the grandchildren. Josslyn tells her that Michael said the same thing. No matter how hard she tries to find fault in it, it’s noble in a twisted, gothic way. Carly says she could do worse, but it’s not forever, and Josslyn says, if the past is any indication, it’s going to be harder for Carly to extricate herself from Sonny than she thinks. Jack walks in.  

Josslyn says, they’re closed, but Carly says, it’s okay. He’s a friend of hers. She introduces Jack to Josslyn, who says, his name seems oddly familiar. He says, probably from the alleged kidnapping in this very establishment. It was a complete misunderstanding. Josslyn says, he was arrested, and Carly repeats, it was a misunderstanding. Jack is with the WSB and is new head of the field office in Port Charles. Josslyn says, the fryer is off, but they have coffee, and Carly tells her to have fun with her friends. Josslyn leaves, and Carly says, Josslyn is tough on the men in her life. Jack says, he thought there would be a stronger reaction, and she says, from one to Sonny, she thinks Jack is a four, but there’s plenty of room to move up. She asks if she can get him some coffee, but he says he didn’t come in for refreshments. He came here about her friend Jason.  

At the Surf Lodge, Portia tells Trina that she has good news. She got Heather’s lab results that her legal team requested. The cobalt levels are almost exactly the same as before her surgery. They’re still high. Trina asks how that’s possible with the replaced hip, and Portia says, apparently, that’s not the problem. Trina asks how Heather could have such a toxic level, and Portia says, ingesting it, inhaling it, or contact with the skin. Trina asks if she thinks Heather is eating and wearing cobalt, but Portia says, it’s in food like fish, nuts, and vegetables. Trina wonders if there are pescatarians going on killing sprees, and Portia says, whatever the reason, Heather is never getting out of Pentenville.

Elizabeth tells Terry that she spoke to her brother Stephen, and he’s been released from prison. Terry says she’s glad. She knew Elizabeth was worried. Elizabeth says, he did his time and settled in Sedona, and Terry asks what he’s going to do for work, but Elizabeth says she doesn’t know. Something in the medical field. Terry says, he’s a good doctor. Does Elizabeth think he’ll visit her? Elizabeth says she doubts it. He doesn’t want anything to do with Heather and in Port Charles, he’d be in her orbit. Terry says, it’s always something with Heather. Now they have to deal with the ramifications of her cobalt poisoning. Elizabeth says, she still deserves the best possible medical care, and Terry says, of course (🍷), but does Elizabeth think she deserves a second chance?

Gio says his mother always made Italian cookies for him. She was born in Italy. It was in her blood. Brook wonders how she managed to make time to bake, and Gio tells her that she said she wanted to since he was her favorite son, and she loved him the most. Brook says, he was an only child, and he says, that doesn’t make it any less true. Brook says, Camilla made the best cookies. Even Gloria’s weren’t as good. But if he repeats that, she’ll deny it and hurt him. He says he’ll take it to the grave. He got in a fight because of a classmate insulting the Italian cookies. Brook asks what his mom said, but he says he didn’t tell her. Of course (🍷) it got out and he spilled his guts. Then she started making American chocolate chip cookies for him to take to school, but she still made the Italian ones for him.

Molly says she’s sorry, but Dex says, no worries. How is her mom? Molly says, she’s convinced everything will work out, and he asks what she thinks. She says she thinks the truth will come out when it’s pried out of its hiding place, and he says, in court? She says, it would be great if it came in time before that, and he says, testifying makes him nervous. She says, that’s the one place she’s not nervous. You know what’s going to happen in court. He asks if she doesn’t get caught up in Perry Mason gotchas, but she says, that doesn’t happen in real life. There are procedures in place that limit possible outcomes. He says, it’s her happy place, and she says she guesses so. But she’s not in court right now and she’s not being the partner, sister, daughter, or mother that she should be. Dex says, no one thinks that, and if they do, point them to the exit, and she says, you can’t do that with family. No one’s come out and said it, but she can tell by the way they look at her, disappointed and angry. She never felt so out of control. She feels like everything is spinning except when she’s in court. Then she’s the person she wants to be.  

Felicia says, that man is slick, and Robert says, too slick. She says she hopes they can trust him, but he says, they can’t. She asks if he thinks he’d sell out Anna and Jason, and he says, it would create questions and a lot of unwanted attention. She says, at least it will keep him honest. Maybe going after Lucky is a good fit for the Bureau or he’s trying to curry favor with Laura, Anna, or Robert. Robert says, or maybe someone else… Carly.

Carly puts up the closed sign, and Carly says she heard Jack helped Jason. Why? He says, Robert just summoned him to his office to question him about that. He told Robert that Jason and Anna made initial contact with Sidwell, but he heard nothing beyond that. He snuck Sidwell’s dossier to Anna, so she knew where to start. Carly says, he’s slipping further down that slippery slope. The WSB is going to frown on it. She knows he’s doing this as a favor to her. He says he’ll put it on her tab or use it to boost his ratings on Josslyn’s Sonny scale. He asks how things are going with Carly and Sonny, and Carly says she just had that talk with Josslyn and doesn’t want to get into it. He says, she’ll get no judgement from him. He tries not to dwell on exes. He prefers to live in the here and now. She says she likes it, but people have long memories in this town. He should come up with another excuse for the zip ties other than a misunderstanding. He says, kinky? And she says, it would be a tough sell. He says, things and people aren’t always what they seem, and she says, that, she’ll buy. Now how did he manage to go from Pentenville to the local WSB office?  

Gio says, the parent things Brook and Chase are doing for Violet are cool, and she says, they’re trying. They want her to feel loved and that they’re here for her. He says he’s not a parent, but he had a great one. That’s how she made him feel. She says she knows he never met his dad, but he was still a lucky kid, and he says he got his practice hours in. His mom helped him with his scales. He was bad at counting, and she was his metronome. She was so patient and amazing. Like how they are with Violet. Their kids will be so lucky when they have them. She says, they’re working on it.

Jack tells Carly that his career trajectory is a long story. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks about his promotion. Does it bother her? She says, not at all. Maybe one day she’ll share her past with him. He says, there’s nothing she could say that would change their friendship, and she says, don’t be so sure. He says, remember what he told her during her first visit in Pentenville? A straight answer is rare in his world. He takes very little from their first encounter at face value. It was mostly set up, but he enjoyed her company. There’s nothing false about that. She asks, what about this? Is any of this set up? He says he doesn’t have an agenda. There’s nothing he wants. She says, nothing? and he says, nothing to do with Bureau business. He’d love a burger though.

TJ says, he and Molly both lost Irene, and Curtis says, she’s isolating herself in her work. TJ says, her job is giving her something she’s not getting from him, and Curtis wonders why she’s not talking to him. TJ says, maybe she doesn’t know how. They were always supportive of each other. They were a team. If they can’t share this, what can they share? Curtis says, nothing can prepare you to navigate the loss of a child, and TJ says he’s starting to think this is out of his control. Curtis says, he and Molly have so much history, but TJ says he’s not sure it’s enough to guarantee their future.

Elizabeth says she’s grateful for Franco’s second chance, but isn’t sure if Heather deserves one, and Terry asks, what about Brad? Elizabeth says, he’s already working at the hospital, and Terry says she gave him a recommendation. Elizabeth says, maybe Terry gave him a second chance because she saw something in him that deserved one. Terry says, her assessment was genuine. Who knows? Maybe he’ll believe she gave him enough of a chance to make a difference.  

Portia says she thought Trina would be happy, and Trina says, it feels too good to be true. Portia says, the tests say what they say. What’s wrong? Trina says, ever since she found out Heather was moving on having her case reexamined, she’s felt like she was on thin ice, waiting for it to crack and the water to pull her under. She thought Heather would be free. Portia says she doesn’t have to worry about that anymore, and Trina say she didn’t realize how it was affecting her. Now, knowing Heather is never getting out, she feels free. She knows it sounds cliché, but she feels like a weight has been lifted. Portia says she’s so glad things are finally turning out the way they’re supposed to.

Portia flashes back to closing the blinds and opening a laptop. She changes Heather’s test results for cobalt from 1.1 to 300 and closes the laptop. At the Surf Lodge, she says, Trina is finally getting the peace she deserves. She’s happy for her. Trina says she is too, and Portia tells her to order whatever she wants. They’re celebrating.

Tomorrow, Dante says someone is about to do something they shouldn’t; TJ asks Molly where she was last night; and Carly asks what Jack’s not telling her.

Below Deck Mediterranean

We take a long trip down Memory Lane, since apparently, they don’t have enough new stuff to fill the hour.

Aesha says she wants a word with Ellie. She feels like Ellie’s been overstepping as second stew. Ellie acts surprised, and Aesha says when she’s asked the girls to do something, Ellie intervenes and asks them to do something else. We flash back to that, and Aesha says, Ellie’s job as second stew is to delegate when she’s not around. If she’s on the floor, Ellie isn’t to delegate. Ellie says she never meant it like that, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, Ellie is gaslighting her, acting like she’s so unaware. In Ellie’s interview, she says, at this point, everything she does is wrong. How is Aesha supposed to write a reference if she doesn’t see Ellie’s work?

The drag queens are ready to perform, and in Iain’s interview, he says he worked as a bartender in a gay club. When they asked, who wants to be a drag queen? his friends all pointed at him. The guests are brought upstairs for the show, led by The Duchess of Greece. Jono bartends, and the guests want shots. Aesha asks Ellie if lemon drops will take long, and Ellie says she wasn’t told about lemon drops. Aesha tells her not to get defensive. She was just asking how long. In Jono’s interview, he says, these queer guests are special for him. He’s pacified himself a bit and wishes that he’d been that involved every charter. In Gael’s interview, she says, it’s starting to hit her that she and Nathan are leaving together. It freaks her out and she’s wondering if she made the right choice. She’s going to have to sh*t in front of him. Um… no. They have doors on bathrooms so you don’t have to do that. She says she’s had people she thought loved her who have done horrible things to her. At the bar, Joe frees his nipple, and Carrie approves.

Aesha tells Gael that she’s organizing Captain Sandy’s proposal to Leah, and she’d like Gael, Joe, and Carrie to help set up. Joe is going to drive the tender and Ellie will stay her to supervise. Gael and Aesha jump up and down. The drag queens leave, and one of the guests asks who Carrie would sleep with. She says, probably Joe, and he tells her, get d*ck tonight. In Ellie’s interview, she says, it’s like a snowball that’s getting bigger. Carrie is rubbing Joe in her face after taking over her job. She’s acting like Regina George. Thank God it’s just one more day. She’s going to blow a gasket.

In Bri’s interview, she says, it’s the last day. She’s excited and relieved. She’s almost made it through a season, and that’s a first for her. Captain Sandy says, weather is coming, so they’re proceeding to the marina. In her interview, Bri says she’s reflecting on the sh*t that’s gone down with her and Joe, and it’s a clusterf***, but short-term love is better than no love at all. The captain calls Leah, and says she’ll text the location of where they’re docking. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, the charter was a great distraction, but she’s getting more nervous. Leah thinks they’re going on a European vacation and has no clue. Leah says she’s never going to ask her to get married all the time. In Joe’s interview, he says he’s smitten with Carrie. This could be a problem, but it’s the last time. He’s going to the wild side. In Iain’s interview, he says, it’s the last docking and one last time for big deck energy. Breakfast is served, and the captain blows the horn when she sees Leah. In her interview, she says, it’s the biggest day of her life, and Aesha yells hi to Leah. She tells the guests that Leah is Sandy’s partner. The captain runs down and she and Leah hug and kiss. Aesha says, it makes her want to cry, and Captain Sandy tells Leah that she has to finish, but she’ll text when she’s done. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, that wasn’t very professional of her. The struggle is real. Leah believes they’re going on a date, but she has to complete her job before she asks Leah to marry her. She was ready to do it on the dock.

Ellie says she’s so over this sh*t, and the captain radios the crew to meet on the dock a final time. Primary Brad says, everything was fabulous, and there are lots of hugs. He says, so much about this trip was memorable, but the crew was the most memorable. Money doesn’t solve everything, but hopefully it shows their appreciation. The guests leave and the crew has a group hug and a group, yay! In Carrie’s interview, she says, it’s their night out. She’s curious, but Joe is probably going to ruin what friendship her and Ellie have.

It’s the final tip meeting, and Captain Sandy says she’s not going to cry. Jono did it. He persevered and he was always calm. She never heard him yell once at Aesha. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she was nervous about Jono, but not finding a chef forced her to keep him. She does see a future for him with more training. He pulled it off and she’s happy for him and wishes him success. She says, having Aesha back, she knew she’d never have to worry. Aesha is great with the guests. She tells Iain that he’s a hard worker and she was pleased. In her interview, she says, Iain came on the boat with a skill set, but he had to learn to let go of control and learn the art of communication. When he did, it started to flow. She says, everyone brought the energy. She’s proposing to Leah today and she’s excited and nervous. She’s proposing around sunset, and Aesha has chosen her team to set up, but she wants them all there. Their final tip is $20K, and the totals for the season are $190,500 or $16,230 each. I’m not sure if I got those totals exactly right since I was going fast, but close enough. She says, Ellie is in charge while Aesha is gone, and the crew will be brought to the proper location. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’s feeling down. She wasn’t picked to participate, and it would have been an honor. All the work she’s done all season was for nothing. In Aesha’s interview, she says, they’re literally racing against the sun, but they all work fast, and she can rely on them to do the job and do it quickly. Ellie should run the boat when she’s not on the boat.

Event planners meet Aesha, Gael, and Joe near the beach. Joe says he’s nervous for Captain Sandy, and in the captain’s interview, she says her stomach hasn’t stopped moving. This is really happening, and she hopes she doesn’t mess it up. Leah arrives and they get in a taxi. Captain Sandy says, they’re going on a boat ride. In another taxi, Ellie says she’s going to flip out if they did the décor without her. She got praised for it, but when Carrie came, it was, here, go do dishes. In Nathan’s interview, he says, Ellie is being bitter and spiteful. Not everything is about her. Ellie says, Carrie came to help out, but replaced her, and Jono says, maybe she just has the right energy. Bri says, Ellie’s feelings are valid, and in her interview, she says she understands why Ellie is upset, but at the same time, get over it. The chief stew can take who she wants. Aesha shows everybody where to stand so they can watch, but says, they have to remain hidden. The captain and Leah get in the tender, and Joe starts it up, but runs into a line that wraps around the rudder. In his interview, he wonders if he just ruined the captain’s day. It’s one hour until sunset, and Captain Sandy says, it’s inoperable, but it’s not Joe’s fault. Lines are everywhere. In her interview, the captain says she’s stressed. The sun is setting in 30 minutes. They’ve got to get the line off or she’ll be proposing on the dock.

The captain feels badly for Joe, since he’s dressed and clean. She texts Aesha that they’re running behind. It’s 15 minutes to sunset, and Joe gets the line free. In his interview, he say he hopes he’s got this. At 11 minutes to sunset, they get moving. Aesha says, they got off the dock, and she, Gael, and Carrie meet them. Violins are playing on the beach, and in the captain’s interview, she says, they’re playing a wedding song. It was not in the plan, but it’s par for the course at this point. Sometimes you picture something in your mind, and it doesn’t quite work out like that, but that’s okay. Leah sips champagne, and Captain Sandy says she loves her… The boat ride was fun. She asks if Leah remembers the list she wrote about her ideal person, and Leah says, music, love God, love family… Captain Sandy says, love animals, and Leah says, and 90% good looking. Kind. The captain says, on November 17th, 2018, she felt for the first time her heart beat as one with Leah. She loves Leah so much. She gets down on one knee and asks if Leah will marry her. Leah says, yes, and the captain puts the ring on her – simple, elegant, and appropriately large. They hug and the crew pops up and cheers. The captain says, Leah thought she’d never do it, and in her interview, she says, it’s the best feeling on the planet. Aesha tells the crew, it’s time now, and they leave.

Captain Sandy asks if Leah is happy, and Leah says she is. The captain says she is too, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, she can feel how in love they are. Scott, take notes. Nathan tells Aesha that Ellie feels her hard work has gone unnoticed and is talking sh*t about her. In her interview, Aesha says, Ellie feels like she’s being treated poorly, but if she wants to be chief stew, she’s got a lot of growing to do. Joe tries to climb all over Carrie in the taxi, and in Bri’s interview, she says, seeing Joe flirting with Carrie brings back bad memories. We flash back to him doing the same thing with Ellie, and Bri says, them flirting isn’t a problem. The problem is them doing it in front of her after she brought it up multiple times. We flash back to that, and she says, get her out of this van. They arrive at a club, and Bri tells Jono that she wants to get a table, get a drink, and get the f*** out of here.  

Bri says she’s generally annoyed, and in Joe’s interview, he says he understands Bri is upset, but he’s having a great time. 😐 They just finished the season and he’s sending it tonight. (Sending it? What?) The crew drinks and dances, and Ellie says she loves this place. In Iain’s interview, he says, tonight he’s letting his hair down. Everyone is on the same wavelength. He’s hot and bothered and busting his moves, releasing everything from the season. Joe tells Carrie to follow his lead, and she suggests they get out of here. Nathan tells Gael that he can give her honesty and transparency, and she says she loves him. He says he loves her too, and in his interview, he says, it’s not his M.O. to throw around the love word, but if you’re willing to love someone, you’re willing to take the risk and look like an idiot. Joe tells Bri, sorry, and she tells him, shut up. He says he respects her, but she says he doesn’t show it. He puts it in her face every time when she asked him not to. Jono says he’s exhausted, and Aesha thinks they should go. Joe tells Carrie that he wants to f*** her so bad, and Bri says she’s had it with Joe.

Back at the boat, Aesha asks Gael to help her get to bed, and Jono says he doesn’t want to talk to anybody. Joe says he’s so f***ed, and Carrie stumbles around. Joe careens around boat until he gets to his cabin. Carrie follows, and he says he wants to die alone. She says, he needs help. Nathan says he’s not going to his cabin. Too much funky business going on. Joe says he’s going to shower, and Carrie says, it’s a shame he got sh*tfaced. He says he’s so sorry, and she says, her too. In Carrie’s interview, she says, Joe sure knows how to woo a lady, and she tells him, goodnight. She goes back to her own cabin.

In the morning, Gael wakes everyone up by banging at their cabin doors. Joe says he hates his life, and Nathan tells him not to forget his dildo. Joe asks, which one? In Jono’s interview, he says he’s proud of himself, but knows he has more to learn. We flash back to his mistakes, and he says he wants to continue growing. There’s always a solution to bounce back and he figured it out. We flash back to his improved charters, and he says, if he has the opportunity to go to culinary school, he wouldn’t refuse. He’s ready to bring the twerk into the work.

It’s time for goodbyes, and Bri thanks the captain for giving her so many chances. Captain Sandy says, Bri is the person most improved. She found out what works for her. Keep using that. In Bri’s interview, she says, when she arrived, she was lacking confidence, but now she has a sense of pride. It’s a feeling she knows she can take to the next job. She’s a working girl now. Jono tells the captain that he appreciated her feedback. He could tell she wanted him to be a success. The captain tells Iain that it was an absolute pleasure, and he says he’s glad she put the pressure on. She tells Gael that she’s a hard worker and she appreciates that. In Nathan’s interview, he says he knows he made a lifelong friend, when Joe pops in and asks why Nathan didn’t say that to his face. He feels the same way. The captain tells Joe, safe travels, and in Joe’s interview, he says he’s 27, but he’s not slowing down. He’s still like he was when he was 19. I’m not so sure that’s something to brag about. Nathan tells Captain Sandy that she’s the best captain, and she says she loved having him on deck. She trusted him on the bow, and she’d have him back. He says, she boosted his confidence, and in his interview, he says, this season, it wasn’t a bad decision for him to take a more responsible role and move forward in his career. And to have a woman who’s willing to accept his feet? She’s a keeper for sure. The captain says, Nathan telling her that she upped his confidence was sweet.

Aesha says she knows she and Ellie had their differences, but Ellie is a very hard worker and should be proud. In Ellie’s interview, she says she got one adjective – hard worker. It feels like when your vibrator dies halfway and you’re just laying there saying, what? Aesha says, Gael was her gift of the season, and Gael goes to the bridge. She thanks Captain Sandy, and the captain recommends Gael continue, since she’d make a great captain. In Gael’s interview, she says she wanted to further her career, and she feels like she’s done that and more, both in work and life. If she was the Gael who just stepped on the boat, watching the Gael stepping off with Nathan, she’d say, what the hell have you done? But, girl, you’ve got this. Nathan tells her that he can’t wait. Aesha looks at Captain Sandy’s ring finger, but the captain says, Leah is wearing it. Having Aesha come back was a delight. She’s always kind and the captain loves her because of that. They hug, and in Aesha’s interview, she says she was so excited to come back and prove to herself as chief stew to Captain Sandy. She came, she saw and conquered with the Greek gods. I’m a Med motherf***ing chief stew, bitch. Captain Sandy calls Leah and says, all the crew is gone and she’s so excited to actually see Leah when she wakes up. Leah says, and do life together. They exchange I love yous.  

8 months later – Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Chef Dave White shows Leah and Captain Sandy the cake, and we finally see Norma (!) after all these seasons. Captain Sandy takes the mic and says, on November 17th, 2018, she hugged Leah for the first time and knew it was her. Leah says, whether they have one day or a hundred years, she’s so grateful to have experienced the love she never thought she would. They exchange vows, and the officiant says, from this moment forward, they never have to be alone. She’s honored to pronounce them wives. They kiss and everyone cheers. In the captain’s interview, she says, every charter season teaches her something different. With this one, she’s become convinced that in yachting and in life, it’s about the things you’re passionate about and celebrating them. We see a brief snippet of the wedding toasts, and in her interview, Captain Sandy says, whether she’s on land or on a boat, she’s going to spend the rest of her life loving Leah. Aww!

💖 Scrapbook Of Love…

The engagement and what led up to it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12533453/Below-Deck-Meds-captain-Sandy-Yawn-engaged-partner-Leah-Shafer.html

🎻 Autumn’s Serenade…

Join me tomorrow for soap and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe, stay preparing for winter with autumn cleaning, and stay remembering that things and people aren’t always what they seem.

September 16, 2024 – Alexis Represents Herself, Everything Emmy, Red Carpet Rover & First Met

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava hears someone come into the gallery and says she’s sorry. They’re closed. She thought she locked the door. Sonny says, she didn’t. He heard from family court, but the date of the hearing isn’t going to work for him. He’s going to have Diane postpone it. She asks if he’s too busy keeping his family out of jail, and he says he doesn’t want to fight. She says if he doesn’t want to fight, give her back her daughter.

Sasha sees Tracy outside the boathouse, and says she was about to clean up. Tracy says, take her time. Unless she prefers Tracy clean up her mess for her.

Cody goes to Lulu’s room and Dante asks what brings him by. Cody says he thought it was time he met Lulu, and Dante says, he has good timing. He doesn’t know how much longer they have to do that.

At the hospital, Danny tells Elizabeth that he’s looking for Dante, and she says, he’s in with Lulu. She’ll let his dad know he’s here. He says his dad just left for Africa to find Lucky.

Mac asks when Alexis’s lawyer is getting here, and she says she’ll let him know when she has one. He says, the charges are serious, the murder of an FBI agent, and she says she knows. She just needs her one phone call. He says he thinks she needs a helluva lot more than that, and gives Alexis her phone.

Kristina goes to Molly’s office and asks if Molly turned her in for John’s murder. Molly says, if Kristina means, did she tell the PCPD that Kristina was unaccounted for the night of the murder, she did.

Dante tells Cody that the first night he and Lulu met, her brothers beat him up. Lulu was unlike any woman he’d ever met. Fiery, spontaneous, independent, super smart, strong, and passionate. Cody says, but it didn’t work out, and Dante says, it was his fault. What he has with Sam, he wouldn’t change for anything, but he can’t help but think about when he and Lulu fell in love.

Kristina says she can’t believe Molly would do this. Wait. She can. Molly says she’s the ADA and had to tell the police what she knew, but Kristina says, Molly saw an opportunity to hurt her, and Molly says, the night of Cates’s murder, Kristina was nowhere to be found. Their mom and Sam even called her. Kristina says, they must have been desperate. Molly can’t even acknowledge that she’s in pain too. Molly says, her and TJ’s pain isn’t even on Kristina’s radar. When is she going to realize that her actions have consequences? It’s not about her; it’s about mom. She’s the number one suspect. She has no alibi, was heard threatening John, and was seen disposing of a gun that’s somehow connected to Kristina. Kristina asks if Alexis said that, and Molly says, of course (🍷) not, but she bets Alexis is covering for her. Alexis would throw herself in front of a train to protect Kristina and Kristina would still find a way to say, poor me.

Temp Sam comes into the interrogation room and asks how this happened. Mac says he’ll be outside. The clock is ticking. Sam asks why they’re looking at Alexis when it’s obvious who did it, and Alexis says, Ric and Elizabeth saw her dispose of a gun, but they wouldn’t have brought her in if there wasn’t some new evidence. Sam says, she was nowhere near the crime scene, and Alexis says she knows, but she needs to find out what other evidence they have, and fast. Sam asks, how? and Alexis says she’ll agree to be interviewed.  

Sonny tells Ava not to make it more difficult. There’s no way in hell he’s giving Avery up. She says, no postponement. She wants her daughter back with her where she belongs. He says, Scotty disappeared and she’s without representation. Think of it as a gift. She has more time to find another hack lawyer. Good luck finding someone who’s willing to go up against Diane. Ric walks in and says, she has. He’s not afraid of Diane.  

Tracy asks what possessed Sasha to hold a social event on Quartermaine property, and Sasha says, she’s right. It was presumptuous and she overstepped. It won’t happen again. She apologizes. Tracy says, she hit all the right notes, but she hopes Sasha means it, and Sasha says, next time, she’ll ask permission. Tracy says, don’t bother. The answer will be no. She expects the employees to maintain proper professional decorum. Sasha asks if she means they should stay in their place, and Tracy says, boundaries exist. Sasha says, if Cody wanted to throw a party, would Tracy stop him?

Danny says his dad just left for Somalia, and Elizabeth asks how he knows. He says his dad texted that he wouldn’t be able to see him for a while. He’s saving lives. She asks if Jason knows where Lucky is. Has he reached out to Doc and Laura? He tells her that Jason just said he was on his way, and she asks if his mom knows. He says he’s not sure, and she asks if Sam knows he’s here. He says, probably not, and she says, Dante is going to be a minute. She suggests they hang out in the breakroom. She’ll text his mom and fill her in.

Sonny says he heard Ric was town, and Ava says she appreciates a family reunion as much as the next girl, but can they get back to the matter at hand? Sonny says, custody battles aren’t Ric’s thing, but Ric says he’s versatile and representing Ava in another matter. Sonny’s most recent discarded ex introduced them. Sonny says, the custody battle has nothing to do with the other matter in court, and Ava says she recanted her story about Kristina attacking her. She thinks it will play a pivotal role in the custody case, and Ric says, absolutely. When the court hears what a hot mess Kristina is, it won’t be hard to prove Sonny is an unfit parent. Exhibit A, the disastrous life of Kristina Corinthos-Davis. (Since she’s been an adult for some time, I don’t think that’s how this works. Parents can’t control anything once the child moves out. Not to mention, she did nothing wrong.)

Kristina says, their mom wouldn’t have had to protect her if Molly hadn’t gone to the police because she hates her and wants to blame her. Molly says, Kristina’s actions are to blame, and Kristina says, Molly practically pointed the police in her direction. Her own sister. She should get off her high horse, since this is a new low. Molly says, Kristina was planning on stealing her baby after assuring her that she could be trusted and wanted to help, and Kristina says she did, but everything changed when the baby was growing inside her. She wasn’t planning on it. It just happened. They were more connected than she ever intended. When TJ and Molly started fighting, she got worried for the baby. She’ll never get over losing her and thinks about her every second. She’s also dealing with trying to heal herself from falling out a window, which she hasn’t even begun to process. So she did lean on their mother. Alexis is her mother too, and if she hadn’t, she doesn’t know how she could have made it. She never meant to put Alexis in harm’s way and would do anything to protect her. Kristina says, then confess, but Kristina says she can’t confess to a crime she didn’t commit.

Sam asks why Alexis has no representation. Where’s Diane? Alexis says, Diane is representing Sonny, so she can’t represent her. Sam says, she’s not thinking of representing herself. There are a million good lawyers. Alexis says, they’re not here and she’s got this. It’s just an initial interview and she knows what she’s doing. She knows how to avoid the pitfalls and get information without incriminating herself. Sam’s phone dings, and she says, it’s Elizabeth. Danny is at GH. He’s not hurt. It’s about Jason. Alexis says, that’s important, but Sam says she’s not leaving. Alexis says she told Sam that she’s got this. Go look after her kid. If something happens – and it won’t – she promises to call. Go take care of her son. Sam leaves.

Looking at his phone, Danny says, Somalia is dangerous, and Elizabeth tells him to stop reading that stuff. He says he’s not worried. His dad can handle danger. Sam comes in and asks what Danny is doing here. Danny says he came to tell Dante that Jason is going to Africa to save Lulu’s life. Sam says, that’s great news, and he says his dad texted him from the plane. Sam says, so he’s already gone, and Elizabeth asks Danny to hop over to Bobbie’s and pick up BLTs for him and Dante. Her treat. Sam says she’s got it, and gives Danny some money. He leaves and Elizabeth says, that’s a lot to take in. Is she okay? Sam says, Jason was home long enough for her son to fall in love with him again, and now he’s going where he could get himself killed. She’s not okay with that.

Kristina says she’s telling the truth, and Molly asks what Alexis was doing with a gun. Molly’s phone rings, and Dex says he probably shouldn’t be calling, but her mom is here. She’s been arrested for John Cates’s murder. She’s talking to a detective and has no lawyer. Molly thanks him and says she’ll be right there. She tells Kristina that she’s got to go. For the last time, did she murder John Cates? If she did, she has to confess. Mom just got arrested for his murder.  

Sonny asks Ric, what kind of father turns his daughter’s mother into the police? Ric told them that he saw Alexis throw a gun off the bridge. Ric says he was doing his civic duty, but Sonny says, he’s a vindictive son of a bitch. Alexis is trying to keep her family together and he picked the right time to screw her over. Ric says, she’s trying to protect her and Sonny’s daughter and leaving his to deal with her pain and grief on her own, but Sonny says, Alexis loves all of her daughters, and Molly has TJ and Sam. Rick says, but not her mother, and Sonny says, Ric is probably feeling guilty because he’s not in Molly’s life. Whose fault is that? Ava says, they’re getting off topic. Sonny came to discuss the hearing. Sonny says, she chose this guy? A stand-up lawyer who just turned his daughter’s mother into the police to get arrested for something she didn’t do.

Alexis tells Mac that she was unable to secure representation, so she’ll answer questions without a lawyer. He asks if she’s sure, and she says she’s positive. He says he can’t do the interview because of their personal relationship, and Detective Bennet walks in. Mac leaves and Bennet sits down. He says, before they begin, he’s confirming her refusal of counsel, but she says she’s not refusing. She’s representing herself. He wonders if he should remind her of the risks, and she says, for the record, she’s innocent. He says, she can be charged for lying my omission or giving false statements, and she says she’s aware. He says she was seen dropping a firearm into the river. How did the weapon come into her possession?

Sasha comes out of the boathouse and says, Tracy is still here. Tracy says she’s been giving some thought to Sasha’s insinuation masquerading as a question. Cody throwing a party is a non-issue. Cody knows it’s inappropriate, and if Sasha is implying favoritism… Sasha says she definitely is and why not? Cody is a wonderful guy who has become Tracy’s friend. Tracy asks, says who? and Sasha says, anyone with eyes. There’s nothing wrong with it, but Cody has the family now that he’s never had and wants to spend more time with them. That’s why she threw the brunch, to help them make up for lost time. Tracy says, if she wants to help Cody revel in familial bliss, do it someplace else, and Sasha says she respects Tracy’s family and her job. She enjoys working here. Tracy says, it seems like a lark while she’s waiting for something better, but Sasha says she’s not. Tracy asks, why not? She respects Sasha’s talent and skill in the kitchen. Her quiche is perfect, and her pastry is divine, but does she care? Sasha says she does. She loves making food that people enjoy, and she likes talking to Cody. Tracy says, maybe she needs to take her work more seriously. She’s smart and capable, and at some point, she’s going to want more out of life than making Cody happy.

Dante tells Cody that when he and Lulu met, it was like lightning in a bottle. But time goes by, and you take things for granted. When he did his last mission for the WSB, something inside her broke. Tracy said he was the reason Lulu lost her spark. Cody suggests he take what Tracy says with a grain of salt or ignore it, but Dante says he thinks she’s right. He guesses he never should have left. Cody says, he can’t look back and play what if. He’s not going to come up with answers and he’ll just drive himself crazy. Dante says he wouldn’t change anything, but he’d give anything to see that feisty, fiery woman sitting on the dock waiting for the next adventure.

Elizabeth tells Sam, if it’s any consolation, Jason didn’t notify her either. Lucky has fallen so far off the grid, if anyone can find him and bring him home safe, it would be Jason. Sam says she wants him to find Lucky, but at the same time, she wishes he’d make his son a priority. Elizabeth says she gets it. She’s been there. She resented Lucky for similar reasons, but going in, she knew this was how he’d always been. Sam says she knew who Jason was and realized her kids needed one parent they could count on. With Dante, they have a stable home and so does she, but Danny is going to pay the price with Jason in it. Elizabeth says, he could step up. He did with Jake. Sam says, from a distance, and Elizabeth says she still credits him for trying. Sam says, if Lucky comes home, does she think he’ll be dad of the year?

Ric says, the only reason Alexis was put in the line of fire is because of Sonny’s daughter who Alexis is protecting. They’ve both done it for so long, cleaned up every mess of Kristina’s. Sonny says he gets it. One brother got all the love, and the other one was out in the cold. Ric is still whining about their mother giving him up and keeping Sonny. Does he really want to have a discussion about who had the worst childhood?

Alexis says she found the gun on her property. She has no idea how it got there. It was near the driveway by the front gate. She was walking and saw it. He asks how she was able to see it at night, and she says, it wasn’t that late. It was after dinner. Would he like to know what she ate? He says he probably shouldn’t. He’s hungry. She says, the moon was out, and she could see a metallic gleam in the grass, so she investigated. He asks how she thinks it got there, but she says, that would be speculation. He asks why she didn’t call the police, and she says she wanted it off the property because she has grandchildren who visit. In hindsight, it was stupid, and she regrets it, and if disposing of the gun was illegal, she’ll deal with the consequences. But if that’s all the evidence they have, she’s going to ask that the charges be dropped immediately. He says, she’d be correct, but they’re not finished. They’re just getting started.  

Molly says, the only thing that will save their mom is a full confession, so unless Kristina is prepared to do that, she’ll only make things worse. Kristina says she didn’t kill John Cates. Molly has to believe her. Molly says, just like she wasn’t going to steal their baby? She doesn’t know if Kristina killed him and maybe their mom doesn’t either, but she must think Kristina did and this is her desperate attempt to shield her. Now she could wind up in prison. Do her a favor and don’t help. She leaves, and Kristina gets on her phone. She texts Dante: Where are you?

Sam asks if Elizabeth is ready for everything that comes with it if Lucky comes home, and Elizabeth says she wants Lulu to live and wants Lucky safe. She hasn’t thought about it beyond that. Danny listens from outside the door, and Sam says, when Jason came back, she thought it was going to be the same. All she wants is for her sons to be happy, but what if this time Jason’s risks catch up with him? It’s her worst nightmare and will break her heart if Danny loses his father. Danny comes in and asks if she thinks his dad is going to die.

Ava suggests Ric and Sonny keep the sibling rivalry out of it. It’s ancient history. Ric says he doesn’t care about the past. The present is problem enough, so spare him Sonny’s amateur psychology. Sonny says, Ric can spare him the sob story and leave his daughter out of it. Stop ruining her mom’s life. Ric says, Kristina is doing it, because she won’t face the consequences, and Sonny says, from what? Ric’s client pushing her out a window? Ava says she did not push Kristina. It was an accident, and she recanted her story about Kristina attacking her. Sonny says, she’s a liar and she’s reckless. Great traits for a mother. Ric says, they’ll be in touch about the postponement, and Sonny says, Ric’s got to fix the mess he made for Alexis. Ric says, then tell the police what really happened, and Sonny says he can’t wait for Diane to deal with Ric. Ric says, he’ll see Sonny in court, and Sonny tells Ava that he doesn’t know why she teamed up with Ric. He’s going to do to her what he does to everybody – turn on her. He leaves, and Ava says, that was fun.

Cody says he doesn’t know what he’d do if he was in Dante’s shoes, and Dante says, he’d do the same. Remember the past and pray things get better. Cody says he’s not good at the heart stuff, but Dante says, he committed himself to an insane asylum to help Sasha. He’s got a great family and girlfriend. Cody says, better late than never, when Dante’s phone dings. He says, it’s Kristina. She’s in trouble.

Brennan says, two witnesses saw her drop the gun off the bridge the same night as the murder, and Alexis says, correct. He asks if she drove straight to the bridge after finding the gun, and she says, yes. He says, after that? and she says she went home. He says he understands Kristina was staying with her, and she says, Kristina was just released from the hospital. He asks what route she took to Blackstone Canyon, and she says, there’s only one. He says, and after she got rid of the gun, she went back home to her daughter, and Alexis flashes back to finding Kristina and her car keys gone. She says, yes. She found the gun outside, went to the bridge, dropped it in the water, and went straight home. He asks if anything has slipped her mind, and she remembers looking for Kristina. She says, no, and he says, it’s important she answer truthfully. She flashes back to Kristina saying, Cates has to be stopped, and he asks if anyone else drove her car the night of Cates’s murder.

Sam says she didn’t mean for Danny to hear that, but Danny says, it’s okay. His dad will be all right. Just have a little faith. She says she’ll try, and he says, his dad is going to bring Lucky home and everything is going to be okay. She’s just got to wait and see.

Ava says, the last person who got under Sonny’s skin ended up with a couple of bullets in his chest, but Ric says he’s not afraid of Sonny and he’s an excellent lawyer. She says she likes his confidence, but Sonny had a point. Why should she trust him? He says, she came looking for him. Nina put them together. Besides, what does she want to do? Roll over for Sonny? He’s not going to let that happen. She says, if he comes through for her, she’ll sing his praises to anyone who will listen. He’s got to get her daughter away from Sonny for good.  

Dante says he wants to talk to Kristina, but he doesn’t want to leave Lulu, and Cody says he’s got it covered. Dante says he appreciates it, and leaves. Cody sits by Lulu’s bed and says, hey, Lulu. I’m Cody. Let me tell you about the time I put live worms in Dante’s spaghetti.  

Sasha says she’s flattered that Tracy is interested in her life, but she doesn’t think Tracy is that interested. She thinks this whole thing stems from the party she threw for Cody and the Scorpios. Tracy is afraid of losing her friend to her and his family. She doesn’t have that many friends. Tracy says, that’s presumptuous, and Sasha says, but true. Does she ever wonder why everyone leaves?  

Kristina says she’s sorry to take Dante away from Lulu, but her mom was arrested for John Cates’s murder. She has to help her, but she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t know why it happened and has to find out. Dante says he’s not on the case and he’s sorry, but if Alexis was arrested, unfortunately, they have some serious evidence to back it up.

Molly goes into the station and asks Dex where her mom is. He says she’s in the interrogation room with Detective Bennet.

Bennet asks if he needs to repeat the question, but Alexis says she heard fine. She was the only person who drove her car that night. He says, interesting. Her car was seen parked in the Quartermaine’s driveway at the same time John Cates was shot. (Um… If they could see that, wouldn’t they see that no one got out of the car? Details, details…)

Sonny comes into the station and Molly asks what he’s doing here. He says he’s here to post bail for Alexis, but she says, he’s too late. She’s burying herself to protect his daughter.

Tomorrow, Drew says, it’s not working for him; Willow says, it feels so out of control; Alexis tells Kristina, do not take this further; and Molly tells Sonny, that’s the worst thing he can do.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Gael cries to Aesha about Nathan and her ex, then decides to go to bed. Carrie and Joe go to the galley and have something that looks like pizza, but Carrie calls a toasty. Gael gets in Nathan’s bunk, and he asks, what’s wrong? and she says, nothing. He says he can’t wait to travel with her, but she tells him that he doesn’t have to say that. He says he wants her and loves her more and more, and she tells him, then show it.

6 hours before charter. Joe tells Nathan, Carrie is so sound… as a mate. He’s not interested in anything else. In Nathan’s interview, he says, bullsh*t. It’s what he does. It’s his master class. Leah texts that she’s packed, and Captain Sandy texts back, have a safe flight. Nathan looks at hotels, and in Gael’s interview, she says, in her last relationship, she didn’t feel like a priority. She questions if her feelings are real. She doesn’t want lighting to strike twice. Provisions come in, including a huge sliver and blue ballon display. Aesha tells the stews that they can’t ask for a better last charter. She’s had them before. Their dinner theme is Swedish pop Greek musical… ABBA, and the yacht crew is putting on a performance. She tells Bri that the laundry has been great, and Bri grins widely. She says, Ellie’s décor is amazing. She’s nailing it. She’s noticed the dish washing is slower, but Carrie is setting a good example of how quickly it can be done. In Ellie’s interview, she says, there’s been a palpable shift in Aesha’s behavior since Carrie came on board. Remember me? This poor thing. Seriously, she needs some therapy for those insecurity issues. Aesha tells the stews to use every bit of fuel in their tanks. Let’s show them one last time. Ellie sighs as she makes beds.

Ellie and Bri talk about Joe as they do the cabins, and Carrie says, it’s their last time doing this. Ellie says she’ll be glad to be back in South Florida. Aesha radios Ellie and asks what she’s doing. Ellie says she’s helping Bri with the cabins, but Aesha says she told Ellie to do the stairs. Just do what she said. When Ellie comes down, Aesha says, there are fingermarks on the door. On Ellie’s way to buff them, she starts goofing around in the crew mess, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, Ellie didn’t listen to anything. They’re about to do charter and she’s flouncing around. Does Ellie want to piss her off? In Ellie’s interview, she says she feels like she has to check out a little. She doesn’t like how she’s being treated. She understands Aesha’s standards, but the way she’s going about it is having the opposite effect.

The crew lines up for the guests’ arrival, and Aesha says she’s enjoying this moment. Co-primaries Stacey and Brad get hugs from Aesha. She says she’s so excited, and the captain welcomes them. Aesha shows them around, and Stacey says, it’s definitely an upgrade. Joe says, it’s the last charter, and Nathan says, let’s ace it. In Iain’s interview, he says, it’s the last charter and he wants to have fun and check out the ancient ruins. They made it. In Carrie’s interview, she says, Ellie is trying to be the alpha, but she needs a break. It’s nice to have no responsibility for a little while. She was on a yacht where the owner lost his wife, and she went from chief stew to caregiver. Stacey toasts to a day filled with mischief, and Aesha says she can’t wait.

Nathan hugs Gael, and in his interview, he says, Gael is still thinking about a lot of things from her past relationship. He wants to give her reassurance, but he doesn’t know what else he can do. Jono prepares lunch and… mmmm… spring rolls… In Jono’s interview, he says he’s never met anyone gay or Black in the industry. He’s a double minority. He feels the energy and wants to make the guests extra happy. He needs that flavor, flavor. There are lots of wows over the food, and anchor is dropped. In Joe’s interview, he says he has no harsh feelings against Gael. They’ve had their ups and downs. We flash back to some of those, and he says he wanted her to excel and do the tender driving. He has to be careful what he says to her. One of the guests says, they haven’t eaten this much since 1976, and I wonder what that means. What happened in 1976? Had there been a famine and they made up for it? Did they come off the Atkins or Scarsdale diet? Ellie goes to help Carrie with laundry, and Carrie says she doesn’t want to mess up Bri’s system. Too many cooks and all that. In Ellie’s interview, she says, it feels amazing as second stew to have a floater tell her what to do. What the f*** is going on?  

Ellie goes back to the bar, and Aesha asks, how’s laundry? Ellie says, there’s a lot going on. Carrie said there were too many cooks in the kitchen, so she’s back. In the laundry, Carrie tells Bri that she told Ellie not to mess with the laundry, and in Bri’s interview, she says, the color thing is working. Having Carrie around gives her time to focus fully. The guests play on the water toys, and Aesha tells Ellie to decorate the dinner table and the sundeck for the performance. The deckhands have a group hug, the balloon arch is put up, and anchor is pulled. Ellie says, there’s a crate of disco balls in the closet, and in her interview, she says, the theme is Swedish pop music. They’re in Greece. The table décor is the only thing bringing her joy on this soul sucking boat. Aesha says, the décor is awesome, and the starter comes out in plates of colorful food porn. I’m wowing along with the guests, since Jono really stepped up his game big time. Presentation and everything.

Aesha reminds Joe that there’s a performance tonight and asks if he and Gael want to plan something. Joe tells Carrie that he’s got to come up with a dance, and in his interview, he says he and Carrie have the same vibe, but they’re just friends. In Carrie’s interview, she says, they’re just pals. Leah texts Captain Sandy that she’s landed, and the captain says she’s excited and can’t wait to see her. In Aesha’s interview, she says she doesn’t understand what Ellie is playing at. She thinks Ellie is trying to show Carrie, hey, bitch, I do have a little power. But guess what? She’s going to swoop in and put out Ellie’s candle. Gael and Joe practice a dance, and the first course is served. Stacey asks if the chef is coming home with them, and Iain puts up a rainbow flag, while Jono gets a hug. Nathan tells Gael, it’s cuddle time, and they get in her bunk together. She says, she’s scared. She doesn’t really know him out of the work environment. In Gael’s interview, she says, it’s hard not to feel that he’s being real. She can’t say he’s lying at this point, and feels she has to decide if this is a risk worth taking.  

Aesha tells the guests that they’re moving on to the after party. The crew gets dressed in some weird 80s outfits that look like they were just thrown together from random items, Nathan is wearing a leotard thing that screams with too many neon colors. Gael and Joe do aerobics a dance, and in Joe and Nathan’s joint interview, Joe says, what Nathan was wearing is questionable, but he owns it. Stacey says, it was fabulous, and thanks them.

2nd day of charter. We see the Temple of Poseidon, and Aesha asks if the captain is thinking about any plans for the big day. In Aesha’s interview, she says, not in a million years did she think that one day she’d be planning Captain Sandy’s engagement. We flash back to Aesha and the captain over the years, and Aesha says, they all settled in Colorado and are developing a friendship. They’re going have this day in their memories for the rest of their lives. She really wants to pull this off. The deckhands drop the lines and the yacht clears out. Jono sends out platters of eggs, bacon, and some bread, but these ain’t your mama’s eggs, bacon, and bread. Stacey says, they have the best-looking crew, and another guest says, us or them? Stacey says, both. It’s time for the guests’ surprise excursion, and they drop anchor. Aesha tells Bri that she can go with the guests. She’s been doing so well in laundry, Aesha wanted her to have a little treat. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Bri’s mythical god was laundry, and she overcame it. So now she can climb up a rocky, steep road to see the Temple of Poseidon. Jono hums in the galley, and I swear it’s the Banana Splits theme. Aesha goes over the flowers, table, violinists, and champagne with the Captain Sandy, and the captain tells Aesha to put peach tea in a champagne glass for her. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says her stomach is funny. She doesn’t want to get it wrong. She wants it to be perfect. Don’t talk too fast. Don’t talk too slow. She hopes the weather is great. Will the flowers be there? Will the violinists be there? Aesha asks if she can watch from afar, and the captain says, yes. Aesha says, Captain Sandy just made her day.

The guests head out to the temple, and Iain joins them along with Bri. In Iain’s interview, he says, sometimes he falls behind scenes making everything run. He gives the guests factoids about the temple as they do a walking tour. The two that stuck are: it’s a prototype for the Acropolis, and there are 16 columns left of the original 34. In Bri’s interview, she says she’s happy lain prepared something. They’re not the entertainers on the boat. They return to the yacht, and Aesha tells Ellie to prepare for the drag queens. They’re coming in upstairs. Ellie directs Bri and Carrie about where to place everything sparkle, and in Carrie’s interview, she says she thinks Ellie is enjoying bossing. She’d be a great decorator. Captain Sandy calls Leah, who says she saw the Acropolis. The captain says she has a special treat for her. Jono tells Aesha that he was hitting a wall, but he’s good now, and over the radio, Aesha hears Carrie asking Ellie where the double-sided tape is. Ellie says she doesn’t know… and Aesha says, just fold the blue tape over. She asks what Bri is doing, and Bri says, blowing up balloons with the compressor. Ellie says, Bri is helping, and Aesha wonders how this conversation is still going. She loves it. She tells Jono that she’s noticed Ellie overstepping her role, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, Ellie thinks being chief stew is walking around the boat and telling people what to do. She’s making sure the balloons are in the right place. Thanks, Ellie. Aesha looks at the rainbow balloon wall and takes Carrie aside. She asks if Carrie thinks Ellie is overstepping, and Carrie says, yes. Aesha says, that’s not cool. When she’s here, she’s the one who delegates. Carrie says, it creates confusion. If she had to do that for a whole season, she’d be struggling with her tongue.

The guests dress in an ancient Grecian outfits, along with Aesha, and they all look surprisingly stunning. Stacey says, they’re all here. They’re all queer. Let the festivities begin. They say a quick prayer to Zeus and Aesha tells the crew, let’s roll, homies. Dinner is served, and Aesha tells Jono that the guests absolutely love it. Iain goes to get the drag queens, and I wonder if their hair will fit in the tender. Stacey says, there’s no such thing as extra extra in their world. Aesha radios Jono that they’re clearing the first course, then Ellie does too. As Ellie walks by, Aesha tells her that she’d already radioed Jono, but Ellie says she didn’t hear Aesha. In Aesha’s interview, she says, not once this whole season did Ellie not hear her say they were clearing on the radio. It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back for her. It’s too much.

Joe instructs Gael on night navigation, and in Gael’s interview, she says, Joe is encouraging. She loved that about him from the beginning. He didn’t look down on her and was willing to teach her. He’s being a good lead deckhand right now. If he dropped the petty resentment he has against her, he could be one of her best friends. Aesha says she’d like a word with Ellie and tells Ellie that she thought the after-dinner stuff was annoying, but feels it was a build-up. Ellie has been overstepping her job as second stew. She’s only to delegate if Aesha’s not around, not if she’s on the floor. Ellie acts like she’s never even thought of such a thing, and Aesha says, it’s been noticed. Ellie says she would never disrespect Aesha like that, and we flash back to Ellie harping about being second stew and bossing the other stews around. In Aesha’s interview, she says, they’re at the point where Ellie is being disrespectful of her position for her own ego, and she doesn’t give a sh*t. She’s had to coddle Ellie and she’s sick of it. In Ellie’s interview, she says, Aesha is blaming her and making her the scapegoat, and Aesha tells Ellie, it’s really frustrating and it can’t happen.

Next time, the finale, Ellie hopes she’ll be able to get through this without blowing a gasket; Leah arrives; Captain Sandy says, this is the biggest day of her life; the tender is inoperable, and Joe thinks he just ruined the captain’s day.

🏆 And the Award Went To…

The winners.

https://people.com/winners-list-emmys-2024-8709330

The most comprehensive winners list ever.

https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2024

Most important, the fashion.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37286/photos-from-the-2024-emmys-red-carpet-fashion

I sort of like the deconstructed tuxedo thing.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13853653/76th-primetime-emmys-worst-dressed-2024.html

🐩 Will Dress Up For Treats…

Not exactly the Emmys, but close enough. I love stuff like this.

https://www.rover.com/blog/dogs-recreate-famous-oscar-fashion/

And I did find this DIY guide.

https://petkrewe.com/blogs/trends/a-giant-celebritys-guide-to-dressing-your-dog-for-the-emmy-awards

Since there was no picture in the article…

Sally Jo sez: I gotz a bilt-in fur cowte.

📖 Another Turned Page…

Join me tomorrow for soap and Dubai Reunion shade. Until then, stay safe, stay seeking out ways to cultivate peace and gratitude in your heart, and stay not looking back and playing what if. You’re not going to come up with answers and will just drive yourself crazy.

September 9, 2024 – Holly Chases the Biggest Score Of Her Career, Silent Disco Afterparty On Deck, Final Bow, Perfect Small Binge, Furry Influence & Morn

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Portia says she needs Heather’s test results as soon as possible. Curtis walks in and says he thought it would be a good time to show her the Aurora Wellness Center, but she says, the lab promised Heather’s results would be ready any second. He says he knows she’s worried about Heather’s possible release, but is she sure she wants to put her life on hold for that woman? Does she want to give Heather that much power?

Ric spots TJ while he lifts weights at the new Wellness Center. Ric says, this place is amazing, and TJ says, that’s why he took advantage of the free membership Curtis gave him. If he doesn’t get his anger at Kristina out, he’s afraid of what he’ll do.

Molly arrives at Alexis’s house and says, Alexis didn’t tell her why she wanted to see her. Kristina comes out and says she thinks she knows why.

Sonny asks how long Anna is going to be, and she says, they’d take less time if he’d produce his 9-millimeter. He says, it was his understanding that he was innocent until proven guilty, and Jason says, that’s what he heard. There’s a knock at the door, and Sonny lets Diane in. He says, perfect timing. He’s having a conversation with the Commissioner. She thinks he’s dumb enough to kill a federal agent.

Lucky says he’s curious. How come Sidwell is so sure Isaiah isn’t coming back? Sidwell says, he may or may not, but it won’t matter. By then, he’ll have found what he wanted and moved on. He lays down his cards and says, four Jacks. Can Lucky beat that?

Sidwell’s thug is about to inject Isaiah’s IV tube with the syringe, when Jordan walks in. She asks what he’s doing, and he puts the syringe behind his back and walks toward her.

Lucky has the winning hand and says he’s sorry to disappoint Sidwell. Sidwell says, eventually, Lucky’s luck will run out. He asks the guard to see if there are any cards stuffed up Lucky’s sleeve, but the guard says, they’re asking for Sidwell at the mine. Sidwell says, this might be the news he’s been waiting for. Work calls. He has the handcuffs put back on Lucky, and Lucky says he thought they were friends. Sidwell says he got to where he is by never trusting friends.

Jordan tells Sidwell’s thug that she needs to see his hospital badge, or she’ll call security. He tries to move past her, but she blocks him, and he pushes her down and runs.

Portia says she knows Curtis is right, but she can’t let it go. He asks, why? and she says, things changed. When Heather was being represented by Scotty, she wasn’t happy, but she knew Scotty would probably never follow through with his promises. The case would never go to trial. Now that he’s gone, Ric Lansing is the one working on the case. Curtis admits he didn’t see that one coming, and Portia says she’s heard he’s a better lawyer. He’s going to use the tests results if they say Heather no longer has cobalt in her blood. As if he could prove how evil someone is. Curtis says, if Heather is no longer suffering from metallosis, she was the victim of medical malpractice, and Portia asks if he’s suggesting her daughter isn’t the only one who’s suffering, and that Heather is a victim too.

TJ tells Ric that Kristina promised they could trust her. She claimed she was the perfect candidate because she was family. They convinced themselves that she was right, and now the selfish princess decided to keep the baby. Ric says, TJ isn’t wrong for feeling the way he does, and TJ says he thinks what Irene’s life would have been like if she’d lived. He and Molly would have been in for the custody battle of their lives, but Irene could have come home where she belonged. Kristina did everything to steal her away. He’ll never forgive her. Ric wonders if Molly feels the same, but TJ says he doesn’t know. She’s a good sister and has a good heart. Ric says, and Kristina is going to call Molly to come help her pick up the pieces, and TJ says, and find a fresh way to hurt them again.

Molly says she wouldn’t have come if she knew Kristina was going to be here, and Kristina says, neither would she. Alexis says she’s asking them to remember who they are. Sisters. Molly says, it’s still too fresh. It’s better that they keep their distance. Alexis says, as their mother, she knows better. They’re both alone and suffering, and she’s just asking for five minutes.  

At the station, Chase says he thought Dex was searching Sonny’s, but Dex says, Anna told him to file the report. Chase asks what they found, but Dex says, nothing. That’s the problem. A gun was missing, but Sonny claimed he didn’t know it was gone. He didn’t seem worried, and it was odd. Chase says, maybe Sonny knows Anna is barking up the wrong tree.

Diane asks why Anna is shaking down Sonny over a registered weapon, and Anna says, Sonny was near the scene of the shooting. Clearly, he must have at least heard it. Diane says, conjecture, and asks if she has anyone who will go on record as a witness. Anna says, Michael, and Diane says she doubts that. A federal agent was persecuting the mother of one of Sonny’s children and weaponized the system against him. He has the right to be enraged. Anna says, that rage could easily turn to violence, and Diane says, speculation. Has she found anything? Anna says, nothing, but she has questions that need to be answered down at the station. Diane says, Sonny’s not going anywhere, but Anna says, Jason needs to come with her.

Holly walks in, and Lucky says, they don’t have much time. She sees he’s handcuffed again, and he says he needs her to find the keys so he can get the hell out of here. She’s more than welcome to come. She asks if he knows where Jenz is, and he says, Sidwell got excited and rushed out. They found something in the mine. She says, like what? and he says he doesn’t know. Gold? Diamonds? The Holy Grail? Sidwell bolted out of here like he’d hit the jackpot, and it’s his best last chance to get out. She has to find the keys. She asks if he said diamonds.

Curtis says he’ll never forgive Heather, and Portia says, then they’re on the same page. He says, but she was suffering from a medical condition, and she asks if that means Heather isn’t accountable for her actions. He says he met with Heather and even to his trained eye, she seemed to be a changed woman. She asks if he’s saying they should do nothing and let her go free, but he says, if it comes to it, they’ll fight her release. The cobalt poisoning may have influenced her behavior, but her actions were unforgivable and horrific. They were her choice, and she needs to pay for them. She says, when the tests come back, the judge and jury’s take will be that Heather is cured and no longer dangerous. He says, they can’t control that. He wishes there was more they could say or do, but they can’t take matters into their own hands. As hard as it is to say it, they just have to trust the system. He has to get back to the Wellness Center. She says she’ll be fine, and he leaves.  

Ric says, TJ isn’t wrong for feeling the way he does. There’s no question that if Molly is pressured, she’ll let Kristina back in. TJ says, and Molly will sweep her own feelings under the carpet, forgive Kristina, and smile, with Alexis leading the charge. She’ll hold Kristina’s hand while Molly is forced to deal on her own without any family support. Ric says, that’s why she needs them now more than ever. Molly comes first. She’s the most important and the rest is just noise. They have to care for Molly in the way her so-called family won’t, and he knows they will.

Molly asks if Alexis wants her to pretend Kristina didn’t betray her in the worst way. It was clear she was going to steal Molly’s baby. Alexis says, it’s more complicated than that, and Molly says, when she was at her lowest, Kristina came to her with this amazing gift, pretending… Kirstina says she wasn’t pretending, and Molly asks if Kristina ever thought about what this would do to TJ. He’s just been an afterthought, but he’s the baby’s father. Kristina conveniently forgot that and made it entirely about herself. She never once asked how TJ was doing. He’s devastated and buried in his own grief. He doesn’t know how to process and she’s not sure he’ll ever recover.

Chase tells Dex that Ric and Elizabeth saw Alexis Davis drop a gun off the bridge at Blackstone Canyon the night John was killed. Alexis said she dropped her phone, but Elizabeth seemed pretty sure it was a gun. Chase says he doesn’t know how Alexis would be involved. Maybe it’s not connected. Sonny’s motive is obvious. It seems like a stretch for Alexis to have killed John. Dex says, Chase didn’t see her when she found out Cates had arrested Kristina. She came in heated and screaming about how he needed to be stopped. He remembers thinking, that lady would kill Cates if she could. (As Diane would say, conjecture.)

Ric is on the treadmill when Curtis comes into the Wellness Center. Ric says, if Curtis is looking for his son-in-law, he just left for the hospital. They were talking about how amazing this place is. He’d like a membership for when he’s in town. Curtis says, the front desk can help him, and Ric says he’s so proud of TJ. He’s reminded how much TJ impressed him. TJ is the best partner for his daughter that he could have asked for. Curtis says, TJ is a good man, and Ric says, not just TJ. The whole Ashford family has been supportive of Molly, and he’s grateful for Curtis and his family. Curtis says, they love Molly, but he has a question. If Ric is so grateful, how come he’s representing the woman who terrorized Curtis’s daughter?

Kristina says she doesn’t know what Molly is talking about, and Molly says, Kristina had a custody agreement drawn up. Kristina says she was protecting the baby. Molly would have done the same in her position. There was so much tension between Molly and TJ, and if they’d split up, TJ would be the only one who could legally have custody. Molly says, the only thing they fought about was Kristina. TJ didn’t trust her and Molly kept defending her. TJ was right. He saw the real Kristina before Molly did. Kristina says, Adela was hers for eight months, and Molly asks if Alexis got what she wanted. Is she happy? Alexis says, it’s breaking her heart, and Molly says, get used to it. Kristina doesn’t think about anybody but herself and she’s done pretending it’s okay. Kristina says, she was protecting Adela, and Molly says, stop calling her that. Kristina says, stop pretending she and TJ have a perfect relationship, and Alexis says, stop it, both of them. She’s sorry. This was a terrible idea. Michael comes to the door and says he was in the neighborhood and thought he’d stop in and see Kristina. He can come back. Alexis says she thinks that’s best, but Kristina says, no. It’s perfect. Take her anywhere, as long as it’s away from here. She leaves with him and Molly sits down.  

Diane says, Anna has no right to take Jason in. His movements were accounted for. Anna says she thought he’d like to make a statement. A man is dead who he’s known since he was a teenager. Jason says he’s not going anywhere, and Anna says, it’s a shame. She thought he’d want to do the right thing and help with the investigation. Jason says he has no new information, and if she wants to arrest him, he won’t say anything without his attorney. Diane tells Anna, Jason had nothing to do with the murder. He has an airtight alibi provided by – wait for it – you. Anna says, conveniently, and Diane says she hopes Anna isn’t suggesting something nefarious. She has no evidence. Anna says she has a missing 9-millimeter and a motive, but Diane says, Cates was obsessed with Sonny and went after Sonny’s family because of a decades old vendetta. Sonny had no animosity against him. Sonny says, let him get this straight. He hated Jagger and he’s glad Jagger is dead.

Jordan stumbles out of Isaiah’s room and tells Elizabeth to call security. That man is posing as an orderly. She sees Sidwell’s thug slipping through a door, and says, stop him. He’s taking the stairwell. Tell security. She follows him, but he’s waiting and grabs her from behind. He tries to stick her with the syringe, but she gets the better of him, putting him in a headlock. She says, you son of a bitch. Try pushing me now.

Diane says, Anna had a search warrant, and a theft was just found out. Sonny did his duty as a legal gun owner and her client has nothing further to say. She’ll see herself out. Michael and Kristina come in, and Michael asks, what’s going on? Sonny says, a fishing expedition, and Anna asks if they know one of Sonny’s firearms is missing. Did either of them take it?

Security escorts Sidwell’s thug to the elevator, and Elizabeth asks if Jordan is all right. Jordan asks if this is the man Elizabeth found in Isaiah’s room, and Elizabeth says, he is. Who is he? Jordan says, good question. Start talking. The thug says he has nothing to say, and Jordan says, it will do him better if he tells her who he is and who he’s working for, but he says, screw you. She says, have it his way, and the guard takes the thug into the elevator. Jordan tells Elizabeth to let the PCPD know and request security around the clock for Isaiah’s room. She has the feeling he won’t be the last person after him. If there’s any change, let her know. Elizabeth says, of course (🍷), and Jordan goes into the elevator.

Lucky says, who cares about diamonds? He’s got to go. Holly suggests they think this through, but he says, it’s not the time for a strategy session. She needs to find the keys. She says she’ll cut him in, and he says, to what? Death? She says, diamonds. If Jenz found what she thinks he found, it’s the biggest score of her career and there will be plenty for both of them both. They’ll end up very wealthy if they play their cards right. He says, that’s no good if he’s dead. The only reason he’s still breathing is because Sidwell is mildly entertained by him. She says, he’s his father’s son and like Luke, endlessly entertaining.

Ric tells Curtis that he has zero interest in Heather’s criminal charges, but her medical condition was due to product liability. It doesn’t change what she’d done, but she didn’t choose to have a faulty implant. Curtis asks if there are other patients, and Ric says, they’re coming forward every day, and all of them had a negative impact. If he drops the case, another lawyer will just take it up. It’s front-page news and gaining steam. Heather will get her day in court no matter what, and when that day comes, does Curtis want a shark he doesn’t know representing her, or someone he knows who respects his family? He’ll do everything he can to make sure to do right by Curtis, Portia, and especially Trina. Can anybody else promise that?

Kristina says, Sonny is missing a gun? and Anna says, it’s the same caliber as the one used to kill John Cates. They need to run a ballistics test to make sure it’s not the murder weapon. Diane asks why she’s questioning Sonny’s children, and Anna asks if either of them took the gun. Michael asks why they’d take the gun without asking. No. Anna says, Kristina neither? and Kristina says, of course (🍷) not. Diane says, Anna got her answer. Please leave. Anna says she’s done for now, but don’t leave town without notifying the PCPD. John Cates was deeply flawed and his individual abuse of power unacceptable. She’s ashamed at his behavior, but nothing he did gave anyone the right to murder him. He did not deserve to lose his life this way (🍷) and she’ll devote all her energy to solving the case and bringing his killer to justice. She leaves.

Alexis says she knows Molly can’t see beyond her own grief, but family is so important. Please don’t give up on her sister. She’s begging Molly. Molly says she won’t give up on the memory of her daughter, even though Kristina decided to keep Irene for herself. Alexis says, no one could have foreseen or predicted how hard Kristina’s pregnancy would be, and Molly tells her, stop talking about how hard it is for Kristina. Kristina makes horrible choices and refuses to take responsibility for them. Alexis says, she’s not being fair, and Molly says, Alexis always takes Kristina’s side. Alexis says she’s not taking either side, but Molly says, be honest. She’s made peace Alexis always shows up to lift Kristina up, which she’s never done for Molly. Alexis says, that’s not true, and Molly says, she’s doing it now. Alexis says, Kristina’s not in her right mind and she’s all alone. Kristina needs her. Molly says, of course (🍷). Kristina is always going to need her. That’s how she knows she’s stronger. She can stand on her own two feet, and she’s going to get through it together with TJ. Alexis says she loves all of her daughters and wants Molly to need her and lean on her. Molly says she can’t count on that, so Alexis should do what she does best. Focus on Kristina and keep Kristina away from her. She leaves.

Anna says, Elizabeth and Ric saw Alexis dispose of a weapon, and tells Dex and Chase to set up an interview with Alexis. Chase says he heard they came up empty at Sonny’s house, and Anna says, that doesn’t mean the weapon doesn’t exist. Chase says, now Ric and Elizabeth have made it more complicated, and she tells him to keep her updated. Chase and Dex leave, and Jordan comes in with Sidwell’s thug.

Curtis says he slept better knowing Scotty was handling the case. He knew Scotty was more interested in his cut and less in cutting Heather’s sentence. Ric says, the first thing he did was lower Heather’s expectations. First, he’s going to make the medical supply company culpable for what they did to Heather and Trina. But it’s a civil, not a criminal case. Curtis says, when that happens, the criminal case will be reopened. How does he protect his family then?  

Diane tells Sonny that she’ll be in her office preparing for Anna’s next move. Don’t make it harder by telling Anna how much he hated Cates. Sonny says he thought she’d enjoy the challenge, but she says she enjoys winning and he’s getting in the way. She tells all of them not to open their mouths. Take Jason’s lead and zip it. She leaves, and Kristina tells Sonny that she needs to talk to him, but he asks her for a minute to talk to Jason. They go out to the hallway, and Sonny tells Jason that he knows what to do. Jason leaves, and Sonny goes back inside. He tells Kristina that it will be fine. Trust him. She says, he’s in trouble so much more than he thinks and it’s all her fault. She took his gun.

Ric says, Heather was the only one who committed murder because she gave into her violent tendencies. The medical supply company is partly to blame, but so is Heather. He won’t forget what she’s capable of. The important thing is that Curtis knows they’re on the same team. He wants justice for Curtis’s family and he’s going to deliver it. He leaves.

Portia does an internet search on Heather Webber.

Jordan tells Anna that it’s obvious he’s a professional, and Anna says, a hit man after the John Doe at GH. Jordan says she caught him before he finished the job, and Anna says, but they still don’t know his identity. She was just looking at the footage from the airport and there’s nothing suspicious. Jordan looks on the laptop and says, take a look at this. It’s John Doe exiting the terminal. Maybe he’s looking for a cab to go back… That’s him. The man who attacked her, the hit man. He wants John Doe dead.

Elizabeth tells Isaiah, they may not know who he is or where he’s from, but she’s sure of one thing. He matters to someone out there. Isaiah opens his eyes and sit up a little. He says, Lucky… Lucky…

Lucky asks Holly to get the key. He promises not to blow her cover. She’ll look like she was overpowered. She says, Jenz can’t be suspicious. She can’t afford to lose his trust when she’s so close to getting what she wants. He says, what about what he wants? and she says, name it. He says, how about staying alive? and she says, he doesn’t need her for that. Just be his usual brilliant self, keep winning at poker, and keep Jenz entertained. She cups his face in her hands and says, remember. He’s just as handsome and as capable as his father. She has every confidence in him. She leaves.

Kristina tells Sonny that she never meant to cause so much pain. She didn’t know what she was doing, and now he’s under suspicion. He says, they can’t touch him. Tell him where the gun is. She says, mom found it and was worried she’d hurt herself. She wasn’t going to do that and would never do that. That was not her intention. He says he’s glad. Now tell him where it is. She says, mom got rid of it. She said she put somewhere no one will ever find it.

Molly says she has to go. She’s said all there is to say. There’s a knock at the door, and Molly opens it to Dex and Chase. Chase says he has some questions for Alexis and asks her to come down to the station. Molly asks, what questions? and Chase says, Alexis was seen disposing of a gun the night of the murder and they need to know why.

Behind a warehouse, Jason takes the gun apart. He puts on gloves and opens a barrel filled with liquid. (I’m assuming it’s some kind of acid.) He slides the gun parts into the liquid.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth asks how Isaiah knows Lucky; Jack says he’s intrigued; Carly says, it’s a matter of life or death; and Jason asks Anna for a minute.

Below Deck Mediterranean

While eating in the crew mess, Aesha tells Nathan that the pressure has been alleviated by the extra experienced stew. Look at where she is right now.  He says it’s the first time he’s seen her sit for a meal. On deck, Joe once again micromanages Gael, who gives him monosyllabic answers. He tells Gael that he doesn’t want to upset her, and she says she tries to keep her head down and do her work, but sometimes he’s a pr*ck. In her interview, she says she realized that she’s trying to make another guy happy, and he asks how he’s a pr*ck. She says, he’s an a-hole, calling her a princess, checking her work, and making sure she’s working. We flash back to him doing all that, and she asks if he doesn’t think she works as much or that she’s treated differently. Joe says, they have two charters left, and she says, if he’s going to be a pr*ck, she’s not going to give him the time of day. In Gael’s interview, she says, people have a misconception about her because she did dance and a pageant, but she plays rugby and does deck work. She works her ass off, so she’s not labeled a princess. Joe asks if he’s ever raised his voice at her, and in her interview, she says, words don’t trigger her; intentions trigger her. He thinks she’s getting special treatment. Don’t characterize her like that. Don’t act like he knows her when he obviously doesn’t. Joe says, it’s not intentional, and she says, no more calling her princess. If he has a problem with her, just say it. In Joe’s interview, he says he’s trying to do a good job. He feels the heat rising and just wants it to calm down. He’s hoping Gael doesn’t hold a grudge.

The Greek dinner is prepared, and Aesha says, it’s (guest) Mike’s birthday dance party. She asks the stews to decorate. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Carrie is a yachtie. She wishes the girls would stop worrying about how much power they have. A guest says, the table looks very Grecian, which I think was the point, and in Carrie’s interview, she says she’s sensing Ellie wants to prove her authority. She’s not here to take Ellie’s job. She’s here to help. She’ll let Ellie have her stage. You, go. Good job, little buddy. In Jono’s interview, he says he feels deflated and bummed out from the last charter. He’s always figured out how to bounce back. He’s going to be a phoenix rising from the ashes, and everything from now on will be amazing. The starters are served and… ooh pretty! The dock manager texts Captain Sandy that the inflatables have arrived, and the captain wants to get them on the boat for tonight. Guest Rob wonders if it would be rude of him to lick his plate, but the other guests support it.

Joe tells Nathan that Gael hates him. She thinks he has something against her, and he wonders if Nathan knows what the problem is since he’s her boyfriend. Nathan says he’s not her boyfriend and doesn’t even know what’s going on. Iain tells Joe and Nathan that they need to fetch everything, and the DJ calls saying he’s ready to be picked up. Aesha radios Iain and asks him to get the DJ too. Jono visits the guests’ table and says he hopes they’re enjoying the food. The feedback is fantastic, unbelievable, and as good as it gets. Guest Beth gives Mike a calendar that’s mostly blurred, but I think it’s a Grecian Kama Sutra situation. In Aesha’s interview, she says, there’s a little bit of kink going on in Ohio. I could have told her that. She suggests they go downstairs for the afterparty, and the guests put on headphones for the silent disco. I don’t get the point of that, and it looks stupid. In Joe’s interview, he says, Carrie is showing signs of being interested. He learned something from Ellie and Bri, but it’s easy to fall into old habits. Jono and Gael talk about what they’re doing after the season, and Gael says, there are no concrete plans, but she’s in talks.

Aesha sends Carrie down to see if the guests need anything, and they ask for tequila shots. Carrie goes to the bar and Ellie asks her to help clear the table, but she says, Aesha asked her to check on the guests. She brings the tequila, and they put headphones on her, then ask for more drinks. Ellie asks if Carrie minds doing dishes while she does service, and in Ellie’s interview, she says she was under the impression that Carrie was here to help with odd jobs like housework and laundry. She wonders if Aesha is seeing her as the weak link, even though she’s felt like she was carrying the team the whole season. We hear the sound of one hand clapping as the disco ends. Ellie radios that the DJ’s set is done, and he’ll need a ride shortly. In Carrie’s interview, she says she knows what drama does to an interior team. She’s seen it and she’s not here to cause it. The DJ thanks them and says, it was fun. He heads out on the tender, and Ellie radios the crew that the guests have gone to bed.

2nd day of charter – Moni Island, Greece. The captain points out that the wind is picking up, and Bri’s color beads arrive. In Bri’s interview, she says, at school, she used colors for her study notes to help her learn and remember. She wishes she’d thought of it earlier. Aesha tells the guests that they picked up more inflatables last night, and we see a monkey bar type thing called the tower of power. In Joe’s interview, he says he’s never run an obstacle course. He’s got to take over the platform on a communication level and he’s all for it. They create a course using the trampoline, slides, and tower of power. In Nathan’s interview, he says he’ll do anything to win. He doesn’t like losing. Captain Sandy watches as the teams go through the course – Nathan versus guest Murphy, Aesha versus guest Beth, Gael versus guest Michelle, and Joe versus guest Mike. Joe misses the trampoline, which looks like it hurt, but he says he’s good. The guests are the winners, and in Nathan’s interview, he says, if they want a nice tip, they have to let the guests win. That he wanted to whip them wasn’t on his mind. Carrie visits Bri in the laundry and Bri shows her the new system. One of the guests gives Aesha a medal and says, they’re impressed with her competitiveness. She says she has four brothers.

In Ellie’s interview, she says, Carrie is taking the spotlight from her. It’s definitely a bit hurtful to be tossed on the sidelines. She doesn’t understand why. She’s done her best this season and it makes her not want to care. She doesn’t have to prove herself to anyone and it’s very insensitive. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Jono has been a yo-yo performer this season. He’s hit rock bottom and bounced back. She hopes he stays up to the end. The wind is at 30 knots, and Captain Sandy says, they’re heading back to port. Nathan and Joe link arms and dance around, singing, heading back to port. Carrie tells Aesha that Ellie likes to do things by herself. She asked if Carrie minded if she did service. In Aesha’s interview, she says she’s grateful and happy Carrie is here. It takes the pressure off of her and her team. Carrie says she doesn’t want to cause any rifts, and Aesha says, at the end of the day, it’s about the guests’ experience. In her interview, Aesha says, she needs a cohesive team, and Ellie is making things less efficient to maintain her status or her ego.

In Jono’s interview, he says he lost his mojo and knows he needs to step it up. Yes, bitch. In Ellie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know what it is about Joe, but he keeps sucking her back in. She knows it’s not good for her, but here she is. In Iain’s interview, he says, docking at night is harder because… it’s nighttime. He laughs realizing how stupid that sounds. The boat docks, and Aesha asks Gael to pitch in serving dinner, since they’re doing synchronized service. Captain Sandy asks the guests, how’s dinner? and they tell her, delicious. Jono is top notch. In Aesha’s interview, she says, her goal was to maintain really high Med standards. Now that they finally have a fourth stew, she thinks they’re doing a good job, and it feels really good. She congratulates the guests on their respective anniversaries. In Gael’s interview, she says, Joe has her on an emotional rollercoaster with his fake niceness. The closer she gets to Nathan, the more of a d*ck Joe becomes to her. In Carrie’s interview, she says, Joe is her cheeky wee boy. She takes banter one step too far and it may be problematic. Gael tells Nathan that Joe wondered what he’d done, and she told him that he’d been a pr*ck. She’s going to be honest. In Nathan’s interview, he says he feels the situation is good for Joe, since he’s new to the lead deckhand role, but he’s never been in a situation where a friend didn’t like the girl he was dating. He wants to keep them both as friends, but doesn’t know if he can.

It’s time for the guest departure, and one guest asks if his shoes make his butt look big. The guests say their goodbyes and tell Jono that he killed it. Guest Murphy says, Captain Sandy’s entire team was amazing. It was the trip of a lifetime. The guests leave and the captain tells the crew to meet in the main salon for the tip meeting. While they strip the beds, Ellie tells Carrie, with the exception of Nathan and Gael, no one is seeing each other. She and Bri had tension between them caused by Joe. He was leading them both on, but she cares about him, so it’s hard to be mad. The crew gathers for the tip meeting, and the captain says, they’re almost finished. The deckhands did a great job with the toys. She’s glad Bri got her colors. Now they’ll see how it works. Carrie makes her smile, and she thanks Ellie for her table décor. The chef is killing it. The last charter begins at nine tomorrow. The tip is $20K – 27,000 euros – or 1300 euros each. Captain Sandy calls Leah and asks if she’s excited to be coming tomorrow. In her interview, the captain says she’s nervous about Leah coming for the first time to charter when they land. She can be put in the middle of a storm and she’s not nervous, but a proposal to Leah? She’s shaking from the inside out. Aesha tells Carrie that they want to finish smashing it, and Carrie says, Ellie keeps trying to hurry her along. Aesha says, Ellie doesn’t tell Carrie what to do unless it’s coming from her. The only time Ellie should be telling Carrie what to do is when Aesha is on break.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and the captain reads that the primaries are Stacey and Brad, who are Virginia based and celebrating 27 years together. Aesha says, they’ve been on charter with her before and they’re a lovely couple. She reads that they want disco bohemia the first night, and Jono reads that they want a tapas lunch. Iain says, they want an afterparty based on the crews’ suggestion, and Aesha thinks they should get real drag queens. Me too. Is Trixie Mattel available?

The crew gets ready to go out, and Aesha asks Gael about her and Nathan traveling together. Gael says, you never know how it is when you travel with people. They can put up a front for a long time. She doesn’t think he’s like that though. In Gael’s interview, she says, the way she grew up, you’ve got to look after your people and have each other’s backs. She didn’t have that in her last relationship. We flash back to her boyfriend harassing her, and she says she wants to know that she’s a priority. That’s what she saw with Nathan. We flash back to her with Nathan throughout the season, and she says, he’s looking out for her in ways she wishes her ex had.

The crew goes to Modern Asia restaurant, and in Joe’s interview, he says, Carrie has a sense of humor. She’s not stuck up and he doesn’t have to tiptoe around her like some other girls he knows on board. They toast to the last charter, and Joe tells Carrie that her laugh is the cutest thing. In Ellie’s interview, she says, it’s hard to fault Carrie. She’s trying to do a good job, but she’s triggering Joe’s awful behavior. He’s a player. Why risk burning a bridge with a random person who just got here? Jono and Iain decide to go back to the boat, and Jono says he wants to come out to the club, but can’t afford to make another mistake. They go to club Che, where they’ve been before, and we flash back to Joe kissing Ellie there. Joe’s shirt is wet, so he buys another shirt off of a guy at the club. Carrie says she likes to let loose, and she dances – if that’s what we want to call it – with Joe. In her interview, Ellie says she’s had it with Joe. He chooses the person who gives him the most attention. No man in his right mind would turn down an incredible night with her. Come on. I actually once knew someone who was both egotistical and had an inferiority complex. Just sayin’. She and Bri sit outside on a bench, and Bri says, Ellie is too gorgeous to be worried about such a prawn. In Ellie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know why she went there again, and she tells Bri that she just wants to get off the f***ing boat and go home.

In Bri’s interview, she says she imagines Ellie is feeling fire inside. The more she goes through this sort of situation, the more she learns how to deal with it in a more mature and better way. Carrie tells Joe that Ellie told her, ew, not Joe, and he says they had a drunken kiss, but it didn’t seal the deal. Gael tells Nathan that Carrie is too smart to fall for Joe, but she’s falling for it because she’s horny. Nathan gets to wait. They kiss, and in Nathan’s interview, he says, Gael surprised him. He’s not the kind who settles. He’s like Joe, but he really likes Gael. She’s the exception. In the taxi on the way back, Joe wants to book a trip to Ireland with Nathan, and says, Nathan is going. He books the flight, and Nathan says, Gael is coming with him. In Gael’s interview, she says, Nathan told her that he wanted to travel with her. We flash back to that, and she says, she thought they had plans, but they’re easily to be scribbled over.

Back on the boat, Ellie says her dress should be in a Lamborghini. Her dress deserved a better night, not in a taxi next to a deckhand. Aesha says, Nathan should have told Gael his plans, and Gael says she can’t expect anything from anyone. He booked his flights before she booked hers. Aesha asks if she’s upset because of Nathan or is she still processing the breakup? and in Gael’s interview, she says, her ex didn’t prioritize her. Holy sh*t. She just went through a tough break up and she’s just going to be treated like sh*t again. She tells Aesha not to feel sad for her. She doesn’t trust anyone. Aesha tells her to let it out, and Gael says, it’s hitting her harder than she thought. She’s been trying to hold it in, but it’s been so hard. Every day it breaks her heart. Carrie, Joe, and Nathan swing upside down from a top bunk, and Gael tells Aesha that she can’t. Aesha holds her as she cries.  

Next time, Captain Sandy has a special treat for Leah; Aesha and Ellie clash; and Aesha says, Ellie is overstepping, and she can’t have it.

🎭 He Was Luke’s Father…

One of the greatest of the greats. I saw him once on stage and he looked like a giant. And that voice.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37271/james-earl-jones-dead-at-93-stars-pay-tribute

🎬 This Weekend’s Watch…

I love a good murder mystery, and if it has a wealthy family in it, so much the better. Not totally mindless entertainment, since you’re trying to figure out whodunnit, but a fun diversion. Only six episodes, this is the type of story we’ve seen before, beginning with a murder and backtracking until we discover who the murderer is. It was hard to find an article that didn’t give the ending away, but here you go.

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/07/nx-s1-5103908/the-perfect-couple-netflix-nicole-kidman

This was also one of those rare series where I didn’t skip the opening credits after episode one.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-perfect-couple-opening-credits-dance

🐾 Power Of the Paw…

My own dogs influence me to get them cheese.

https://blog.mandalasystem.com/en/pet-influencers

🧋 Pumpkin Spice This…

Join me tomorrow for soap and Reunion receipts in Dubai. Until then, stay safe, stay releasing old expectations and setting new goals, and stay taking Jason’s lead and don’t say anything without your attorney being present.

September 2, 2024 – No Labor No Soap, New Fourth Stew Floater On Deck, Scooby Says & Back

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

No GH today. It was a rerun of the August 1st episode where Kristina fell out of the window in Ava’s hotel suite.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Zea Marina, Greece. New stew Carrie arrives, and Nathan greets her. He explains that the cabinmates are being moved around and brings her to the bridge. Captain Sandy says she was pleased that Carrie has mixology training and experience. In Carrie’s interview, she says she has eight years’ experience and has worked on seven boats. She then tells a story about serving a hooker who was busy with a guest before the meal was done. Carrie saw everything but her breakfast and it was gross. Aesha shows Carrie around, and Nathan gets a text that his friend Tommy has passed away. In her interview, Carrie says she’s from Glasgow, Scotland, and has the worst accent. At least it sounds that way in her head. People think she can drink well, and she can drink, but not well. Aesha says, she’s walking into a lot, and in Joe’s interview, he says he’s in trouble. Bri says, Carrie sounds like Nathan, but more hardcore. Carrie tells Aesha that she’s worked in bars before, so she knows her way around them. In her interview, she says, when she went into temp work, it was to give a boat an extra pair of hands. She doesn’t care where they put her. Aesha says, she loves Carrie’s energy already. The crew gets ready to go out, and Carrie jokes that Ellie needs a stripper pole to go with her heels. Ellie pretends to laugh, but in her interview, she says she’ll give Carrie a pass since they just met, but Carrie is definitely flying under her radar. They all have a drink in the crew mess, then leave. In the taxi, Aesha says, Carrie seems cool. Carrie is good with cocktails, and she’s going to use her as a floater. Jono wonders if they can put their personal stuff back in the laundry again.

At the restaurant, Joe flirts with Carrie, and in Bri’s interview, she says, Carrie is number three. At least she was number one. In Ellie’s interview, she just rolls her eyes, and in Aesha’s interview, she says she’s joined mid charter, and we flash back to that. It’s not an easy position to come into. You have to learn straightaway and ruffle no feathers. It’s an intense way to start.🐈Aesha says, you’ll never catch her sexy dancing, and Carrie says she can’t sexy dance to save her life. In her interview, Ellie says, Aesha and Carrie are getting along quickly. That might mean trouble for her. She’s earned her position on this boat, and if that position is threatened, she’s not going to back down. That’s how she operates. Holy! She’s got some real issues. I totally got the thing with Bri, and was Team Ellie there, but this is a different ballgame.

En Plo, Agios Romanos. They move on, and in the taxi, Bri says she knows her time is done, but Nathan says, she’s good at her job. She says, no, with Joe. He doesn’t finish what he started. It’s like he’s eating and leaves one plate to go to the next. She was the starter, Ellie the main course, and Carrie is the dessert. They’ll see if he finishes dessert. They go to a club, drink some more, and dance. Joe dances with Carrie who tries to teach him some Scottish dancing. In Carrie’s interview, she says she’s a pathological flirt, but she thinks her friendliness comes off as flirting. Nathan gets pretty drunk and asks Gael if they can go home. She asks if he’s all right, and in Nathan’s interview, he says his friend passed from cancer. He knew Tommy had cancer, but the night before he joined the boat, they went out drinking. Tommy wasn’t drinking, but he seemed okay. It’s a lot of information to gather at once, but he’s pushing it aside for now. They head back to the boat, and in the taxi, Nathan says he can’t deal, but he doesn’t give too much of a sh*t. Aesha crawls into the backseat and sits between Nathan and Gael. In the other taxi, Bri says she and Ellie had some drama and Aesha took it to the captain. The captain told them to sort it out and they did. It got better. Aesha asks if Nathan is okay, and Gael asks, what’s going on? They arrive at the boat, and Aesha gets out of the taxi, but Nathan and Gael stay behind. Nathan says, his friend died, and he and Gael both cry. He says he has to talk to his mom. Back on the boat, Aesha tells Joe that he needs to support his friend. Nathan’s friend died and he’s destroyed. Nathan takes a walk with Gael, and mumbles about the others thinking he’s overly sensitive. Gael says, who cares🐈if he’s sensitive? He’s going through sh*t. They sit outside, and he says he’s struggling to cope. She says she’s sorry and hugs him.

In Nathan’s interview, he says, his mom was going through tests, but she was cleared. Grief isn’t something they talk about. They definitely push things away. He does what the rest of the family does. It’s mad. Joe tells Nathan, it’s life. We’re on a little journey and it gets interfered with. It happens. In Joe’s interview, he says, it’s so hard for Nathan to deal with this. He can’t imagine. He tells Nathan to get some rest. He’s going to be there, whatever Nathan needs. He wants to show Nathan that he’s got him. He’s sorry. Nathan says, it’s horrible, and Joe says he’s got Nathan’s back. Gael gets in Nathan’s bunk with him, and in her interview, she says, it’s a different side of Nathan, a sensitive spot he doesn’t show. It hurts to see him upset. He was there for her when she had a hard time with her ex, so she wants to be there for him too.

In the morning, Aesha meets with the stews and tells them that they’ll be keeping the same shifts. Carrie will be a floater and go where she’s needed. She’s going to help on service because Aesha wants to see what level she’s at. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Carrie outranks Bri and Ellie in experience. She doesn’t want to upset anyone, so she’s making Carrie a floater with no rank. She asks Ellie to be Carrie’s buddy and show her stuff, and in her interview, Aesha says she can finally uphold the Med standard like she wanted to this season. We flash back to how it wasn’t met, and they all high five. Joe gives Nathan a hug, and Captain Sandy calls for the preference sheet meeting. In Ellie’s interview, she says, a floater is a fourth stew. She’ll be more than happy to help a fourth stew find her way around the boat. There’s hierarchy for a reason. Wow. I hope when she sees this back that she realizes and gets a jump on those insecurities.

Captain Sandy says, Murphy and Beth are from Dayton, Ohio, and bringing three other couples. They’re all celebrating their 15th wedding anniversaries at the same time. Aesha reads that they want ouzo drinks, and Mike wants a birthday dance party. Iain says, they want to do a fun and silly water game challenge with the crew, and the captain says, they’ve requested a pirate tower floatie. Jono reads that there’s a possible shellfish allergy, and in Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, she has no chef to replace Jono with, so she’s stuck, but he knows there’s no room for error. She’s trusting that he won’t make the same mistake again. After the meeting, Ellie tells Aesha that she wants to learn what she can regarding a chief stew position, and Aesha says, keep doing what she’s doing and get more experience. She’ll get there for sure. Joe watches as Gael squeegees a door and gives commentary, and in Gael’s interview, she says, Joe is being passive/aggressive. She doesn’t know why. If he’s trying to prove himself as a leader, she doesn’t think that’s the way to do it. She knows what she’s doing, and he knows she knows. She wonders what he’s playing at with his nitpicky micromanagement.

Nathan tells Gael that he’s been thinking about her. She has the sweetest heart. In Carrie’s interview, she says, sometimes she has to remind herself to slow down. She never wants to fail at a job. That’s why she works so hard. Provisions come in, and Aesha is happy about getting paper towels. After the pandemic paper towel shortage, I understand. Joe tells Aesha that he didn’t want to say anything, but he’s down to one polo. Aesha finds his polo in Iain’s closet, and in her interview, she says she had no idea they were covering up for Bri. It makes her want to explode. She asks Bri to meet her in the crew mess, and in her interview, she says she separated the jobs to pander to Bri, because Bri wanted to prove she wasn’t making the mistakes, but it was Bri the whole time. She tells Bri that she found joe’s polo in Iain’s room. She knows Bri has been working hard and trying, and she appreciates it. Bri’s been doing well… mostly. In Aesha’s interview, she says, it’s too late in the season to come down on Bri, and it won’t do her any favors. Bri will just crumble and cry and she’ll be back down to three stews. She really wants to finish with four. Nathan asks if Gael has any plans after the season, and she says, she was going to hang around for a bit and see the islands, then go to Prague. She suggests he come catch the Australian summer, and in his interview, Nathan says he hasn’t been home for Christmas in two years, but maybe he has more feelings for Gael than he thought. In Gael’s interview, she says she guesses her trip for one has become a trip for two.

Aesha tells Captain Sandy about the polo, and the captain asks what she thinks the problem is, but Aesha doesn’t know. The polo clearly said Joe, and it was hanging in Iain’s cupboard. In the captain’s interview, she says she loves that the crew has each other’s backs, but she needs to know the information in order to correct it. She tells Aesha that she’ll deal with it, and goes to the laundry. She tells Bri that she’s still f***ing up with the laundry. What does she think it is? Bri says she thinks the system isn’t working for her, and the captain says, whatever she needs to do the job, ask for it. Bri suggests color beads and says she remembers colors better. Captain Sandy says, she’s got to get her head in the game. They have two charters left and she’ll get Bri what she needs. In the captain’s interview, she says she wants Bri to find her way through this. Never in her career has she fired an entry level stew. We flash back to several entry level stews making mistakes, and she says she wants people to feel believed in so they can believe in themselves.  

The captain tells Aesha that Bri needs color beads. Bri feels those would be a better method. In Bri’s interview, she says she joined a group for stews that need help. We see her asking in a group text, what method is best for a laundry system? Someone suggests color beads, and in her interview, Bri says she should have asked sooner, but she was afraid to. Aesha texts the provisioner and orders the beads. The guests arrive, and the captain tells them that Aesha will give the tour. Once they get the luggage is on board, they’ll haul the lines and take them to their first destination. Aesha says she’s never been to Ohio, and a guest says, it’s just like this. I’m originally from Ohio. Yep. Just like it. Not even close. In Jono’s interview, he says he’s grateful he wasn’t fired. He has no choice but to keep moving. His mom had a tough life and taught him lessons. If you get a bad review, thank them for the critique, and improve. No surprise, Iain lacks communication with the captain, and Captain Sandy radios him, asking, what’s going on? In her interview, she says, Iain needs to know where the crew is going to be. They should be able to undock with their eyes closed by now.

Captain Sandy says she needs Iain talking to her, and he gives her a blow by blow. He says, they’re clear to swing, and they head out to sea. The guests take pictures, and lunch is prepared. A glass gets knocked over, and Aesha picks the pieces off the table. She tells the stews to get ready to serve the platters, which they interpret as they should start serving, but she stops them. In Jono’s interview, he says, the food is going to be cold. His head is the one that will be on the chopping block, so he hopes the figure their sh*t out. Aesha finishes up and the food porn platters are brought out. The guests pronounce the food amazing. One of the guests says she doesn’t like her hair blowing in her face while she eats, and I identify. I hate eating outside. In Ellie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know why they need a new person. She doesn’t agree with the decision, but has to respect it. She feels like she’s about to get demoted and it’s going to make her start resenting Aesha for the decision.

They drop anchor and the swim platform and jet skis are brought out. Once again, Joe tries to tell Gael what she already knows, and in his interview, he says, anything he says to her is an unfair attack. He’s just trying to help and give suggestions. She has no respect for him, and he’s confused as to why. Clearly, he hasn’t been paying attention. Bri tells Jono about her latest laundry mistake, and in her interview, she says she must be the biggest baby Aesha and the captain have ever met in their lives. The beads have to work. She appreciates all the chances she’s been given. Joe drives a jet ski while he pulls several guests on the inflatable banana. In Bri’s interview, she says she thinks Carrie has a bit of experience and she’s happy to have her around. They’re getting extra help and maybe Carrie can show her a thing or two. In the crew mess, Joe asks if Gael would go back in the water, but she says he told her that he’d do it and she has no dry wets. He calls Gael a princess, and she calls him a pr*ck. He says, at least they know where they stand. Gael leaves, and Nathan says, Joe pissed her off. In Gael’s interview, she says, her blood is boiling. She’s not a princess. Her only theory is, the closer Nathan gets to her, the more bitchy Joe gets. We flash back to some examples, and she says, he’s trying to get a reaction out of her. She’ll give him one, then give him nothing.

Aesha tells Ellie that they’re so on top of things now. Ellie asks if Carrie is on service because she’s training, and Aesha says, she needs to see where Carrie is at. She’s going to be everywhere. Ellie says she’s feeling like a third wheel, and Aesha says she wants to see what Carrie knows. Ellie says she doesn’t want to feel like she’s being demoted, and Aesha says, no, but at the end of the day, it’s her call. She’s not demoting Ellie. She’s just seeing what Carrie can do. In Aesha’s interview, she says she understands, but Ellie should feel grateful for some extra hands and the help. If she wants to be chief stew, she has to understand that the most important thing is the guests’ experience, not her second stew’s insecurities.

Next time, a silent disco; eight shots of tequila, Carrie tells Aesha that she’d like to do it herself; and Gael talks to Aesha about Nathan and cries.  

🧵 Starting a New Thread…

Knocking off early because I don’t want to labor tonight, but join me tomorrow for soap, the final camel, and what to watch (or not). Until then, stay safe, stay remembering the hard-working spirit that Labor Day is about, and stay making people feel believed in so they can believe in themselves.

August 26, 2024 – Lucky Applies For a Job In an Odd Way, 25th Anniversary Cookie On Deck & Almost

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

The guard removes the sack from the prisoner’s head, and we see it’s Lucky. The head guard comes in and says he heard Lucky caused some trouble, and Lucky says, it was eight against one. He took down seven. The guy says, they’re breathing, and Lucky says he had to keep them alive. Taking down your co-workers before a job interview makes a lousy first impression. He hears their boss pays well. He’s just proving he can hold his own. Any questions? Head guard asks who he is, and Lucky says, just call him Lucky.

Jack thanks Carly for coming by, and she wonders if she had a choice. Two WSB agents came for her and she thought she was being taken into custody again. He says, should they take her into custody again? He thought she’d like a formal escort. She asks, why he brought her here, and he says he’s afraid he’s using her.

Gio plays his violin as Lois listens. He sees her and it startles him, and she says, he sounds like a broken record. He asks, what’s a record? and she feigns hurt. She says, it sounded perfect, but he says, it sounds wrong to him. She tells him that everything she’s saying is off today. She wants him to be honest. She wants his opinion as a musician and sound connoisseur, and he needs to be honest. Does her accent bother him?

As Tracy pots a plant, Brook says, Lois is a total rock star. Tracy says, her enthusiasm as a spokesperson resonates with Deception’s demographic… for the most part, and Brook says she can’t get over the caller that criticized Lois’s accent. Tracy says she can’t get over that Lois had no comeback. Chase joins them, and Brook asks how his hand is. He says he can’t believe he spilled coffee on it, and Brook says, Lulu being transferred to GH is a good thing, right? but he says, it’s not good news.

Dante tells Lulu that they both know she’d do anything for the kids, so she’s got to get through this to see them grow up. They need her in their lives. All of them. Sam comes to the door.

Portia tells Laura that they have a diagnosis for Lulu, and Dr. Conlon says, it’s cirrhosis of the liver. Laura says she thought cirrhosis was caused by alcoholism, and Portia says, that’s the most widely known cause. It’s a buildup of scar tissue on the liver that effects the ability to filter out toxins. Dr. Conlon says, it’s surprising to see it in someone as young as Lulu, but she’s been on the same medications for four years. That’s what’s most likely causing it. Laura says, then they have to change Lulu’s medication, but Portia says, it’s not that simple.

Robert asks why Anna summoned him, and she says she requested him. She needs him to tap into his old boy network at the WSB and use his contacts to help her find Valentin. He says, she just got rid of Valentin. Why track him down? She says, Laura asked her to find her granddaughter and that’s exactly what she’s going to do.

Carly says, Jack is using her how? when Jason comes in. Jack says, just the man he wanted to see.

Chase says, they’re still waiting on Lulu’s condition to determine how they’re going to move forward. Rocco is scared for his mom, and Dante wants to be supportive without giving him false hope. Tracy suddenly leaves, and Chase wonders what that’s about.  

In the hallway, Sam asks, how’s Lulu? and Dante sys, the doctor’s don’t know. They think it’s her liver function. Sam says, it’s happened before, but Dante says, Lulu being transferred here is… She says, it’s good Lulu is here now, so she can get the care she needs. He says he hopes it’s enough.

Robert says he can see why Charlotte is a priority. Laura must be going through the wringer. Anna says she’s fairly certain Jack knows where Valentin is hiding and would bet money he arranged it. The WSB does not want Valentin found. Without Valentin, there’s no prosecution of Pikeman, and the WSB walks away scot-free. She has to locate Valentin without Brennan catching on, or they’ll move Valentin and they’re back to square one.

Jason says he heard the WSB picked up Carly. Can they walk out, or does he have to call his attorney? Jack says, there’s no need, and Jason asks why they’re here. Jack says he knew Jason wouldn’t agree to meet, and Carly says, he used her as bait. Jack says, there was no other way to get Jason here, and Jason says, let’s go. Jack asks if Carly wants to have dinner this week.

Head guard asks if he should point out the irony of Lucky’s name, and Lucky says he worked hard to get where he is. Head guard asks, Lucky who? He’s never heard of him. Lucky says, that proves how good he is, and he lists his accomplishments. He says he doesn’t come cheap, but thankfully, money is no problem for Sidwell. Head guard asks what his skills are, and Lucky says, if the money is right, he’ll do whatever they need. No questions asked.

Anna says, Robert knows people who have worked closely with Brennan, and Robert says he’ll make a few calls. Keep him abreast of her progress. The more he knows, the more he can find out. She says she owes him, and he says, promise him that all this is about is bringing Charlotte home. Nothing else. She says, what else could it be? and he says, you can’t kid a kidder.

Losi tells Gio about the caller at Home & Heart, and he says, not everyone likes how he plays the violin. She says, they’re philistines, and he says, so is this woman. All she needed to do was buy the product, and she did. Lois says, he’s as smart as he is cute, and he says, if that was the case, his grades would be better. She says, after what happened, she was thinking that if she wants to sell more products, maybe she should lose the accent. He says, it’s part of who she is, where she’s from, but she says, a good businesswoman listens to her customers. She’s concerned she cost Deception potential sales. Gio says, the family text thread blew up. Everyone agrees she was amazing. She says, they’re family. They have to say that. He says, she’s one of the coolest, kindest people he knows, and he loves to hear her tawk. She shouldn’t change a thing.

Brook tells Chase that when Tracy and Luke got married, Lulu was living here. Laura was sick and not around much, so when Lulu needed a mother, Tracy was there, someone who accept Lulu for who she was, but didn’t put up with her crap. Lulu was trouble back then. Chase says he never saw that side of her, and Brook says, they never got along. She didn’t like Lulu to begin with, then Lulu became her grandma’s stepdaughter. Then something serious happened that bonded Lulu and Tracy forever. When they were in high school, Lulu slept with Dillon and got pregnant with Tracy’s grandchild. Chase says, Lulu was pregnant in high school? but Brook says, she terminated the pregnancy.

Jack suggests the Surf Lodge, and asks Carly, how’s Thursday? She says, how about never? and he says he’ll call her. She says, don’t, and he says he’ll text. Since Jason is here… Carly says, he’s not interested, but Jack says, all Jason has to do is listen. Jason says he’ll hear Jack out, and Carly asks, why? Jason says, so they don’t have to do this a second time. Carly tells him, suit yourself, and leaves. Jack says he doesn’t think Carly is pleased with either of them, and Jason asks what he wants.

Portia says, the toxins build up over time. The body compensates, but at a certain point, it’s too extensive and the liver fails completely. Dr. Conlon says, that’s where Lulu is now, and his phone beeps. Portia says, she’ll take it from here, and he says he’ll work on a treatment plan and do what he can for Lulu’s symptoms. He leaves, and Laura asks how this happened. How did Silver Water miss this? Portia says, Lulu’s coma masked the symptoms – loss of appetite, fatigue, abdominal pain, itchiness. Elizabeth says, things they’d know if Lulu could tell them, but now that they know, they can combat the symptoms. Laura asks, how they can save Lulu’s life?

Head guard ask how he knows Lucky isn’t a spy, and Lucky asks, what would be the point? Their operation isn’t exactly on the DL. Head guard asks why he should hire Lucky, and Lucky says, he just took out seven of his men. He owes them to pick up the slack. The guard says, bring in the doctor, and Lucky thanks him and says he zigged when he should have zagged. Does this mean he has the job? A guard shoves Isaiah in the room, and the guard tells Lucky, kill him. He hands Lucky a gun.

Sam says she knows it’s not easy for Dante to talk about his feelings, but when he wants to, she’s here. If he doesn’t want to, she’ll respect that too. He says he loves her, and she says she loves him too. She wants him to know that she understands a part of his heart will always be with Lulu, because when you love someone, they become a part of you. She doesn’t want him to lose that and loves him for it. He says, she’s smart, and she says she did choose him, and they kiss.  

Chase says he can’t imagine how hard it was, and Brook says, Dillon totally stepped up, but Lulu wasn’t ready to be a mother. They never discussed it. Chase asks why they didn’t get along, and she says, Lulu thought she was after Dante, but she knew him from the neighborhood. They grew up together, but she did try to take him away from Lulu. It was many years ago and long forgotten. Chase can’t be jealous. He says he’s not, but it’s weird to think about. She says, then don’t think. They’re rock solid and she waited an excruciatingly long time him for him to come along. He says he’s sorry he made her wait, and kisses her.

Carly goes to Anna’s office and says, Anna needs to be honest. What did Jack want with Jason?

Jack thanks Jason for hearing him out, but Jason says he has no choice. Jack is the one who made the evidence about Carly disappear. What did he do with the recording? Jack says, it was destroyed, but even if it surfaced again, it would be inadmissible because the chain of custody was broken. Jason asks why he did it, and Jack says he doesn’t think someone as charming and capable as Carly should go to prison for protecting her family. Jason says, there was nothing in for him? and Jack says, if someone is unfairly accused and you can help, you should do it, and Jason says, so he was a good Samaritan? Jack says he believes in justice, as he defines it. He thinks they have that in common. That’s why they should work together.

Laura finds Dante and tells him that Lulu has cirrhosis of the liver. Elizabeth says, it was probably caused by the medication, and Dante says, then they can change her medication, but Laura says, it’s too late for that. Her liver is failing, and she needs a transplant. Elizabeth says, it’s relatively easy once they find a donor. The liver regenerates itself and the piece they take from the donor will grow back. What’s put into Lulu will grow into a fully functioning organ. Dante wonders if Lulu can handle the surgery, and Laura says, there’s always a risk, but if they do nothing, they’ll lose her. Dante says he and Rocco will get tested, and Sam says her too. Laura says she’s going to encourage all of Lulu’s family and friends to get tested, but their best hope for a match without risk of rejection is from a close family relative. Dante says, like a brother.  

Lucky asks if this is a test, and head guard says, if Lucky can kill Isaiah, that proves he’s got what it takes to work here. Lucky says, doctors are pretty valuable. Is he sure? Head guard asks, what happened to him asking no questions? and Lucky says, when he’s getting paid. The guard says, he doesn’t get paid for a job interview. If he does it for free, he’ll collect next time. Lucky says, okay, and aims the gun.  

Dante says, a full sibling is a better match than a half-sibling, and Laura says, absolutely. But they don’t know where Lucky is.

Lucky pulls the trigger, but it just clicks. He says, someone forgot to load it. He guesses good help is hard to find these days. Head guard says, he’s in, on a probationary basis of course (🍷), and Lucky asks if he doesn’t have to kill this guy, but head guard tells him, like he said, good doctors are hard to find. So are men willing to pull the trigger. He tells Isaiah to patch Lucky up and leaves. Lucky looks out the door window, then tells Isaiah that it’s good to see him. Isaiah punches Lucky in the face.

Laura says she’s going to talk to the prison warden and see if Nikolas can get transferred to GH tonight for the test. Portia comes by and says, good news. The prison doctor said they’re equipped to test Nikolas there. Now with any luck, they’ll know if he’s a match in the morning. Laura thanks her, and Portia leaves. Dante says, it’s going to be okay.  

Lois tells Gio that she’s looking at Deception’s selling data and how much customers were buying during her segment. He says, the longer she talked, the more she sold, but she says, it was her sales pitch. She can sell anything. He says, then why is she bothered about her accent? and she says she thinks she can sell more if she sounded sophisticated. They both know people on TV don’t sound like her. She’s promoting Deception and wants to reach as wide an audience as possible. Maybe that means she needs to lose her accent.  

Anna says, the only person Brennan seems interested in is Carly, and Carly says, he had two agents bring her to his field office to lure Jason there. Anna asks where Jason is now. Is Brennan holding him? Carly says, no. He wanted to stay and hear Brennan out. Anna says, they know Jason can take care of himself and he’s capable of saying no, and Carly says, except when it comes to one thing. Anna says, you, and Carly says, it worked for Cates. He kept Jason from his family for two years and she’s damned if she’ll let Brennan do the same thing.

Jack says, the WSB is stretched thin and could use someone with Jason’s skill set. Jason says he’s not interested, but Jack says he won’t be working for the WSB. He’ll work off the books. Jason says, doing what? and Jack says, that will vary case by case. Some people need simple persuasion, while others need to be removed from the playing field. Jason says, it’s not a game to him. No deal. Jack says, not yet.

Jack says, the way everyone speaks about Jason is that he’s skilled, efficient, unflappable, and apparently indestructible. Jason says he’s not indestructible, but Jack says, close enough. Jason asks how it would work, and Jack says, he would be given an objective to take care of how he sees fit. The pay would be substantial. What does he say? Jason says, no, but Jack thinks he should do himself a favor and think it over. It would be mutually beneficial. Consider him helping Carly as a sign of good faith.

Brook tells Chase that the Lulu situation is bringing things up, feelings and memories, and the more than her share of sins she committed. Chase says, like stealing Dante? and Brook says she hasn’t shared her troubled teen years with Chase, but he says, they have their whole lives. He wants to know all about her. She says, he doesn’t, but he says, of course (🍷) he does. It means a lot for her to share that part of herself. Yuri comes in and asks if everything is okay. Chase says, someone they know is sick, and Yuri says he’s sorry.  Brook asks if Yuri is okay, and he says, Violet wants a glass of milk. She’s still sad. Brook says, let her get it, and Yuri leaves. Brook says she needs to take care of Violet, but Chase says he’ll go.  

On the phone, Lois says she was told they could help her… She’s looking to hire a dialect coach.

Lucky says, Isaiah has some bedside manner, and Isaiah says, Lucky took a shot at him. Lucky says, the gun wasn’t loaded, but Isaiah says, Lucky didn’t know that. Lucky says he did. It was too light. Isaiah says, too light for one bullet? That’s all it would take to kill him. Lucky says he made a judgment call, and he was right, and Isaiah tells him to get back in the chair so he can check him out. What is he doing here? Lucky says, getting Isaiah out. Isaiah says, by attacking the compound? and Lucky asks if he should have pretended he was delivering a pizza. Isaiah says he had it under control, and Lucky asks if by that, he means being held captive. Isaiah says, what about Lucky attacking the guards and getting stabbed? but Lucky says he didn’t get stabbed on purpose. Isaiah says, being stabbed on purpose would imply that he had a plan, and Lucky asks how Isaiah’s plan is going. Providing first aid for a mercenary who’s strip mining a conflict area. Isaiah says, so Lucky is here to break him out. What’s his plan? but Lucky says he works best when he’s in the moment.

Anna says, Brennan will use Jason to his advantage by putting him out in the field, unofficially and anonymously. Then he’ll take credit for Jason’s efforts. That will untarnish his image and raise his stakes with the Bureau. Carly says, Jason would never go along with that, and Anna says, or would he? Does Brennan have anything else on her? Has she done anything else that could be misconstrued as a felony? Carly says, not that she knows of, and Anna says, yet, here they are. Brennan is ensconced in the new WSB station, and he’s used Carly to bring in Jason. He doesn’t go after these goals directly and he’s admitted that. For Brennan, that’s practically forthright. Carly asks, what’s his angle? and Anna says she doesn’t know, but she’s certainly going to find out.

Jason says he’s grateful for what Jack did for Carly, but doesn’t owe him anything. He’s not going to work with him. Jack says, he doesn’t want Jason to work for him, but with him, and Jason says, it’s still no. Jack says, sooner or later, he’ll have something Jason wants. They’ll talk again. Jason leaves.

Dante tells Laura, good luck with the warden, and she says she’ll call as soon as they have the test results. She leaves, and Dante says, sounds good. Sam says, if Nikolas is a match. He’s been a match before. Dante says, and he’ll be a match again, and Sam says, if he’s not, they’ll find someone who is. Dante says, this has to work. If Lulu doesn’t make it, he doesn’t know how he’ll get Rocco through it. She says, he’s not alone. She’ll be there for Rocco, and she’ll be there for him.

Chase sees Brook looking out the window, and she asks, how’s Violet? He says, missing her dad and grandpa, and she says, being separated from Finn so soon after she lost her Gregory has to be unbearable. Chase says, Finn will be okay, and as hard as it was losing his dad, he’s glad Gregory didn’t suffer. He’d never tell Dante, but Lulu’s been in a coma for so long, maybe whatever is going on is a natural end. She says she hates to say it, but she thinks he’s right. But that won’t make losing Lulu any easier for those who love her. They hug.

Tracy goes to Lulu’s room and says, it’s nice to see her back in town. She thinks about her all the time. Lulu has no idea how much she misses her. She loved watching Lulu grow up. She knows Lulu is having a hard time, but she has to hang in there. No child of Luke Spencer’s ever gives up. They don’t know how. She has her father’s heart, his courage, and his impossible, infuriating stubbornness. She’s going to get through this. Her dad wouldn’t have it any other way. She kisses Lulu’s hand.

Isaiah says, Lucky has no plan, again, and Lucky says he will when the opportunity presents itself. Isaiah tells him, that’s what he always says, and Lucky says he’s alive and well. Isaiah says, and bleeding, and Lucky asks for details about the guard rotation. Isaiah puts a bandage on his wound, and says, there are 18 men. Lucky says he took out 7, so only 15 to go. Isaiah says, Lucky never tells him the odds, and Lucky says, they’ve been in worse places. Isaiah says, they haven’t. Lucky should never have come for him. Escape is impossible. Lucky says, his old man told him that there’s always a way out.

Tomorrow, Ric tells Alexis to seize the chance or there won’t be another one; Laura says she has a problem; Heather asks if Elizabeth can keep a secret; and Tracy says, Dante robbed Lulu of her spirit and determination.

Below Deck Mediterranean

It’s pouring, and in Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, they’ve had two separate leaks, and they’re stuck at the dock. They can’t catch a break. The guests return and the captain asks the deckhands to clean the forward cabin which is now dry. Aesha reminds Ellie that there’s a mermaid party tonight. Since the guests missed out going to the winery, Aesha is going to do a wine tasting at the bar. In Jono’s interview, he says, it’s a lot of pressure. Being at the dock definitely affects the guests’ moods, and he’s got allergy restrictions and different preferences. The past few charters, the food has been great. She is always ready to rise to the occasion. In Aesha’s interview, she says she hates being stuck. The winery was her way of entertaining the guests and alleviating the pressure. A distraction to keep them entertained. Aesha gathers the guests at the bar and oversees the wine tasting in her own way. In Bri’s interview, she says she’s trying her best to stay away from Joe, and we flash back to them in the bathroom. She says she tries to picture him as a really old man, and she thinks it worked. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, Aesha has skills you don’t find on a CV. Not every chief stew can get the guests to smile when it’s pouring, and plans have been canceled. Joe blabs on and on about the date thing to Gael, and says, it takes more courage to say no. She tells him that she feels he led the girls on and she has empathy for them. In her interview, she says she knows Joe is toying with the girls and he doesn’t care as long as he gets what he wants. She wonders if his good guy act is just an act. He makes it seem like it’s the girls’ fault.

Zea Marina, Athens. Pamela wanders around the galley, and in Jono’s interview, he says, Pamela’s giving Jennifer Coolidge vibes. She tells him that she’s just being drunk nosy. In his interview, Jono says he’s trying to incorporate the theme in his food. Crustaceans and fish under the sea. The guests dress up as merpeople, and Pamela tells Aesha that she’s a little f***ed up. Aesha asks if she can get Pamela anything, and Pamela says, yes, alcohol. Bri can’t find her own black dress and wonders if it counts as misplacing something. One of the guests is dressed as a merman with his junk hanging down out of his robe (not his real junk… I don’t think), and in Aesha’s interview, she says she loves balls. Scott’s are the best. She knew he was the one when she saw his balls. Aesha tells the guest that she’s not sure if mermen have balls, and helps Pamela down the stairs. Bri says she’s doing cabins, but she’s still looking for her dress. She finally tells Aesha that she can’t find it, and Aesha asks, what the f***ing Christ have you done? In her interview, Aesha says, if the laundry stew can’t find her own uniform, where does she go from here? She tells Bri that she can wear her black shirt, but find her dress. Dinner is served, and guest Jennifer sees there’s raw seafood on her plate. She says she can’t eat it, and another guest asks, why? She says, it could kill her. She put it on the preference sheet more than once and said it 14 times. The captain comes to the table, and Jennifer explains that she has an iron overload and can’t eat raw fish. Captain Sandy says she’ll handle it, and in her interview, she says, what the f***? This is unacceptable. She tells Jono, and in his interview, he says, f*** me. The captain says, it’s a big screw up.

Jono apologizes, and Captain Sandy tells him to go see the guest. In the captain’s interview, she says she’s pissed. She’s never, in her 35 years as captain, had a guest fed something that could kill them. It’s a fireable offense and she needs to look for a replacement. Jono tells Jennifer that he’s so sorry and takes the plate away. Captain Sandy tells Aesha what happened, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, it’s a huge f*** up. Should she double-check everything? She’s spread insanely thin and doesn’t know how she can functionally do that. The captain tells Jono that this is serious, and he says, people say if you put a lot of lime on it, it cooks the fish. I’ve never heard of such a thing, and the captain just says, no. Ellie tells Bri that the primary is nearly passed out and she thinks it will be an early night. Pamela asks Aesha to feed her, and she does, using the choo-choo method. The captain calls Norma and says she needs a new chef, and Norma says she’ll get back to the captain asap. Aesha finds rags on the bar, and in her interview, she says, Ellie isn’t the local pub bartender. It’s a five-star superyacht. She has no time to repeat herself. At this point, it feels like she’s a one woman show. Pamela says she wants a drinky poo, then finally decides she’s drunk enough and should call it a day. In his interview, Jono says, chefs have fired for lesser things. It’s his reputation as well. The guests go to bed, and lightning flashes.

Second day of charter. Captain Sandy calls the owner, and says she was hoping she could bring on a fourth stew. The owner agrees, and in Jono’s interview, he says he has no chance to make another mistake. The captain asks how Aesha would feel about having another stew, and Aesha says, amazing. It will solve everything. She hugs Captain Sandy, and in Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, the boat requires four stews, but they weren’t able to have one because of the leak in the forward cabin. She’s going to try and find someone for Aesha. She doesn’t see a lot of rain, so she’s getting the boat off the dock and putting the toys out as long as there isn’t lightning. She tells Aesha that they’re taking the guests on a boat ride and coming in for the fireworks. They head out and drop anchor, and Joe gets snippy with Gael, trying to tell her what to do when she already knows. He keeps asking whether she did this or that, and says he was just trying to help. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’s been working her ass off. She’s aspiring to be a chief stew, and thinks Aesha is taking her for granted. She’s recognizing Ellie’s efforts less and less. Instead of mentoring her, she’s treating Ellie like she doesn’t belong. Lots of whining tonight.

The guests play on the water toys, and Joe tells Nathan that Gael doesn’t like him telling her what to do. In Joe’s interview, he says, Gael will listen to Nathan because they have a special relationship, and she’ll listen to Iain because he’s the bosun. But he’s the lead deckhand. Let him do his job. He tells Nathan that Gael has a weird thing with him. The captain contacts Norma for another stew and adds that she still needs a chef. She notices the wind kick up and thinks a storm must be coming. The fireworks are confirmed, and Joe looks for his red polo. Ellie suggests he check his cabin, and he asks Bri about it. In Joe’s interview, he says he doesn’t want to get her fired. He’s not snitching, but he’s only got one polo now and it stinks. In Nathan’s interview, he says, his mom and dad weren’t affectionate, but Gael brings it out of him. He’d lay his jacket on a puddle for her. He’d lay across the puddle himself for her. If they were at a carnival and there was a photo booth, they’d get their picture taken. Anchor is hauled, and in his interview, Jono says, two of the guests are celebrating an anniversary, and everything is definitely going to be cooked. The boat docks. Ellie tells Bri that the theme is black and white, and they decorate. Guest Janie says, we’re having fireworks, about 10,000 times. The fireworks happen and dinner is served. Ellie tells Bri that she regrets allowing a random man make her look like a dumb bitch. Joe played with their heads and that’s not how you treat women. Bri says, it’s cold, and in her interview, she says, this is the best interaction she and Ellie have had, and she feels guilty about the bathroom incident. It must never be spoken about, ever. In Jono’s interview, he says he put in the effort, now it’s the moment of truth. He hopes they like it. Aesha tells him that the guests think the dinner is beautiful, and the captain gets a text from Norma saying the new stew can start tomorrow, but she still has no chef. Janie’s husband presents her with a diamond bracelet, and she says, fireworks… jewelry… What else is she getting? He says, lucky. BA-DUM-CHH! Jono makes chocolate cake topped with caramel sauce, ice cream, and a cookie, and in Aesha’s interview, she says she feels like Jono put a lot of effort into the first course and forgot about dessert. Janie says, this isn’t what they wanted. She’s disappointed after the great dinner. Aesha can take back the cookie and ice cream. She would have preferred a soufflé or crème brûlée. The chef missed the mark tonight. Aesha agrees.

Aesha tells Jono that the guests were happy with everything else, but Janie was disappointed with the dessert. It wasn’t high-end. He says, it was all homemade, but she says, it’s not a chocolate soufflé or crème brûlée. He says he had no time. It was a big meal. In his interview, he says, it was a punch in the gut. The situation with the fish deflated him and this reaction ruined his spirits. Pamela says, Janie is upset, and wonders if she needs to teach the chef how to make soufflés. The guests go to bed.

Final day of charter. Jono makes beignets and, in his interview, he says he wanted to do something extra to show he cares, but it might be too late. Joe tells Iain that they did a full wash of the bow, and in Joe’s interview, he says, he doesn’t know what Iain’s game is, but he’s got the opportunity to prove he’s got what it takes. It’s time for guest departure, and Pamela’s husband (whose name escapes me) says, it was top-notch. Pamela says, they had such a good time, she can barely remember the first night. We flash back to Aesha feeding her. She tells them not to work too hard, and the guests leave. The captain tells the crew, good job, and to meet in the usual place for their thick envelope tip meeting. Aesha tells the captain that the anniversary dessert was a cookie and ice cream, and Janie was pissed. The captain appreciates her honesty and calls Jono to the bridge. In her interview, she says she’s going to have to let Jono go. He made a cookie for a 25th anniversary dessert and served raw fish to a person who could die from eating it. She should just fire him for that, but they can’t find a chef. She says, sh*t. F***.

Captain Sandy tells Jono to have a seat. Serving the guest raw fish was a fireable offense. She’s not going to do that, but it can’t happen again. The guests were upset about last night’s dessert and she’s not sure why a cookie was served. Why didn’t he make crème brûlée? He says he felt like it was a challenging dinner, but he’ll bring more until the end of the season. I think, dude. You should have said almost anything but that. Saying that you don’t make it well would have been better. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she has no replacement, and they can’t be stuck with no chef like what happened with Matthrew. We flash back to that, and she says, the crew cooking was the worst meal they ever had. Maybe Norma can make a miracle, but she has no choice for now. In Jono’s interview, he says he was prepared to be fired. He’s devastated and feels like he’s ruining all his hard work. He’s disappointed in himself. Gael makes an announcement that the carpet is being fixed, and the captain calls everyone together for the tip meeting.  

They gather in the main salon, and Captain Sandy says, they were stuck on the dock, but the crew brought the energy, and it energized the clients. They have two charters left and need to dig deep and bring it. The tip is $25K – $2000 or 2170 euros each. She says, they’re getting a new stew, and Joe’s antennae immediately go up. He asks when they’re coming, and the captain tells them, have fun tonight. It was a great charter. Aesha says she’s so happy, but in Ellie’s interview, she asks if they need a new stew. In Aesha’s interview, she says, her life will get so much easier, and in Bri’s interview, she says, all she knows is that she doesn’t want drama. She’s working on maturing. Ellie hopes it’s a laundry stew, and Aesha shuffles around cabinmates. Iain will have his own cabin, since he’s the bosun. Bri will go with Jono, Gael will be back with Aesha, and the new girl will be with Ellie. She asks Bri if she’s okay being put with Jono, and Bri says she is. Aesha asks Jono if he’s comfortable sharing a cabin with Bri, and he says he’s comfortable sharing with anyone. Joe is overly excited, and in his interview, he says, new is good. In her interview, Aesha says she knows it’s going to affect the dynamics. Ellie is seething, and she feels this could mark the point where things go south. She doesn’t care. At this point, she needs all the help she can get. We see the new stew headed toward the boat.

To be continued…

👑 Queen of the Sandcastle…

Join me tomorrow for soap, what to watch or not, and what’s happening in Dubai. Until then, stay safe, stay wearing white after Labor Day if you want to, and stay never serving raw fish to someone who could die from eating it. And no cookies for a 25th anniversary either.