Tag Archives: Below Deck Mediterranean

Sep10

September 9, 2024 – Holly Chases the Biggest Score Of Her Career, Silent Disco Afterparty On Deck, Final Bow, Perfect Small Binge, Furry Influence & Morn

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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.

Sep3

September 2, 2024 – No Labor No Soap, New Fourth Stew Floater On Deck, Scooby Says & Back

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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.

Aug27

August 26, 2024 – Lucky Applies For a Job In an Odd Way, 25th Anniversary Cookie On Deck & Almost

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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.

Aug20

August 19, 2024 – John Arrests Kristina For Attempted Murder, Starboard Cabin Leak On Deck, Charged, Our Talk Daddy & Island

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cody tells Sasha that he knows it’s a big step for her and doesn’t want to mess it up. She tells him to stop talking, and they get busy.

Brad (yay!) thanks Terry for seeing him, and she asks if his concern is a medical issue. He says, no, and she asks what she can do for him. He says he was checking the GH job website and noticed an opening for a lab tech. He realizes it’s an entry level position, but he’d like to apply. She asks, what’s stopping him? and he says his history with GH. She asks if he’s referring to his extremely checkered past as an employee of this hospital. Does he think it’s worth his time applying? He says he knows it’s a long shot… unless the Co-Chief of Staff goes to bat for him.

Jason looks for Anna at the station.

Laura tells Anna that it was the long-term care facility on the phone. The doctor wants to see her, so she needs to go. Anna asks if there’s anything she can do, and Laura says, yes. Step up the search for Valentin. Charlotte may need to see her mother. She hopes to God it’s not the last time.

John tells Kristina that she’s under arrest, and Alexis asks, for what? He says that’s between him, the perp, and the FBI, and Sonny says, John wants to come after him, but can’t do it like a man, so he’s going to harass his daughter. John says, even if that were true – and he’s not saying it is – there’s nothing Sonny can do about it.

Tracy brings Violet to the stables. They’re both dressed in riding outfits, and Violet says she loves her new costume. Tracy says, she looks wonderful, and Violet asks if she looks elegant. Tracy says, exceptionally, but the outfits are about more than looking good. There’s also safety and comfort. She tells Violet to pay close attention to Cody when he saddles her horse. Everybody should be able to saddle their own horse. She wonders where Cody is, and Violet says, maybe he’s hiding. Tracy suggests they find him.  

Laura asks Jordan to cover for her at the breakfast meeting on waterfront planning. Lulu has had a setback with her health, and she may need to rely on Jordan more than usual. Jordan says, that’s what she’s here for. She hopes everything is all right. Laura says her too.

The desk sergeant tells Jason that Anna’s not in her office and asks if he can take a message, but Jason says he’ll wait. He sits with Dante, and they discuss Danny’s upcoming baseball game. Dante’s phone rings, and he says he’ll be right there.

John asks if Sonny is feeling powerless, but Sonny says, against John? Not a chance. John says he’s got the FBI behind him. What’s Sonny got? Sonny says he’d be happy to show it to John, and John says, bring it. Alexis tells Sonny, stop it, and Sonny says he’s going to make a phone call. He leaves, and John tells the officer to cuff Kristina, but Alexis says, not until he tells her what the charges are. John says, Kristina is an adult. He doesn’t have to answer to her parent. Alexis says she’s not here as Kristina’s mother, but as her lawyer, and John (who is eternally out of every loop) says, she lost her license. She says, he needs to catch up. She got her license back. Molly says, it’s a judicial review process, not unlike the one he’ll be facing at the DOJ. John tells Kristina that she’s being arrested for the assault and attempted murder of Ava Jerome.

Anna comes into the station and Jason says he was waiting for her. She tells him to follow her.

Dante goes to see Laura, who says she’s sorry she didn’t call herself. Dante says he hopes she’s not too busy for dinner tonight. Rocco has reached level 20 in Fortune Quest and wants to tell her all about it. She says she has to go to Silver Water. Something’s not right with Lulu.

On the phone, Sonny says he doesn’t care if she’s in court or what client she has, he needs to speak to her. (I assume it’s Diane.)

Molly says, that’s ridiculous, and John says, the victim would disagree. Kristina says, Ava Jerome is nobody’s victim, and John says, only because Kristina didn’t succeed. Alexis tells Kristina not to say another word and asks John when this alleged assault took place. John says, the attacked happened on August 1st at 10:30 am, and Alexis says, the altercation when Kristina fell three stories and Ava walked away without a hair out of place? but John says he’s not litigating this at the hospital. Molly says, he doesn’t have a law license, and won’t be litigating anything, and he says he’s here to take the perp to the PCPD. Kristina says, Ava attacked her, nearly killed her, and did kill her baby, and Molly says, his claim is shaky at best and John can’t arrest Kristina. This is out of his jurisdiction. He says he’s a federal agent. The whole country is his jurisdiction. She says, this is local matter to be handled by the PCPD and the Port Charles DA’s office, and he says, where she works, but she says she won’t be on the case. He says, Kristina made a criminal threat against a material witness in an ongoing FBI investigation. Which means it’s absolutely within his jurisdiction.  

Tracy tells Violet, Cody’s not out back or in the stable. She knows she told him they were going riding. Where could he be? Violet says, Cody lives upstairs. Maybe he’s up there. Tracy says, there’s only one way to find out, walks up the stairs, and calls to Cody. Cody and Sasha stop what they’re doing, and Cody says, maybe if they’re quiet, she’ll go away. Sasha says, it’s Tracy, and he says, touché. She hopes he locked the door, and he calls that he’ll be be right down. Just give him a minute. He tells Sasha that he’s sorry.

John says, Kristina got a subpoena from Ava’s lawyer to testify against her father and went to Ava’s hotel suite to confront her. She threatened to kill Ava if she was forced to testify. Kristina says, that’s not what happened, and John says, when Ava wasn’t intimidated, Kristina flew into a rage and attacked Ava. During the struggle was when Kristina crashed through the window. Kristina says, that’s not true, and John tells her, that’s what Ava says, and thanks to the photos she provided, the evidence shows Kristina assaulting Ava. Alexis says, the photos show Ava had hands on Kristina, and John says, she was defending herself. Alexis says, Ava was sending Kristina off balance and crashing out the window, but John says, that’s for the court to decide. He tells Kristina, get up, but Alexis says, don’t move. This is abuse and harassment. It’s a threat to Kristina’s physical health and to John’s employment. He says, she’s being discharged, and Alexis says, to go home to a clean bed. He’s not about to drag off Kristina to a dirty cell. Sonny says, she’s in a wheelchair, and Alexis says, if he insists on this, she’ll call the ACLU, the DOJ, the FBI, and the local press. John says, fine. Bring the wheelchair. Alexis tells Kristina not to do or say anything. She’ll be right behind them. She tells Molly that she can’t come, or it will risk favoritism. Sonny promises to fix this, and the officer gives Kristina her rights. Alexis says, she’ll keep them posted, and follows Kristina, John, and the officer out of the hospital.

Dante asks if Laura wants him to come, but she says, Doc is going to meet her there. He wonders if he should tell Rocco, but she says, not yet. She wants to talk to the doctor first. She’s hoping it’s a false alarm. She’s hoping Lulu will be better and this will just be a surprise visit. She’ll call as soon as she knows anything. Dante thanks her for keeping him in the loop, and she says, of course (🍷). He’s family and always will be… What’s wrong? He says he knows he and Lulu weren’t together when it happened, but he’ll always love her. Laura says she knows and takes his hand.

Molly meets Jordan at an outside table, and Jordan says she appreciates Molly coming here. Molly asks if Jordan is here as her mother-in-law or the Deputy Mayor, and Jordan says, a little of both. Kristina tells her that Agent Cates arrested Kristina, and she doesn’t mean to rush Jordan… Jordan says, they need to take some time. She wants to make sure Molly really hears her. Molly says, about what? and Jordan asks, what on earth possessed her to go see Ava in jail?  

Terry says, Brad altered Finn’s drug screening, and faked lab results that said Britt was pregnant with Patrick Drake’s child. Brad says, she was pregnant, and Terry says, after he helped her steal Lulu’s embryo. She brings out his folder, and he says, for the record, he did nothing to implant the embryo, but she says, he gets no points for that. He also helped Nelle pass off her child as his and Lucas’s. He says his child died and Lucas hadn’t even met him yet. All he was doing was watching their new baby and the baby just died. She says she can’t imagine what he was going through, but it’s no excuse for what he did. He says he made a monumentally bad call that cost him everything. He knows he hurt people, but he also believes he’s been punished enough. Terry asks if he expects her to trust him, and he says, Britt did. Before she died… before she was murdered by Heather Webber, she lobbied for him to get a job as a patient advocate. Terry says, she was a good friend, and he says, the best ever. Terry says, she was also a professional and committed to the good of the hospital. He says, she was, and she wouldn’t have lobbied for him if she didn’t trust him. She believed in second chances and got more than a few. She offered one to him, and she wasn’t able to follow through, but Terry can. Please give him one more chance. For Britt.

Cody comes downstairs and says he’s sorry. Tracy asks if he was sleeping on the job, but he says, definitely not sleeping. She asks if he forgot, and he says he did. She says, that’s never happened to her before. She’s been ignored, but never forgotten. She tells Violet, there’s a first time for everything, and Cody says he forgot in all the excitement. Tracy asks if he means James being missing, and Violet says, James is missing? Cody says, they found James, and Tracy says she thought he was the one who found James.  

At the station, Alexis asks where Kristina is, and John says, she’s being booked. Sonny says, John has gone too far, and John asks if that’s a threat. Alexis says, it’s a fact. This is a massive overreach of jurisdiction and an abuse of power. He says, tell it to the judge, and she says she’s going to tell his superior at the FBI about the supposed investigation. (Someone, please do that.) John asks if they think he’s making it up. The FBI has been investigating Sonny for decades. Alexis says she thinks the FBI is a lot less interested in Sonny than he is, and Sonny says, John is off the rails. He can’t wait to see John crash and burn. (Agreed.)

Anna asks, what’s on Jason’s mind? and Jason says, they talked about Sonny being a little off. His bipolar meds were tampered with. She says, Carly told her that, but he seems back on track. Jason says, he is, and she asks if they know who it was who tampered with the meds. He says, Valentin, and Valentin got away when he gave Anna time to warn him.

Cody asks if they want to get on the horses, but Violet says she forgot her hat. She runs into the other room and sees Sasha coming downstairs. Violet asks if she was taking a nap with Cody.

Brad tells Terry that no one ever accused him of being incompetent. Nothing he did wrong was self-serving. He was either blackmailed or coerced. Terry says, he’s no one’s innocent victim, and he says, one thing he never was, was innocent. He always brought on his own trouble, but that doesn’t change that he’s an expert lab technician and would be an asset to the hospital. She asks why he doesn’t apply to another lab. Why is it so important he work at GH? He says, for the same reason it was to Britt. It’s home.

Jordan says, they got a call from Scotty saying the DA’s office was harassing his client, but Molly says she wasn’t alone and brought an impartial witness with her. She never said she was a representative of the DA. Most importantly, Ava killed her daughter. Jordan says, it has yet to be proved. If Molly was there as a private citizen, why did she ask Dex to be her witness? She would have never even gotten in there if she didn’t work for the DA. Not only did she abuse her position, she compromised the case. Molly says she’s sorry. She wasn’t thinking. Jordan says she’s glad Molly understands. Molly asks why she isn’t hearing this from Robert, and Jordan says, he understands she was acting out of grief, and as a professional courtesy, he’s letting her handle it rather than give Molly an official reprimand. What she doesn’t understand is why Molly did this on the day TJ and her family needed her. She thought Molly needed them too. Molly says she does, and Jordan asks, why did she leave them to confront Ava? Molly says she was angry. She wanted justice for her daughter, bur doesn’t even know if prosecuting Ava will accomplish that. Jordan says, nothing will bring that beautiful baby back, and Molly says, don’t they deserve to know what happened? She’s starting think Kristina falling wasn’t Ava’s fault.  

Kristina comes out and asks where Molly is, and Alexis says she suggested Molly stay behind so it doesn’t look like there’s bias. Kristina says, Cates is biased. She almost died and her baby did die. Alexis asks if she’s in pain, and Kristina says, no, but she’s uncomfortable and wants to go home. Sonny says, he’ll have Frank pick up her medication, and Kristina says, this is a nightmare.  

John says, Kristina’s cell is ready, but Alexis says she’s going to find a way to make Kristina more comfortable. She goes to the desk, and Sonny tells Kristina that he doesn’t want her to worry. She’ll be home before she knows it.

Anna says, Jason thinks Valentin tampered with Sonny’s meds, and Jason says, yeah. Anna says, Carly thinks it’s Ava. She has no proof. She’s just going off of Ava’s history. She did the same thing to Morgan. Jason says, that’s what they thought, and Anna says she’s trying to make sense of it. Jason says he found the pharmacist that switched Sonny’s medication, and he said it was on Valentin’s orders. He filled Jason in on everything. Anna says she had no idea Valentin tampered with Sonny’s meds, and Jason says he knows. It’s not her style. She says, she appreciates that, for what it’s worth (🍷), and he says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he needs to know where Valentin is,  but she says she doesn’t know. He asks if she’s still protecting Valentin, and she says she knows she screwed up, but she swears she had no idea that Valentin tampered with Sonny’s meds. Jason asks if she’d tell him if she did, and she says she would. He says, that he believes, and she asks if Sonny knows. He says, not yet, and she says, Jason can’t tell him. he tells her to stop protecting Valentin, but she says, it’s not about him. She needs to find Charlotte.  

Violet wonders why people take naps when they don’t have to, and Cody says, we get old. We get tired. We take naps. Violet says, they’re not old. Tracy is old. Tracy coughs and says, it’s not polite to discuss age. Violet asks, why? and she says, those are the rules. Sasha says she’d better get back to the house, and Tracy suggests she take Violet to get some apples and carrots for the horses. Violet asks if she’s not supposed to watch Cody saddle them, but Tracy says, they’ll wait. Sasha says, if Violet feeds Buttercup apples and carrots, Buttercup will love her even more, and Violet says, sounds like a plan. They leave, and Cody says he’s sorry he made them wait. It won’t happen again. Tracy says, in the middle of the day? and Cody says he’s entitled to a break. Tracy says, there are children on the grounds, and Cody says, they were in his bedroom. She asks if Leo has never barged in unannounced, and he says he thinks that kid can travel through walls. She asks what he was thinking, and he says, it was a big afternoon. She says, because he returned James, but he says, not that part. It was huge, but it’s what happened after. Mac told James that he’s Mac’s son. He thinks Mac might have forgiven him.

Terry says, Brad can’t ask her to turn a blind eye on his misdeeds, and he asks if she turned a blind eye on Britt. She says, they didn’t like anything about each other, and Brad says, but by the time Britt invited Terry to her first and only birthday bash, they were more than co-workers. They were friends, right? Terry says, it was a great party. He and Britt sang the hell out of that duet. She remembers how excited she was for Britt to embark on a new life. He says, none of them knew that life was ending that same night. Britt died because she saved Josslyn. Terry asks if he thinks that will persuade Michael not to object, and he asks if she’s saying she’s going to try and help him work here. She says she can’t believe she’s going to say this, but she’ll do it.  

Dante says he heard from three different people that Cates arrested his sister, and Sonny says, he sure did. Dante tells John that his sister was just in the hospital, and John asks if that means she doesn’t need to face the consequences of her actions. Dante says, what actions? but John walks away. Sonny says, bogus charges. John is using Kristina to get to him. Bogus charges or not, it’s better than lockup. Kristina says, they know it’s not true, and Alexis says, it’s not even plausible. Kristina says, when she let Ava know that she’d tell everything about Connie and Morgan, that’s when Ava grabbed her. She didn’t attack Ava. Alexis says, she knows, and if she has to, she’ll prove it.

Molly says she doesn’t think Kristina would intentionally hurt Ava, and Ava has nothing to do with being a witness for the FBI. Jordan says, it’s painfully obvious, and dealing with Ava would set anyone off. Molly says she was there when Kristina received the subpoena, and Jordan asks, what was her initial reaction? Molly says, Kristina was adamant that she wouldn’t testify and went to ask Ava to withdraw the subpoena. Jordan says, maybe her actions were rash, but that hardly seems unhinged, and Molly says, Kristina has a temper, and she’s hated Ava ever since Morgan died. She can’t help but wonder what Kristina did when Ava refused.

Jason says, nothing is going to happen to Charlotte, and Anna says, while Jason was waiting for her, she was in with Laura. Lulu isn’t doing well, and Laura wants Charlotte back here to spend whatever time Lulu has left with her, but she has no idea where Charlotte is and needs to find Valentin. Jason says, he’s not keeping this from Sonny, but she says, if Sonny finds out, he’ll retaliate. He says, Sonny will have to find Valentin first, and she says she’s just asking him to hold off. It’s about Charlotte. She owes it to Charlotte. Charlotte almost died because of her. She should not be forced to watch her father die. Jason says he’s not telling her that’s not going to happen, but if it does, Charlotte won’t be anywhere near it. She says she’s asking for time to track them down and Jason sighs. He says, if this is about Charlotte, when Anna finds them, is she going to warn Valentin about Sonny? Anna says she won’t let a private citizen take the law into their own hands.

Cody says he’s got a dad and a family. James is super psyched about his new uncle, which is him. Tracy says, it’s wonderful and she’s happy for him, and he says, that means a lot. She tells him, now saddle the horses.  

Terry says, Britt will haunt her if she doesn’t, and Brad thanks her. It’s amazing. She won’t regret it. He’ll be totally opposite of the person he was. She says, he doesn’t have the job yet, but he says, with her recommendation, he’ll be in. She says, in the highly unlikely event that it happens, he’ll be on probation, and he says he’s already done parole. Probation is nothing. She says, a lot of people will want him to fail, and he says he looks forward to winning over the haters. He thanks her, she says, get out, and he leaves.

Laura asks someone, what the hell are you doing here? (Valentin?)

In the interrogation room, Dante says he got Kristina some soup, but she says she’s not hungry. Alexis says she’s got to try and eat, and Kristina says, fine. She takes a couple of spoonfuls and says, it’s kind of good. Dante says, would her big brother steer her wrong? Sonny looks though the window and John comes up behind him. John says, it must be weird to be on this side, and Sonny asks if he feels guilty. John asks, why? and Sonny says, because he made a bogus charge and used Kristina to get to him. John says, he had to watch Sonny use Karen. Now he’ll watch justice take its course. Sonny says, this isn’t not justice, when Jason arrives. John says, if it’s not the enforcer right on cue, and Sonny tells Jason, let’s walk. This guy gets on his nerves. They leave.

On the phone, Anna tells someone that she needs help locating one of their clients.

Alexis says, John is still here. Fantastic. He says, someone’s got to stand guard, and she says, knock himself out . She’ll be petitioning for a emergency hearing, but he says, it won’t get the charges dismissed. She says, we’ll see. In the meantime, she’ll see about bail. John says, he’s sure with a father who owns a private island, Kristina won’t be a flight risk, but she says she won’t let him railroad her daughter.

Dante says, Kristina won’t spend the night in a cell, and she asks if he thinks she’ll get out. He says, if she can’t, she’s still not going downstairs, and she asks if she’ll get house arrest at the MetroCourt. He says, she’ll spend the night here, and she asks if it’s better than downstairs. He says, of course (🍷), and she says, at least the cell has a bed, but he says, they have Wi-Fi. They’ll binge one of those crappy reality shows she loves. She can pick the one he hates the most. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, just scared. They don’t have evidence of what actually happened. The photos show that Ava grabbed her, but the look on her face is angry. At the end of the day, it’s Ava’s word against hers. Dante says, that’s a great thing. Who would believe Ava over her?

Jordan says she’s surprised Molly has doubts about her sister, and Molly says, Kristina loved the baby and would never intentionally hurt her, but Kristina doesn’t think sometimes. She’s sure TJ has shared his concerns. Jordan says, he has, and Molly says, Kristina has had her outbursts during the pregnancy. She saw the photos of the confrontation. Jordan asks if Ava’s hands weren’t on Kristina, and Molly says, it doesn’t prove Ava was the aggressor. They were both so mad. Jordan asks what she’s saying, and Molly says, the idea of Kristina threatening Ava isn’t that farfetched. Jordan asks if she thinks Kristina attacked Ava, and Molly says, they wouldn’t be here. None of this would have happened if Kristina had listened her and stayed away from Ava.

In Sonny’s car, Sonny tells Jason that Jagger arrested Kristina to get to him, and Jason agrees. Sonny says, Ava was right about one thing. She didn’t tamper with his medication. Jagger did. Jagger expected him to lose his mind and attack him. Jason says, it wasn’t Cates, and Sonny says, he had the motive and the dates match. Jason says, it wasn’t him. It was Valentin.

Tomorrow, Molly tells TJ that if Kristina hadn’t done that one thing, their child would still be alive; Sam asks Dante if the mayor is in on this too; Sonny says, this is going to drive someone crazy; and Laura asks if they’re telling her that her daughter is going to die.

Below Deck Mediterranean

D*ckwad Joe tells Ellie that he doesn’t want to go on the date. He’s never been asked on a date before and thinks it’s serious, and he doesn’t want serious. Ellie says, it’s just about having fun, talking, and getting to know each other, but Joe says, for him, dating is up there and he’s not ready. He feels pressure and doesn’t want a date. Ellie says, okay. Not a problem. He says, she doesn’t hate him? and she says, no. Thanks. Bye. In her interview, she says, he liked her well enough to make out with her, but not enough to get to know her as a person and talk to her. She understands why some spiders eat their mates after mating.

Joe tells Nathan that maybe he took it too serious, but he doesn’t want to force himself. Gael asks if Ellie is all right, and Ellie says she’s numb to everything at this point. She imitates Joe and says, it’s not that serious. She’s moving on. In Gael’s interview, she says, Joe is being a d*ck. He wants what he wants when he wants it. He doesn’t care about the girls and she’s losing respect for him. Bri tells Jono that she heard Ellie speaking to Aesha, and she needs to stop flirting with Joe. Jono says, her job may depend on this. In Nathan’s interview, he says he usually dresses casually, but tonight, he’s here to impress. He puts on a turtleneck and slacks, and says, one look in the mirror and he looks like a knob. The crew leaves to go out, and in the taxi, Joe tells Bri about the non-date and says he didn’t want the pressure. In Bri’s interview, she says she’s not surprised, but he should have said no first instead of yes. This is what annoys her. Joe starts something and never finishes. He leaves her there, dangling. The crew heads for a restaurant.

At the table, they talk zombies, and Joe asks if Ellie is all right. She says she’s fine, and he says he’s never been asked on a date before. He was overwhelmed. It seemed too serios. She says, he was wrong, and in Joe’s interview, he says his last relationship was in 2017. When they broke up, he was going through a rough time. He was sleeping in his car and had no job. He thought he didn’t deserve this woman. The next person he dates is going to be the person he marries. Wow. He really doesn’t understand dating at all. Aesha says that if she marries Scott, he’s going to take her name, so he’ll be Scott Scott. Joe asks if Ellie wants children, and she says she was an only child, and wants three. He’s surprised and says he doesn’t know her, and in her interview, Ellie says, that’s what the date was about. How many ways can you chase away good p*ssy? In Bri’s interview, she says, f*** Joe, and tells Jono that it’s awkward now. Jono thinks it’s funny, and in her interview, Bri says she’s confused. If Joe wants Ellie, then take Ellie and stop teasing her. Well, we know he won’t be taking her on a date.

The crew goes to a penthouse club where they – surprise – dance and drink. In Bri’s interview, she says, Joe looks in her eyes and she’s locked in. Stop it. Nathan asks Gael to come with him, and she asks if she’s in trouble. He says, maybe, and Aesha wonders if they’re finally having a moment. Nathan says, they should get off the boat and do something cool, and Gael asks if they’re allowed. He says he asked Iain and Iain said it was okay. They’ll have fun. In Gael’s interview, she says she hasn’t had time to fully resolve her feelings about her last relationship. She wishes she could deny how she feels about Nathan, but she can’t. She’s never had a connection this quickly and it’s scary. Iain sits with Aesha, and he says he feels she’s doing well. She says she had her trials with the girls and had to teach them, and he says he wondered if she was going to make a change. She says she almost fired both of them, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, they’re doing well enough to keep their jobs, but she’s had to do her job, then repeat theirs if she wants the boat to run to the administrative standard. We flash back to her dealing with their screw-ups, and she says she needs to be on all the time and it’s not sustainable. Bri and Ellie sit together, and Bri says, Joe is playing both of them. It’s like chasing a flea. Ellie says she apologizes for hurting Bri’s feelings. It wasn’t her intention. She saw Bri’s defense mechanism was going into sensitive mode, and was afraid if she responded, Bri would keep defaulting to it. So she stayed firm to bring Bri out. Bri says she’s sorry for projecting and accusing Ellie of things she didn’t do, and in Ellie’s interview, she says she’s surprised Bri apologized and is owning up to her role in their issues. If she had known Joe was leading Bri on, she would have approached the situation differently. They hug. Nathan tells Iain that he asked Gael out and she said yes. Iain asks if Nathan is nervous, and Nathan says, a wee bit. Nathan asks Gael if she wants to go bungee jumping or skydiving, and she says she’s flexible.  Insert your own joke here. Joe follows Bri to the bathroom and asks why Bri’s face dropped when she saw him. She tells him not to be giving her eyes, and he says he’s only giving her eyes because she’s giving him eyes. She says, f*** off. She wants to hook up with him. He goes into the stall, and we hear them saying rude things. Joe tells her to get her skirt up. Gross. I’m not into angry sex or toilet sex.

Joe says, Bri started it, and she says, if he doesn’t know how to make a decision, she’ll make it for him. If he can’t be a man, she will be. Get out. He walks out, and in Bri’s interview, she says, sh*t. In every way possible, Joe isn’t good for her. He’s feeding into her impulsiveness and not making her a good human. The crew leaves the club, and Ellie tells Aesha that Bri said she was sorry for the unnecessary drama. Aesha says, unless they did it for themselves, she couldn’t do it for them. In Aesha’s interview, she says, maybe the cabin switch made them make up. She needs to see them at work to see if this is actually going to happen. She tells Ellie that she loves that they had the conversation. Back on the boat, everyone goes to bed. Bri wonders if she should talk to Joe and clear the air, and Aesha says, be honest with him. Joe gets a text from Bri saying they should chat. He wonders what she wants to chat about.

28 hours before charter. Captain Sandy reads that heavy rainstorms are predicted, while Nathan searches for fun activities in Athens. In Nathan’s interview, he says he likes the idea of rock climbing. Aesha tells Bri and Ellie that they know the drill. Cabins and laundry. The captain goes into the laundry room where it looks like a clothing store exploded, and in her interview, she says, the laundry is a disaster. Joe tells Nathan that he and Bri kissed in the toilet, and Nathan says, get off. Joe says, Nathan is shouting when he’s trying to keep it on the downlow, and in their joint interview, Nathan says, Joe can do what he wants. He’s single. Joe says he doesn’t know what he’s doing. How can he expect a good outcome? Nathan says, exactly.

Bri calls her friend and is talking as she walks into the laundry room where Captain Sandy is ironing. The captain says she wants Bri to clean up this mess. Hang up. The way she left it, that can’t happen again. She doesn’t like messes. If Bri is disorganized, how can she keep up? Fix this for her and get started now. Nathan goes to the bridge and asks Captain Sandy if it’s possible for him to bring out Gael to do a wee activity. The captain asks if something is going on, and he says, he’s enjoying her company and thought it would be nice to get off the boat for a wee distraction. She tells him to enjoy himself. As long as the work is completed, have fun. Bri tells Jono about what the captain said, and says, but she’s an organized mess. In Jono’s interview, he says, it’s a fiasco, but Bri is his girl. He doesn’t want her to lose her job. He’s not covering up for her, but he feels empathetic. Nathan tells Gael that they’re going rock climbing, and she says, nice, and hugs him. Captain Sandy shows Aesha where she’s going to ask Leah to marry her, and in the captain’s interview, she says, Leah is coming in a few days and she’s nervous. She doesn’t want to mess it up. Aesha suggests she do it on the dock there. It will be more ceremonial. Captain Sandy says she wants it to flow and not bawl her eyes out. She tells Aesha that the laundry room is an explosion. She thinks a lot of Bri’s confusion is that. She sees Aesha standing to eat her meals. She never sits and the captain wants to help. In Gael’s interview, she says, when it’s more serious, she overthinks it more. She tells Jono that it’s exciting, but terrifying, and in her interview, she says she thinks she and Nathan have a connection, but she’s seen guys be sweet to girls, and behind their back, they don’t know what’s going on. Maybe Nathan is playing games. In the past, she’s been hurt and it scares her. She and Nathan leave.

At the preference sheet meeting, Captain Sandy says, the primary is Pamela Duke, who created a nautical themed jewelry line. The other guests are her husband Denny, Uncle Steve, and his wife Janie. Janie and Steve will be celebrating their 25th anniversary, and there’s a fireworks surprise from Steve. They have a lot to discuss. They’re going to be stuck on the dock the first day. The wind is going to be over 40 knots, and they wouldn’t be able to get back in. In the captain’s interview, she says, instead of a hurricane, in the Mediterranean, it’s called a Medicane. There are going to be high winds and lots of rain. She thinks it will move by quickly and hopes to get off the second day. She tells Aesha that there’s a lot of history in this town, so it should be easy to figure out what to do.

At the rock-climbing place, Gael asks if Nathan still thinks it’s a good idea and he says, no. In Nathan’s interview, he says he’s afraid of heights. He doesn’t know why he chose this activity. F***. Nathan says he’ll race her up, and Gael slips, but then passes him. He says he’s scared, but she says, he’s got this. They reach the top, and he’s afraid to go back down, but she says, just think of it as a bosun’s chair and push on the wall. They go back down, and in Gael’s interview, she says she feels a bit vulnerable. They’re progressing and she wonders if that’s why it’s scary. They climb again, and a little kid begins his climb. Nathan says he hopes the kid falls. When they’re finished, Nathan says, it turns out that she’s the better rock climber, and she says she’s proud of him. He was scared, but he got here. He says he will puke on their first date, and she says, it’s a story to tell. In his interview, he says, it was fun getting to know Gael. He might have found his pot of gold after all.

18 hours before charter. Bri tells Joe not to f*** around. Don’t make her feel dumb. He says, cut the sh*t, and in Bri’s interview, she says, her time with Joe is done. She knows who Joe is and sees through his bullsh*t. It’s nice to feel wanted, but she has to set boundaries and needs him not to cross them. Aesha looks up the Agora of Athens, and says, it looks beautiful. She asks Bri about the laundry and says, the captain said it was a total sh*tshow. She feels Bri works inefficiently and gives her some tips. In Aesha’s interview, she says, the boat is meant to be run with four stews. She does it with three and two have little experience. It’s just hectic. Ellie looks for her Pepsi and is courteous, but not too friendly, with Joe. In Joe’s interview, he says he has no regrets about not going on the date. He’s not interested. Gael and Nathan get back to the boat, and Nathan asks for a kiss. In Gael’s interview, she says, right now, screw it. She’s going to do what makes her feel happy. He’s nice and she likes him, Did she say that? Nathan tells Joe that they had fun. He’s a hopeless romantic, and Joe is just hopeless.  

5 hours before charter. Thunder starts, and Captain Sandy says, this sucks. The provisions come in and rain begins to fall. The captain wonders what the dripping noise is and sees there’s another leak in the forward cabin. We flash back to her telling Aesha that they can’t use the cabin, and she says, this is not good. She radios the deckhands and says, the leak is getting in the bosun’s locker now. The door is closed and they’re taking on water. In her interview, Captain Sandy says, when they take on this much water, it can sink the boat. They can’t go to sea, and it will end the season. Nathan says he needs a wet vac, and the captain says, f*** me.

Captain Sandy says, the forward hatch is leaking, and the crew cabin is really flooding. Joe says he hates the rain so much. They use the wet vac, and Luka says he was plugging it and the plug fell. He tells Captain Sandy that the leak is finished, and in her interview, she says, they have to dry it out and make sure the hatch is sealed. It showed them where the leak was, so they were able to fix it. She tells the deckhands to put in fans. In Jono’s interview, he says he has to dig deep to focus on stellar food. He used to ride horses, and taking care of them requires discipline. He’s digging from that to focus on producing stellar food when they’re stuck at the dock. The captain radios, 30 minutes to guest arrival, and Nathan tells Joe that Bri is having a hard time in the laundry. Things go missing. Joe says, they can’t complain, and in Joe’s interview, he says he knows Bri is treading on eggshells, so he’s not saying anything. The captain radios for the crew to go to the main deck, and primary Pamela comes out of the taxi screeching. Captain Sandy says, Aesha will show them around the boat and after that, she’ll have a chat with them about the plan. Aesha does the tour, and Pamela looks for the bar. The captain says she has bad news regarding the weather. They can’t leave yet, Pamela asks, where’s her alcohol?

Captain Sandy says, if they went out, the guests would hate her and be scared for their lives. Pamela says, it wasn’t supposed to happen until three. Where’s her alcohol? This sucks. The captain says, sorry, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, they look like they were just told Santa isn’t real. It’s really sad. Aesha tells the guests that after lunch, they’re going to a wine tasting at Athen’s oldest winery. It’s absolutely beautiful and will be a nice excursion. Perhaps realizing what an ass she’s being, Pamela says she knows it’s not their fault. Lunch is about to be served, and Nathan and Gael spoon in Nathan’s bunk. Aesha asks if there are deckhands available, interrupting their cuddle, but it turns out Nathan isn’t needed. The guests deem lunch delicious, and Iain calls Nathan to meet in the galley pantry. Aesha tells Gael that she’s going to the winery with Gael’s boyfriend and they’re going to cuddle. Gael asks if Aesha is bringing back some wine for her, but Aesha says, no, and Gael says, bitch. In the taxi, guest Eric says, it’s what they call pre-rain in Florida, and on the boat, Captain Sandy says, holy sh*t. It says, 30 inches of rain today. Pamela is afraid they’ll get to the winery, but won’t be able to get out. Aesha says, it’s indoors, but Pamela says she thinks they should have stayed on the ship. She’s not agreeing to this anymore. Take her back.

Gael says, this is why the storm had a damn name, when an alarm goes off. Captain Sandy says, oh sh*t. F*** me, man. Which seem to be the words of the day. She thinks they might be leaking again and tells Iain to check the starboard cabin. Nathan radios Aesha in the other taxi that the guests want to turn back because the roads are flooding, and Aesha says, let’s go back. The captain says, it’s getting wet. It’s leaking like a motherf***er. Iain says, yeah, it’s dripping, and the captain says, f***, f***, f***!  

To  be continued…

⚖️ Justice For Johnny…

An update on the Neanderthal murderers.

https://ew.com/murder-charges-announced-fatal-shooting-johnny-wactor-8697940

🎤 King Of Talk…

It wouldn’t be right not to acknowledge Phil Donahue’s contribution to daytime talk TV. He had a real reality show.

https://ew.com/talk-show-hosts-react-to-phil-donahue-death-oprah-katie-couric-more-8697726

💦 Walking On Raindrops…

Join me tomorrow for soap and Dubai talk. Until then, stay safe, stay making promises sparingly and keeping the ones you make, and stay giving second chances, especially if you’ve gotten a few of them yourself.

Aug13

August 12, 2024 – Jack Takes Up Residence In Port Charles, Who Is Miguel, Mean Girl Guests On Deck & Anthem

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Drew sees Willow at the hospital and says, the pharmacy messed up some of Monica’s medication so he’s here to straighten it out. Has she recovered from their elevator adventure? Elizabeth comes by, and he thanks her for figuring out Monica’s meds. She says, of course (🍷), and he says he’s got to get these to her, and leaves. Elizabeth says she’s missed Willow, and Willow says she’s missed her too. She wishes she was back under better circumstances. She came to see Kristina.

At the MetroCourt bar, Carly says, a 2000 Bordeaux. The customer has great taste. Trish says, they didn’t have what the customer wanted, and they demanded to see the hotel owner. Carly says she has no patience, and if the wine wasn’t so nice, she’d be tempted to throw it at them. Trish says she’d pay money to see that, but Carly says, don’t encourage her.

Maxie goes to Nina’s place and says she thought Nina should hear about James’s big adventure baking brownies by himself. Nina says, Drew is coming over. She’s helping him refine his campaign platform. Maxie says she doesn’t know if Drew’s platform needs any help, but Nina’s story certainly does.  

At the cemetery, TJ says, this is a nice spot, and Jordan says, it’s pretty with the tree. It has space and shade. TJ says, the tree will change with the seasons, reminding them that things grow and change, and nothing lasts forever, even this pain. She says she’s sorry. She wishes she could wave a magic wand and take it away. If it helps, she thinks of all the spaces, this is the most peaceful. He says he thinks so too.

Willow goes to Kristina’s room and says she can come back if Kristina wants to sleep, but Kristina says she’d rather be awake now. When she closes her eyes, all she sees is her daughter. Then when she wakes up – she starts to cry – she has to realize her daughter is gone all over again.

Maxie asks, what’s going on? and Nina says, nothing. She got the wine out to sooth Drew’s nerves after his call with McConkey. And they can celebrate after they’re finished for the night. Maxie says, it’s not Nina’s best idea or her subtlest, and Nina says, whatever Maxie thinks or believes, she’s doing it for Willow.

Willow says, Kristina is in shock and sedated. It’s normal for her mind to play tricks on her. But that doesn’t mean she’s not feeling terrible. Kristina says she knows Willow suffered this kind of loss, and Willow says she has. Kristina says, and Willow knows this empty feeling, and Willow says she does. Kristina tells her that they say time heals, but she can’t imagine that being true. Did time help her forget the horrible loss of her baby? Willow says, forget? No, but the passage of time makes it easier to remember without falling apart. Kristina says, sometimes she thinks she feels her daughter kicking. Did that happen to Willow? Willow says, something similar happened. She kept reliving the last and only time she held her baby and could his feel weight in her arms. Kristina says she thinks she’s going crazy and can’t handle this much pain without breaking. She can tell people are just saying anything to make it better, but nothing makes any difference. Did anyone say anything to Willow that made it feel better? Willow says, the only people who helped were the ones who could sit with her in her sadness and understand how much she was hurting. The ones who just let her be. Kristina agrees.

Brook asks Blaze how Kristina is, and Blaze says, everyone else has been in there but her. Brook suggests she focus on the good stuff and asks if Blaze got her email. Blaze says she hasn’t been able to focus on it, and Brook says, it’s happening. They haven’t signed a contract yet, but Blaze is going to be the opening act for Miguel Morez’s fall tour. (See below.) Blaze says she needs to nurse Kristina through her recovery. Can’t she join in a few months? Brook says, the tour is starting in Hong Kong and Blaze has to leave tonight, but Blaze says, that’s impossible. Brook says she knows it’s fast, but it’s doable. The tour will take Blaze’s career over the top internationally, and the fallout from her mother outing her and her being dropped from her record label will be forgotten. She deserves to be a superstar, and this is her chance. She knows the timing is terrible, but Kristina has people who love and will care for her. She’s out of danger. If Blaze turns this tour down, the opportunity isn’t coming around again.

TJ thanks Jordan for helping. It makes an awful day better. He should reserve the site before someone else does. She says she doesn’t want to overstep, but shouldn’t Molly be helping him? He says, of course (🍷). He texted and called, but he’s gotten no response. He doesn’t know where she is, but he’s there picking out a plot for their baby without her.

Jack finds Carly says, good. She brought the wine. She says, it’s not the one he wanted, but she hopes it will do. He looks at the bottle and says, it’s fantastic. And it’s too good not to share. Will she join him? (I love Jack. He’s the epitome of suave.)

In Jack’s room, Carly says, he ordered a lot of food, and he says, everything sounded so good, he couldn’t help himself. Will she join him? He hates to eat alone. She should test the wine to make sure it lives up to its reputation. Unless she prefers champagne. She says she should taste it. It’s from their special reserve and she should make sure it’s not corked. He says, she has a reputation for serving her guests only the best, and he opens the bottle. He pours a glass, and tells her to give it a minute to breathe. Make herself comfortable. She says she’s only staying long enough to sip the wine, but he says, sit. The experience shouldn’t be rushed. He pulls out a chair and she sits down.

Kristina says, her IV is uncomfortable, and Willow says she’ll call someone to fix it. She heads for the door, but turns around. She says, the nurses are busy, and she knows how. Does Kristina mind? Kristina says she trusts Willow.

Natalia finds Brook at the hospital and says she got Brook’s text. It’s insanely exciting. She took the liberty of packing for Blaze and her bags are in the car. She can’t believe Blaze will be touring with Miguel Morez. Where is Blaze? Brook says, she went in to see Kristina, and Natalia says she thinks spending time with Kristina might be good. Blaze will be reassured she’s on the road to recovery before she says goodbye… What’s going on? Brook says she’s going to call Miguel’s manager and pass. Blaze isn’t going on tour.

Molly says she got here as fast as she could. She didn’t know TJ had planned to be here. He says, she’s not home. He texted and left her messages, and when he didn’t hear back, he decided do it without her. She says she had to take care of things at work and hasn’t been checking her phone as often as she should. She’s sorry. She thanks Jordan for being here, and Jordan says, of course (🍷). She should get going. She hugs Molly and TJ, and says, if they need anything, she’s here. She leaves, and Molly says she’s sorry. He says he doesn’t need an apology. He needs her input about which plot to get. He feels completely alone going through this without her. He doesn’t want to do any of this without her. It feels like grief is eating at him and he’s alone. She’s the only person who knows how he feels and he needs her here. She says she knows, and he asks, what’s going on with her? Does she want to be part of this?

Willow fixes Kristina’s IV, and says she loves taking care of her patients. Kristina says she can’t imagine anyone better, and Willow says she’s glad to be here for her. Kristina says, she’s impressive, and Willow says, most nurses consider it a calling. Kristina says she’s in awe. She always thought being a nurse was crazy. She can’t imagine they have much life outside of the hospital or that it leaves much time or emotional space for anything else.

Maxie says, Nina is spending time alone at night with Drew for Willow’s sake? and Nina says, it’s complicated. If she tells Maxie something, it has to stay completely between them. Maxie says she hopes to forget this conversation as soon as she leaves, and Nina says, at the Quartermaine’s 4th of July party, Drew and Willow kissed. Maxie says, what? and Nina says, they got caught up in the moment. Willow loves Michael and loves her life. She had a weak moment. They’ve all had them. Drew saved Willow’s life and Nina thinks it’s hero worship, but Willow is drowning in guilt. She refuses to let Willow suffer with that. Maxie says, there’s not much she can do to stop it, and Nina says she’s going to try to put the attention on herself. If Willow doesn’t spend time with Drew, she’s sure the attraction will fade. Maxie says she’s not close to Willow, but knows she’s a good person. She’s sorry Willow is having a hard time. Nina tells her to remember this stays between them, and Maxie says, she’s not going to say a word, but just so Nina’s plan is clear, her solution to Willow’s inappropriate feelings is to throw herself at Drew. Does she have that right?

Maxie says she thinks it’s admirable that Nina wants to help, but doesn’t think this is the healthiest way. She can’t pursue a physical relationship that was based on anger, hatred, and pain. Nina says, admittedly, at first their reasons were muddled at best, but over their time together, most of the negative feelings have fallen away and they’re left with genuine attraction. Maxie says, this is an unexpected turn of events, and Nina says, they’re not running away together either, but they enjoy each other’s company. Maxie says, it makes sense. They’re both consenting adults and they’re both hot. But with all the heat between them, why is Drew making out with Willow?

Blaze asks how Kristina is feeling, and Kristina says, as bad as she looks, she feels worse. Blaze says, she has her color back, which is good. After the fall, she was so pale. Blaze was so scared. She didn’t think they’d be talking like this ever again. She loves Kristina and she’s glad Kristina is okay. Kristina says she’s not okay. Her daughter is dead, and her life has completely fallen apart. She’s just here. Blaze says she’s grateful for that… Sorry. Does Kristina want some water? Kristina says, no, and Blaze says she could ask for another blanket or some meds, but Kristina says she doesn’t need that. Blaze asks if she can do anything else, but Kristina shrugs and shakes her head. Blaze says she was thinking of going back to Kristina’s place and bring her whatever she wants, but Kristina says she’s sorry. She knows Blaze just got here, but she’s so tired.

At the MetroCourt, Anna looks at her phone, and Felicia runs in. Felicia says she’s sorry she’s late, but Anna says she has to go. She’ll be right back, she promises. She ordered Felicia a glass of wine. She leaves and Felicia sits down.

Carly says, Jack didn’t have to go to all this trouble. He could have just asked her out to dinner. He says, what fun is that? and she asks why he’s still not behind bars. He says, mistakes were made that put him there, and the mistakes have been rectified. He prefers not to dwell on the past. The only thing he remembers that brightened his day was her visiting him. She asks how long he’s going to be in Port Charles, and he says he’s not there on business. He’s staying in town. She asks what he’s going to do, when there’s a knock at the door. Jack opens it, and Anna asks, what the hell is going on?

Jack asks what Anna is referring to, and Anna says she just got a message informing her of Jack’s new position. Carly asks if there’s a problem, and Anna says she’s sorry to interrupt whatever is going on here… Carly says, she’s having a quick dinner with a new guest, and Anna says she doesn’t want to be here for this conversation, but Carly says she thinks she’ll stay. Anna asks how Jack was assigned to Port Charles of all places, and he says, because of the criminal element, the WSB decided to open a permanent field office here and they needed a chief. Carly asks if he’s the new head of the WSB in Port Charles, and he says he’s become fond of the city. Anna says, he wanted this. He probably convinced them to open the station. Carly says, Anna is right. She doesn’t want to be here. She thanks Jack for his hospitality, and he thanks her for joining him. She leaves, and Jack asks if Anna is happy. She ruined everyone’s evening. Anna says, ruining his evening is the only thing she’s happy about.

Maxie says, in trying to keep Drew and Willow apart, Nina is crossing the line on purpose, and Nina says, Willow isn’t pursuing Drew, but she admires him. Every time Willow and Drew look into each other’s eyes, he loves the man he sees reflected back. She’s going to make him look in a different mirror, and if it stops Willow from making the mistake of jeopardizing her family, she’s happy to do it. Maxie says, Nina and Willow are building a relationship now. Willow trusted her enough to tell her about Drew, and even got Michael on board. It’s amazing news, but Nina’s plan to save Willow by throwing herself at Drew could jeopardize all that.  

Natalia goes to Kristina’s room and says she wanted to check on her. She’s sorry for all Kristina is going through. Kristina thanks her and says, Allie was here. She doesn’t know where she went. Natalia says she knows where Allie isn’t going. She was supposed to tour with Miguel Morez. He wants her to open for his fall tour. It’s an incredible opportunity, but Allie turned it down to stay with Kristina. Kristina says she had no idea, and Natalia says she thought Allison would keep her in the dark. She has no right to ask anything of Kristina, but she needs to anyway. Her actions screwed up so many things and amazing chances for Allie. She wants to overcome that and have a chance to be a better mother. It’s Kristina’s best interest to let her daughter go. (Natalia’s popularity quotient drops by a billion points.)

Willow tells Elizabeth that she’s not sure she was able to say anything meaningful, but she’s glad she spent time with Kristina. She asks if the nursing department is still understaffed, and Elizabeth says, always. Does Willow know someone willing to help? Willow says, me.

Molly says she’s holding onto anger and she’s sorry, but it’s all she’s got. TJ says he’s angry too, but they have to set it aside for the moment. There are things they’re supposed to do. Molly says, they did everything they were supposed to do, and this is how they were rewarded, and he says, they need to have a reception to honor their daughter. They need to pick out a casket and a headstone and a burial plot. She says she can’t. It’s too much. He says he knows. It’s tearing him apart, but they have to do this. And they need to start by giving their baby a name.  

Nina says, Willow is her most important relationship, and she’d do nothing to jeopardize their progress, and Maxie says, she better hope Willow never finds out her plan. Nina and Willow’s relationship has come a long way. She doesn’t think Willow would be happy and Drew might think she’s using him. Nina says, they’re using each other for a mutually beneficial good time. Drew is having a good time. Maxie says she can’t talk anymore about Nina and Drew having sex. If Nina falls in love with Drew, she’ll have to kill her. Nina says, if that happens, she’ll do it herself. There’s a knock at the door, and Maxie says, perfect timing. Nina lets Drew in, and Maxie says, she was just leaving. Enjoy their evening.  

Carly sees Felicia, who says, it’s good to see her back. Carly says she sees there are two wine glasses. Felicia must be meeting someone. Felicia says she’s meeting Anna, but Anna got a text and had to go. She’ll be back soon. Carly says, it might be a little longer than Anna thought. She just left an intense conversation between Anna and Jack. Felicia asks if Jack is staying here, and Carly says, he’s the new head of the WSB office in Port Charles. He’ll be in town for the foreseeable future.  

Natalia sees Brook at the bar and asks if she called Miguel’s manager to pass on the tour. Brook says, not yet, and Natalia says, good. Don’t.  

Elizabeth says, Willow wants to come back to nursing? and Willow says, talking to Kristina made her realize her mistake. Elizabeth says she thought Willow wanted to spend more time with her family and she’s doing amazing things with the bone marrow registry. Willow made her want to donate. Willow says, they’re doing important work here and she realized she misses it, and Elizabeth says, nursing does worm its way into your heart. Willow says, there’s also more traveling with this job than she realized, and she doesn’t want to be away unless it’s with her family on vacation. She did what was required of her and gave as much as she could. It’s time for her to come back to GH.

Nina shows Drew a map and says she’s circled the areas he needs to focus in on. That shirt looks great with his eyes, and he should definitely wear it as much as possible on the campaign trail. He says, she looks nice too. (Nice? He’s a real charmer, that Drew.)

TJ tells Molly that he needs a church service and a minister to issue a blessing. He needs to come here. He needs a place to remember his daughter. His family has always put their faith into this, and it means a lot. Molly says she knows the steps of grieving, but you’re supposed to have closure, and there won’t be any. She doesn’t want there to be any. He says he knows she puts her faith in the law, but he needs rituals to fill the void. She says she needs to do something about what happened to them, and he asks what she can do other than mourn. She says she’s going to make sure Ava is punished to the full extent of the law. That’s what her ritual will be.

Anna asks Jack what his agenda is. He’s gone to a lot of trouble, moving people around like chess pieces and taking some off the board. Why install himself as the new head of the WSB in Port Charles? He says he likes it here, and she says she doesn’t believe him. He says, like he told her in DC, the job is a demotion. Both the Bureau and the PCPD have similar objectives and can coexist without ruffling each other’s feathers too much. Anna asks, what’s going with dinner? and he says he’ll be staying at the MetroCourt long term and wants to be on good terms with the owner. Anna says, it was him, wasn’t it? She knew it.  

Blaze comes back to Kristina’s room and says she grabbed Kristina’s favorite blanket, the one she wraps them in to watch movies. It smells like Kristina’s place. She starts to put the blanket on Kristina, but Kristina says, stop. Blaze shouldn’t fuss over her. She should be at home packing for the tour. Blaze asks how Kristina knows about it, and Kristina says she had a visitor. And for once, she and Blaze’s mom are on the same page. Blaze has to go on tour.

Elizabeth says she’s surprised. Willow only left a little while ago. Willow says she thought it was the right decision. She jumped in to fix Kristina’s IV and seeing Kristina’s relief made her happy. The personal one-on-one interaction lets her help those most vulnerable. The Foundation is great, but the job isn’t for her. She belongs here. Elizabeth asks if she’s sure, and Willow says she is. She’ll talk to Drew and Michael and get it sorted out, but she knows it’s the right decision. She’s exactly where she needs to be. Elizabeth says, in that case, welcome back, and hugs her.

TJ says, and after Molly makes sure Ava is punished, what then? They still have to be alone in their apartment, avoiding the room that was going to be the nursery. She says she hasn’t thought that far ahead. What does he want? He says, to be together. Going through this horrible thing, he feels like he’s been alone, and he wants her to be here with him. Right now, it feels like they’re going through it together. She says she’s here, and he holds her. She says she thinks this is a beautiful place for their daughter.

Nina says she thinks they’ve made progress and she’s excited to see the things she and Drew discussed put into practice in his campaign. He says, him too. She never had him over to work at her place before. She says, normally, she likes to keep her home and work life separate. (And why would she? He’s her boss.) She doesn’t just invite anyone. He says, he’s not just anyone? and she says, absolutely not. She thinks they’re embarking on a different relationship, one of mutual regard. He says, she has so much to regard, and she says, him too. She’s pretty sure he knows that. He says, it only matters that she thinks so, and she says, they’re officially in agreement. They kiss, and Nina almost misses the table putting down her wine glass. They get busy on the sofa.

Maxie was right. This is an unexpected turn of events.

Tomorrow, Kristina tells Molly that Ava needs to pay; Ava feels that her life is in danger; Jason tells Sonny that he has another enemy; and Blaze says, you’re fired.

🪇 Shaking His GH Bon-Bon…

It’s doubtful, as this article suggests, that Blaze will be leaving the show. She just started appearing in the opening credits.

A General Hospital Blast From the Past Could Mean a Farewell for a Port Charles Fave

Below Deck Mediterranean

Bay of Zea. Iain sets up a basketball net, since guest Mike is an NBA player, and in his interview, he says he had one or two hiccups – we flash back to those – but he hopes this charter is a smooth one. He’s got to dig deep for the love of the game. In Ellie’s interview, she says, now that she’s doing only rags and towels, she’s expecting things to go the same way as they did previously, since it was Bri f***ing up. Provisions come in, and Joe and Gael take the tender to pick up some balloons. Gael drives, and in her interview, she says she hasn’t had enough tender experience, and it scares the sh*t out of her. She gets excited when she docks without incident, and says, when she has little wins, yay her. They pick up an elaborate balloon arch for the Fire and Ice party and Aesha is thrilled since she thought she’d have to blow up the balloons. The crew changes for the guests’ arrival, and Iain and Nathan take the tender to pick them up. Iain explains to the guests that the big boat is anchored because the wind is picking up. The guests take selfies on the tender and we focus on a Berkin bag. The crew welcomes the guests, and Captain Sandy says, it’s a shorter charter, so Aesha is going to show them around and they’ll get going. Nathan says, anchor is home and secure, and they shove off. Primary Mahisha says, the couches are an eyesore. It would be great if they were gone. Are they heavy to move? In Aesha’s interview, she says, what? Aesha and Bri move the couches, and the guest take pictures. In her interview, Aesha says, thank God it’s a shorter charter. For real.

Anchor is dropped and the water toys go out. Mahisha tells Aesha that she needs to wake up and get her drink, and in Aesha’s interview, she says she’s more than happy to grab her very close drink, but ask politely. She tells Ellie that the guests seem like hard work and goes to the laundry to give Bri a mental health check. Bri says she’s 80%. The guests require drinks, drinks, and more drinks with lots of vodka. While Ellie goes downstairs with the drinks, but the impatient guests have come up to the bar. In Ellie’s interview, she wonders what just happened. That was a lot. Aesha tells Bri to pull the plates for Jono, who’s making sea bass and tomahawk steak. In Jono’s interview, he says, they want flashy food, and we flash back to him reading that they want culinary masterpieces at every meal, like a Michelin star restaurant. Nathan and Aesha take the balloons outside, and Jono says he’s feeling Michelin vibes. The table décor is amazing with some dry ice stuff going on.

Ellie looks for her dress, and in Bri’s interview, she says, no, man. She can’t make a mistake. She’s pretty sure it happened before Aesha implemented the new rule. She finds Ellie’s dress in her bag and gives it to her. In Ellie’s interview, she says, they’ve been treating Bri like a baby deer. If she brings the dress up, it will be like she shot Bambi. Mahisha whines about the caviar, and asks Jono if Beluga isn’t top tier. It tastes like a washcloth. He says he has to work with what’s available, and in his interview, he says he did whatever he could do. It is what it is. Now can he go back to work, or do they want to talk more? Ellie asks if Joe likes peanuts, but he says he’s more into fish. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a double entendre or he’s just an idiot who doesn’t know what peanuts are. Dinner is served, and Aesha tells Jono that the guests absolutely love the fish.

In Joe’s interview, he says he thought he lost Ellie because of that stupid song. We flash back to that, and he says, she accepted his apology and they’re on good terms. Maybe there’s a chance to reignite the flame – no strings attached. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’s moved on. They can proceed with the flirtation. Guest Max says her utensil situation is off. She wonders why she has a butter knife when there’s no bread and butter. She doesn’t want to be rude, but complains to Aesha, and Aesha says, it’s not a butter knife; it’s a fish knife. Fish isn’t supposed to be tough. Max says, their caviar service sucked. (I’m not kidding. That’s what she returned with.) In Aesha’s interview, she says, the guests like to claim they’re upper class, but where’s the class part? She’s good enough at her job that she’s got to stand up for herself at some point. Max gripes that Aesha tried to school her. Well, yeah. Apparently, you needed to be schooled in utensil situations.

Gael gets in Nathan’s bunk with him and tells him not to turn out to be a d*ck. He promises not to hurt her. Max is still bitching about the butter/fish knife thing and says she’s okay with being wrong (doubtful), but Aesha’s face changed. The next course is served, and Max says she’s uncomfortable now. Captain Sandy comes down and asks, how’s dinner? Mike says, it’s really good – how many of these people need thesauruses? – and noticing the captain’s stylish shoes, Max says she wants to see the captain’s shoe collection. Captain Sandy says, it’s at home, and wisely jets. The women go upstairs for a dance party, and Mahisha wants drinks. Aesha asks Ellie to tend the bar, and the guests complain that they need liquor. Ellie says, someone will check on them every 15 minutes, and when she leaves, Max insists Ellie made her head shake. Whatever that means. Ellie tells Joe to go charm the ladies, and Aesha tells him to gyrate. In her interview, Aesha says, maybe Joe should keep it in his pants, but he’s got to do something. Max asks if he’s their distraction, and the captain asks Aesha how it’s going. Aesha says, they’re mean girls, and tells her about the butter/fish knife fiasco. The captain says, you can tell it’s a fish knife because of the point on the end, and Aesha says, the guest was in her face and in a minute would have eaten her. Mahisha says, they brought Joe up to sweet talk them, and guest Mike says, it was a successful first day. He tells Aesha that Mahisha gets hungry at night, and Aesha says, they have sandwiches, but Mahisha says she doesn’t eat sandwiches. Of course she doesn’t. Mike says, his wife is bougie, and Aesha says, the chef is in bed, but they have fruit and berries. Mahisha says she’ll have some berries, but when Aesha leaves, Mahisha decides to go to bed. Mike says, she just ordered berries, and Mahisha promptly trips on the stairs, which is happiness to us all. Joe asks Aesha if he should do research on the island, and she says, if the guests got facts from him, they would love it. In Aesha’s interview, she says she’s had to scratch by with three stews. When they’re pushed, the cracks show, but she’ll do what she can to help. She’s Aesha, everything everywhere all at once.

In the morning, Aesha asks how Gael’s first night was without her, and Gael says she cried. Mahisha is hungry, and Aesha radios Ellie to start breakfast. Mahisha wanders off to take pictures, and Ellie says, she’s not at the table now. Aesha finds the guests and tells them that the food is on the table. Jono comes up and says he made a spread, but tell him if they’d like anything else. Mahisha says she wants berries because she’s a complete and utter a-hole. Aesha tells the guests that they’re going to Temple Aphiah and lunch is scheduled for 2. Captain Sandy asks Aesha how the guests were, and Aesha says, the same. In Gael’s interview, she says, Iain isn’t the best communicator, but they’re just getting it done if it needs to be done. Maybe Iain is some kind management genius and structured it so the team is self-sufficient. Mike tells Captain Sandy that her staff is top notch, and she says, if you beat their character down, it kills their spirit. But if you’re gracious and thankful, they’ll do everything for you. She tells the guests about a charter where the guests were so rude, she pulled the primary aside and said she’d cancel the charter if they continued to treat the staff that way. They turned it around. She called the owner who said they didn’t need the money and to cancel the charter. Max tells Mike that she’s over this conversation – yeah, I’ll bet – and makes herself scarce. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, how we treat other people is important. These clients are difficult. She tells Mike, you don’t have to clean your plate, just be kind, and in her interview, she wonders if she got her point across. The guests leave for their excursion.

When they get to their destination, Joe says it’s his first time here too. Leah texts the captain that they need to talk about Bailey… Captain Sandy says, oh my God, so we know it’s not good news. Joe tries to give the guests factoids, but they just want to take selfies. In Joe’s interview, he says, history isn’t appreciated as much as he thought it would have been, but he’s having a good time. The guests call them lovebirds and take their photo, and in Ellie’s interview, she says, despite what happened, Joe has his charm. The guests are picking up on the attraction between them, and it validates what she’s been sensing. On the boat, Captain Sandy tells Aesha that their dog Bailey died, and Aesha hugs her. The captain shows Aesha pictures, and in the captain’s interview, she says, her heart hurts for Leah. She got five years with Bailey, but Leah had 11 years. She tells Aesha that Bailey was all love, and shows her a video. Aesha says she’s so sorry Captain Sandy isn’t there, and they cry. The captain says she is too, and I get teary eyed as well. Aesha says, the hardest part is missing things, and in her interview, Captain Sandy says, being captain, a lot of deaths happen when you’re at sea. Her mom and dad died when she was at sea. Now losing Bailey brings up all her losses.

The guests head back, and Aesha asks if Captain Sandy is going to be okay. She says, yeah. Leah says she loves the dogs more than her. Jono says he spent time in Ho Chi Minh City and learned all the cooking techniques. Nothing says rich motherf***er than duck for lunch. The guests are back on the boat, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, the guests seem to have a base level of decency. Maybe they realized how horrible they were and it’s their way of saying they’re sorry. Asian food porn is served, the entrée being extra crispy duck. I’m not a fan of duck, but it looks wonderful. In the crew mess, Joe says he’s excited for a night out. He wonders what the f*** he did. He doesn’t want either Ellie or Bri, but alcohol turns him into a demon and then he just drinks more. Gael says he’s playing with these women, when Bri comes by, and everything gets quiet. In Bri’s interview, she says, they were talking, and it went quiet, and it hurts her. Obviously, she’d be upset. She feels they were talking about her. Mike says, the duck was fire, and in Jono’s interview, he says he’s always been great at crafting good flavors. If he didn’t know better, he’d call himself a Michelin chef. Guest Tante says, they could use one more day, and Aesha says, it’s a shame it’s a short charter. You know she’s saying, hallelujah! in her head. Ellie tells Gael that she and Joe had a nice time. He apologized and she realized he wasn’t being malicious. Joe asks how Bri is, and she says, as if he cares. He says he does, and in Gael’s interview, she says she doesn’t know where her ethics lie. She wonders if she should be loyal to the deck crew, but Joe is stringing these women along and she feels like she doesn’t want Ellie to get hurt.  

Anchor is hauled and the boat is en route to Zea Marina. The captain says she’s backing all the way in. It’s a tight one. Iain gives the wrong line instructions, but Gael says, that’s not right, and corrects him. In Gael’s interview, she says she’s more confident now that she knows what she’s talking about. She needs to trust herself. The boat is docked, and the captain says, nice work. She tells the crew to get ready for guest departure, and Aesha says, thank God. Mahisha says, the food was amazing. Jono has great food and great taste. She can’t wait to see what happens later with the lovebirds. She’s not naming names. We flash back to the guests playing Cupid, and Mahisha says, it was phenomenal, and they had no issues. In Aesha’s interview, she wonders if they were on the same charter. She’ll take it, but it’s so confusing.

The guests leave, and Captain Sandy says, they made it through. It wasn’t easy, but well done. The crew cheers and applauds. Bri says, they weren’t bad at the end, but Aesha says, it was all fake. She meets with Bri and Ellie, and says she knows it was a sh*t charter guest-wise, but nothing went wrong with the laundry. She thinks it was just a miscommunication with both of them. She’d been training them on the job, but this time, she didn’t have to. She wants to finish like this. They join hands. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’s going to invite Joe on a date. She’s over the stagnant energy. She’s getting out of her comfort zone and making the first step. She wants to see if there’s something there or not. She finds Joe and says, she has a question for him. She wants to invite him out on a little date. He says, just them? Let’s do it. They hug, and she promises they’ll have a good time. Ellie tells Aesha and says she thinks he’s scared, but he said yes. Joe tells Nathan that he’s never been asked on a date before by a bird. He likes her and she’s attractive, but he’s not asking for more from either of them. He says he’s changed his mind and he’s not going, but Nathan tells him that he already said yes. He asks how Ellie reacted, and Joe says, she was ecstatic. Nathan says, it’s only an hour out of his life, and in their joint interview, Nathan says. Joe is afraid to go on the date. Joe says he’s petrified of Ellie, and Nathan says, Joe is falling in love with Ellie, but Joe says, don’t even. He’s not going. End of story. In Gael’s interview, she says she has the feeling, if scorned, Ellie will burn the boat down and she’s on the boat too.

The captain calls the crew for the tip meeting, and says her first question is, who are the lovebirds? Someone says, Iain and Nathan, and Captain Sandy says, stay professional. They kept showing up and kept smiling, and it’s difficult when your spirit is getting beat down. The tip is $20K or 17,000 euros – $1400 per person. After the meeting, Ellie asks if Joe is excited, and in Nathan’s interview, he says he’s sh*tting himself. Joe tells Ellie, let’s talk, and they sit on her bunk. He says he doesn’t want strings attached, and in Joe’s interview, he says he’s not going on a date. He tells Ellie that he feels pressure and doesn’t want a date.

She is missing nothing. This guy is immature and a relationship disaster waiting to happen. He’s not even that good looking.

Next time, a rock-climbing wall; a bad rainstorm; and Bri wants to hook up with Joe.

🎤 The Song Sings Itself…

Join me tomorrow for soap and Dubai talk. Until then, stay safe, stay being aware of your social footprint, and stay remembering that, while it doesn’t make you forget, the passage of time makes it easier to remember without falling apart.

Aug6

August 5, 2024 – The Aftermath Of Kristina’s Fall, Goddess Birthday On Deck, Best Collaboration Ever & Bye

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn knocks at Dex’s door, and he asks if she’s okay. She says, physically, she’s fine, but she’s not okay. He hugs her.

At the hospital, Natalia thinks they should go, but Blaze says, Kristina is her girlfriend and it’s an emergency. Natalia says, it’s not the place for them. Blaze and Kristina have only been seeing each other about six months, and everyone here is related by blood. They’re family and Blaze is not. She thinks the respectful thing to do is let the family hold vigil as a family. They don’t need to get into it here. They leave.

In the interrogation room, Dante says, there are multiple discrepancies in Ava’s story. When Kristina showed up at her hotel room, were the curtains open or closed? It looked like there was a struggle. Outside, Trina watches through the window, and Chase comes by. She asks if he’ll need her statement, and he says, someone will take it shortly. He knows she and Ava are friends, but thinks it’s best if they kept their distance. Trina asks if there’s any news on Kristina.

Molly runs into the hospital and asks TJ, what’s going on? Is Kristina in labor? She’s not due for another 3 weeks. He says, there’s been an accident and Kristina was hurt. They’re giving her an emergency C-section. Molly asks if Kristina and the baby are going to be okay.  

Josslyn tells Dex that she was in the water, but doesn’t remember getting in. She didn’t know who it was, but given how they fell, she thought there was probably a spinal injury, so she was super careful turning them over. She saw it was Kristina, and it was so awful. She cries and says she froze for a second. She was afraid to move Kristina in case it would cause more damage. That second might have made all the difference. He says he’s sure it did. It sounds like she was assessing the situation. Her lifeguard training kicked in and she calmed herself, then she knew what do in the next second. It sounds like she saved Kristina’s life. She’s alive, isn’t she? Josslyn says, as far as she knows, and Dex says, Josslyn got her as far as the paramedics, then it was up to them and the doctors. She says, what if she’s not okay? Or the baby? She has a horrible feeling one of them won’t make it.

Anna meets Chase at the station, and they go into the interrogation room.

Ava says she’s sorry her answers aren’t satisfying Dante. It happened so fast. How is Kristina doing? Anna says, there’s no news, and tells Dante to go to GH. Dante says, Ava’s statement has inconsistencies, but Anna says she’ll fill in the blanks and they’ll compare notes later. He should be with his family. Chase says he’ll take it from here, and Dante leaves. Ava says she appreciates that Dante is distraught and related to Kristina, and he keeps trying to persuade her to confirm his theories instead of letting her explain. Anna says, Chase isn’t distraught, and he’s not related to Kristina. He’ll continue the questioning. She’ll interrogate the witness. She leaves, and Chase asks what Ava remembers from the moment Kristina walked in until she fell. Ava says, first she needs to say it was just a horrible accident.

Alexis says she doesn’t know anything other than Kristina fell out of the north tower in the MetroCourt and into the pool, thank God. Molly asks if she and the baby are alive, and Alexis says, yes. Kristina sustained multiple injuries and they’re doing an emergency C-section to save the baby. TJ wonders what Kristina was doing at the MetroCourt, and Alexis says, she was in Ava’s suite, but she doesn’t know why. Molly says she knows why, and looks at Sonny.

Dr. Park says he’ll notify the family that the baby didn’t make it, when Kristina wakes up. The doctor tells her to lie still, and she asks where her baby is. What happened?

Kristina asks to see the baby, and Dr. Park says, they’re going to give Kristina a mild sedative. She says, tell her what happened with the baby, and he says, they did everything they could, but the injuries were too severe. She didn’t survive. Kristina asks if he’s saying they couldn’t save the baby, and he says he’s sorry. She asks if he’s sure they did everything they could, and he says he’s sorry. She says she had a girl? and he says, she did. She says she had a daughter. She needs her sister. She as to be the one to tell Molly. She cries.  

At the Bistro, Natalia orders a bowl of chicken soup for Blaze. She says, obviously Blaze’s blood sugar was crashing, and Blaze says she counts herself lucky. Most stage mothers starve their daughters. But she’s still angry that Natalia made her leave. Natalia says she didn’t mean to upset Blaze. She was wrong and she’s come to accept that Blaze loves Kristina. Blaze says, Natalia can’t bring herself to say they’re in a relationship, and Natalia says she’s trying. Blaze says, try harder, and Natalia says she wants to understand. Help her do it. She wants Blaze to tell her about she and Kristina.  

Dr. Park tells the family that Kristina is awake. She’s in the ICU asking for her sister Molly. Molly jets, and TJ asks, how’s the baby?

Chase tells Ava to start from the beginning, she says, Kristina showed up at her room. As he knows, her father is Sonny Corinthos, and they’re involved in a custody hearing. Kristina was subpoenaed to testify. Chase asks, on whose behalf? and she says she’d hoped it would be hers. Kristina is aware her father is too volatile to have custody. She witnessed him brutally beating one of their cadets at Chase’s wedding reception. She’s sure Chase is aware of it. Her attorney subpoenaed Kristina to talk about that, and she showed up at Ava’s room. She shares her father’s temper. Maybe she’s bipolar as well, since manic is the only way to describe her. (I literally gasp, since suggesting something like that without being a medical professional is a big no-no.) Chase asks, what happened? and Ava says, Kristina barged in. She was overwrought and not listening to a word Ava said. She tried to calm Kristina down… She flashes back to berating Kristina about her mother and father, but tells Chase that she suggested they sit down and talk it out. She tried to remind Kristina that being upset wasn’t good for the baby, but Kristina kept screaming at her. She wasn’t making any sense. She flashes back to Kristina saying that if Ava forced her to testify against Sonny, she’d tell the court about Ava’s involvement in Morgan’s death and how she murdered Connie. Ava tells Chase that she asked Kristina to go, kindly and politely, but she just wouldn’t leave. Chase asks if Ava attempted to guide or escort her out, but Ava says she would never handle a pregnant woman that way, much less one that was enraged. She never laid a finger on Kristina. Chase asks, then what happened? and Ava says, Kristina came rushing at her. It was terrifying. She got out of the way, but Kristina was in a blind rage and tripped over a shoe. She didn’t see it until after Kristina fell. She could barely believe what happened. She saw Kristina go through the glass and heard it shatter and heard the most awful scream. It happened so fast, she couldn’t do anything to stop it. She prays Kristina and the baby will be all right.

Molly goes to Kristina’s room and asks how she’s doing. The nurse says she’s stable, but she’s lost a lot of blood and needs rest. Molly asks if she should come back, but Kristina weakly says her name. Molly goes over to the bed and says, the doctor told her that Kristina was asking for her. Kristina says, the baby… and Molly starts to cry.

Dr. Park tells the family, Kristina sustained an abruptive placenta in the fall. Despite all their efforts, they couldn’t save the baby. He’s sorry. Everyone looks sad, and Alexis hugs Sonny and cries.

Anna asks when Trina realized something had happened, and Trina says, when she heard the scream. She saw someone land face down in the pool and she froze. Luckily, Joss and Gio got her out of the pool safely. Anna asks if she noticed anything else, and Trina says she looked up, trying to see where Kristina came from – she literally fell from the sky. She saw Ava standing in the broken window, so it must have been her suite. Anna asks what Ava did next, but Trina says, nothing. She stood there, then backed away. Anna says, nothing else? and Trina says, no. Ava closed the drapes and she couldn’t see anything after that.

Dex gives Josslyn some tea, and she says she feels better with him being here and back in her life. She’s grateful he didn’t stay away. He says, she didn’t give him much choice, but she says he could have disappeared again and stayed away. He repeats that he had no other choice, and she says she’s so sorry she was judgmental when they broke up. He says he thinks she was entitled to be judgy, but she says she didn’t try to understand that he was changing. She couldn’t just go through it with him; she had to judge. He says, she held him accountable and pointed out that he wasn’t the man he wanted to be. Look at him now. She says, lucky her. She learned things too. Never take anything for granted, especially after today. The disaster made her realize that good or bad, young or old, all we have is right now. They kiss.  

Molly says, the baby is gone? and Kristina says, their precious little girl is gone. Molly says, it was a girl? and they both cry. (I want to cry.) Kristina says she’s sorry it wasn’t her, but Molly tells her not to say that. She doesn’t have to say anything. Just rest. Kristina says, they lost their baby girl, and Molly holds her hand.

Jordan says she wishes she had the words, and TJ says, him too. He’s not proud of this and probably shouldn’t say it… She tells him to get it off his chest no matter how bad, and he says he was wondering what Kristina was doing there in the first place. He knows it doesn’t matter and only hopes she’ll be okay. It’s all they have left to hope for. Jordan says, he’s suffered a great loss and can feel however he wants. Don’t edit himself with her. He says, his first instinct is to blame Kristina and say, it’s her fault. His mind is screaming that her mom said, I told you so. He feels terrible, but he can’t help it. Their child is gone. His child won’t have the chance to be born, and all his thoughts and anger can’t make that stop.

Dante asks how Kristina and the baby are, and Alexis says, Kristina is awake and stable. She’ll be okay, but they weren’t able to save the baby. She hasn’t called Sam yet. Dante says he will, but she says she has to do it and leaves. Dante tells Sonny that he’s sorry, and Sonny asks if he thinks Ava had something to do with it. Dante tells him that she’s saying it was an accident, and Sonny asks if he believes her. Ava and Jagger are trying to take Avery away from him and tried to take Kristina too. Dante suggests they focus on Kristina, and Sonny says, they will pay.

Dex says, maybe they should slow down, and Josslyn asks, why? He says, she just went through a traumatic event, and he’d never want to take advantage, and she says, that’s one of the many reasons she trusts him. When she walked out of the hospital, all she could think was how much she loves him. She let her pride get in the way of that love. He says he loves her too. Him joining the PCPD and getting his life back on track was something he needed to do for himself, but it’s all part of loving her. She says he doesn’t have to prove anything, but she appreciates that. He says he had to prove it to himself, and she says, that’s between him and him. As for them, love isn’t a job or a to-do list. It doesn’t have to be earned. It just is.

Blaze tells Natalia that she and Kristina started seeing each other around Christmas. Kristina is beautiful and a force of a personality. She’s so comfortable being who she is, Blaze admired that. She was worried about her career and terrified of being outed. Not because of her fans… Natalia says, because of her, and Blaze says she was afraid Natalia would stop loving her. She wouldn’t be the first parent who wrote off their child for being gay. She and Kristina went to Rice Plaza around the holidays, and they held hands in a public place. It’s a big deal, not just for them, but for a lot of gay people. When some people who knew them saw them and said hello, she pulled her hand away. She didn’t realize it; it was a reflex. Kristina called her on it and said she was hurt. Blaze had gotten so used to hiding who she was, she almost missed out on getting to know Kristina at all. Natalia takes her hand and says she’s sorry Blaze felt that way. She’s sorry for how she reacted finding Kristina in Blaze’s hotel room and for dismissing Blaze’s feelings as a reaction to what a man did.  Blaze says she hopes Natalia gets it now, and Natalia says she got arrogant, giving Blaze what she thought was incredible insight, saying she found safety in women because men were dangerous. There was no way her baby girl had feelings for a woman or could be attracted to a woman because she was a good girl, and good girls don’t behave that way. Blaze asks if part of her still feels that way.

Alexis says, Sam is devastated, and Dante asks if Alexis is okay. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s just angry. He wants to be able to do more to help. Alexis says she’s sure he’ll find a way, and he hopes she’s right. Molly comes out crying, and says she guesses they all know. She hugs Alexis, and says, the baby was a girl. Kristina needs her mom. Alexis goes to Kristina’s room, and TJ holds Molly while she cries.

Alexis hugs Kristina, who also cries.

TJ says, they had a daughter, and Molly says, they did. Sonny heads for Kristina’s room, but Molly stands in front of the door and says, he’s not going anywhere near her sister.

Natalia says, it’s hard to shake beliefs you’ve had your whole life. It’s like learning how to write with your left hand when you’ve been forced to use your right hand your whole life. She feels like she should probably thank Ava, and Blaze says she doesn’t have to worry about being outed now. Natalia says she heard her words. She was so sure it was a phase. Blaze says, because gay people aren’t serious, and Natalia says she’s been on the receiving end of Kristina’s outrage. She must be pretty special if Blaze is willing to risk everything. Blaze says, Kristina is the most amazing person she’s ever met. Kristina’s courage, heart, and strength inspire her every day. She cries and says she can’t lose that. Natalia says, they just have to have faith that Kristina has the courage, heart, and strength to pull though this.

Sonny says he wants to see his daughter, but Molly says, he’s the reason Kristina is in the ICU. He’s the reason Kristina almost died. He says he had nothing to do with it, but she says, he had everything to do with it. Does he even know why Kristina was in Ava’s room? She’d subpoenaed Kristina to testify against him at the custody hearing. She wanted Kristina to tell the world that he’s a violent thug who attacked a cadet at a reception and threatened to murder him. He says he knows she’s upset and he’s sorry she lost her daughter. If anything happens to Kristina, he doesn’t know what… She says, Kristina went to see Ava because of him. She almost died because of him. Her daughter is dead because of him. He walks away.

Trina asks if it’s all right if she speaks to Ava, and Anna tells her, go ahead. Chase tells Anna that he took Ava’s statement, and he thinks she’s hiding something. Ava asks if Trina is all right, and Trina says, is she? Ava says, not really. She can’t believe what happened, and she’s sorry Trina got dragged into it. Trina says she was at the pool when Kristina fell, and Chase wanted her statement. Ava asks what she saw, and Trina says, almost nothing. After Kristina fell, she looked up and saw Ava standing at the window. Anna thanks Trina for her help and says, she’s free to go, but they need Ava to stay.

Josslyn and Dex get busy because somebody has to make this day not as sad.

Blaze says she feels better, and Natalia says, it’s the chicken soup, but Blaze says, it’s not just the soup. It’s her. She thanks Natalia for listening and letting her talk about Kristina and their relationship. Natalia didn’t even shudder when she called Kristina her girlfriend. Natalia says she doesn’t shudder, and Blaze says, she didn’t make a disappointed mother look. Not this time. She’ll take it as a win. She thanks Natalia for the soup and the talk, when her phone rings. It’s Jordan, and Blaze asks how Kristina is. Jordan says, she made it through the C-section and is with her mother now. Blaze says, thank God. How’s the baby? Jordan says, unfortunately, they couldn’t save the baby.  

Ava says she’s explained more than once and been nothing but cooperative. She even allowed herself to be subjected to the humiliation of being brought in wearing handcuffs because she knew Dante wasn’t thinking straight. Are they charging her? Anna says, not at this point, and Ava says, then she’ll be going. Anna says, they’d rather she stayed, and Ava asks, why? Chase says, forensics is still in her suite, and Ava says, why? It’s a slip and fall. She hopes Kristina and the baby are all right, but it’s not a crime scene. Anna says, yet to be determined. She needs to transcribe Ava’s statement and might have further questions. It would be better if they knew her whereabouts and won’t have to keep track of her if she doesn’t leave. Ava says, fine, but she’s not saying one more word until her lawyer gets here. She asks them to call Scotty Baldwin right away.

Jordan asks if Dante arrested Ava, and he says, if she was just Deputy Mayor, he might talk about it, but she’s related to the parties involved. She says, so is he, and he says, Chase is taking over so he can be with the family. He’s sorry, but he can’t tell her anything else. She says she understands, and nothing can bring her granddaughter back.  

Molly says she’s sorry she wasn’t here, and TJ says, there was no way for her to know. It wasn’t like she was ignoring phone calls or texts. She was in court, and when he was able to get word to her, she came right away. She says she was too late, but he says, even if she’d been there sooner or been here the whole time, there was nothing she could do. She’s here now and that’s all that matters. She says, they had a baby girl and she’s gone. They hug.

Alexis tells Kristina that she’s so sorry, but they’ll get through this. She promises. Kristina closes her eyes, and alarms start to go off. Alexis yells that they need help.  

Sonny goes up on the roof. He takes his jacket off and puts it on the ledge. He looks down and flashes back to saying Dante’s forsaken him and Dante saying he’s trying to save him. He’s reached his limit and he’s done protecting him. If he commits a crime, now he’s going to face the consequences. He remembers talking to Kristina in the ladies’ room at the wedding reception and her being afraid of him and remembers Josslyn calling him a criminal and a liar, and saying she’ll never forgive him. He flashes back to Anna saying, the days of him thinking he can skate are over, and kicking him out of her office. He hears Molly saying that Kristina went to see Ava because of him and almost died because of him. Her daughter is dead because of him.

Tomorrow, Laura tells Doc that sometimes it pays to be in politics; Anna feels Ava isn’t being truthful; and Sonny stands on the ledge talking to someone in his imagination.

Below Deck Mediterranean

We ended last week with the captain telling Bri and Ellie: Everyone here is replaceable. You’ll be on the ferry going back. You both.

Ist day of charter. Through her tears, Ellie says she’s behaved responsibly and is a good leader and teacher. She’s had no issues or problems with anything. Captain Sandy says, Aesha came to her. Aesha is doing what she can to keep the peace. The last thing she wants is to let them both go, but she has to think about this. Be kind and get through charter. Ellie wipes her eyes and Bri curses in the laundry. The captain calls Aesha to the bridge, and Jono asks Bri to meet him in the galley. In Jono’s interview, he says, you learn baking in culinary school.  He skipped that part of the job. He asks Bri to help him with dessert. Aesha brings food with her to see Captain Sandy, since she hasn’t had a chance to eat. The captain says she had a talk with Bri and Ellie, and they still both… Aesha says, they don’t like each other and at the end of the day, it’s a toxic thing in the workplace. Captain Sandy says, the way it’s going, she’s going to have to let both of them go, but she has to make sure they have a crew. Aesha thanks her, and the captain says, it’s her job.

In Gael’s interview, she says she’s never jumped from one relationship to another this fast. She knows Nathan pretty well, but she doesn’t want to ruin the moment by thinking too far ahead. Aesha tells Ellie to start setting up for the goddess party, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, she feels like it’s always something. If it’s not professional, it’s personal, and if it’s not personal, it’s professional. She feels like she’s failing as chief stew because she doesn’t know what the answer is. In Ellie’s interview, she says her head shouldn’t be anywhere near the chopping block. She’s going to keep her mouth shut and put up with Bri’s bullsh*t. The goddess dinner table is set, and Captain Sandy asks Aesha if Ellie and Bri share a cabin. Aesha says, yes. Can she change that? The captain says, if that’s what she wants, do it. That’s what happens when you’re the boss. Aesha calls Bri and Ellie to meet her in the crew mess. Gael is there, and Aesha says she’s glad because they’re going to swap cabins. Bri will bunk with her, and Ellie will bunk with Gael. Gael jokes that they have to get their sh*t together, and Nathan eats a rib bigger than me. The guests tell primary Coleen, happy birthday, and Aesha tells Bri to do cabins. Seafood pasta food porn is served, with chorizo filling in for the scallops for the non-seafood lover.   Ellie sets up the slumber party and makes tents. Aesha tells Jono that the guests loved the meal, and he dances. Joe plays piano and makes up a song about Bri and Ellie – ♫ I’ve already had one and now it’s time for two ♫ – and Nathan and Iain lose their sh*t laughing. Unfortunately, Ellie is within hearing distance, and when she says she’s enjoying the music, Joe asks if she likes the song. She says, it’s beautiful, but she thinks she heard plenty. He says, it’s just a joke with the boys, and in Ellie’s interview, she says, that motherf***er got attention from her once. Now he thinks he can get whoever he wants, but not her. She’s dried up.  

There’s an ad for Goddess perfume. Coincidence or wise placement?

Ellie tells Aesha that the fort is completed, and Joe practices singing Happy Birthday. At the table, the guests reminisce about Coleen. Aesha brings in the gold cake, while the crew sings Happy Birthday much better than the last time. Aesha thanks Coleen for letting them share her birthday, and Coleen cries. Joe goes on and on about not knowing Ellie was there to anyone who will listen. Aesha tells the guests, it’s pajama party time, and Coleen tells them, get your jammies on, ladies. The set-up is very cute, a large tent with little white lights. Some of the guests ask for porn star martinis, but guest Nikki says she’s not liking the drinks. Aesha asks Ellie what she’s putting in them, and Ellie shows her. In Aesha’s interview, she says, the job of the second stew is cocktails and decorating. Ellie can decorate, but her cocktails suck and she mislabeled Jono’s pants. She never knows what she can rely on with Ellie. Nikki tells Aesha that she’s got to teach Ellie how to make martinis, and Aesha promises she will. On the phone with her friend, Bri says, she and Ellie’s fighting is affecting others and now she has to change cabins. Her friend says, at least she’s not with that bitch. The guests go to bed, and Ellie says she needs this trip to end. Me too.

Guest Stacy is up early in the morning and asks Bri if she can get in the jacuzzi. Bri calls Nathan and he sets it up with Gael. After Stacy is finished with her tub time, Chief Engineer Ionel tells Nathan that there’s no hot water because no one closed the valve. Ionel tells Captain Sandy about it, and she says, mistakes like that shouldn’t happen on charter 5. She calls Nathan and Iain to the bridge and say she doesn’t want to do this after the tip meeting. The jacuzzi valve was open, so there was no hot water. Even though it’s Gael’s responsibility, Nathan cops to it, and the captain says, it’s not a small thing. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, thankfully, it didn’t become a guest problem. It’s a leadership problem, which makes it an Iain problem. A lot of little things keep happening that shouldn’t happen by charter 6. We flash back and wow. It’s definitely a lot. She says, it’s a systematic issue. Systems need to be in place, which is something Iain failed to do.

Iain calls Nathan and Joe on deck, and says, it’s his fault even if it’s not his fault. They’ve got to check the valve. In Joe’s interview, he says, he understands why Nathan took the blame, but he doesn’t agree. Coleen tells the captain that the food is phenomenal. The chef kicked butt. Nathan tells Gael about the valve, and says he told the captain that they were both there, even though she turned on the jacuzzi. Gael doesn’t think Nathan should take the blame and wants to take responsibility for it with the captain. She goes to the bridge and tells Captain Sandy that she apologizes. She turned on the jacuzzi. The captain says, Gael’s not in trouble. When she says something, it’s to educate and tell them to try to work on this. Gael thanks her, and in the captain’s interview, she says she loves when people take accountability. It was a mistake. Gael is visibly nervous, and she’s accountable. The captain wishes Iain would do more of it. Nathan says he hates getting sh*t the last day, and Joe says, Gael isn’t a princess; she’s a deckhand. They dock, and the captain says, good pivot. They’re meeting in five minutes to see the guests off.

The guests say goodbye, and Coleen says, it was amazing. They made her birthday memorable. They’re not an easy bunch. She thanks them, give the captain the tip envelope, and the guests leave. The captain says, good job. Now she’s taking the tip envelope shopping. I think she’s joking… She tells the crew to get in their reds and turn the boat around. In Joe’s interview, he says, Ellie has every right to be upset and he’s going to apologize. They clean the boat, and Bri finds a mess in the laundry. She sings, ♫ why this so annoying? ♫ and in her interview, she says she wished everything would be different when she came back. Did she make a mess or did Ellie? She thinks Ellie might be sabotaging her. She tells Ellie, in the future, don’t move the laundry, and Ellie says she’s sorry. Bri says, don’t do laundry. She’ll do it. Ellie says, okay, and when Bri sees Aesha, she says she’s taking full responsibility for the laundry and told Ellie not to do it. Aesha says, they can’t have that, and Bri says she doesn’t want her doing it. Aesha says, it’s not about what Bri wants. She’s running the boat. If Bri is on break and Ellie has a spare moment, she’s not going to not do laundry. Nothing personal.

The crew goes to the salon for the tip meeting, and the captain says, they had great guests. They were pretty awesome. The client loved the food, so she wants Jono to keep doing what he does. It seems to be working. As far as disagreements, she knows how they feel, and their mental status is important. By charter 5, they’re tired and they don’t get much rest. She thinks they need a reset, and the owner has arranged a day out. They’ll start with the Acropolis, followed by a day at a beach club. It’s going to be an awesome time. Aesha yells like Tarzan, and Captain Sandy says, the tip is $21,500, $1790 each or 1500 euros each. Aesha is amazed at the amount for one day. The crew gets ready to go out, but Ellie says she needs sleep. She wants to start fresh. In Ellie’s interview, she says, she’s over the drama with Bri. It’s the same thing over and over, and she’s completely emotionally battered. She doesn’t have it in her to be around other people. She needs to sort herself out. Joe whines that he upset her, since all worlds revolve around him.

In the taxi, Nathan explains what happened with Joe singing, and Jono says, it was a song about who he should choose. We flash back to Joe singing, ♫ I’ve already had one, now it’s time for two ♫, and Ellie hearing. Aesha says, oh my God, and Jono says, how cringe. In Bri’s interview, she says, Ellie triggers her, but hearing someone talking about you and being there, the feeling of your heart sinking… She feels sorry for Ellie. Joe says he’s going to tell Ellie that he’s sorry, but Aesha says, don’t.

The drinking commences, and Aesha says she hopes Bri doesn’t feel she’s hard on her. Bri says, Aesha is the reason she picks herself back up, and Aesha says, if she wants to be on service, she can’t let her lows show. Bri seems surprised that she does, and Aesha says, big time. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Bri is very emotional, but she understands why Bri isn’t being fired. She does cabins well, and when she helps with breakfast service, she does that well. The laundry is her Achille’s heel. If she could do that and get the squabbling sorted out, she could be a great stew… Well, maybe not great, but a good stew… Well, a passable one… Well, maybe just a stew, but not a bad one. Joe tells Gael that she came to him with an aggressive attitude, and she says she had a rough morning. She didn’t want Nathan to take the blame for something she’d done. Joe says, it made him annoyed, and she says she went to the captain. Joe says he didn’t want her to have princess treatment, and she says she’d never take princess treatment. He says he didn’t know that. All he saw was Nathan taking the blame. In Gael’s interview, she says, she’s not entitled. Better fix it up. She says she’s telling him and now he knows. The crew heads back to the boat because, beach day.

Aesha says her two favorite things are history and the beach. Nothing can bring her down today. She’s going to look at old sh*t, then tan. Just let her do that. Bri tells Ellie that she heard about Joe on the piano and she’s sorry. Ellie says he was taking the piss out of both of them. She didn’t want to upset Bri, so she didn’t say anything. She wanted to tell Joe, bitch, I got NFL players in my DMs. The group gathers to leave, and Ellie says she feels like a new person. They go to the Acropolis, and Aesha reads factoids out loud as they walk. They can see the Parthenon from where they are, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, she was picturing herself here, and she acts out a scene about her delivering goods to the Acropolis that the survival of civilization depends on. On the boat, Captain Sandy tells her laptop, download, you mofo, and has never been more relatable. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’d like Joe to take accountability. She has no intention of speaking to him unless he apologizes. His behavior caused the rift that has now threatened her job. Jono asks if Gael is going to say yes or no to Nathan’s proposal, and in Nathan’s interview, he says he hopes he and Gael can do something outside of charter season, just the two of them, and see if they can make this something. Aesha says she’s hungry and wants a cocktail. They move on to the beach club.

They sit in a little tent with a table in it and order drinks. Aesha says, Joe is quiet, and Nathan says, they all have their moments. Nice work, team. Ellie says, when she heard Joe’s song… Nathan says, she wasn’t happy, and she says, it sounded disrespectful. Nathan says he’s just staying quiet, and in his interview, he says he’s not dealing with this. Joe can. He’s gone. He leaves the table, and Joe (aka Mr. Insightful) says, he’s upset her, hasn’t he? There are crickets for a moment, and Ellie says, it was disrespectful. He says, it was just a little song with the boys. It was a playful moment. She says she doesn’t give a sh*t. It was disrespectful. He says he’s sorry he offended her. He knows he’s a pr*ck. She says she doesn’t accept disrespect, and he says, she doesn’t deserve it. He apologizes. She says she appreciates it. It’s kind of him. In Ellie’s interview, she says she can see he means it and has remorse. He’s immature and his ego got carried away. She doesn’t think he was being malicious, so she’s happy to forget about it. Nathan slips back into his chair, and Jono says, no more singing. The server brings what looks like pizza, and everyone dives in. Aesha says she’s proud of everyone, and they chant, Mustique! and clink glasses. Ellie says she’s ready for the beach, and they go to a cabana. Some of them get in the water, and Bri twerks. Aesha says, it’s the first time she’s seen Ellie… Jono says, enjoy herself? Ellie dances and everyone clinks glasses again. Nathan asks if he can kiss Gael, but she says he has to take her on a picnic first. In Gael’s interview, she says, it’s not like she doesn’t want to kiss him, but she hates PDA. (Me too.) They go back to the boat, and Aesha says, they needed today. Jono says, 100%, and Aesha says, it’s nice and early, but he says he still hates to leave. In Ellie’s interview, she says she thinks it’s healthy for her and Bri to part ways. She can start fresh and focus on herself rather than what Bri is doing.  

Zea Marina. 7 hours to charter. Aesha says she hates that Gael is leaving, and Gael says she wants to cry. Captain Sandy says, it’s going to be windy, and she wants to get off the dock early. She tells the crew that they’ll be receiving the provisions and guests on anchor. She calls Aesha, Jono, and Iain for the preference sheet meeting. She says, it’s a short charter with a late arrival. The primary is Mahisha, who founded a natural hair care brand Curls. She’ll be joined by her husband and friends. Jono reads that the guests want every meal to be a culinary masterpiece that rivals any Michelin restaurant. Captain Sandy asks Jono, whatchu gonna do, boo? She asks if they feel good going into the next charter. They’re going to have fun.

The move happens, and in Bri’s interview, she says, you know what they say, that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Captain Sandy tells Iain that they’re going to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, they’ll be stuck at the dock. Jono says he’s going to make a charcuterie board to welcome the guests. He can make it look more dramatic than it is. In his interview, he says, he doesn’t think any Michelin restaurant has only one chef. He’ll do his best, but he might be f***ed for this one. They go to the Bay of Zea, and the captain says she’s missing a red shirt. The one she was given isn’t hers. She gives it to Bri, and Aesha says, everyone should label their clothes at the beginning so there’s never a mix-up. Bri says she doesn’t know where the other one is, and Aesha wonders how it can go missing. Bri looks for it, and Aesha says, such a sh*tshow. In Aesha’s interview, she says, unfortunately, she can’t fully trust her stews. We flash back to the many laundry issues this season, and she says she needs to be on all the time. It’s not sustainable to maintain this. She hopes this works out. They need to get to the bottom of what’s going on. She tells Ellie to only do rags, napkins, and towels. Then they can see where the problem lies and can prove it. In her interview, she says she had a lightbulb moment. She can go for it in a way where no one can point a finger. She tells Bri that Ellie is allowed to come in the laundry and explains the new system. If something that belongs to a person goes missing, they’ll know it’s 100% her fault, but if she keeps making these mistakes, Aesha will have to consider letting her go.  

This season, Jono serves a guest raw food when it could kill her; Captain Sandy says she has to fire Jono; Athens; guests find the couch an eyesore and want it moved; Bri tells Ellie that Joe is playing both of them; Captain Sandy says something is a fireable offense; Ellie says she’s being made a scapegoat; a new stew arrives: Nathan says, Joe is going for another one; the new stew is a pathological flirt; and a bad storm floods the boat.

🦸‍♂️ Everything and More, Peanut…🐺

How did I love this movie? Let me count the ways. If you only see one thing on the big screen this year, it should be this movie. The jokes come so fast and furious, I would have watched it a second time if I could have. The action? Incredible. The special effects? Magnificent. The cameos? Sublime. And Dogpool? The new love of my life. Deadpool and Wolverine are the best pairing since Romeo and Juliet. Even better, since – spoiler alert – neither of them drinks poison and dies. Although there are deaths a-plenty and more Deadpool variants than you can shake a katana at. I’m hoping this film’s thunder keeps rolling for a long time to come. I’m also hoping this isn’t the last film. Although how can it be, when Disney is going to make Hugh Jackman do this until he’s 90?

https://ew.com/deadpool-wolverine-elektra-blade-gambit-x-23-action-scene-breakdown-exclusive-8687405

Some of the guests.

https://people.com/jennifer-garner-shares-how-she-got-marvel-fit-for-deadpool-and-wolverine-8690592

https://people.com/ryan-reynolds-says-deadpool-wolverine-costar-channing-tatum-was-born-to-play-gambit-8690676

https://ew.com/chris-evans-shares-behind-the-scenes-look-at-his-deadpool-and-wolverine-cameo-8687115

https://people.com/chris-evans-says-ryan-reynolds-offered-him-cue-cards-for-his-surprise-monologue-in-deadpool-and-wolverine-exclusive-8689836

An almost was. How could he turn this down?

https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/ryan-reynolds-nicolas-cage-ghost-rider-deadpool-and-wolverine-1235032716/

I always stick it out for the credits, and I have to admit, when I saw Wrangler for Hugh Jackman, I wondered where I could apply for the job.

https://ew.com/ryan-reynolds-daughter-deadpool-and-wolverine-role-on-set-for-hugh-jackman-8684962

All the records broken. Sit on it, Titanic.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/deadpool-and-wolverine-box-office-record-second-weekend-1235965690/

🐚 Seashell Wishes…

Join me tomorrow for soap and Dubai talk. Until then, stay safe, stay creating an alternate weather plan when having a party, and stay remembering, good or bad, young or old, all we have is right now.

Jul31

July 30, 2024 – An Arraignment Surprise, Soap Bubbles, Messy New Jersey, Ramonacoaster Return, Ending the Feud, New Freedoms, Where’s Whitney, Last Of the Shadows, Super Rescue & Suddenly

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna goes to the WSB and introduces herself as the Police Commissioner of Port Charles, New York. She asks if the desk agent can point her in the direction of someone who knows what happened to Jack Brennan and why he was removed from Pentenville.

Wiley is celebrating his birthday at the pool and tells Willow that he thought daddy was coming. Willow says, he wanted to, but had to do something with grandma. Wiley says, Grandma Nina! but Willow says, no, his other grandma. Wiley says, no. Grandma Nina is here at the pool.  

John tells Sonny, Carly is going to lose her children, her hotel, and the restaurant left to her by her deceased mother. Jason is going to talk. Sonny says, no one has anything to say to John, and John says, Jason is going to testify against him, and Sonny is going to be in that courtroom with all his money while John is beside him listing all the crimes he’s committed. John ends his tirade with calling Sonny a miserable son of a bitch, and Sonny is ready to punch him, but Michael grabs him and says, calm down. Sonny says, let him go, and John tells Michael to listen to the guy who’s not his real dad. Listen to the one who blew his real dad away. For once, he took care of it himself. Michael tells Sonny not to give John the satisfaction. Donna may lose her mother. Does Sonny want her to lose her father too?

Michael tells Sonny, just walk away. It’s not worth it. His family needs him. Sonny says, Jagger finally showed his true colors, and John says, same for Sonny. Sonny laughs, and John says he’s looking forward to seeing more of Sonny. Michael and Sonny step away, and John says, nice uncle. She’s an officer of the court. Why is she protecting him? She says she’s not, and he says, it’s a point of integrity for the county. She tells him to make a formal request. Fill out an official form, and she’ll have it processed. Then if he wants to drag Sonny to court and put him in prison, he’s more than welcome. He’s been waving his badge around, making demands, and using his power to service his own vendetta. He says, she has more than enough to go on and is hiding behind bureaucracy instead of serving justice, and she says, be her guest. Have Sonny arrested and prosecuted, but if he wants assistance, fill out an official request. He accuses her of being in bed with Sonny, and she tells him to request a court order. Until then, their business is done. Good day.

Nina hugs Wiley, and James says, greetings and salvations (not a mistake; he gets Spinelli’s hello a bit wrong). Willow says she’s happy that James’s mommy brought him to the pool, and Maxie says, no one needs to remind them whose birthday it is. Nina looks at Willow, who nods, and she says she brought something for the birthday boy. Spinelli tells Maxie, so far, so good. Wiley is happy to have one of his grandmas at the party. Maxie says, they all know Carly has to appear in federal court, but they don’t know why, and Spinelli says he found out Cates is using the incriminating evidence he has on Carly as a threat to coerce Jason into working for him. Maxie says, that snake, and Wiley thanks Nina for his gift. He tells James that they can show Nina how fast they can swim, and the boys get in the pool. Nina asks Willow if that was okay, and Willow says, Nina has great taste, as always. Wiley definitely liked it. (I think it was a truck, but I wasn’t totally paying attention.) Nina says she’s in the middle of a workday, so when the boys are out of the pool, she’ll be on her way, but Willow asks if she’s sure she has to leave.

On the phone, Dante says, Jack Brennan was at the hotel in December of 2023… Then go up the chain of command to the co-owner Olivia Falconari. Tell her it’s Dante Falconari… Right. He’s her son. He thanks them for their cooperation. Molly comes into the station looking for Anna, but Dante says, she’s out of town. Molly asks if he knows when she’ll be back, but he says he doesn’t. Is there something he can help her with? She says, there’s a rogue FBI agent roaming the courthouse and Dante’s father is hellbent on tearing him limb from limb.

Michael asks if Sonny is okay, and Sonny says he’s fine. Michael is right. Jagger’s not worth it. Diane joins them with Josslyn and Jason, and asks if everything is all right. Michael says, it’s fine, and Sonny looks at Jason then walks into the courtroom. Diane asks if she needs to worry, but Michael tells her to focus on their mom. She says she can multitask, and he says, they all rely on that. Josslyn asks if Jason is sure Sonny is taking his meds, and Jason says, Carly checked. Josslyn says, it’s possible they stopped working, and John lurks behind them. He stares at Michael and moves on. Jason asks what they missed, and Michael says, he can probably guess. How’s Donna? Josslyn says, she keeps asking where her mom is and they keep saying she’s on a business trip where there’s no cell service. She’s going to grow up to be a cop or detective. Pilar has her at Wiley’s birthday party. She’s sorry Michael is missing it, but they’ve got to figure out what to tell Donna if Carly doesn’t make bail. She asks if Jason thinks she will.  

Anna tells the desk agent that Brennan’s time in Pentenville was completely wiped out, as well as the PCPD records of him. That only happens when someone high up wants it. Whoever that is, is who she needs to speak to. He says, she probably knows what he’s about to say, but she says she needs to hear it. He says, the information she’s seeking is probably highly classified. Without a federal court order, they can’t and won’t provide it. Anna says she’s not a civilian, she’s a Police Commissioner, but he says, she’s local law enforcement. She says she’s a former WSB agent, but he says, all that gets her is in the door. She needs a special clearance. She suggests he get ahold of Mia Granahan, the Deputy Director. She’ll be happy to wait. Brennan was arrested for crimes in her jurisdiction. She arrested him herself and won’t sit by and allow the WSB to disappear him. She’s not leaving until she gets an answer. Brennan comes out of a nearby office and asks, must she always make a nuisance of herself? (I love Jack. He’s so much fun.)

Dante asks, how bad was it? and Molly says, words were exchanged, but John was way up in Sonny’s face. He wanted more to happen and almost got it. Sonny took a swing at him. Dante says, but there was no assault? and she says, the punch never landed. If it weren’t for Michael, Sonny would be in federal custody.

The kids play in the pool, and Willow thanks Nina. Nina says, of course (🍷), and Willow says, not just for the present, but for arranging for Michael to meet Congressman McConkey. Nina says, it’s her pleasure, and Willow says she’s sure it was as difficult for Nina to say yes as it was for Michael to ask. He considered asking Monica or Tracy, but Nina has a closer relationship with McConkey. Nina says, wise move, and Willow says, she wasn’t sure, considering how things are between Nina and… Nina says, Willow wasn’t sure if she would go to bat for Carly, but Willow says, no undue influence. They just want the congressman to look into Agent Cates’s abuse of authority. She thanks Nina, and Nina flashes back to Michael saying that she owes his family one and can make it right with one phone call. When his mom is free, he’ll make sure Willow knows all the credit goes to her. Nina tells Willow, spoiler alert. She may be shocked by why Nina did it. No matter what their differences, she knows how important Carly is to the family. How could she say no?

John wanders around the hallway and runs into US Attorney Wilcox. He tells John that he read the files and asks if there’s anything else he should know. John says, plenty.

Carly is brought into the courtroom and hugs Josslyn, but the officer says, no contact. She asks how Donna is, and Josslyn says, she thinks Carly is away on business. John comes in and Carly stares at him, but Diane says, look at her. From this point on, she’s not to look at Cates. Not a glare, not a side-eye, not looking backwards when she tosses her hair. Carly says she never tosses her hair, and Diane says, she’s not to speak to him. Carly says, she’s not an idiot, but Diane says, she’s impulsive. Carly says, Diane made her point, and she can hear Jason agreeing. Diane says, the most important thing to remember is, once the arraignment starts, no words. Not a peep, not a noise, no audible breathing until she argues for dismissal. Josslyn asks if she thinks it will work, and Diane says, no, but the court expects it and it starts the road to acquittal. Michael says he’s meeting with McConkey and asking him to look into Cates’s conduct, and Carly says she hopes they turn over every rock to find something. If she’s going down, Cates is going down with her. The bailiff says, all rise.

Alexis comes to the station and says she’s dropping off some paperwork for Anna. Dante says, it’s official, and she says, once again she’s a licensed and practicing attorney. Dante says, now they can have a different picture on their dartboard instead of hating on Diane. Sam wanted to have them over for dinner, and he thinks this would be a good excuse to celebrate. Alexis says she looks forward to it, and Dante takes the paperwork and leaves. Alexis asks if Molly’s got a minute, and Molly says, she must have spoken to Kristina. Alexis says, yes, she did.

Anna goes into the office and says, it’s good to see Jack, especially since every trace of him has disappeared. He says, there’s a reasonable explanation. He was never there. She says she kept a hard copy of his intake arrest record, and he says, damn. Now he’ll have to burn down the police department – again. He swore it was the last time. Anna tells him to stop whatever game he’s playing. He’s won. He says, what was that last bit? and she says, he won. He’s out and free, and she, the lowly, local Police Commissioner, can’t touch him. What’s going on? He says, sorry, she has no clearance, but she says, that’s never stopped her before. Or him. He says, the Bureau found a use for him. It’s as simple as that. Why does she ask? Was she worried about him? She says she was really worried… that he wouldn’t pay for the crimes he’s committed and that’s exactly what happened. He’s been rewarded for them. He says, he’ll be running a local station in the hinterlands. Some reward. She says, the WSB needed to divorce themselves from Pikeman. It did a good job for them, but things were getting conspicuous. The FBI wasn’t on board, so the WSB let them take Pikeman down and walked away clean. Is she close? He shrugs.

Maxie tells Spinelli that she knows she said she was okay with it, but she wants to know what happened. He says he can’t divulge his methods, and she says, but he could deny them in detail. He says, for instance, he absolutely did not access the evidence Cates is using against Carly, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) not. How would he do that? He says, not by having Sam distract Cates and borrowing Cates’s digital ID. She wonders why he couldn’t use the ID to get rid of the evidence and throw it away, but he says, even The Jackal couldn’t pull that off.

The judge says, the defendant is charged with racketeering violations, and Diane says, they can waive the reading. Wilcox has no objection, and the judge asks if the defendant understands the charges. Diane says she’s making a motion to dismiss. The prosecution hasn’t shared the evidence, which consists of a single recording. There’s no eyewitness testimony, just one audio file recorded by an FBI agent. A guy comes in and whispers something to Wilcox, and Diane says, Carly is a long standing pilar if the community and the charges are lacking in merit. She voluntarily turned herself in hoping to get this whole thing over with. It reeks of malicious prosecution, and she hopes the court sees it for what it is. The judge says, it always pleases her to hear Diane argue a motion, and Wilcox says, the people don’t oppose the motion to dismiss. We all go, whaaat?

The judge bangs her gavel and asks if she heard correctly. Are they agreeing to dismiss the case? John jumps up and says, they’re not, and Wilcox asks, who the hell is he? The judge says she’ll ask the questions. Who the hell is he and what business is it of his? John says he’s Special Agent Cates. He brought Carly in and the US Attorney is making his job impossible. The judge asks the attorneys and John to approach the bench, and John says, they have an iron clad case, but Wilcox says, the audio file is gone. It no longer exists. (I laaaaugh.)

Anna says, the FBI was closing in on Pikeman and Jack got himself arrested knowing he’d never face trial. The WSB left him in Pentenville until everyone forgot about him. He says, everyone but her, and she says, now he’s a free man. And Valentin his scapegoat is also fine? Lounging with his daughter on some extradition free beach? Jack says, she’s right. There. He said it. It’s all true. Anna says, but none of it will see the light, and he says, that’s how the game is played. Speaking of games, he doesn’t think she came to the nation’s capital just to badger the WSB into divulging his whereabouts. She wants something. Anna asks, what kind of leverage does he have against John? and Jack says, John is FBI and he’s WSB. Why would she think he has pull? She says, because you’re you. You have connections. Jack says he’s flattered, and she says, John is off the rails and targeting Jack’s friend Carly.

John says he has an official summary on his phone, but Diane says, in this day and age of deepfakes, evidence isn’t evidence unless there’s a chain of custody. John says, there is, and accuses the DA’s office of being incompetent. Maybe they should look for the file. Wilcox says, they did, and the last time it was accessed was by John. The judge says, so they have no evidence, and Wilcox says, none. She thanks them, and Carly asks Diane, what’s happening? Diane says, wait for it, and the judge asks if the prosecution wishes to proceed. Wilcox says, they’re not moving forward with the case, and the judge says, case dismissed. Carly looks at Jason and everyone looks stunned. Sonny smiles. (I can’t stop laughing.)

Carly asks, what happened? and John says, it can’t be gone. The judge asks if he didn’t hear the dismissal. One more word, and she’ll hold him in contempt. He’s stopped talking? Good. Now listen. For the record, she recommends he take his questions, accusations, and excuses to his superior. His conduct is not for court. Understood? John nods, and she says, good. Now they’re done. Court is adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Carly hugs Josslyn and Michael, and everyone is happy. John says he doesn’t know how they pulled it off, but it’s not going to work. It’s evidence tampering and he has a good idea who’s behind it. He flashes back to Diane assuring him that this is going to blow up in his face, and Anna telling him to ignore the evidence. Carly says she’d love to send a thank you note to whoever did this, but Jason says, it’s not over. Michael says, it is, and John tells Sonny, enjoy his reprieve. It won’t last. He’s going to put Sonny behind bars for the rest of his life, and make sure Jason and Carly are rotting beside him. He stomps out.

In the interrogation room – where everyone goes to talk – Alexis says she spoke to Kristina and has one question. Molly says, hit her with it, and Alexis asks, what was Molly thinking? Molly says, nailed it, and Alexis says, she jumped the gun and tried to force Kristina to sign the termination of parental rights on the spot. Molly says she just presented Kristina with documents she’d always intend to sign, but Alexis says, it wasn’t a formality. By Molly’s own admission, she said Kristina was being cagey. Molly says, it was obvious that Kristina wanted to keep the baby, and Alexis says, Kristina said she tried to explain that she was protecting Molly and TJ’s privacy. Molly asks if Alexis buys that, and Alexis says, Kristina didn’t want to discuss Molly’s fertility issues without permission. Molly says, then Kristina should have asked her before the interview. How could it not come up in the prepping? The obvious assumption is that Kristina and Blaze are having a baby together. A message Kristina perpetuated.

Nina says, Wiley and James are fast, and Spinelli says, especially for children with their mass and density. Wiley asks if Nina wants a hot dog, but Nina says she has to go back to work. Spinelli goes to get hot dogs for the kids, and Wiley thanks Nina for coming. He hugs her and everyone smiles. (Oh wow. This episode is way too happy. An asteroid is surely hitting Port Charles soon. Or the Ice Princess. Or something.)

Carly hugs Jason and says, it’s over. He’s free. Jason sighs, and Josslyn and Michael hug Carly. Sonny flashes back to Carly telling him about the recording, and Josslyn says, the look on Cates’s face… Michael says, priceless, and Jason asks if she knows how it happened. Carly says she has an idea, but Diane strongly suggests they keep their theories to themselves forever. Michael says, it’s a solid plan, and Wilcox says, Diane had an excellent argument. She says, it’s a pity they’ll never know, and he says, almost. He tells Carly, on behalf of the US Government and the Justice Department, their sincerest apologies, and Carly says, they were just doing their job. He says, it’s come to their attention that Agent Cates has been less than professional on other fronts, and they’ll be looking further into his conduct. Carly says she hopes they take a long hard look, and Wilcox leaves. Carly asks if she can walk out, and Diane says, unless she has a burning desire to stay. She strongly suggests Carly go to the PCPD and pick up her personal items. Michael says, it’s cause for celebration. He knows of a party already in progress. Carly wonders if it’s still going on, but Josslyn says, if it’s not, they’ll get the party started again. Michael asks if Sonny wants to come, and Sonny asks, what’s wrong with you people?

Alexis says she doesn’t think Kristina’s reasoning is up to par. Her body is flooded with hormones that are telling her to protect the baby and keep it. But she wants Molly to have it. Molly asks if that’s why Kristina is claiming she and TJ are breaking up. It’s like she wants it to happen for an excuse just to keep the baby. Alexis says, they both have her genes. Molly has the ones that want justice, law, and order, and Kristina’s got the ones that make her think she’s right, she’s the smartest one in the room, and her ideas are better. Lucky you. She has another great idea – back off please. Just talk to her and accept her explanation. Trust her to be honest. Molly’s impulse was to have Kristina sign the termination on the spot. If she pushes back, Kristina will push harder, double down, and dig in. Molly knows she’s right.  

Jack says he’s sorry Carly is experiencing difficulty, and Anna says, she’s been charged with RICO violations. He says he doesn’t see her as a racketeer, and she says, Cates is targeting her ex-husband and using it for extortion. They have an agent running roughshod over the law in town. He’s a wrecking ball and she’s not letting him play out his vendetta. Jack says, a code of honor and actual honor are very different. If anyone knows… She says, it’s them. How many people’s lives has he destroyed in his performance of duty? Does he keep track? Does he care? Jack says, she has a tendency to jump to conclusions. It’s a bad habit for a spy… She says, ex-spy, and he tells her, try to have patience. She may discover that he’s not in the business of ruining people’s lives if he can help it.  

Sonny says, this did not have to happen. Carly should have told him what was going on before it was too late. Jason should have called him three years ago and told him what Jagger was up to. He could have stopped it. Jason says he tried to explain what he could, but Sonny says, Jason didn’t trust hurt him. None of them did, but that’s all right. He’s going to take care of Jagger himself. He walks out, and Jason looks at Carly.

This was a great episode.

Tomorrow, Anna tells Jason that she has a debt to repay; Molly apologizes to Kristina; Ava tells John that she has every reason to believe she’ll get the outcome she wants; and Dante tells Sonny that he can only push everybody so far, even him.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

A blast from the past returns.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/emma-samms-returns-to-general-hospital-2024

So many of the soap stars love cooking, the Food Network should create a show for them. I miss Soap Net… sniff…

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kirsten-storms-shows-off-her-incredible-cooking-skills

Sounds like she had a pretty normal life, but still, it must be weird.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-kimberly-mccullough-on-growing-up-on-tv

She should thank her lucky stars that she practically skated. Uber. It’s called Uber.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospitals-haley-pullos-sentenced-for-dui

This sounds like a good time. I actually considered going for a hot minute, but couldn’t think of anyone I could force coerce into going with me.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/dont-miss-the-2024-general-hospital-fan-celebration

👠 What Happens In Jersey…

I love Marge sending Teresa a funeral bouquet in memory of her dignity. Apparently, she has tea to spill.

RHONJ Season 14 Finale Will See Margaret Josephs ‘Drop Bombs’ on Jackie Goldschneider

Danielle’s take.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1405006/rhonjs-danielle-cabral-confirms-the-season-14-finale-is-just-as-shocking-as-youd-expect

The uncivil war rages on.

https://okmagazine.com/p/rhonj-season-14-finale-war-revealed/

Seriously, Andy, reboot that thing or get rid of it.

https://people.com/andy-cohen-teases-rhonj-reboot-heres-the-truth-exclusive-8685366

What happened last week.

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14, Episode 12 Recap: Marge’s Funeral for Teresa’s Dignity

🗽 And In a Surprise Crossover…

Come on. What does anyone expect from this clueless throwback? If she was a dude, she’d be one of those guys from Manhattan who wouldn’t date you if you lived in Queens. A word about New Jersey. It’s like any place else. It has its good points and bad points. It’s geographically beautiful, there are tons of things to see, and the food is fantastic. On the other hand, the taxes are high, the government is corrupt, and it’s way expensive to live here. But best of all, you’re highly unlikely to run into anyone like the cast of RHONJ. Or Ramona.

Ramona Singer Faces Backlash for Shading State of New Jersey
Melissa Gorga Claps Back After Ramona Singer Shades New Jersey, as Fans React to “Offensive” Post & Call RHONY Star “Out of Touch,” Plus Margaret Pokes Fun at Ramona

🛟 Making Up Off Deck…

Hannah is a mom now. She’s too tired to argue.

Below Deck Med’s Captain Sandy Reveals How She Ended Hannah Ferrier Feud

🚜 They’re Moving On…

Interesting how both Barry and Ethan can’t let go of their respective relationships, yet their exes are moving on quickly. No crying and eating ice cream for them.

‘Welcome to Plathville’ Recap: Kim Cries Hugging Ethan During Reunion

🪄 Looking For Fabulous…

Note: As of this posting, there was no recap for My Big Fat Fabulous Life, but I did watch it and it was very touching. The episode revolved around the Thores’ second Christmas without matriarch Babs, and the first time actually celebrating. Shopping for a tree, a Christmas costume party, the family together – including Hunter’s new girlfriend Karen – and Goosie in a Christmas sweater. There was nothing not to like. Hopefully tomorrow will bring a recap.

🧛🏻‍♀️ Fading Shadows…

The beginning of the end airs October 21st.

https://ew.com/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-final-season-preview-exclusive-photos-8676830

🐕 Best In Pool…

If you take nothing else away from my obsession with this dog, remember that a rescue dog (or other pet) can be the best thing that’s ever happened to you, and you to them.

https://people.com/all-about-dogpool-the-canine-rescue-star-of-deadpool-and-wolverine-8685503

📝 The Back To School Slippery Slope Arrives…

Join me tomorrow for soap and new Listings. Until then, stay safe; stay keeping dirt/grass outdoors and not tracking it inside; and stay remembering that a code of honor and actual honor are very different, and choosing wisely.

Jul30

July 29, 2024 – Ava Tells John About Sonny Being Undermedicated, Captain Sandy Has To Get Involved On Deck & End

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

John says, Jason needs to give up what he knows about Sonny and Carly will go free. Jason asks if the FBI knows he’s using his badge to take care of a personal grudge, and John says, ignorance is bliss, but Jason doesn’t look blissful. They each have something the other wants. Help him bury Sonny and he’ll see to it that Carly walks.

Michael wonders if John’s actions don’t fall outside the FBI’s code of conduct, but Carly says, they might see it as the end justifying the means and look the other way. He says, or they might clip John’s wings, and she says she’d love to see that, but she’s more concerned about his father finding Cates. She sent Dante to run interreference with Sonny, but she needs Michael and Josslyn to do something. They’re not going to like it and it won’t be easy, but they have to promise her. Michael asks what they can do to help.  

Sonny looks at his gun when there’s a knock at the door. His phone rings, and he sees it’s Kristina. Dante says he knows Sonny is there. He can hear Sonny’s phone. He’s not here as a cop or on behalf of the FBI. He’s here as Sonny’s son and because Carly asked him to come.  

Kristina leaves Sonny a message and says she got a call from Allie, who told her Carly had been arrested. She wanted to make sure he knew. There’s a knock at Kristina’s door, and she lets Alexis in. Alexis says, sorry she didn’t get back to Kristina sooner, but she was busy at a webinar that was mind numbingly boring. Rather than killing herself, she ate half a cheesecake. Kristina asks if Molly happened to call her.

Jason says, Carly was never John’s target and Pikeman was just a means to get here. Sonny has always been his target. John knew Jason wouldn’t remember him or his vendetta. John says, the Bureau isn’t going to be happy that he let Valentin slip, but they’ll settle for a strong RICO case against Sonny, and Jason wonders if they know John is using his power to take personal revenge. John says, if Jason wants to save Carly, he’s going to have to give Sonny up.  

Molly finds TJ at the hospital, and says, Kristina refused to sign the papers. TJ says, Perez and his followers now know Kristina’s intention. If they hadn’t watched the interview, they wouldn’t have known until after the baby was in preschool. Molly tells him that Kristina said she was protecting their privacy, but he says, that’s a blatant lie. She says, Kristina claimed she didn’t want to mention it and open their lives to public scrutiny, but he says, that still doesn’t explain her refusal to terminate her parental rights. He wonders if they’re going to end up settling this with lawyers in a family court.

Alexis says, Kristina’s sister called her after the interview. She’s not happy how Kristina answered the baby question. Kristina says, Molly told her the same thing, and Alexis asks how Kristina thinks she handled it. Kristina says she was nervous. She was prepared to answer questions about Allie, Allie’s mother, and possibly her father. She was trying to protect Molly and TJ. Alexis says, so she started off thoughtful, and Kristina says, asking for privacy isn’t the same as claiming the baby. but considering the meltdown Molly had here this morning, she thinks maybe the baby should be hers. Alexis says she hopes Kristina doesn’t mean that. She said Molly had a meltdown. How far down? Kristina shows Alexis the papers, and says, Molly demanded she sign them to terminate her parental rights. Alexis says, and she didn’t sign them, and Kristina says, no. If Molly and TJ break up, TJ is the only one who can claim the baby. She didn’t sign them and she’s not going to right now. Alexis says, they’re all upset, but Kristina says, she doesn’t have a choice. She asks if Alexis still has the petition for her to file for custody.

Sonny locks up his gun and opens the door. He asks Dante, what’s going on? and Dante says he’s happy to see Sonny laying low and giving a pass to Carly’s arraignment. Diane is going to make a plea and ask for bail, and Carly will say nothing. He ran into Carly, and she was hoping Sonny would pass on going. Sonny says, she’s worried because she knows he figured out what’s going on with Jagger. He’s not going to lie, he’s mad, but he’s fine. Dante says, for what it’s worth (🍷), Cates is unwelcome wherever he goes. Everyone thinks he’s out of control, including Anna. Sonny says, anybody can see through him, which makes sense considering what he’s done. He doesn’t know what Cates told his superiors, but the real reason he came to town is to take him down. Dante seems skeptical, and Sonny says he knows how it sounds, but Dante knows the old saying. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.

John says, Jason let Valentin escape and owes him. Give him Sonny, and he and Carly can walk away into the sunset. Jason asks why he should believe John, and John says, he doesn’t have a choice. He’s seen how far Jason will go to protect Carly. He can convince the jury that she was only play-acting to protect Sonny’s business, then testify against Sonny. He promises Carly will go free. Jason says, John just wants to take down Sonny and will say anything. He’s not buying it. One deal with John was enough. John tells Jason to give his proposal some thought. He’ll be at Carly’s arraignment if Jason changes his mind. He leaves.

Carly says, there’s a good chance she won’t make bail, but Michael says, Diane got bail for Jason. Diane can get it for her. Carly says, this is federal court and she’s there for alleged racketeering. They’re not going to let her out. He says, that can’t happen, but she says, it can, and there’s a good chance she’ll be convicted. There’s something important she wants him to do. He says, name it, and she says, make peace with Sonny and have Josslyn do the same. He says he’s tried multiple times, and she says, he has to try until it sticks. Swallow his pride and dignity and put a smile on his face. There’s nothing more important than Sonny letting him in. It’s about Donna. Sonny loves her, but he’s not reliable right now. He says, but he and Josslyn are, and she says, right. Donna feels safe with them, and they love her and understand her, like how she likes tomatoes on her BLT, but not in a salad. It’s the little things. She’s sorry. It’s not fair and it’s her fault. He says, it’s Cates’s fault, but she says she didn’t have to dare him to prosecute her. She lost her temper. She’s hoping her winning, charming self will get through to the court, but Diane’s not optimistic. He says, okay. He’ll make peace with dad. He’ll keep showing up until Sonny lets him in. He’ll talk to Lois and Brook, and they can vouch for him, and he’ll make sure Josslyn does the same. She thanks him, and says, it will make her rest easier. He says, that will make it worth it, but Sonny isn’t his number one priority. Getting her cleared is.

Molly says she’s praying this doesn’t deteriorate into a lawsuit. What would happen would probably be a fight between TJ and Kristina, since they’re the baby’s biological parents. TJ says, it’s not right, but she says, it’s the law. Given the court’s general bias, when the parents aren’t married, the mother usually gets the advantage. He asks if they wait until they’re served papers, and she says, it’s probably a mistake to force the issue. She thinks it’s best they wait until after the baby is born and Kristina’s hormone fog lifts. Hopefully, she remembers her promise to them. TJ asks if Kristina said anything else, and Molly says, Kristina told her that she and Allie might make better parents. He says, they’ve been together a year, maybe. Kristina is a bartender who’s opening a youth center funded by her father and Blaze is a pop singer whose career has been canceled. Molly says, Kristina thinks she and TJ are about to break up and wondered how she couldn’t see it.

Alexis says she has the documents safely tucked away, but that doesn’t mean Kristina has to file them today or ever. She and Molly are both overreacting and escalating things. Kristina says, Molly and TJ want her to terminate her parental rights, and if they break up, the only this this family can do is watch TJ walk away with her baby. Alexis says, their baby. Why does Kristina keep insisting they’re going to break up? They’ve been together 10 years high and were high school sweethearts. It works out sometimes. Kristina says, Alexis is their mom, and Molly and TJ aren’t going to fight in front of her, and Alexis asks what they fight about. Kristina says, usually her. What are they going to do with a screaming child? Alexis says, like all parents, they’ll figure it out, and Kristina asks if Alexis has talked to them about their parenting style or childcare. Alexis says, they’re not required to discuss that with either one of them, and Kristina asks if Alexis thinks they’re going to quit career and stay home with the baby. Alexis says she isn’t privy to TJ and Molly’s hopes, dreams, and plans, and Kristina asks if they’ve even mentioned taking a leave of absence. Who’s going to take care of the baby once it’s born? Alexis with her new re-won legal license?  Alexis says, obviously not, and Kristina says, that leaves a stranger… or her. Alexis says she doesn’t know Molly and TJ’s plans, name, nanny, or college. Kristina is jumping to all kinds of conclusions. Kristina says, if she’s caring and taking care of the baby now, what’s the difference between that and her being the mother?

TJ asks what Molly said about them breaking up, and she says she can’t remember Kristina’s exact words, but it wasn’t nice. He asks if she thinks they’ll break up, and she says, does he? He says, it’s been a tough year. That’s about all he can say. She says, it has been. It hasn’t been great, but there hasn’t been a single moment where she wanted to be without him. He says he doesn’t want to be without her, and they won’t let that happen. Their tension has been because of worrying about the baby. Once it’s here, they’ll be fine. Molly says, they’ll have other stuff to stress about, and he says, but they’ll be able to handle it. She agrees, and her phone rings. She says she’s at lunch. Is there a problem… Did the DA request her specifically or… Okay. Fine. She’ll track him down as soon as she gets to the courthouse. She tells TJ that some agent is throwing his weight around and wants them to cough up documents for him. She’ll see TJ at home. She leaves.

Alexis says, just because Molly and TJ don’t share their plans, doesn’t mean they don’t have one. Kristina’s sister is a planner. Kristina doubts they’re planning on breaking up, but it’s not off the table, and Alexis says, that doesn’t mean it’s on the table. Kristina talks a lot about it, and it’s not helping the current situation. Kristina says, what if they stay together, then break up down the line? Does Alexis think any court would rip a child out of the only home it’s known or leave it with the biological father? Alexis doesn’t say anything, and Kristina says, that’s what she thought. If she’s going to make a move, it has to be now, before the baby is ripped out of her arms in the maternity ward. Alexis says, she needs to slow down, and Kristina says she knows Alexis thinks she’s rushing into something, but this is different. Alexis asks, how so? and Kristina says she’s the one bringing the baby into the world. She’s the reason the baby exists, and she has to be the one responsible for it.

John goes to Ava’s hotel room, and Ava says she thought John left his bags there and hit the road, but he says he spent the night in the US Attorney’s office. He hopes his stuff isn’t in her way. Does she mind if he parks here? He needs to change for the courthouse. Ava says, no problem, and he says he promises he’ll be out as soon as he can. She says, his stuff isn’t a problem. She’s concerned about him. Sonny despises him and he’s been more volatile than usual. John says he appreciates her caring, but he’s not concerned about Sonny, and Ava says, if he knew what she did, he might be. He asks if there’s something specific that he should know, and she says, first, she needs to know if she can trust him with a secret.

Sonny tells Dante that Jagger has been holding Carly as leverage over Jason, but the case against her is ridiculous. Dante asks if it’s enough to go to trial, and Sonny says, Carly on trial isn’t what Jagger wants. He thinks Jagger wants Jason and Carly to turn evidence against him, and he’s going to offer them immunity to testify against him on the stand, because he’s predictable. Dante says, when he first came to town, Cates said he wanted to protect Sonny, and Sonny says, maybe the FBI told Jagger to protect him, but that’s not why he’s here. Jagger has been out to get him for over 30 years, and now Jagger thinks he’s found a way to crucify him.

John says, nobody is recording, and Ava knows he’s not wearing a wire. He’d love if she trusted him, but she doesn’t have to. Whatever she says, she can deny later if she has to. She says, Sonny hates John, and he says, the feeling is mutual. Is he planning something like an ambush? She says she doubts Sonny is clear thinking enough to plan that. She wants John to understand that she found out by accident. Sonny is critically undermedicated. He takes two medications to control his bipolar and he’s very good at taking them. When she was staying with him, a few times, he exploded in a rage. John asks if that’s unusual, and she says she wondered if something was going on with his medication, so she took one of his pills and had it tested. It’s the wrong dose. It’s less than a quarter of what he ought to be taking. And if one is off, she can only assume the other is too. He asks if she told Sonny, but she says, no. There was never a good time, and she’s afraid he’ll blame her. She had her daughter and couldn’t risk it. He has to very careful how he deals with Sonny. He says he will. It occurs to him, if Sonny is crazy enough to go for his throat, it will be helpful in her custody case. She says she never thought of that, but now that he mentions it, it could.

Dante says, it makes sense, and Sonny says, Jason and Carly won’t turn on him, but he needs them away from Jagger. Dante suggests he share this with Anna. She’ll come to the same conclusion. Sonny says, Anna isn’t a fan of his, but even if she was, it probably wouldn’t matter. Dante says, Cates repeatedly broke procedure and someone needs to rein him in. He’ll do what Sonny wants, but don’t give Cates another reason to come after him. Sonny says, Dante is probably right. He knows good advice when he hears it. Dante leaves.

Jason visits Carly in the interrogation room, and she asks, how mad at her is he? Look at it this way. She spared him a long bus ride to Quantico.

Kristina says she knows she put Alexis in an impossible situation. She won’t come to Alexis for legal advice anymore. She’ll find someone else and get a referral. Alexis says, before she does something she can’t take back, think about her responsibility to her sister and the promise she made her. Is keeping the baby worth losing her sister? Kristina says she knows Alexis doesn’t believe her, but she truly thinks making a claim to the baby is the only way to protect Molly as a mother. If that’s even what she wants anymore. Alexis says she knows both Molly and TJ want to be parents. If that’s not true, they fooled everyone, including themselves. Kristina says, what if their fights lead to a breakup? She’ll know she made sure the child has a stable home with a mother, maybe even two.

Brick sends Sonny a text: There’s a long line at the courthouse metal detector. Cates just came in. Sonny leaves.  

At the hospital reception desk, Dante asks TJ about a Jack or John Brennan being admitted. He wouldn’t bother TJ if it wasn’t official business. He was involved in Brennan’s arrest and he was transferred. The information was misfiled or lost, and he wonders if the patient is back. He’d been injured in a fight. TJ says he remembers. There was a guard outside his door. He checks the computer and asks if Brennan used an alias or has an unusual spelling to his name, but Dante says, not that he’s aware. TJ says, he’s not in the system, nor has there been one patient who transferred from Pentenville. Dante says, weird, right? and TJ says, very. Dante thanks him, and TJ says he remembers Brennan. Dr. Robinson was upset about an FBI agent who wanted him released before he was ready. She got hot and that never happens. He doesn’t recall the agent’s name, but how many agents could be in town?

Carly says she knows she promised Jason, but when John started throwing out ultimatums, she lost it. Then he told her that Jason would want her to put him back in his hotel room. Jason asks what she’s talking about, and she says she packed up John’s things, voided his keycard, and locked him out. He says he gets why she did it, but wishes she hadn’t. He’s sure they could have figured something out. Why couldn’t she do what he asked just one time? She says she tried. It’s not like she wants to go to prison. He says, they’ll figure this out. He doesn’t know why he’s even saying this, but play it cool for a while. She can’t do anything to make it worse.

Michael sees Molly outside the courtroom and says he didn’t think she’d be at this arraignment. She says he was just waiting for someone. What arraignment? John arrives, and says he needs to talk to Molly privately. He told DA Scorpio what he’s looking for. Did she bring it? She says she hasn’t spoken to the DA. What is he looking for? He says, any open files on Sonny. They’ve got to have a room devoted to him. Molly says, even if they did, it’s not in her purview to give them to him and she’s not convinced he has the authority to demand them. Michael sees Sonny come in, and says he was hoping they could sit down and sort through some things after the hearing. Sonny says, we’ll see, and John tells Molly that he has the right to see files on Sonny.

Carly asks how she could make it worse, and Jason just looks at her. She says she hates that he’s mad at her, but he says he’s worried. Cates is more dangerous and wants Sonny. Cates will do anything to get him to flip. He’s going to try and break them. Carly asks what Jason is going to do, and Jason says, get information on Cates. It might be enough to get him yanked back. She says she doesn’t know how that will change her situation, and he tells her to just do and say what Diane tells her. Not one more word. Be a model defendant. She promises and says, if things don’t go how they want them to, take care of Michael, Josslyn, and Donna. He says, of course (🍷), and she thanks him. An officer tells her, it’s time to go. He handcuffs her and takes her out. Jason says he’ll be right behind her, and I notice he’s in an all-black suit with a black shirt and tie. Since he’s always wearing all black, I didn’t even realize.

Jason and Carly see Dante in the squad room, and Carly asks if Dante found him. The officer tells Carly, let’s go, and Jason says, good luck. Ask if Anna can get what he wants from her office. Dante says, Anna left for DC, and they don’t know when she’ll be back.

John asks who Molly is to question his authority. Scorpio’s glorified assistant? She suggests he maybe actually listen when women talk, instead of making aimless demands and asking questions that have already been answered. Sonny is her uncle. He says, of course (🍷). It makes sense now. She says she’s never been accused of protecting Sonny and won’t be today. He requested files she has no reason to believe he’s entitled to. He says, Carly is about to be arraigned for racketeering and Sonny wanders around free in fancy Italian suits. Some guys hide behind the women they’re supposed to protect. She tells him that she’s done. Find someone else to use as a prop for his play. He asks if she’d dance for Sonny. Would she lie for him? Would she strip for him? She says, he’s out line and has no business talking to her like that, when Sonny walks over. He tells Molly that John is so excited to see him, he babbles and makes no sense. He’s been coming after Sonny for 30 years. Come on and get him instead of going after Molly. He’s pathetic. John says he’s got Sonny. Sonny is so blinded by his arrogance, he can’t see. He got to Jason and Carly because Sonny threw them away. That’s what he does. Like he threw Karen and John’s brother away. Molly suggests he take a break, and John says, Carly is about to lose her children, the hotel, and her deceased mother’s restaurant and Jason is going to talk. Sonny says, no one wants to hear what John wants to say, and John says, Jason is going to protect Carly in the courtroom, and he’s going to be there to listen to all the criminal things Sonny has done. Sonny lunges for John, but Michael grabs him and holds him back.

Tomorrow, Anna says she’s not leaving until she gets answers; Alexis tells Molly that she’s got another great idea; and Carly says, if she’s going down, Cates is going with her.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Hydra, Greece – final day of charter. Captain Sandy says she’s heading back to the marina, and Bri puzzles over whose laundry is whose. The captain tells Nathan to pull out with the chain. She wants the bow team on the bow. In Joe’s interview, he says, being lead deckhand, he’s hoping he gets the experience he needs from being on the boat. Nathan doesn’t have to show him what to do. The captain tells Iain to look before he talks, and in his interview, Iain insists the bow guys weren’t there and then they were. He got into trouble for taking too long to answer. He tells Gael that he gets in trouble if he does anything, and she says she doesn’t understand why he’s angry. In Gael’s interview, she says, Iain has a lack of accountability. He never says, maybe he could have handled it better. The boat heads out, and Aesha asks Bri how laundry is going. Ellie said Bri was making a list of things Ellie is doing wrong. Bri says she thought Ellie was stealing polos to get at her, and Aesha says, what the f***? Talk to her before she makes a burn book. In Bri’s interview, she says she made the book because it’s a lot for her to remember, but if she needs them, she does have receipts. Aesha says she wants things better, not worse.

The guests pack, and Captain Sandy tells Aesha that there’s something on her mind. Leah is flying in on the 14th, and she plans on asking Leah to marry her. Aesha says she’s excited, and the captain says she needs Aesha’s help. Aesha hugs her, and in the captain’s interview, she says she never thought in a million years that she’d ask someone to marry her. Her heart knew and Leah changed her way of thinking when it comes to marriage. She loves Leah so much and wants to be everything Leah sees in her. She tells Aesha that Leah thought she’d never ask because she’s always said she didn’t know why marriage was so important.

They head into port, and Captain Sandy tells Iain that she’s not going astern until the lines are out of the water. When she moves the vessel, she has to make sure the lines don’t touch the water. In Gael’s interview, she says, in his head, Iain is saying, f*** you, and Iain tells Nathan to pull the starboard lines. The captain says, those aren’t our lines, and Iain says, oops. The captain wonders, what’s so hard? and tells the crew to get into their whites. Gael smells her own armpit and says she’s good. The guests say their goodbyes and hug the crew, and Kacie says, thank you for everything. The interior team was amazing, and Bri knocked it out of the park. (That phrase is so overused on this show, I wonder if production tells people to insert it in their conversation somewhere.) She says, Ellie was fun, and Aesha is her spirit animal. In Aesha’s interview, she says, if the guests knew what was happening with the crew, it would be a different story. At least they’re good at their jobs and keeping things quiet. Kacie says she loves them so much and blows them kisses. The guests leave, and the captain tells the crew to meet for the tip meeting.  

Captain Sandy says she wants them to keep the bar high. One thing she wants on deck is for them to be aware of what’s around them. She’ll talk to Iain later. The tip is 19,100 euros – $22K or $1800 each. The crew goes, woof, woof, and the captain tells Iain to come to the bridge. In her interview, she says she expects more from a bosun. She thinks Iain’s head is somewhere else, but starting now, she’s not letting him slide. She tells him to have a seat. She says, when docking, the cross lines are what they do first. It keeps the boat from swinging. Don’t say something unless he can 100% confirm it. She saw the lines in the water, and she doesn’t trust him 100%. She wants to get to that trust. In Iain’s interview, he says he thinks he’s doing all right, but she’s his boss. He thinks she’s trying to push him to his limits to see how far she can push him. It hurts a little, but he guesses he’ll just keep smiling.

The crew gets ready to go out, and Aesha says, there’s a club that’s doing a white party. It will be sick. In Joe’s interview, he says, Ellie is looking fantastic and she said she’s liking him. We flash back to that, and he says, usually when he’s given the green light, he hits the ground running. Gael’s boyfriend texts her, saying, what’s going on? He guesses she’s got no time for him anymore. They go to a restaurant and in Joe’s interview, he says, he’s up and down between Ellie and Bri and he likes it actually. They move on to a club, and in the taxi, Joe says, Ellie is looking stunning. Someone wonders who’s hooking up, and Jono says, Nathan and Gael. Sorry boyfriend. They go to Tragos, and Ellie shows Joe her Instagram photos. In Bri’s interview, she says she can read the vibes and it feels awkward. She’s trying her best to hide it, but she feels so bad. Joe says he’s looking at the men’s comments on Ellie’s photos and asks if she’s a cat or dog person. She says she’s actually a rabbit person, and Bri starts babbling about bunnies. In his interview, Joe says he’s in a corner, stuck between Bri and Ellie. It’s crazy. Aesha says, it’s a weird dynamic, and Gael’s boyfriend texts, asking if she’s free to talk. She texts back that she’s at dinner. Sorry. Her boyfriend says, when they’re on the phone, she never says she loves him. He knows where this is going anyway. Nathan watches Gael, and her boyfriend says, they might as well end it now. Jono asks Gael, what’s wrong? and she leaves the table. Aesha goes with her, and Gael says she’s been trying, but it’s hard.

Gael cries and Aesha says she’s sorry. At the table, Joe and Ellie clink glasses, and Gael tells Aesha that she messages her boyfriend every morning and every night they talk on the phone. She thought she was doing her best, but she saw his insecurity, and he’d rather she be miserable with him. Aesha says, it’s so selfish. He’s ripping her down because he’s scared, and he should be lifting her up. She’s amazing. She’s built for this sh*t and has every right to be upset. Aesha hugs her and says, f*** that sh*t. Back at the table, Iain says he feels a lot is going on that he has no idea about. Gael and Aesha come back to the table, and Gael says she’s okay. Nathan asks if she and her boyfriend are done or no, and she says, he brought it up. She couldn’t tell him that she didn’t love him anymore, but he noticed. In Nathan’s interview, he says he hopes Gael is happy, whatever happens between them. He’s happy for himself too. Gael wonders how many signs she ignored. She’s hot and sweaty and wants to go dance.

The crew goes to the white party, but Iain decides to head back to the boat. He’s not feeling it. Gael texts her boyfriend that they should have a chat tomorrow. In Iain’s interview, he says he needs to focus on what he’s getting paid to do – his job. We flash back to his bumbling, and the captain saying she wants him to do better. He says he doesn’t want to wake up tired and hungover. He’s going to sleep. In the club, there are sparklers and dancing. Ellie dances with Joe, and in her interview, she says she’s having fun and feeling like she wants to rip his shirt off and blow his mind. She kisses him, and Gael says, she’s proper into it. In Bri’s interview, she says, it’s the most annoying situation. She doesn’t want to think about it. They leave, and in her interview, Bri says she’s not jealous, but it gets annoying when they’re doing it in front of her. Nathan asks Gael to chat later, and Joe kisses Ellie in the backseat of the taxi. Jono tells them, keep it PG-13, and Bri says, that means stop making sound effects.

Back on the boat, Bri tells Jono that she doesn’t understand. They’re rubbing it in. Ellie was so annoyed when she and Joe hooked up, but she was sleeping. Jono tells her to calm down, and Aesha looks for noodles. Ellie sits down with Jono and Bri in the crew mess, and in Jono’s interview, he says, it’s a bit awkward. Joe wonders if there’s any chocolate, and Bri tells him to look for himself. Aesha makes some ramen and slurps it directly from the bowl in her cabin. Everyone goes to bed, and Gael meets Nathan on deck. She says, it was an eventful night. Joe got Ellie and Bri, and Nathan is missing out. He says he’s not. She’s unbelievable. She says she’s scared and wants to keep it between them. He says, there are no cameras here, which is clearly not true, and they kiss. He says he wants to cuddle, but they go to their separate cabins. Maybe he and Joe can cuddle.

5 hours before charter. Aesha says, it’s hard to process the first day when you’re hung over. Bri tells Ellie that she’s not mad, but they don’t have to do it in front of her. When they get in the cab, chill. Ellie thanks her and says, they won’t do it again. Joe says, Bri hates him, and Nathan says, they’ll talk later. He’s going to sit outside. The captain calls for the preference sheet meeting, and Aesha, Jono, and Joe go to the crew mess. Captain Sandy says, the primary is Colleen, a branding expert from Orlando. Jono reads that she dislikes seafood, vegetables, and anything chewy. Guest Nikki doesn’t like eggs, and guest Jacqueline doesn’t like meat, poultry, cucumbers, and eggs. In Jono’s interview, he says, it’s like charter two all over again, and we flash back to that. He’s had two successful charters in a row and shown he’s been through it. He’s ready to get it right. Aesha reads that they want the chief stew to guide them through Paros, and they want a goddess themed 50th birthday party. Afterwards, they want a PJ party. The captain says, they’ve got work to do.

3 hours until charter. In Gael’s interview, she says she feels like it’s the first industry where she’s belonged. Things about her relationship are heavy on her. Her boyfriend has seen her work and knows she’s serious about her job. He should be supportive of her progressing in her career. Nathan has shown her flaws in her relationship, and he’s got her. She calls her now ex-boyfriend and says she’s sad too. He should have supported her, but gave her a hard time more than anything. That’s not a proper relationship and it’s not right. He says, she could have taken ten seconds to message him, but she says she messaged him every morning and called him every night. We flash back to that, and she says she’s sorry he’s not happy and doesn’t feel that she supported him enough. Let’s just leave it. She’s sorry how ended and wishes him all the happiness in the world. She cries.

Aesha asks if Gael is okay. She’s sorry about the breakup. Just because it’s for the best doesn’t mean it’s not sad. She needs to cry and deal with it. Gael says, and get Aesha cuddles. Ellie hugs Joe, as the captain looks for her white shirt. Bri says she’ll double-check. Iain tells Nathan that the deckhands left things like they were done, and he had to clean the stains on the deck. Bri says she literally can’t deal, and the captain brings in some clothing that she says she’s throwing away and some that aren’t hers. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, third stew is an entry level position. Aesha should train her, but they’re down a stew and she can’t put it all on Aesha. She wants to invest in Bri. Someone believed in her when she was newly sober and took a risk. That doesn’t mean someone is fired when they’re not good enough. Someone didn’t give up on her. Why should she give up on Bri? The captain tells Aesha about the grey pants and says, Aesha’s got to train Bri. They’ll figure it out. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Bri is making so many mistakes in the laundry. She tries so hard, Aesha wants to give her a chance, but she needs to put a hard foot down this time. Bri says, it’s so frustrating, and Aesha says she has to be honest. If Bri keeps making mistakes, she’ll have to consider letting her go, but she doesn’t want to do that without giving her another chance. Bri whines that everything is put on her and she’s sick. Aesha says she’s sorry.

Iain tells Joe that he doesn’t want to nag, but everyone left like the deck was done. Bri writes down that Gael is missing her black pants and tries to sort the laundry. In Ellie’s interview, she says, Bri is still writing passive/aggressive notes. She thinks Ellie is sabotaging the laundry because Gael’s pants are missing. It’s too much and needs to stop. Nathan asks if Gael needs a hug, and Gael says, you need 8 a day to maintain. Ellie wonders where Gael’s black pants are, since she ironed them, and they were folded. We flash back to her hanging them up, and in Ellie’s interview, she says, this is making her feel crazy. Did she do it? She can’t remember. It must have been her, but was it really her? Nathan asks if Bri is stressed out, and Bri says, yeah. He says, come here, but she says, it will make her cry and she can’t. She jets, but he follows her and hugs her. She says, everything is put on her and she’s tired of this sh*t. Gael can’t find her pants, and Ellie said they were here. She double-checked. In the laundry room, Ellie says, thank God she’s got it recorded. She can see the pants were here. ⬅️

Bri sniffles and tells Nathan that she’s fine, just frustrated, and in her interview, she says she’s confused because Ellie is in the laundry. She feels Ellie needs to own her part in this. Ellie tells Bri that they can do without the meltdowns, and in her interview, she says she feels cornered. Everyone is believing Bri’s bullsh*t, and she needs to say something. They’re looking at her like she’s doing something wrong and it’s not a good environment for her to live in either. The crew changes into their whites, and Jono asks, who’s missing dress pants? Bri says she thought they were his, and asks if Joe is looking for pants. He is.

Ellie tells Bri that she’s sorry for losing patience, but Bri’s meltdowns are affecting other people. The guests arrive, and the captain says, Aesha will show them around, they’ll get the luggage on board, and take off for their first destination. Gael thinks it’s going to be a loud charter. Aesha tells the guests that they’re going to have a great time and to figure out the cabins. She’ll be upstairs when they’re ready. The guests go to the bar, and guest Nikki asks for tequila. She’s going to get straight to it. And if they can’t get it right, she’ll take over. She used to be a bartender. Guest Stacy thinks her mojito tastes weird, and Ellie says, it needs more run. Stacy says, she can keep trying all night. In Iain’s interview, he says, so far, so good. He wants the captain happy and smiling. Onward and upward. In Gael’s interview, she says, Iain frustrates her and she feels bad for feeling that way. He’s a nice guy and she thinks he means well. Aesha sings, ♫ we’re going on a field trip – I’ve got a big d*ck. ♫ In Jono’s interview, he says he wants to knock it out of the park. (What did I say?) Call him Greek. Aesha says, no breaks. She’s a machine. The tender is ready, and Aesha says, let’s go shopping. Bri flashes back to Ellie saying her meltdowns are affecting others, and Aesha saying she’ll have to consider letting Bri go. Bri fans herself in that useless gesture people do so they won’t cry. As the tender leaves, the guests yell, girl power! Bri tells Captain Sandy that she’s feeling down. She’s having internal battles and struggling with Ellie. She feels like she’s going crazy.

The captain asks if Bri wants to go home, but Bri says, no. She wants to work through it. She’s not a quitter. She sniffles, and Captain Sandy says, she needs to be more specific. What is upsetting her? Bri says she feels like she can’t stand up for herself. She just takes it. The captain asks if Bri wants her to get involved, but Bri says, no. The captain says, she has to get control of her emotions, and she does it by being confident in who she is and what she does. She chose to be here, and it’s her choice how she responds to the circumstances. She can do this. She chooses. Captain Sandy makes muscle arms, and Bri laughs. The captain tells her to do the same and she does and says, shake it off. They hug, and the captain says she’s going to go be cool now on the bridge.

The guests go shopping with Aesha, and the captain tells Iain to get the slide in the water. Colleen says, treat yourself, don’t cheat yourself, and Aesha says, it’s a lovely way to spend the day. The jet skis are put in the water, and Gael says she thinks Bri is having a mental breakdown. In Aesha’s interview, she says, it’s a sh*t position to be in. She feels like she’s failing as a chief stew because she doesn’t have the answer to the problem. It’s exhausting. Iain says, it’s a clash of personalities. Aesha doesn’t know what’s going on if she’s not in the room. Gael says, people in yachting are from different walks of life, and the chances of not liking someone are high. Ellie tells Bri that she’s taking a break, but didn’t get to finish the cabins, and in Bri’s interview, she says, what the f***? Ellie is taking a break and hasn’t done the cabins? She stomps off, and in Ellie’s interview, she says, if Bri storms off one more time, she’s going to lose it. She follows Bri to a cabin, and Bri says, the cabins are a priority, and she feels like Ellie did it on purpose. She doesn’t want to talk now if that’s okay. Ellie says she didn’t do it on purpose, and Bri says she could have set up lunch easy. Just go on her break. If Ellie is going to distract her, just go. She’s not taking it. Leave her alone. She’s angry, so let her be. Ellie says she doesn’t get to behave like this, and Bri says, just leave her alone. Ellie says, Bri doesn’t get to speak to her like that, and Bri says, Ellie is asking for it by pushing her. Stop it. Ellie says, listen to her. Bri doesn’t get to speak to her like this. Stop wiping. They need to talk. Bri refuses, and Ellie walks out, but comes back. She says, Bri doesn’t understand how a boat works. She’s out of control. The second stew outranks her and that’s who Ellie is. I get that Ellie doesn’t need to beat the second stew thing to death, but I’m with her that Bri shouldn’t talk to her like that while at work.

Bri says, unbelievable, and Ellie says, they’re at work. Bri tells her, please be quiet. On the tender, Colleen asks if Gael has a boyfriend. Gael says, as of now, no. Ellie tells Iain that Bri had a meltdown. She’s blinded by her insecurity. Bri cries to Jono, who tells her to sit, but she says she can’t. The guests are coming and she’s the only one awake. She says a whole string of bleepity-bleeps and tells Jono that she feels Ellie is being spiteful. She sees Captain Sandy and says, they’ll talk later because it will make her cry and the guests are coming. The captain tells her to pull herself together and greetsthe guests on deck. Bri asks the captain to hand out towels so she can get the welcome drinks. Colleen remarks that the captain has two jobs, and the guests change into their swimsuits. Bri complains to Aesha that Ellie set the table, but hadn’t finished with the cabins and took her break. She asked Ellie to get out of her face, but Ellie said she was second stew and Bri shouldn’t talk to her that way. Aesha says, Ellie had more than enough time to finish the cabins, and Bri insists it’s out of spite. Aesha tells her to take a breather in the laundry and asks if the captain heard that. Captain Sandy says, no, but she caught Bri being upset that Ellie didn’t do the cabins. Bri tells the captain that she’s going to break if she’s pushed hard, but Captain Sandy says, the way Bri is walking out to the guests is not okay. She needs to hide her emotions. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, she doesn’t want to think about this stuff. She needs everyone to do their job. She’s going to allow Aesha to handle it. When she steps in is usually when there’s nothing else they can do, and someone gets fired.  

The guests play on the slide and Aesha calls Ellie to the pantry. She asks, what happened? and Ellie says she was working the entire time. Aesha says, but she didn’t do the cabins and Bri said Ellie made her feel like sh*t for them not being finished. Ellie says she didn’t make Bri feel like sh*t. She said she had no time to finish. Aesha asks, why not do them before she set the table? and Ellie says, that’s her bad, but everyone is letting Bri get away with bad behavior. Aesha says she wasn’t there, and Ellie says, Bri completely berated her and has been going to the other crew members and involving them. She’s not seeing things clearly and is escalating things. She doesn’t think this can continue. She’s sorry. Aesha thanks her. The guests jump off the boat as the captain cheers them on. Aesha tells the captain that she spoke to both Ellie and Bri, but their stories were opposite. They were shaking and crying, and they’re both convincing. She doesn’t know the truth and doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do. Captain Sandy says, they can’t fire one; they’d have to fire both. Just leave it with her and she’ll have a conversation with them. As she walks away, the captain wonders why they can’t all just do their jobs.

Ellie and Bri are called to the bridge, and the captain says, they need to see the big picture. They’re here to do a job and need to have respect in the workplace. If they can’t work together, she can’t let one of them go. She’ll have to fire them both. She doesn’t know the full story and neither does Aesha. She’s her to make sure they can fix it and continue to do their jobs. Can they do that? Bri says she doesn’t think so. They both tried and it’s impossible. She felt Ellie didn’t have her back and purposely didn’t do the cabins. Ellie says she had a lot of work, and Bri says, like what? The captain tells her, don’t be mean. She doesn’t like that. Ellie says, Bri is disrespectful in her attitude, and Bri keeps trying to interrupt. Captain Sandy tells her, don’t. Everyone is replaceable and they’ll both be on the ferry going back.  

To be continued…

🌿 Luke Warm For the Summer…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a spot of tea, since there’s no Dubai this week. Until then, stay safe; stay not doing a disappearing act when leaving a party and thank the host before you go; and stay crying and dealing if you need to. Just because it’s for the best, doesn’t mean it’s not sad.

Jul23

July 22, 2024 – John Tells Jason That Sonny Has To Pay, Burn Book Of Laundry Crimes On Deck & Blues

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At Bobbie’s, Danny asks how Jason made this happen, and Jason says he asked. Danny says, that hasn’t worked before, and Jason says, Danny’s mom just wants what’s best for him. Danny says, lately, what’s best has been staying away from Jason and taking his phone. Now they’re going on a speedboat trip. He wonders if they can camp out, and Jason says he promised to have Danny home by 10, but they’ll make it happen soon. Carly comes over to their table and says she hears Danny’s dad is taking him out on the boat. She’s having the kitchen whip up some sandwiches to take with them. John comes in and tells Jason, a word, but Jason says, John will have to wait. He has plans with his son. John says, not anymore. (Pretty early in the show for me wanting to punch him.)

Laura goes to see Anna, who says she always has time for the mayor. Laura says, it’s a personal matter, and Anna says she has even more time for a friend. Laura asks if Anna heard from Valentin today or last night, and Anna says, no. Why? Laura asks if she knows why the FBI would be looking for him.

Brook thanks Kristina and Blaze for meeting her at the boathouse. It’s the only place they won’t be interrupted. Blaze says, it has a great vibe, and Brook offers them coffee and herbal tea. Blaze says she needs coffee; she didn’t sleep much last night. Kristina says, Nina gave them a lot to think about. They asked her about how to deal with the press. Blaze says, so they don’t make things worse, and Brook says, that’s why they’re here today, to prepare for an interview with Perez Hilton. It’s their one chance to reverse backlash caused by Blaze’s mom’s homophobic comments. Just be themselves. They’re fabulous. Kristina asks if their questions were agreed to. They don’t want any curveballs. Brook says, after careful consideration, they said no

Scotty tells Ava that they need character witnesses. They need all the love they can get. Ava says she and Sonny both have shady pasts, but Sonny is still running his organization. He asks if she has proof that won’t get her killed, and she says she thinks the playing field is level, but he says, Sonny will dig up people who will canonize him and vilify her. What about Alexis?

Sonny thanks Michael for coming over, and Michael asks what it’s about. Sonny says he needs Michael’s help.

Laura says, an FBI agent paid her a visit and demanded to know Valentin and Charlotte’s whereabouts. It’s one thing for them to want Valentin, but Charlotte? They talk and text all the time… Anna says she hates that Laura is going through this, but Laura knows that she can’t divulge anything about an ongoing investigation, and she doesn’t have any answers. Laura says, Valentin and Charlotte’s phones are no longer in service, and Charlotte’s social media accounts have all been wiped out. They’re gone. She wants Anna to just tell her that she knows some way to get in touch with Valentin. Anna says she doesn’t, and Laura wonders what this could be about. She knows Valentin has been working at ELQ for the past few years. Why would he run unless the FBI uncovered something from his past? She was thinking Anna was going to tell her that it was a misunderstanding. She has a very bad feeling. Anna says she understands that, and Laura says she knows Anna and Valentin aren’t together, but can Anna tell her why the FBI is looking for him?

Ava says, no matter how much Sonny displeases Alexis, Alexis despises her, and Scotty says, what about Nina? Ava says, now that Nina knows she and Sonny are on the outs, she’s probably camped out in Sonny’s hallway pretending it’s a coincidence. He says he doesn’t want a roll call of exes who Ava hasn’t angered. She doesn’t have a lot of people in her corner. Ava says, Laura. She’s the mayor. He says, that’s as good as it gets, but it’s only one. She says, they’ll figure it out. She bets Sonny has fewer allies than she does.

Sonny asks if Michael wants coffee, but Michael says, Sonny doesn’t have to win him over. How can he help? Sonny says, he knows Ava is filing for full custody of Avery and she’s been going behind his back to everyone, including Kristina. Ava made Natalia’s recording public and now Kristina and Blaze are suffering because of it. Michael says he had no idea Ava was involved, but it doesn’t excuse what Natalia said. Sonny says, Natalia is making it right, but he doesn’t want Ava to be part of his daughter’s life. Michael says, Avery loves her mother, but Sonny says, she’d be better off without Ava influencing her. Michael says he’s glad Sonny kicked her out and wonders why she was living here in the first place. Sonny says, there was the break-in at Windymere and like Michael said, Avery loves her mother. He moved her in, but never again. Diane says, there’s an aspect of all of this they haven’t explored. Ava is adamantly voicing her concern about Sonny’s mental stability. If she could sabotage Morgan, imagine what she could do to Avery?

John tells Jason, send the boy home, but Carly says, Jason has spent enough away from his family. Let him spend the day with his son. Jason asks her to drive Danny home while he talks with this… agent, and tells Danny that he promises they’ll reschedule. He leaves with John, and Danny asks if Carly has any idea what this is about. Carly says, they both know his dad can take care of himself, right? and Danny nods.

Ava says, Trina. She’s seen firsthand how Ava makes Avery a priority. Scotty says, she’s an employee. It’s not their best look. She says, Trina is strong, honest, and immensely capable. Her character is sure to impress the judge. Scotty says, okay, but it’s only two, and she says she’s had it with his pessimism. He says, unless a member of her fan club knocks on the door, they’re in trouble, and she says, he’s fired. He suggests she hire Alexis, and wonders if a lawyer can testify against their own client. She says, he’s unfired, and he says he’s in her corner, but he just wants her to understand what she’s up against.

Michael wonders, if they bring up Ava tampering with Morgan’s meds, doesn’t it open the door to talk about Morgan and Sonny’s rocky relationship? and Diane says, yes, but the friction with Morgan was due to Ava’s relationship with him and the onset of his bipolar, which Ava did sabotage. Sonny says, the real question is, who is the better parent? He gave Michael a lot of love and a great home. Will he testify to that? Michael says he can swear on a stack of Bibles, but it’s ancient history. What’s not is his mom sending Morgan to military school to get him away from Sonny, and Morgan being hit by a ricocheting bullet meant for Sonny.

Kristina says she thought the interview would be fair, and Brook says, it will be. Kristina asks, then why won’t their questions be used? and Brook says, once a guest dictates the questions, it’s no longer an interview, but becomes a press release. He will and should ask the questions he wants to. Kristina says she gets the principle, but they have no control? Brook says, of course (🍷) they do, and Kristina asks about their request for certain subjects to be off limits. Brook says, like Kristina’s father and Blaze’s brother? and Kristina says, let her guess. They said no to that too. Brook says, they did, but what’s most important is for them to have the opportunity to tell their side of the story to the world. Blaze says, it’s too much to risk. They’re canceling the interview.  

Ava says, Sonny’s not invincible and she won’t let him take her child, and Scotty says, let him help her then. Does she have anyone in the contacts on her phone? She says, Agent Cates, and he says, Jagger? The FBI guy? Didn’t he question Ava at Selina Wu’s warehouse? Ava says, he wants to be supportive, and Scotty says, he’s law enforcement and has hate for Sonny. That’s good, but she’s only known him for 15 minutes and he thought she’d said Cates was having her followed. She says, because of her association with Sonny, but that’s over, and he found no evidence to incriminate her on anything. Scotty asks, other than hating Sonny, does John have any other reason to take her side? She says she hasn’t known him long, but maybe they have gotten closer.

Jason brings John to his room and asks, what’s so important that John pulled him away from his son? John says, they raided Valentin’s house and found no trace of him, and Jason says, his assignment was to find out who was running Pikeman and get evidence, and he did. Finding and arresting Valentin is on John. John says, Jason was stalling, but Jason says he was waiting until John finished talking. John says, he was here a half hour, and by the time they got to Valentin’s house, he’d vanished. He was tipped off. Jason asks if John thinks he did it, and John says, if it wasn’t Jason, who was it?

Anna says she doesn’t have a cordial working relationship with the FBI, and Laura says, what about Cates’ relationship with Robin? Anna says she and John haven’t seen eye to eye on pretty much anything since he’s been here. And given her closeness to Valentin, there’s no way the FBI would disclose anything to her. Laura says, makes sense. She’s sorry. She’s grasping at straws. This came out of nowhere. She was convinced Valentin had made the decision to provide a stable home for Charlotte and leave his old life behind. Anna says she thought that too, and Laura wonders how they can both be that wrong. She has to believe that if Valentin is with Charlotte, he’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe. Anna says, Valentin is trained in these situations. Not with a child, but they know Charlotte is resourceful. Laura says she knows. It’s just that for some reason all of her children are out of her reach, and now Charlotte is also missing. She cries, and Anna says she’s so sorry. Laura says, it’s okay. Will Anna let her know if she hears anything? Anna says, of course (🍷), but the way they left things, she doubts she’s going to hear from Valentin. Laura says, you never know, and thanks her. Anna says, of course (🍷). Anytime. Laura leaves and Anna sits down, wiping tears from her eyes.

Sonny says he thought that was in the past and asks if that means Michael won’t testify. Michael tells him that he’s not saying that, but they’re going bring up history. Diane agrees and says, they have to prepare. Sonny says, her too? and Michael tells Sonny that all he’s saying is, who’s to say that won’t happen to Avery now? Sonny asks if Michael doesn’t think he’s thought about it, and Diane says, this reaction is what she doesn’t want in court. Scotty will bring it up. Sonny wonders if Michael wants to take the stand to punish him, but Michael says he’s trying to help. Sonny says, like he helped Dex. Michael is only a good son when he wants something. When he doesn’t, he looks at Sonny like something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe.

Scotty says he’s got to ask, and Ava’s got to be honest. Is there something going on between her and Cates? She asks if he’s jealous, and he says, if Diane finds out… Ava says, don’t worry. They’re not involved. Not yet anyway. He asks her to promise they won’t get involved until after the hearing, and she says, so in addition to Cates… What about Dex? He used to work for Sonny and barely escaped. Sonny beat him within an inch of his life. Maybe he’d be willing to testify. Scotty says, she has no proof, and she says, Dex is almost a cop, and she has it on excellent authority that Kristina witnessed the beating. He asks if she thinks Kristina would testify against Sonny, and she tells him to subpoena her. It’s about time Sonny answered for his behavior. He asks, what about Josslyn? She thinks Sonny is public enemy number one. Ava says, she hates Sonny, but she’s her mother’s daughter. She’s an entitled brat who looks down her nose at Ava. He asks if she has a better idea, and she says, Carly, and he rubs his forehead like he has a headache.

Carly say she was hoping Cates confided in Anna, but Anna says, John is more likely to confide in Carly. Carly says she regrets any kindness she’s shown John and asks if Anna is going help. Anna says she can’t divulge any information she finds out, and Carly says, thanks for nothing. Anna says, tell her what this is about, and Carly says, Cates came for Jason this morning.

Jason asks why he’d warn Valentin, and John says, maybe Jason wants to sabotage his case and stick it to him. Jason says, and risk prolonging their deal. There’s no way he’s not done. John says, that would be true if they could find Valentin, but until they do, he has nothing to show for his assignment. Jason’s days as his informant are far from over. He’s putting Jason on a bus to Quantico, where he’ll receive a new ID as a federal prisoner. He’ll go to Lompoc Penitentiary, where he’ll be inserted into a drugs and arms trafficking outfit they believe is there. He leaves tonight.

Carly explains what happened at Bobbie’s, and Anna asks if John said anything to suggest he’s coming for Sonny. Carly says she thinks John is helping Ava with the custody hearing, but she also thinks it’s all one big excuse. Anna says, for what? and Carly says she thinks John is doing what he can to take Sonny down. Anna asks if that’s Carly’s theory or Jason’s, and Carly says, all she knows is, Jason was supposed to be done, when John barged in and started pushing Jason around again. If it’s not about Sonny, what the hell is going on?

Blaze says she’s sorry, but Kristina says, they can’t let her mother’s voice be the only one. They have to share their side. Brook says, that’s the idea, but Blaze says, it’s looking like a firing squad. Kristina says, let him ask questions about her dad and her pregnancy. He can try, but she can also say, they choose to keep that part of their lives private. Brook says, or Kristina could explain what it is. She’s having the baby for her sister because her sister can’t. People will swoon over that story. Kristina says, it’s not her story to tell and she’s not going public with the details of her sister’s health and fertility issues. Brook says, they wanted her advice, and she thinks they should take the risk and do this. Blaze says she knows it’s not true that they can’t make it worse, but Brook says, Perez has no private agenda. He just wants to the truth. They can’t get any better or broader exposure, and they don’t have to answer. Kristina says, it will look like they’re hiding, and Brook says, they could reframe the question and answer in a way that’s comfortable. For example, if they ask what it was like being a mob boss’s daughter growing up, Kristina can say, both of her parents encouraged her to be her best self, and she trusts they’ll continue to do that. Blaze says she likes that, and Kristina says, it’s a good idea, but she would never say that. Brook suggests she figure out what she would say and that they do a mock interview.

Michael says, Sonny asked him to come here and he put aside their bad blood, but now Sonny is attacking him. Sonny says he’s not attacking anyone, but Michael says, the only time he’s seen Sonny like this is when he’s off his meds. Sonny says he’s been taking them and asks if Michael wants to check his medicine cabinet. Michael says, maybe they’re not working anymore. Something is wrong. Sonny says, what’s not working is Michael sabotaging him to get back at him. Then he gets mad, and Michael says he’s crazy. Diane tries to intervene, but Michael says he’s done. Give him one reason to stay. Sonny has no idea how badly he wanted things to work out. Sonny says, he’s made a hell of an effort, and Michael tells Diane, this was a mistake. This isn’t the father he knew growing up. He walks out.

Brook tells them, heads up and make eye contact. Take their time. Here we go. When they first heard the recording, how did it feel? Kristina says, she had been out for some time, so these types of slurs and insults weren’t new. It’s part of the reason she started the Corinthos-Davis House, a non-profit for LGBTQ youth. The center has just been completed and they have amazing programs: counseling, job searches, health education, and referrals. Brook says, that’s amazing. What about Natalia’s comments? Kristina says, it was difficult when she first heard them. It felt like someone had ripped open a shower curtain. She wasn’t ashamed, but it was a massive intrusion. It’s hard to know her privacy was violated by someone she knows and trusted.

Anna suggests John might be trying to debrief Jason, and Carly says, about what? It’s more. She could tell. Anna says, John has been gunning for Sonny since he came to town. He’s resentful about having to protect Sonny when Sonny had a target on his back. Carly says, it’s clear how he feels, and Anna says, now Sonny has no target. Carly says, John thinks it’s his turn, and Anna says, it’s a likely explanation. Carly says, he’s wasting his time. There’s no way Jason is going to flip on Sonny.  

Jason says, the deal was for him to infiltrate Pikeman, ID their leadership, and provide proof. He gave John more than that, and if John can’t make a case, that’s his problem. John says, maybe he can, maybe he can’t, but one case is ironclad – The People vs Carly Spencer. If Jason’s not on that bus, Carly is going to Pentenville.

Scotty says, Ava is nuts. Why would she think Carly would testify against Sonny? Ava says, they’re just asking her to tell the truth, and he says, the opinion of an ex-wife isn’t exactly a slam dunk. Ava says, Carly also happens to be the mother of two of Sonny’s children, Donna and Morgan, but he says he wouldn’t bring up Morgan if he were her. She says, whatever happened, when Morgan was a child, Carly had to ship him off to military school to keep him safe from Sonny. He says he could dig up those records, but it’s ancient history, and she says she happens to know Carly won’t let Donna sleep over at Sonny’s because of his erratic behavior. She was there when Carly accused Sonny of not taking his meds. She even pushed her way into his bathroom to check because he was being so combative. He asks if Sonny is taking the meds, and she says, yes, for all the good it’s doing. She thinks their strongest witness will be Sonny himself. Scotty asks why she thinks that.

Anna says, whatever Carly is thinking of doing, don’t. Don’t confront Cates without any information on what really happened or what Jason intends to do. She understands the impulse, but she’s asking Carly to hold off. Let her find out what’s going on first. Carly apologizes and says she never should have involved Anna. This is between her and Jason, and they’ll fix it themselves. She leaves, and an obviously frustrated Anna makes a call.

Scotty asks what Ava is thinking, and she says, attorney/client privilege? He says, yes, as long as she’s not going to tell him that she’s going to commit a crime. She says she’s not doing anything. One of Sonny’s meds was replaced with a placebo. He says, not that again, but she says she didn’t do it. Not personally. But she figured it out. He asks who else would do it, and she says she doesn’t know, but she’s seen the results up close and it ain’t pretty. He says, so what she’s telling him is that she wants him to get Sonny on the stand and then push his buttons, and she says, he’ll blow like Vesuvius. They can prove to the court that Sonny is to volatile to have custody of Avery – ever.

Sonny says, when it comes to his family, that’s his business, and Diane says, absolutely. Now she’s speaking as his attorney. He was abusing a witness who came into his home at his invitation to help him. Sonny says, Michael turned on him, but Diane says, he was trying to help. Sonny just refused to listen. He’s behaving more erratically, aggressively, and more self-defeating than she’s ever seen, and she’s seen a lot. If he can’t get a grip on what’s got him, there’s no way she’ll be able to convince a family court judge that he’s a responsible, loving, dependable parent to any child, certainly not his own.

John says he has a bus ticket and Jason’s detailed assignment. Read it and destroy it. He knows the drill. Jason says he’s not going, and John says, if Jason is going to stay in Port Charles, Jason has to get him enough evidence to arrest and convict Sonny. Jason says, what if he doesn’t have it? and John asks why he’s still protecting Sonny. Sonny has left a trail of broken lives in his wake, starting with John’s wife and brother. Sonny has to pay! John is unhinged and literally panting, and Jason just stands there. Jason says, Sonny has been wrong about a lot of things,  but there’s one thing he’s right about and that’s John. Pikeman was just an excuse to come to Port Charles and take Sonny down. John says, Jason knows where the bodies are buried, enough to put Sonny away until the end of time. So either give it to him or get on that bus. 

Tomorrow, Jason asks Anna to give him the same consideration she gave Valentin; Carly tells Sonny that John wants to take him down; and John tells Ava that if she wants his help, she has to help him first.

Below Deck Mediterranean

🐈every time one is seen lounging around Greece.

First day of charter. Captain Sandy is boxed in, with six inches between the ground line, the dock, and the other boats, and the wildfires are getting closer. All the lines are freed, and the captain tells Joe to take a line, but he says, it’s stuck under the fender. Nathan says, a wee tender is passing next to them, but as soon as it passes, he says, they have a small RIB off the bow. Somehow, the captain gets out, and Iain says, that’s precision driving. The guests cheer, and the captain says, that was intense. Undocking can be challenging, but Nathan is her bow guy now. In Joe’s interview, he says, fake it before you make it. He has to prove himself to the captain. Aesha sings about how she’s going to wet her pants and has no time to go to the bathroom. In Bri’s interview, she says she’s been writing things down, and we flash back to Ellie suggesting a notebook for the laundry. Bri says, the last thing she wants to do is mess up something else.

The yacht heads for Hydra, and Aesha tells the guests that they’re going exploring. Nathan tells Gael that he feels sh*tty for Joe. They can work as a team, so he learns on the job. Joe has been thrown off the bow and Nathan knows he’s feeling hurt, and his ego is bruised. In Nathan’s interview, he says, Gael is in her head, but he doesn’t blame her. He finds her attractive and enjoys her company, but he wants to be respectful and give her the space she needs. A few of the guests do The Worm in the main salon, and 1980 calls. They drop anchor, and the jet skis and wave runners are put out. The captain asks Bri to pop into her cabin, and Joe dives off the side of the boat to help with the equipment. Captain Sandy shows Bri a greyish pair of pants against a white pair and says she doesn’t know what happened, but this must have been put in with the darks. It’s not white. Aesha tells Bri, even with a color catcher, don’t put the light and dark clothing together, and Bri promises not to. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Bri started off badly, then had one good charter. We flash back to both, and Aesha says, ever since, it’s gone downhill. So far, there have been no fights, so that’s got to be a sign of improvement. But there’s not a chance she can rest easy. She’s been full-on and she has to figure out how to change this. Since there isn’t much to do upstairs, Aesha sends Ellie to help with the laundry, but when Bri finds her there, she says she’s got the washing. Ellie says, she’s just doing a job. Aesha told her to help, since there’s nothing to do upstairs. Stop chasing her out. In Bri’s interview, she says, she thinks Ellie wants her off the boat. She feels paranoid. (She really isn’t too bright, is she?) She’s organized the laundry into messy piles, but she knows where everything is. Ellie messes up her messy piles. Dude, it’s not your desk at home. It’s the superyacht laundry. The guests head back inside, and Aesha calls Bri to the bar. She tells Bri to go on a break, and meanwhile, Ellie is in the laundry and sees the Bri’s notebook. In Ellie’s interview, she says, Bri seems to be writing a list of laundry crimes, mistakes she’s found in the laundry. She’s just finding her own mistakes and blaming them on her. What the f*** is going on here?

The captain tells the deckhands to take in the anchor and calls Joe to the bridge. In Joe’s interview, he wonders what he’s done now, but Captain Sandy asks him to take the wheel while she goes to get coffee. She says she trusts him. In her interview, she says, she supports Joe. She’s not demoting him. He just needs more experience. He knows how to do it, but not how to do it under pressure. She put him at the helm to give him confidence. In Joe’s interview, he says, the captain is still giving him responsibility and it makes him feel at ease. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, all they have are rocks, so she’s using two anchors. It will be difficult, but she has confidence that it should be a smooth operation. Jono wraps stuff in grape leaves, and in his interview, he says he loves Greek food. He’s not experienced in it, but his BFF is from Athens, and her grandma is a master chef. He calls friend Penelope to get instructions, and says, one more setback and he might lose his job. He has no room for error. I pick up on the use of leeks instead of onions and wonder if the Greek restaurant in the strip mall near here is still open. Bri calls her best friend to complain about Ellie, and Captain Sandy says she’s going to back in like a mofo. She’s backing into rocks, and in Nathan’s interview, he says, keeping them in position is an easy thing to do, but a lot of people make it complicated.

Iain gets confused and says, there are no guys to catch the heavy lines at the dock, when there are clearly two guys there. 🐈 In the captain’s interview, she says, sometimes Iain doesn’t look before he speaks. Pay attention. Be aware. Aesha asks Ellie if she’d be comfortable doing lunch service. They need the table set by two. In Aesha’s interview, she says, they’re halfway through the charter season and she can’t keep doing everything. We flash back, and she says, maybe it’s her, and she has too tight of a leash on them. Sometimes you have to throw someone in the middle of the ocean and see if they sink or swim. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’s never done lunch service before, but her energy isn’t matching with Bri’s. She’s not going to be mean. It is what it is and she has to deal with it. In Gael’s interview, she says she knows Iain is going to brag about how he can climb rocks, but it’s not going to be as easy for the guests as he thinks. He’s tiptoeing around Captain Sandy. Just make it safe. Even though she’s on break, Aesha listens to the stews over the radio, and Ellie asks Bri to help fetch various things. She’s extra polite, and in Bri’s interview, she says, Ellie looks good, but it feels fake. In Gael’s interview, she says she’s anxious regarding her relationship and doesn’t want to let it affect her work. She could use a win this charter. Iain tells her, good job, and the captain says, nice work. In Aesha’s interview, she says, this is why she doesn’t take breaks. The person left in charge doesn’t know where things are. She tells Jono that Ellie is running service and she’s nervous. She wants to check. 🐈 She sees the table isn’t set up and it’s ten minutes until dinner. Ellie says, they were making cocktails, and Aesha says she’s coming back from her break. Start setting the table. In her interview, Aesha says she’s learned her lesson. They’re not ready.

In Ellie’s interview, she says, Aesha isn’t giving them a chance. She’s taking it away and it crushes her soul a little bit. Five more minutes, and they would have had it more under control. She’s lost her pho and has no confidence. Aesha tells Bri that the bar is a mess and the table’s not set. They’re not on top of it. In Bri’s interview, she says, if she was Aesha, she wouldn’t trust her and Ellie. Platters of food porn come out, and a guest says she didn’t know shrimp came that big. Bri says, they’re king prawns, and the guest says, if you live in a fancy place, they’re prawns, but if you live in a not so fancy place, they’re shrimp. Truth! Aesha tells Jono, the guests really, really like lunch, and Bri takes a plate to the captain. Gael gets a text from her boyfriend, saying, in spite of anything, he loves and misses her. She texts back that she misses him too. She knows he’s got to focus on his exams, so they’ll talk soon. In Gael’s interview, she says she has a strong connection with Nathan, but at the same time, she definitely has a lot of guilt. She doesn’t want to do that to her boyfriend. She’s a people pleaser and hates to disappoint others. The last thing she wants to do is hurt him more.

The next morning, Aesha says, the guests are leaving the boat at 10 and she’s going with them. I can’t say I blame her. The women guests twerk, as the men chant, Myrtle Beach. They do know they’re in Greece, right? lain helps them over the rocks to the shore, and says, two at a time to keep them safe. One woman wants to take a picture, or her parents will never believe she did this. 🐈 It’s a sweet, quaint, colorful city, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, Hydra is gorgeous. She loves exploring, by foot or donkey. She sometimes wishes she was a donkey on the island so she could poop on the street. I nearly die laughing. Captain Sandy calls her wife Leah, and says she misses her. Leah says, ditto. She took Little Bear for a walk, and Little Bear misses the captain too. Captain Sandy asks if Leah is excited about coming, and we see she’s due to arrive in three weeks. In the captain’s interview, she says she and Leah have been together five years and they’re in love. She moved to Colorado where there’s no water. She would follow Leah to the desert, but would ask if they could please live near the ocean. She tells Leah, it’s one of those days where everything is crazy. One of the guests asks how old the city is, and Aesha says, it was built quite some time ago, showing her vast historical knowledge. 🐈 They see a store named Carolina, which is weird since they’re from Charleston. In that eerie small world way, it turns out the owner is also from North Carolina. In the crew mess, Joe tells Nathan that he dreamed about Bri. She was wearing an old school retainer, and he woke up in an utter panic. Bri walks through and tells him to enjoy the rest of his evening. She doubts she’s going to see him. In Bri’s interview, she says, actually, she’s never been in a weird work love triangle. It’s affecting her work, but she feels chemistry,

The guests come back, and Ellie says, they’re preparing for the sequined dinner. A guest says, it’s time to get ready for sparkle night, and Ellie says, the primary wants Joe to perform. If Gael wants, she can perform with him. She asks if Joe is up for a performance. 🐈 Aesha tells the stews that the décor looks great. Disco balls hang from the ceiling. In Ellie’s interview, she says she’s warming up to Joe. Bri’s feelings aren’t bothering her, and she’s personally looking forward to spending more time with Riz as she calls him. It’s short for charisma. Jono asks how things are going with Gael and her boyfriend, and Gael says, they haven’t spoken much, but she thinks they’re all right. Then she amends that to, they’re good. In Jono’s interview, he says he wants to wow the guests with beautiful food. It’s just as important plating as how it tastes. He’s made grilled lobster with cauliflower rice and he’s taking just as much time digging into his plating skills, so it looks as beautiful as it tastes. Aesha says she appreciates Ellie being a professional, and Ellie says she’s checked out of the drama. This morning when Aesha sent her to the laundry, she started folding and Bri came in and told her to leave. She told Bri that she was there now and just here to help. Bri literally stormed out. It was disrespectful. Aesha says, Bri loses her place if someone else comes in, but it can’t be only hers. If there’s free time, Ellie should help. Ellie says, Bri started writing a laundry crime list. Gael’s clothes were found in the washer, there was no color catcher in with the clothes… In Aesha’s interview, she says, this is what she has to deal with now. She feels like a good chief stew needs to listen and assess both sides before making a decision. Ellie says she’s not getting involved or Bri will twist it like it’s her causing the problems. It’s just too much.

Aesha says, it doesn’t happen in front of her, but thanks for letting her know. Kacie sees the sparkle décor and says she’s going to cry. Guest Ashley says, it’s sparkle night, baby, and Joe puts on a sparkly top, wondering if this is really his job. In Gael’s interview, she says she thought she was going to pursue dance until she tore her ACL when she was 16. Desert is a poached pear with berries, and Jono puts edible gold leaf on the pear. In his interview, he says, a poached pear is simple, and to add value to the desert, he’s incorporating gold leaf. Timeless extravaganza. On of the guests says, they’re having a sparkle party today and tomorrow, and Aesha suggests they take a picture. When she does a big one, she likes to show Scott. In Aesha’s interview, she says, he tells her that she doesn’t need to send him that, and she tells the guests that he doesn’t like it, but she does it anyway. She’s such a dude. Bri tells Aesha that she’s done with the cabins, and Aesha says she can knock off. Aesha tells the guests that they have a big surprise, and Joe and Gael enter all sparkled up. In Joe’s interview, he says, it’s going on. He’s got to perform, baby. They dance and they’re actually pretty good. The guests cheer and Aesha says, they killed it. They were so good. Joe and Gael high-five, and he says, well done. He goes to his cabin and tells Nathan that he can’t wait to have nightmares. Aesha goes to the laundry and flips through the notebook. In her interview, she wonders why Bri is writing this down. It looks like a book of receipts. What is this, a burn book? She can’t tell if Bri is stirring the pot or Ellie is. She takes something out of the dryer and wonders why it’s in there. In her interview, she says she sees cashmere in the dryer and a burn book. It’s time to involve Captain Sandy. She can’t handle this.

Next time, the primary is a branding expert and the guests look difficult; Ellie tells Bri that second stew outranks her; and Captain Sandy says, if Ellie and Bri can’t work together, she’ll have to let go of them both.

🔮 Formerly Known As…

Join me tomorrow for soap, what I’ve been watching, and perhaps some Dubai talk. Until then, stay safe, stay taking it easy with the fireworks (every day doesn’t have to be 4th of July), and stay not abusing a witness who’s trying to help you.

Jul16

July 15, 2024 – Willow Tells Nina About Kissing Drew, Leaving the Anchor Behind On Deck, Two Goodbyes, Goodest Boy & Cruel

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In bed with Valentin, Anna asks if he sees something he likes, but he says, no. He sees something he loves. He tells her to kiss him like she means it, and she says she does, and kisses him.

Jack sees Carly in the visitor’s room and says, you again. He’s running out of charming greetings. She never comes to see him just to chat. There must be something wrong. Does it involve the FBI?

Jason stands outside Elizabeth’s door with an envelope in his hand. He’s about to slip it under the door, when Elizabeth opens it.

Drew tells Michael that as Aurora’s de facto CEO, he’s going to have Nina reporting to him directly. Is that going to be a problem? Just say the word, and she’s gone. He’ll fire her today if Michael wants him to. (I wasn’t crazy about Drew when he was a good guy, and I’m starting to like him less every time he opens his mouth.)

Willow goes to Nina’s office, and Nina asks her to come look at the issue she’s working on. An artist wants to push scaled down turbans, and she can’t tell if it’s brilliant or ridiculous. Willow says she doesn’t know if she’s the best person to ask, and Nina says, it probably seems frivolous to her, but Willow says, it’s not that. She did something terrible, and there isn’t anyone else she can talk to about it. It’s the kind of thing you can only tell your mom or a sister, and she doesn’t have a sister. Nina says, Willow can talk to her about anything, and Willow starts to cry.

Carly tells Jack that she took his advice, hired the best lawyer, and told them everything. He asks if her lawyer is aware that the FBI is forcing Jason to help them by holding the recoding of her over his head that suggests she’s guilty of RICO violations. Carly says, there’s nothing suggestive about it. They have her flat out saying she’s head of Sonny’s organization. He says, that’s no small feat considering the size and scope of the organization, and she says she’s impressed with how familiar he is with it. He says, the WSB has been known to have interest in local businesses when it furthers their interest. When tampering with the nation’s power structure, one can’t be too scrupulous about the partners one enlists, can one?

Elizabeth says she’s sorry she didn’t hear the doorbell, but Jason says he never rang it. He came to give her this for Jake’s art school. He heard voices and didn’t want to interrupt. She asks if he’d like to come in, but he says, no. He should be going. She asks if he has someplace to be, and he says, no. It’s her house and Jake’s house, and he didn’t want to put them on the spot showing up uninvited and forcing Jake to talk to him. Just because they enjoyed a baseball game doesn’t mean Jake wants to take his money. He doesn’t want Jake to feel pressured to take it. She says, the only way to know is to make the offer and let Jake decide.

Drew says, when Michael came to him and said he and Nina were going to put their differences aside, he thought Michael might feel differently in the light of day. Michael says, even though he’d just as well never see Nina again, she’s a fantastic Editor-in-Chief and it would be bad business to let his personal feelings interfere with Crimson. Besides, Willow is starting to want a relationship with Nina again. If he got in-between that, it would only hurt Willow and that’s the last thing he wants to do.

Willow says, what happened could ruin her life, and Nina promises it will stay with them, mother and daughter. Willow says she’s not proud of this and can’t believe it happened. It was the 4th of July party. She and Drew had a few moments alone to talk. They were toasting his success, and the fireworks were going off. She doesn’t even know how it happened. She guesses they were just caught up in the moment. One minute, they were looking up at the sky, and the next, they were kissing.

Anna says she has to get to work, but Valentin suggests they go sailing. She says she can’t make any decisions until she gets some caffeine in her body, and he says he can fix that. He goes to the kitchen, and she asks if he can make her a latte. He says, as she wishes, and she takes the satellite phone from behind the books. She puts it in her bag, and he comes back, saying, he’s out of milk. She says she thinks that’s a sign she should go to work, but he says, maybe it’s a sign they should go out to breakfast, and he’ll buy her a fancy latte with one of those hearts in the foam. Or they could stay home and do this. He nuzzles her neck and asks if they don’t deserve some time by themselves before everything changes. They’re not going to be able to keep their feelings for each other a secret. People with opinions are going to find out, and he wants to keep this moment as uncomplicated as he can for as long as possible, before the world comes crashing down on them again. They start to kiss when Charlotte walks in.

Valentin asks what she’s doing here. He was going to fly to Europe and pick her up after her holiday. She says, that was the plan, but her friends decided to go island hopping and she’s seen enough of Greece to last a lifetime, so she decided to surprise him. She looks at Anna and says she obviously succeeded. Anna says, it’s lovely to see her. She knows Charlotte and Valentin have catching up to do and she has to go to work. Charlotte says, please stay. There’s something she didn’t say to Anna before she left Port Charles, and she doesn’t like loose ends.

Jack says he’s well acquainted with the corruption and violence in organized crime, and Carly says, unfortunately, she is too. He says, despite knowing that, she went toe to toe with rival mobsters, and she says, they thought Sonny was dead. She had to make a show of strength, or Sonny’s enemies would have moved in and taken over his territory. He says, their first step would have been to eliminate anyone close to Sonny, including his family, and she says, so she did what she needed to do to protect them all. He says, not many people would have the nerve. It seems to him that her talents are wasted in hospitality. Someone with her skills is a born secret agent.

Michael tells Drew that when he sees Willow smile, he thinks about all the months there was nothing to be happy about. He used to pray for the life they have now, so if he has to pretend everything is okay with Nina and put a smile on, he’ll do it to keep the life he’s been blessed with. A life he’s indebted to Drew for. Drew says, no. He did what anybody would do in that position. Michael says, Drew risked his life to bring Dr. Obrecht home (so where is she???) and saved Willow. They’ll never forget that. Willow thinks of him as her guardian angel. Drew says he definitely doesn’t deserve that, but Michael tells him not to be so modest. Drew was able to forgive Nina and it motivated Willow to do the same thing.

Willow tells Nina to forget she said anything. She’s going to go. Nina says, wait, and Willow says, Nina must think she’s a terrible person, but Nina says she could never think that. She’s not judging Willow. How could she with all the mistakes she’s made? It was just surprising. It’s the last thing she expected. Willow says, Nina would never think she’d do something so stupid and self-destructive, but Nina says she’s sure Willow is remembering it a lot worse than it was. She had a cocktail or two and the kiss was probably more chaste than she thinks. Willow says she wasn’t even tipsy. She kissed Drew the way she kisses her husband. It was real and it was wrong. Nothing like this has ever come close to happening before… Except she and Drew have always had this special connection and it’s only gotten stronger. She loves Michael and she’s grateful for their family and the life they’ve built together, but Drew saved her life. It bonded them in a way she’s never felt with anyone else before. In a way, he even brought her and Nina closer together. She doesn’t know what she feels for Drew, but she can’t stop thinking about their kiss. Nina says she thinks Willow is being too hard on herself, but Willow says she’s being unfair to Michael and Drew.

Drew says, if Willow wants to have a relationship with Nina, it’s not because of him. It’s because of the person she is. She tries to see the best in people. Michael agrees, and says, but she idolizes Drew. Drew running for congress has given her something to believe in. Drew says he hopes he can live up to Willow’s faith in him.

Willow says, Drew needs to focus on himself right now and not have this confusing situation with her, but Nina says she thinks Willow is giving Drew far too much consideration here. He’s a grown man. He can look out for himself. Did she force this kiss on him? Willow says, of course (🍷) not, and Nina says, so she wasn’t acting alone. Drew shares some of the blame. Willow says, it doesn’t matter whose fault it is. The kiss never should have happened at all. Nina says she’s kissed someone she wasn’t supposed to kiss and can relate to Willow’s feelings. That’s why she knows the issue isn’t really the kiss, but how Willow feels about it. Or more importantly, what she does about it. Willow says, it’s never going to happen again, and Drew agrees with her, and Nina says, so she regrets the kiss. Willow says, very much, and Nina says, and Drew? Willow says, he does too, but when they talked about the kiss, Drew said something that surprised her. That in a different world, under vastly different circumstances, there might be something between them.

Charlotte says she owes Anna an apology, one that’s long overdue. She should have said something before she went to school, but she wasn’t ready yet. She is now. Anna says, it’s sweet of her, but not necessary. Apology accepted of course (🍷). They can leave it at that. Valentin says he thinks it might be good for Charlotte to say what she needs to say, and Anna says, of course (🍷). Charlotte says she’s sorry she trashed Anna’s hotel room. She’s sorry she wrote those terrible things on Anna’s door and mirror. Anna was always so sweet to her, and she thought it was all an act. Her Grandfather Victor told her that Anna was evil, and she believed him. Now she knows he was the one who was lying and she’s so sorry for how she acted. Valentin wonders what’s behind this shift, and Charlotte says, there were kids that came to the school after their country was attacked. Some lost their entire families and had to leave everything behind when they escaped. Their entire lives were taken by powerful people who didn’t care who they hurt or killed as long as they got what they wanted. It made her realize Grandfather Victor was like that too. Valentin says, he was, but she’s not, and Charlotte says she hopes not. She’s a Cassadine and Cassadines are bad, unless they die trying to be good. Valentin looks sad.

Jake comes out and sees Jason, who says he just stopped by. Elizabeth says, Jake’s dad wants to give him something, and Jason says, Jake’s mom told him that he was accepted into an art academy in Spain. Jake says he just got lucky, but Jason says, they only take the best. They’re not going to waste their time unless he’s really good. Jake says, maybe, but it’s expensive, and Jason says, that’s why he’s here. He wants to pay for it. Elizabeth says, isn’t that amazing? and Jake says, it’s super generous, but not necessary. Jason says he gets it. Jake is worried that he’s trying to buy a place in Jake’s life and his forgiveness, but he knows he has to earn that. He hopes one day that comes, but there are no strings attached. When he wasn’t much older than Jake, he had an important decision to make that shaped the rest of his life, like the one Jake’s about make. He wants Jake to choose what makes him happiest without worrying how to pay for it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and might not come around again. If he’d been a different kind of father – any kind of father – paying for Jake’s education would be no question. Please take the money and don’t let his failings mess with Jake’s future.

Michael tells Drew that he sees Willow is all-in with his campaign. It’s all she can talk about. She’s Drew’s biggest supporter as long as he stays the stand-up guy he is. Drew says he’ll do his best, and Michael says, Drew forgave Nina and hired her back at Crimson. Now, Crimson has never more successful. He respects Drew’s judgement and will follow his lead. Drew asks if Michael is sure he can handle working closely with Nina, and Michael says, if it means it’s good for the business, he’ll put a smile on and do it.

Nina says, of course (🍷) Drew would wonder what could have been between him and Willow. She’s a remarkable woman. What man wouldn’t? Willow says, a remarkable woman who kissed her in-law with her husband in the next room, and Nina says, things happen. Drew is a handsome man, and their lives became intertwined. The lines were blurred, and Willow made a mistake. It’s understandable. She’s human. Don’t beat herself up too much. Willow says, even if it costs her marriage? but Nina says, one kiss doesn’t need to lead to divorce. Willow says, Michael might feel differently when she tells him, and Nina says, then don’t tell him.

Carly says she’s never been an intelligence agent. She didn’t want to save the world. Jack says, that’s only for idealists. He’s a pragmatist. If he can tilt the scales of justice, he considers it a job well done. Now he takes pride in a well mopped cafeteria. She says, her lawyer told her that if she follows through with a trial, she has a 30% chance of getting off, and Jack says he doesn’t like those odds. Maybe they can improve them.

Anna says, Charlotte is proof all Cassadines aren’t bound for tragedy, and Charlotte says all she wants to do is make it right. She wishes she could go back and change things. Anna says she’s made a lot of mistakes and hurt a lot of people. Shooting Charlotte was – she cries a little – the worst thing she ever did, and she hopes Charlotte knows how sorry she is. Charlotte says she does and also knows Anna didn’t mean it. It happened because she snuck into Anna’s place to harass her. All she can do is ask Anna’s forgiveness. Anna says she’s already forgiven Charlotte, and asks if Charlotte can forgive her. Charlotte says, consider it done, and they hug. Anna says, Charlotte has a lot of grace. She wishes she’d had half of that when she was Charlotte’s age. Charlotte says, it’s kind of recent. The other students taught her how blessed she is. She has a father who loves her, which is more than most have. Anna says she has to get to work, but she’s glad they had this talk. She hated how they left things. Charlotte says, her too, especially since she sees how important Anna is to her papa. She’d never do anything to hurt him. Anna leaves.

Willow says she doesn’t know how she can keep the kiss a secret. She’s a mess, and Michael will know something is wrong. If she confesses, maybe they can find a way to work through it together. Nina says, at the very least, it will relieve Willow’s burden, but there’s no way to predict Michael’s reaction to his uncle kissing her and imagining a life with her. Willow says, he’ll be hurt and his relationship with Drew will be ruined, and Nina says, she can assuage her guilt or choose to put it behind her and move on. It was a momentary minor slip, and if she treats it as such, she’ll eventually forget it happened. Willow says she tried, but she felt too guilty. That’s why she came here. Nina says she’s glad Willow came to her and hopes Willow keeps coming to her. For the sake of the family, let her be the only one Willow confides in. Eventually, she’ll realize a kiss is not the end of the world. The less power she gives it, the less it will matter. Willow thanks Nina for being able to dump on her. It means so much. She should get going. She has a lot to think about. Nina reminds Willow that she’s just a text or phone call away, and Willow leaves. Nina’s smile fades.

Michael says, they’re in agreement, and Drew says, if he’s elected to congress, Michael will return to being CEO and Curtis will keep control of the wellness division. Drew’s phone rings, and Nina says she needs to see him. He tells her that he’s busy and to set up a meeting, but she says, if he’s thinking of hanging up, she’ll make him regret it. Get up here right now or his campaign is over before he kisses his first baby.

Jack says, the FBI will have no mercy and no pity for Carly. To them, she’s a high-profile target that they have evidence against. She asks if he agrees with her lawyer, and he says, he does. The best bet is for her to avoid a trial entirely. She has two other options. One is to go on the offensive. Make everything public and cry government overreach to anyone who will listen. Out the agents involved and kick up a fuss. Maybe they’ll be shamed into cutting her loose. She asks, what if she just makes them mad and they double down? and he says, that’s the risk. She asks about her other option, and he says, make sure Jason remains valuable to the FBI, but she says, he can’t do it forever. Jack says, as long as they have the evidence. Destroy the evidence, destroy the case. She says, it’s on a protected FBI server. How? He says, easy. She has his sympathies.

Anna lets herself into Jason’s room and opens a laptop. She takes the satellite phone out of her purse and loads the files from it onto the computer. She looks at the files that come up.

Jason says, it’s Jake’s choice. Either way, he’ll understand. Jake says he knows it’s not that simple for Jason and knows Jason’s life isn’t regular. It seems like he tried to do his best with what he had. Art school is what Jake wants and to do it in Spain… He’s excited and grateful for Jason’s offer, so he accepts. Jason hands him an envelope, and Jake holds out his hand. They shake, and it turns into a hug.

Carly says, if it was just her, she’d take her chance in court. She hates how Jason has been blackmailed and she wants to punch Cates every time she sees him. But it’s not just her. Jack says, her kids will suffer too, and asks about Donna. Carly says, Donna is happy, but if she went to prison… Jack says, welcome to his world. You choose the lesser of two evils, whatever would least damage the people around you. Carly says, it’s cowardly letting Jason suffer the repercussions of something she did, but Jack asks if it isn’t worth it if she stays with her kid. She says she guesses it is better if she takes the hit rather than Donna, and he says, there’s her answer. She thanks him for his advice and expertise, and he says, always a pleasure. She says, take care of himself, and he says, her too.

Valentin asks if Charlotte wants breakfast, and she says, sounds great. He thanks her for making peace with Anna, and she says, Anna made it easier than she had to. She’s happy he and Anna are back together. He says he doesn’t know about that, but for the first time in a long time, he thinks there’s hope.

When he returns, Jason finds Anna in his room and asks if she got it. She says, it’s just as they thought, a treasure trove. Files, metadata, everything they need to shut Pikeman down and nail Valentin ten times over. Jason says, it’s finally over. He can get back to his life. Give him the phone. Anna says, she can’t. Not yet.

At Pentenville, a man says, they’re ready for Jack. I think it’s Valentin, but we don’t see his face.  

Willow goes into Drew’s office, but finds Michael in his chair. Michael says, Drew had to leave. He’s not running for office, but will she settle for him? She hugs him and says she’s never settling with him. She hopes he knows how happy she is with him. He’s given her everything – a home and a family, and she loves him so much. He says he loves her too. He’d rather be in her arms than in a congressional seat.

Drew goes to Nina’s office and asks, what the hell is wrong? She ordered him to come see her and threatened him. Did she forget he’s her boss? She smacks him across the face and says, you son of a bitch. You kissed my daughter.

Tomorrow, Willow tells Sonny that she wonders if it’s a good idea; Drew tells Nina that it’s time they came to a new understanding; and Ann tells Jason that she can’t let Cates take Valentin away.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Final day of charter – 25-minute delay (so far). Captain Sandy tells the deckhands to put the brake on and stop the anchor. She tells lain that they’re not going to be able get to get the anchor up. He says he’s waiting for the tender to charge, and she tells him to stay with it. In the captain’s interview, she says they’ve never had to leave the anchor before. They could try to haul it by hand or leave it. Leaving it is a risk. It’s an expensive piece of equipment, and she hopes it’s still there when they come back for it. They don’t have an option because she has to get the guests back to the dock. On top of it, the wind is insane. At this point, there’s a 39-minute delay. Trishelle says, they’re hosting people at 3, but Marsha says, she’s not making that flight. The captain says, it’s not the crew’s fault. It’s too windy to transport them back. In Aesha’s interview, she says, the guests are missing flights that she doubts are economy. She has to distract them and keep them entertained. The captain explains what’s happening to the guests, and everyone is totally cool about everything. Captain Sandy tells Iain to find the largest fender and get reflective tape. She gives him instructions, and in her interview, she says, they put the reflective tape on the buoy they hook to the anchor, like they did in Jaws to see where the shark is. Hopefully it works out better for them. She tells the guests that they’re not sinking; the windlass broke. Trishelle says, she’s legit not making her flight, and Brittany says, it’s like extending the vacation and she’s okay with it. In Joe’s interview, he says, whatever Captain Sandy says to do, he’s doing it. Aesha asks Bri if she’s organized in the laundry, and in Aesha’s interview, she says she’s glad Ellie and Bri aren’t fighting. Since Bri hooked up with Joe, they’re letting their petty drama infiltrate the interior. It’s a she said/she said situation and they’re both so convincing. We flash back to them separately telling Aesha what happened, and Aesha says, after charter, she’s brokering a truce. She doesn’t care who said what. Aesha sends Ellie to help with laundry, and the captain says she needs to get the guests back. Nathan takes the chain off the anchor and ties it to the buoy, and Captain Sandy says, he’s free to drop anchor. In Joe’s interview, he says, if the chain hits you or the boat, someone could get hit or die. The chain snaps as the anchor is let go.  

Aesha says, this is a first for her, and the captain says, time is of the essence. The wind is worse. It’s at 33 knots, and the forecast is for 63 knots. If she doesn’t get back now, she can’t dock the vessel. The guests finish packing, and Captain Sandy calls the Marina Emergency Services. She says, they had to leave the anchor. They need someone to meet them to help repair the windlass and a retrieval team for the anchor. The guests rave about the trip – these people are unbelievably nice – and Marsha says she could start a modeling agency in the Mediterranean. Bri and Joe flirt like elementary school children, sparring and poking at each other. Blech. In Bri’s interview, she says, you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube. In Iain’s interview, he says he’s been playing the long game with Ellie and thinks he’s a shoo-in. In Ellie’s interview, a producer asks if Iain has a chance, and it’s a hard no. In Jono’s interview, he says he almost packed after the last charter, but he’s putting the Givenchy back in the closet. He thinks his training taught him to improve and be made stronger by criticism. Captain Sandy says, it’s a lot of boat to hold in the wind, and lain keeps asking for Joe to drop the big fender on starboard. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, it’s taking too long. She can’t keep holding the vessel. If the fender isn’t down, she can slam into the dock and damage the boat. The delay is now 3 hours and 20 minutes. Nathan helps Joe, and the captain says, Joe needs to learn how to tie a line. Nathan has more knowledge, so until Joe learns, he’ll be doing it. She calls lain to the bridge and asks why he chose Joe to be lead deckhand in the beginning. Iain tells her that Joe had experience and was good at guiding people, and we flash back to Joe’s mess-ups. Iain says, Joe is good at running a team, and the captain says, Nathan is working circles around him. She thinks Joe is a great talker and Iain needs to reassess their experience. In her interview, Captain Sandy says, it was clearly an oversight. lain should have come to her first. She’s had to correct Joe’s dockings, and if Iain had taken the time to read the CVs, he would have seen that Nathan is more experienced. This is a red flag. She tells him, in the future, run things by her. Nathan is now the bow guy. Gael’s boyfriend texts her, wanting an update, and Nathan and Joe both wonder where their trousers are. Bri says she’s confused.  

The guests are ready to go, and Marsha gives Aesha a baseball cap and tells her that she’s adopted. Brittany says, Captain Sandy runs a tight, perfect ship. In Nathan’s interview, he says he wouldn’t leave a tip if he was them, but they’re rich and don’t care. Brittany says she loves them, and has Aesha help her get the tip envelope out of her dress bodice, which is just weird. After the guests leave, Aesha tells the stews that they’re having a meeting. They can make a cocktail. The deckhands get to cleaning, and in Joe’s interview, he says he practically got demoted. He wants good laughs and good energy around him. The stews sit down with their cocktails, and Aesha says, well done. They were lucky that the guests were lovely, but they nailed it as well. Ellie and Bri lost focus because of their personal issues. They all need to have respect and kindness when they say things. Ellie says, when it’s put out that she’s disrespectful, she has a problem with that, and Bri says she felt that her feelings weren’t considered. Ellie says, during charter isn’t the time to be overly sensitive, and in Aesha’s interview, she says, the meeting is off to a good start.

Zea Marina. Aesha says, Ellie and Bri have different personalities and need to be conscious of how someone is taking something. You can’t just say, I’m me and you have to take it. Ellie says, things can’t be blown out of proportion all the time. It’s exhausting. Aesha says, they’re going to squash it now. Be aware of how they speak and be the best team. Just keep getting better. There’s a group hug, and in Aesha’s interview, she says she doesn’t feel like they actually fully resolved things. All she can do is keep eye on them and hope the situation doesn’t escalate. If it does, she’ll have to ask the captain for assistance. She’s at her wit’s end. Gael’s boyfriend texts that he’s sorry for being needy. It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Sandy says, engineers are coming to fix the windlass. It was difficult, but the windlass is getting repaired, and the anchor is being brought to them. She knows it’s never easy, but it’s part of their character to remain teachable. Nathan is their bow guy now. She tells Jono, good job, and says, the tip is $25K, $2000 a person or 1800 euros. The crew cheers.

The crew gets ready to go out, and in Bri’s interview, she says, in the beginning, she thought Ellie could be a friend. Now all chance of that is gone, so she just has to look out for herself. In Ellie’s interview, she suggests that Joe let it go. She and Bri will battle it out. She comes out in a black catsuit, and Iain’s eyes nearly pop out of his head. In Jono’s interview, he says he’s ready to party, but everyone is still stressed. He doesn’t know what’s going down, but he’s going up. They take a taxi to a bar and have shots. I think, please eat, and Nathan licks Gael’s hand. Joe tells Aesha that it’s weird, and she asks if he can please take the night off from the girls. Joe says he’s not a machine and doesn’t think tonight is his night. In Aesha’s interview, she says she shouldn’t have to ask a deckhand to leave her girls alone, but she’ll try anything at this point. In Joe’s interview, he says he has to take a step back and be professional. Iain tells Ellie that she looks beautiful, and Gael tells Nathan that she loves him. Ellie tells Iain that she’s a person of few words, and he says, him too, but he feels he’s not connecting with everyone as much as he’d like to. Ellie tells him to ask them about them and then listen. In Ellie’s interview, she says, this is not the way to go about it, and in Iain’s interview, he says, sh*t. They sit at the table in awkward silence, then everyone hits the dance floor. Iain talks and talks and talks about himself to Ellie, totally ignoring her advice. In her interview, Ellie says, her bodysuit is working well… on the wrong person. It’s a torture method. He’s waterboarding her with words. Joe tells Bri that she makes him laugh and he finds her attractive, and she says, they’ve caused drama already. He says, he understands that they have to function on a professional level, and she says, if he doesn’t want anything, she won’t invade his space. He says, right now, he doesn’t want anything, and they shake hands. Aesha points out Joe and Bri to Jono, and she asks, what’s with Nathan and Gael? as they watch them at the bar. Jono says he doesn’t know, and Gael and Nathan move closer to each other. Gael tells Nathan that he’s getting her horny, and Jono tells Aesha, it is what it is.

In the taxi, lain blows on Ellie to give her a breeze. Eww. Back on the boat, Nathan and Gael go up to the top deck, and Aesha goes to bed. Gael tells Nathan that she’s a heartbreaker, and he kisses her cheek. She says she can give him a kiss on the cheek and does. He says, they’re friends, and they leave. The declare their like for each other on the stairs and nuzzle. In Gael’s interview, she says she liked it, but at the same time… In Nathan’s interview, he says he doesn’t think Gael’s boyfriend is going to be too happy, but f*** that guy.

In the morning, the anchor is retrieved. Joe says, anything? to Nathan, and Nathan says, there was some neck kissing. Joe tells him, be careful, and Nathan says, she’s fire. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, wildfires are burning near the marina. It’s the first time she’s dealt with that, and it’s so sad that the people are suffering. It’s not close to the boat yet, but getting closer by the day. They need to get off the dock before they have a problem. Iain and Aesha go over what needs to be done with their departments, and the captain tells Iain that the fires are north of Athens. She wishes they could just take off, but leaving the guests at the dock id not a good thing. The anchor arrives, and in the captain’s interview, she says, thank God. A diver goes down and floats it up. They’ll put the chain back on and wrap it around the windlass. We see this operation cost just over $40K. Yachts are expensive. Don’t they say that the two best days are the day you buy the boat and the day you sell it? That’s probably why. It’s a money pit.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Aesha, Jono, and Iain gather in the crew mess with the captain. Captain Sandy says, the co-primaries are Kacie and Quint, who are exploring Europe for the first time. Aesha reads that they want to have an excursion to a local island, and the captain says, they’re going to Hydra. It’s tough to dock there, so the deck crew needs to be on their A-game. Gael has a guilt hangover after she sees texts from her boyfriend that say he’s sorry if he’s needy and he feels hurt. She shows Jono and says she feels like she’s always on the phone. We flash back, and she is always on the phone. Jono says, maybe they need a break. They can’t change that they’re not together. Does she want to be with him?

Gael says, he’s a good guy, and Jono asks, does she want to be with him? She says she thinks she struggles, especially when she’s tired and working. She doesn’t want to paint him as bad. Jono says, that’s not what he asked, and in Gael’s interview, she says, if he hated her, this would be easier. She’s torturing herself every day keeping up the relationship when she has a connection with someone else. Being apart, people do things they wouldn’t normally do. Growing up, it was always, you can do better. At the same time, she reaps the seeds she sows. She tells Jono that she hates disappointing people, and he says he thinks she and her boyfriend need to have a conversation. Be honest and transparent, even if it’s hurtful.

Once again, Captain Sandy can’t find her shirt, and in her interview, she says, it’s not the first time her laundry was mixed up. We flash back to several times, and she says, the third stew is an entry level position, so she wouldn’t fire someone, but it needs to be corrected. It’s charter four and Bri needs to develop a system. Provisions come in, and the captain brings some clothes back to the laundry. She says, they’re not hers, and Ellie calls Bri to the laundry. Bri explains that the captain’s clothes are in the washing machine, and Ellie says, there needs to be more clarity. Captain Sandy says, they’re not leaving until the wind dies down. She hopes it blows the smoke the other way. Things start blowing around and the placemats fly off the table. In the captain’s interview, she says, they need to wait for a weather window and have to get off before the smoke gets to the marina. Ellie calls Bri to the laundry again, and Bri says, the captain’s clothes are in the dryer. Ellie tells Captain Sandy that she’ll bring them up. Finding the clothing on her bed, the captain looks for a shirt. She says, this is terrible, and goes back downstairs to find the crew eating in the mess. She asks why it’s so hard to get her clothes back, and Bri says, her shirt should be in the pile. Ellie says, her clothes were all pressed and hanging, and in Captain Sandy’s interview, she says she’s dealing with wind, fires, and guests. She doesn’t need to lose a shirt. This is the last time. Now she’s gonna get pissed.

Ellie asks if Bri checked their cabin. It has to be somewhere. The captain says, Bri will pay attention now, and tells the crew to meet on the dock in 15 minutes. Bri finally finds the captain’s shirt, and Captain Sandy says, she’s got to fix this. In Bri’s interview, she says she knows she’s making mistakes, but she’s not the only one in the laundry room. She’s going to log every piece. Receipts, bitch. Iain tells Joe that people are picking up on little things and saying the deck work is incomplete. They’ve got to work together and get everyone on the same page.

The guests arrive, and the captain tells Iain, if they don’t get off the dock, they’ll spend the day in a bulk of smoke. Co-primary Kacie introduces herself and says, they’re from Charleston. Captain Sandy says, they’re not departing immediately because the wind is insane. She doesn’t want them seasick their first time out. Aesha gives the tour, and in Nathan’s interview, he says he feels bad about Joe. Joe is his boy. He can tell Joe feels bad and he doesn’t want to be a d*ck. The captain calls Iain to the bridge. She tells him that a superyacht just docked right in front of her (bastard), and in her interview, she says, the wind is getting worse, she has a boat portside, and now a boat has pulled in front of her. Typically, she wouldn’t take the risk, but the smoke is coming in, so she’s taking it. She tells Iain to drop the lines. She’s casting off and is going to come as close as she can to the other boat. The guests see the fire coming, and Captain Sandy tells the deck crew that they have a window and need to leave. The crew moves quickly, and Iain says, she has 4 meters on the stern and has cleared the groundlines. In the captain’s interview, she says, it’s crazy. They can see the fire and the clients on the boat can smell it. If they don’t want ash on top of them, they have to get out, but how can they get out? She’s boxed in and has 6 inches to work with. One wrong maneuver and the season is over. They’re so close… She says, sh*t. It’s too tight.

To be continued…

🎽 Dancing In the Clouds…

This guy was so precious. I barely remember him from GH, but I work out every day and when I’m feeling lazy, I don’t mind sweatin’ to the oldies with him on YouTube. Rock on, Richard.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-fave-richard-simmons-dead-at-76

🥀 Released From Battle…

Such a shame. Whether you loved her or hated her, there’s no question that her work will live on.

https://ew.com/shannen-doherty-costars-pay-tribute-after-death-8677736

And she loved her dog.

https://people.com/all-about-shannen-doherty-dog-bowie-8677823

🐕 Who’s a Good Boy…

Olympians need furry encouragement too.

https://people.com/meet-beacon-golden-retriever-therapy-dog-team-usa-olympics-gymnastics-trials-8672007

🧚‍♂️ Chasing a Midsummer Night’s Dream…

It’s been a long, humid day, but join me tomorrow for soap and entertainment info and recaps. Until then, stay safe, stay choosing to live your memories rather than record them, and stay not waterboarding anyone with words.