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 14^th, 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 50^th 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.